XLR vs USB Mic: Which Should You Get? (PGOA 1.1)

[@Podcastage]

The next episode will be made live this Friday at the regular publishing time.

[@moralessanchezoscarelias6412]

Please do a "diminishing returns" video but now on USB microphones

[@GamerToday]

Consider making some videos on that presonus quantum entry level interface. I'd be interested in your opinions for video content, and guitar vs inputs directly on other interfaces you have owned.

[@enriquekahn9405]

4:26 replaced a Neumann with a Neewer, based

[@Podcastage]

I was hoping someone would catch that! Haha!

[@yo3429]

@@Podcastage next joke, for me the usb mic sounded a bit more relaxed than the Neumann on your voice, sorry ... 😄

[@henryeowens]

With just the iPhone speakers I couldn’t hear much difference between the Rode & Neumann mics compared. Definitely good enough for most online content.

[@Podcastage]

Exactly. Most people watch KZbin through phone speakers, so they aren’t going to be as critical.

[@Sithhy]

@@Podcastage I've heard a small difference on my 150 Ohm headphones & would say the $4000 mic sounded a little bit more natural than the USB mic but if I didn't know, I wouldn't really bat an eye about the difference

[@MarkLumsley]

I love how in-depth your videos are! Keep up the brilliant work!

[@Podcastage]

Thank you so much Mark, I really appreciate that!

[@artysanmobile]

I have recommended USB only once or twice, primarily because I knew the person asking would be stymied by the very least of a technical challenge. I really hesitated but I believe it was good advice. Podcastage here enumerates the reasons for choice perfectly. For almost everyone, XLR is a better choice. For the buyer of a single mic with a single purpose - casting/streaming - USB should be high on the list, especially ones with really significant DSP software add-ons.

[@HubertTheMad]

Thanks for this video! A lot of people ask me what type of mic they should get for recording mechanical keyboard sound tests, and I generally give them the same answer. Unless you're someone who makes content creation your sole focus and way that you make your living, get something that fits your budget, and don't feel like you have to buy the latest and greatest and possibly look into simpler mics (USB). It can also be overwhelming to go the XLR route. Mic etiquette, placement, and how your room is definitely plays a huge role just like you said as well. I enjoyed listening to your thoughts!

[@Podcastage]

Later in this series I’m absolutely covering mic placement and technique.

[@HubertTheMad]

@@Podcastage Looking forward to it! Love the PGOA series, and I appreciate all the hard work you put into your videos. Super helpful, and thank you for sharing your thoughts with all of us

[@wdm]

Fun fact: If you have talent, it doesn't matter what slipper you record on. If you try microphones one after another and don't get a result, it's unlikely to be the microphone.

[@Podcastage]

Of course this is true. It's why I have a video called "No one cares about your audio gear" and "5 Things to Avoid When Buying Audio Equipment". The gear doesn't make the content, the content makes the content. The gear is just a tool to convey a message through and hopefully be a useful tool in reducing production time. But this is a series that is walking through how to make a good microphone selection so when people do invest in a microphone, they can be more educated and hopefully waste less money buy-in the wrong tool for the job. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4S4pYydls-jnZo kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGiQpaGcZc9jrNU

[@korg47237]

Another reason I prefer XLR because I also use my audio interface as my actual sound output from my computer, so this way I only need to run one USB-C from my computer to power both my mic and speakers+headphones.

[@Podcastage]

Great point about being able to run headphones & speakers when you go through the XLR route and get a proper audio interface.

[@olledahlquist3784]

I have this little device that connects to my XLR output on my professional condenser microphones that converts the XLR to USB. This way I don't have to buy an USB microphone - and it works fine even for live broadcast on national radio. The little device is about 30 USD and has a headphone output and also 48V. Being a professional sound engineer since the 70's I didn't have any great expectations, but I am more than pleased.

[@mbaksa]

It's hard to call that a XLR to USB "conversion". Basically, you have a little USB audio interface with phantom power and headphone out

[@Podcastage]

There are some small audio interfaces that get the job done, and you don't need to spend a fortune to get good enough audio. Glad to hear you've found the setup that works well for you. Thanks for sharing your experience and setup.

[@natalirivero467]

Nice, what's the name of the device? I want to buy a nice audio Interface but building the studio from scratch can get pricey pretty quickly (mic, stand, cable, camera, lights, etc), so that device looks like a good starting point that can later be used for travel and stuff like that.

