10 Reviews: Best USB Microphones for Recording (Apr 2024)

For good reason, the Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ is one of the most popular USB microphones on the market. It has a balanced, realistic sound, as well as a few characteristics that are particularly beneficial for musicians. This mic is worth considering if you wish to record solo voices, record instruments, or take online music classes through video chat. This microphone is ideal for recording and online music instruction. It may also be used as a call or remote learning microphone. It’s difficult to go wrong with this one if you’re capturing a single source at a time.

"This is basically the all-around, working class grunt mic. Its decently priced and the sound reproduction is very good in a controlled environment."

by Rummy

The Shure MOTIV MV5 condenser microphone is ideal for Zoom conversations and Microsoft Teams discussions. This is due in part to the small size. USB microphones may not seem to be large in photographs, but the typical one may take up a surprising amount of desk space. The MOTIV MV5 stands around 5.5″ tall, which is roughly half the height of a Blue Yeti. Other compact solutions, such as the RDE NT-USB Mini (see below), are available, but the MV5 offers a unique feature: a mute button. During work or school calls, this button might save your life.

"This mic is the best I’ve owed and I have spent upwards to $200 for various mics. The sound quality alone is worth the money but the portability and make quality is also solid. Great buy."

by Phil

The Yeti has three capsules, allowing it to be very flexible. They have four options: unidirectional for singing and solo speaking, bi-directional for interviews or two-person podcasts, omnidirectional for catching a whole band or a group podcast, and stereo for distinguishing left and right. Oh, and it has a hardware mute button, so you don’t have to worry about cutting out coughs or asides. While it isn’t a cheap choice, it is still surprisingly reasonable for what it can achieve.

"great mic but it only gets it's full potential when using the software which allows you to change the settings to your liking, the controls on the back and front of the mic work amazing and gain control is very helpful."

by Jesus Rojas

The Shure MV7 is suggested for clean recordings without a voice booth. It’s the greatest USB microphone for canceling out undesirable noises. The MV7 is based on the Shure SM7B, one of the most well-known voice microphones ever built. The polar patterns of the SM7B and the MV7 are both unidirectional. This implies they don’t pick up noises that are off-axis. Shure developed the MV7 to capture a wide enough field of view to allow for head movement while remaining focused on your speech rather than your dog wandering around in the other room.

"Mic sounds great! Can be used for several different needs! The quality of this product is awesome! This mic will last long. Easy plug and play!"

by Anthony Arredondo

A headphone port with volume and mix controls is included in the RDE NT-USB. All of this makes it ideal for similar uses, such as solo recordings. The NT-USB also comes with a few extras, the most notable of which is a quality RDE pop filter that attaches to the mic. If you’re singing or recording speech, one of these filters will help you avoid popping noises caused by plosive sounds.

"Build quality is great, Sound is incredibly clear, The built in reference jack is great"

by SleepaDru

The AKG Lyra has four capsules and a front-facing remote for selecting between four different modes. Front mode is for solo work when you speak directly into the microphone. When both sources are on the same side of the mic, the tight stereo mode catches both left and right. The broad stereo mode records from all angles while keeping the two sides distinct. There’s also front and back mode for recording a whole band or a group of folks around a table. With the built-in headphone port for zero-latency monitoring and simple volume control, all of these modes may be readily monitored.

"Picked this up so I could get away from using a built in headset mic while streaming. Naturally, the sound quality is considerably better, and the built in options for gain and limiting incoming audio to set directions have been working great."

by MJS

The Shure MOTIV MV51 features the same vintage feelings and contemporary approach as the MV5, but almost everything has been amplified. It’s a condenser with a big diaphragm and the famous square throwback form to match. The bigger diaphragm produces a richer sound, particularly for vocalists, and it takes up somewhat broader angles. This means you may move around more during gaming streaming and video conferences without affecting the audio quality. In line with its high price tag, the MV51 sports a strong all-metal build that is both sturdy and comfortable to hold.

"I LOVE my MV-51, it is quickly becoming my GO TO mic for all occasions. This thing delivers a great tone and performance for the price. I love the classic, retro look and the very high-quality build. This is almost perfect!"

by Stefan Lubinski

The Shure MV88 features a Lightning connection built-in for iOS only. The MV88 is designed to make the most of Shure’s MOTIV applications, resulting in an unparalleled mobile recording solution for content producers, journalists, and musicians that wish to record directly to their iOS smartphones and share the recordings on the go. A stereo condenser mic is positioned on a swivel allowing simple angle adjustment in the MV88. It captures sound from the center and sides to ensure that interviews and field recordings are clean and balanced.

"The microphones point out to the side on the iPhone and do not pick up very well the direction in which the camera shoots. This microphone solves this as well as gives a better sound than with built-in mikes."

by Maj C. Henderson

Apogee is a company that focuses on digital audio conversion. They manufacture some of the greatest audio interfaces available, ranging from desktop devices to high-end studio racks. The Apogee Duet 3, a top-tier conversion interface in a relatively compact form, is one of their most appreciated devices. The HypeMiC adheres to the same principle, and the results are amazing for both podcasters and artists. The Apogee HypeMiC takes one of the best elements of analog recording and puts it into a near-handheld size with its built-in compression.

"This is a great little microphone!! I use it in my mobile studio for voice-overs. Small, compact, portable and easy to set up and break down. And the sound quality is fantastic!!"

by jeff thisted

If you want to create a mic that can handle any situation, it needs to be well-built. You can monitor straight from the mic thanks to the built-in headphone port. The jack socket on the bottom of the mic features adjustable volume control. An on/off switch is located on the mic’s body. The Audio-Technica AT2005USB is a cardioid-pickup unidirectional dynamic microphone. This is the most common arrangement in studios and in broadcasting. It has the benefit of removing any unwanted noises from the mic’s back and most sides.

"Great sound quality for recording Podcasts & zoom meetings! I considered buying a popular competitor at a higher price, but I am very happy with the sound quality & ease of use of the Audio-Technica."

by Angela k.