Best Multipurpose Condenser Microphones
At home, the office-or anywhere for that matter-the Snowball ice USB microphone delivers audio quality that’s light years ahead of your computer’s built-in microphone. Add crystal clear audio to recordings for YouTube.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm not like, some bonafide super special feller who knows that of which he speaks of when it comes to mic quality, but I find this instrument one of the best I've messed around with while dabbling. I have chosen to completely ignore all the other reviews explaining safety and secure desk holds, and I just stick the dang thing anywhere. I'm gonna crunch some fresh snow from outside so you can hear how crisp it is though, with a metric you can actually copy, probably. and I can already tell this little cutie (and it is cute, my aging mother saw it and started giggling and wanted to hold it) is going to be a fine part of my vocal life."
"I'd recommend boom stand as the current stand isn't tall enough for my liking..plus you'll want to get it off of your desk in case you are typing or gaming while recording."
"Very clear sound, very easy and straightforward, especially with Apple garage band."
"This microphone also works well with all PC games that I play (CSGO, PUBG, Overwatch), so if you would rather not have a headset mic when playing games, this works well."
"If you are going to do a solo podcast, then this is the mic for you. After doing extensive research, (which i should have done ahead of time before buying the mics), I learned that the best way to have multiple mics hooked up to one computer, you MUST have an audio interface, and MAKE SURE when you are shopping for an interface, that it has multiple mic inputs, (most do not) AND has a USB output so that you can input into your comp for recording."
At home, the office—or anywhere for that matter—the Snowball iCE USB microphone delivers audio quality that’s light years ahead of your computer’s built-in microphone. Add crystal clear audio to recordings for YouTube.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I'm not like, some bonafide super special feller who knows that of which he speaks of when it comes to mic quality, but I find this instrument one of the best I've messed around with while dabbling. I have chosen to completely ignore all the other reviews explaining safety and secure desk holds, and I just stick the dang thing anywhere. I'm gonna crunch some fresh snow from outside so you can hear how crisp it is though, with a metric you can actually copy, probably. and I can already tell this little cutie (and it is cute, my aging mother saw it and started giggling and wanted to hold it) is going to be a fine part of my vocal life."
"I'd recommend boom stand as the current stand isn't tall enough for my liking..plus you'll want to get it off of your desk in case you are typing or gaming while recording."
"Very clear sound, very easy and straightforward, especially with Apple garage band."
"This microphone also works well with all PC games that I play (CSGO, PUBG, Overwatch), so if you would rather not have a headset mic when playing games, this works well."
"If you are going to do a solo podcast, then this is the mic for you. After doing extensive research, (which i should have done ahead of time before buying the mics), I learned that the best way to have multiple mics hooked up to one computer, you MUST have an audio interface, and MAKE SURE when you are shopping for an interface, that it has multiple mic inputs, (most do not) AND has a USB output so that you can input into your comp for recording."
Meet the Snowball, the world's first professional USB mic. Transducer type: Condenser, pressure gradient with USB digital output.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As for my set-up, I currently have it on a boom arm (NEEWER Microphone Suspension Boom Scissor Arm Stand) with a vibration reducing shockmount (Blue Microphones Ringer Universal Shockmount for Ball Microphones) and pop filter (Dragonpad pop filter Studio Microphone Mic Wind Screen Pop Filter Swivel Mount 360 Flexible Gooseneck Holder). Overall, I would recommend this microphone to anyone interested in getting started with quality audio recording. If you are looking for more of an expert recording quality level, you might want to look into Blue's other microphones."
"The primary reason I bought this is because my walls are thin and you can generally hear the TV in the other room when I'm playing games for other people on my Microphone. I bought this thinking the combination of the 10 decibel reduced cardoid pattern and the pattern of rejecting noise from behind the microphone would be helpful."
"Whereas with my previous microphones Windows needed to install additional drivers, the Blue Snowball seems to use the built-in Windows drivers, which install automatically after plugging the Snowball in."
"I ended up returning it and just giving up on desktop mics entirely. Now if you're doing vocals for singing I would recommend the Yeti for that slight difference because you definitely want to get as great a quality as you can, but if you're going for a professional sound you probably want to get professional equipment. Completely lost myself in this review as i'm multitasking."
Best Condenser Microphones
Yeti is the most advanced and versatile multi-pattern USB microphone available anywhere. Compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8 (including 8.1), Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP (Home and Professional), and Mac OS X (10.4.11 or higher), and requires a minimum of 64 MB of RAM(remove existing and upload).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Here is my full video review of the Blue Yeti microphone that I made for my YouTube channel."
"If you ever tried to stream through a Windows pc you will notice a delay between your live voice and what goes through the mic. There is no delay when you plug your headphones directly into the mic."
"I was able to pick one up on a lightning deal for $89 and it's well worth that price, however, I've had a few problems with it from day one that have since been rectified. Number one, I had to ship the first one back because one of the screws that holds the microphone into place was stripped out. Finally we can talk about the good and what should matter most when you are purchasing an expensive USB microphone and that is the sound quality -- it's excellent. If you are streaming a podcast or recording scratch audio for video production like I use it for, this microphone is really great."
"I do a lot of audio recording so I needed to have something more focused on vocal work. I love how the most important features are built into the hardware of the mic so I don't have to do a lot in my audio software. This mic cuts back on a lot of the work I had to do with the other mic by recording precisely in the directions I need it to. The swivel design of the mic makes it really easy to get to the USB and headphone jack. Placing it in a boom stand would likely reduce some of the bending of the cords but I will be using it as came, in its original stand, as a tabletop mic. With the 4 different directional recording modes it's appropriate for just about any type of audio recording; I can't think of anything else I could possibly need. If I have any issues with it over time, I will certainly update my review, but my Yeti has been working great for all my audio needs."