[@Marius_Petrariu]

i just love that video portion where you replaced a Neumann mic with a Neewer mic 😂

[@dinung.]

6:34 microphone that makes your voice sound good: Neumann TLM-49, Rode NT-USB+

[@Podcastage]

It's all about finding the right tool for the job that makes your life easier and fits within your budget. If that's the USB mic, then rock and roll. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@karuhut929]

Warning for those who want the Rode PodMic USB. The USB and headphone ports are fragile and you can''t disassemble to fix it. Learned it the hard way.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for the warning there. To me it felt like quality similar to other USB mics, but thanks sharing the information for people researching.

[@itssoaztek4592]

Always a pleasure to listen to your advice. It's balanced, nuanced, systematic and devoid of all the artificial hype and drama most other podcasts (regardless of subject matter) can't live without. Thank you!

[@Podcastage]

I really appreciate the kind words, that means a lot. Thanks for watching.

[@BillAnciaux]

Your foam board has developed some beautiful patina over the years.

[@Podcastage]

Probably the best $2 I’ve spent for this channel. Don’t know what I’ll do when it finally falls apart.

[@BillAnciaux]

@@Podcastage I hope you'll use tape to hold the pieces together. Something non reflective.

[@Frytech]

Hah at 3:05 Bandrew tried to be sneaky with an outfit change :) Nice video, man, ty👏🏻

[@Podcastage]

I went through about 10 outfit changes while filming the entire 55 minute video that was cut down to the 7 parts coming out over the next few weeks. I would just think of new things I needed to add, or need to clarify something, or do something more accurately, so I spent about 10 days on the video in total I think.

[@Frytech]

@@Podcastage It’s a great idea for a series, can’t wait for you to release all the episodes :) You are The Guy when it comes to microphone tests and audio on YT, at least for me :)

[@homestudioacademy]

Great explanation! I’m sure this video is going to have a lot of people getting started with audio production. Awesome series 👏

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much Nolan, I really appreciate that. Hope at the end of the series people are better off.

[@homestudioacademy]

@@Podcastage of course!

[@hackinghifi4247]

Great to hear you speaking truth in the usb mics. From all my obsessive listening I don’t hear any circuitry noise etc from my Rode NT USB Mini, plus you get access to software eq for free and an awesome built in headphone amp. It’s also a super clean setup that when mounted on a stand can be moved from one computer to another, to a phone in seconds. Oh and you can route out through the headphone jack for a 3.5mm backup audio recording if you want one. I love playing with xlr stuff but most of the downsides of usb I hear are more theoretical than a problem in real life.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts on it. Always interesting hearing additional opinions about all of this stuff.

[@hackinghifi4247]

@@Podcastage thanks for replying! And for all the work you do, you’re a tremendous resource for the community.

[@Davemon115]

Listening to the comparison at the end (sorry in advance!), I can honestly say I'd opt for a USB mic if I were starting over today. I don't have a high-end professional application for my audio work (lots of voiceover narration at work and some dabbling in video essays and audiobook recording through Librivox at home), rarely need multiple mics, and have learned to process audio pretty effectively. Still, I have a 4x4 interface, preamp, quality cables, and solid mics. I can't complain about the modularity.

[@Podcastage]

It's all about finding the right tool for the job that makes your life easier, saves you time, fits within your budgets, and that you're comfortable with buying. If that's a USB option, rock and roll. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@WillCMAG]

The modularity part got me with XLR. I was studying audio production and in bands long before I got started into streaming. So I already have experience with XLR and already had an interface before I started my video content. Though I started on twitch with a logitech headset. Currently, I'm switching from a Shure SM58 and a Lewitt 240 pro for my streams. I used to use Audio-Technica BPHS-1 but the hanger for one earpieces is broken. However, I typically recommend a dynamic usb mic for newbies, and the SM57 and SM58 for those interested in XLR stuff.

[@Podcastage]

The modularity is the fun of XLR, and also extremely useful. Sm57/58 are hard to argue with.

[@nickglover]

I imagine that for most people, once you have a good setup, you shouldn't really need to upgrade anything, which would negate the whole modularity concept EXCEPT that I don't know of a single USB mic with a good headphone amp, so if you care about that, you need a second device for that and that means a second audio device on your PC's device list. They are otherwise usually fine, but as you said, longevity is a major concern, not just because of parts failing but also because companies just stop updating drivers all the time and there will be an OS update that breaks a driver eventually. It's inevitable, in my experience.