Best Computer Microphones
Stereo Audio Performance. With the superior 40mm driver and skilled sound processing, Mpow USB headset is capable of delivering crisp, high-definition audio with clear, balanced tone while you are conversing on Skype. Multiple Connection Modes. Thanks to the detachable cable, you may either connect the headset to your computer via the USB port/ 3.5mm audio cable or to your cellphone via the 3.5mm audio cable. 3.5mm Jack/USB Plug Connection Options -- The 3.5mm jack audio cable can be detached from the control box which gives you an additional connection option for Phones and Tablet. A Built-in noise-reduction sound card of the control box lower noise output from devices. Multi-Purpose & Wide Compatibility -- This headset can be used mainly for chatting, secondarily for music, and if needed, as a backup to a priority gamer headset(It is NOT specially designed for gaming ,please DON'T compare it with professional gaming headsets).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I've tried everything to make the experience a bit more tolerable from earbuds, a single ear earbud, Bluetooth headsets, and a very expensive professional USB headset. You can use the unit in two ways, either attached directly to your phone or computer using the mini-plug at the end of the headset cord or attached to your computer using the USB control. You attach the full-size USB plug to your computer and the device is recognized and installed on the computer. First, the volume controls for the audio you hear are controlled by the little four button box on the USB dongle, but instead of being changed in the box itself, the volume changes are handled by your computer. One thing not totally made clear in the description or photos is that there is a button on the control dongle for the headset mic."
"When wearing headphones for a long period of time they can sometimes become uncomfortable, that is not the case with these headphones."
"I also love the the headset is not restricting and can be used on any device requiring an audio jack in addition to the computer plug in seen in the picture."
"Pros: - Very (extremely) comfortable. - Very good audio - clear with a wide range of volume. - Excellent to use for dictation with Dragon Naturally Speaking dictation software. - Did I mention they were comfortable? - Boom mic is very easy to position, and it stays were put. - It can be used with or without the extra volume controller / USB converter (I don't use mine). Cons: - Way too many pros such that it makes me feel bias - but it is what it is. - It is wired, so you have to plug in. GIVE Reviews. [G]enuine - This is a review that is honest, trustworthy with no reason other than to help people in the Amazon family. [I]nformational - This review needs to provide information related to this product in a concise matter. [V]aluable - This review needs to provide value to the reader such that it helps him or her determine if this product is for them. [E]nlightening - This review needs to go beyond product information such that the reader learns something they did not otherwise know."
Best Vocal Condenser Microphones
Our Advantages: Mpow has been dedicated to producing Bluetooth headset for years, provide affordable products and quality service. Mpow Professional Over-the-Head Rechargeable Wireless Bluetooth Headset is featured with Microphone Noise Cancelling and provides 12 Hours Talking Time. This Mpow Bluetooth headset is specially designed for calling, not for music. Bluetooth Mode: Headset/Hands Free. Working Range: up to 30 feet. Talk Time: about 12 hours. Standby Time: 200 hours. Charging Time:2 hours. 1* Mpow Pro Headset. 1* USB charging cable. 1* User manual. BUILT FOR CLEAR CHAT -- Superior 4X Noise Cancelling Microphone blocks out unwanted noise. 12-Hrs TALKING TIME -- Offer up to 12 hours continuous talking time and 200 hours standby time with single fully charged in just 2 hours.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"If the light is on (it will be red), then it is charging. If the light is off (looks black/dark), then it has finished charging."
"Well I'm surprised,I'm a truck driver and definitely works great and you can't even beat the price absolutely nothing to regret!"
"I believe the headset deserves a fair review, so I decided to test the heck out of it while the kids are home sick. I have used it for both regular VOIP and with my cell phone and in both cases the person on the other end has stated that my voice is clearer when I have the headset on, so kudos on the noise cancelling feature."
"As far as the person on the other line, the sound is nothing special, not the same crystal clear magic experienced by the other person, but I have no difficulty hearing them, and it is not any worse than using the phone. I have been able to leave my phone in the middle area of my house and walk anywhere on the first floor with no disruption in the sound quality, including inside a closet. There is a tone that plays when the phone is ringing so you can tell from the device that a call is coming in."
"( My original review was - I had to return this product because it kept losing the connection). The company contacted me last week because I left a one-star review because the original product kept losing connection and I had to return it."
"Sorry to say that I'm very disappointed with the headphones I was so excited to get that date does not work, thank you."
Best Instrument Condenser Microphones
Compatible with Windows 10, Windows 8 (including 8.1), Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP (Home and Professional), and Mac OS X (10.4.11 or higher), and requires a minimum of 64 MB of RAM(remove existing and upload).
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The headphone volume adjustment knob feels pretty cheap because it has so much side-to-side play and I'd like it a lot better if the Mute button worked every time I press it as opposed to randomly when it wants to (currently my record is six before it does anything, but it happens so often that I'm looking forward to beating my highscore before the weekend)."
"Easy to set up."
"Probably the best USB microphone on the market."
"This Mic is amazing and simple to use!"
"Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone (Teal). I can't praise this microphone enough."
"Nice and heavy so my cat can't push it off of my computer desk willy nilly, and hearing my voice now on recordings is a trip!"
"After fiddling with a few settings in Audacity, I now I have crystal clear sound that is leaps and bounds above my old headset microphone."