[@Podcastage]

I definitely agree that once most people get their audio setup dialed in they don’t need to upgrade unless something breaks or they encounter a serious problem that will be resolved by the piece of gear they’re buying.

[@ArthurTully]

I'd say go with your budget. Affordable: Wave 3 Mid: MV7X + Wave XLR High: SM7B (or higher) + Wave XLR

[@AndreaGiallanza]

I would like to get a good USB microphone for recording singing voices while traveling. I’m undecided between the NT USB Plus, the Antelope Axino or the Antelope Edge go. I can’t figure out which is the best choice, could you give me an opinion on which one performs better in terms of sound quality? 🙏🏻

[@lewiswilliams1893]

Whew! I'm glad I can tell the difference between that Neumann and Rode, even through my cellphone speakers. The Rode was slightly more tinny and metallic. The Neumann was fuller and more natural. $3800 difference though? Maybe not. But I can still discern them.

[@Podcastage]

Glad you heard the difference between them. I think that description is accurate.

[@cosmic040]

U87 Neewer - love it!

[@Podcastage]

I shouldn’t have tempted the Microphone gods. I’m surely going to pay for this.

[@cosmic040]

@@Podcastage Pretty shure* they'll send a creature called blue yeti to hunt you down *(pun)

[@RadOo]

I personally went for M50x-STS, perfectly clean sound, always setup as it should, not much noise and I have used them on a difference scenarios not just computer. I noticed my USB port on my interface is getting sussy, so yep definitely good idea to go XLR. But I have 3 friends rolling NT-USB Mini and all 3 are satisfied. Just plug it in and roll. So it really depends on the use case and how tech savy and whatnot person in question is.

[@Podcastage]

Glad the headset is working well for you and that the NT-USB minis are working for your friends. Drives home the point that the most expensive solutions are not always the best for each scenario.

[@RadOo]

@@Podcastage exactly

[@Oddzey]

It goes to show where real innovation lies I think. Microphones hit a ceiling quite some time ago and we aren't really making many strides as far as quality goes. but USB mics have been making continuous strides year after year. I'd go as far as to say professional voice actors could probably find a USB mic that works for them. We've kinda cleared that quality hurdle, there are plenty of USB mics out there that would fool even the most keen listeners. I still prefer the control with a mic+interface setup, but the argument has kinda turned into the "Building a PC, vs Buying a Pre-built". Sure one used to definitely be the better option, but now it's all just a matter of preference and control.

[@Podcastage]

I think there has been innovation in XLR mics but it’s more subtle. Over the decades it seems self noise has gotten incredible on LDC’s down below 10dBA, Max SPL is off the charts on condensers and some go up to 160dB, also you have dual diaphragm dual outputs like the OC818 and LCT640, then you have the really cool LCT1040 which multiple tube voicing and the ability to blend between fet and tube, and output tube and fet simultaneously. So a lot of the innovation seems to be subtle, or in the higher end stuff. USB seems to be a lot more obvious innovation and frankly I think there’s a lot more money in it because the potential user base is so much higher. There’s a lot more people willing and able to buy a $100-$150 USB mic with a cool new feature, than there are willing and able to buy a $1000 - $3500 mic.

[@FAMSAdvice]

for Mac C type which one should i buy ? Mauno or Tonor or Fifine ? dynamic Mic

[@Cotictimmy]

I'm new audio and on a limited. I watch a ton of reviews, & I've just bought an original Podmic & Zoom Hn4 Pro used from eBay for a speech podcast. I've even bought a brand new Rode PSA1 boom arm. I was looking to spend £60 on a used one from eBay, but to my complete surprise I found a seller with brand new ones for the same price I was expecting to pay for a used one. These all seem to be durable, high quality bits of kit and I got EVERYTHING for £230 U.K. (including a 5m XLR cable with the Podmic for £65.)

[@Podcastage]

Seems like a pretty sweet setup. Hope the recording goes well!

[@techmed-rainer]

Danke!

[@Podcastage]

Thank you again for the support! It really means the world to me!

[@bedykev1]

I couldn't hear a difference between the Rode and the Neumann. Could you give me one or two specific characteristics to listen for? Thanks.

[@Podcastage]

The Neumann is a bit more mid-forward than the Rode. The lower frequencies on TLM49 are also not as prominent. Then the upper frequencies are where the most notable differences are, the Rode sounds harsh and a sizzly compared to the Neumann which is really smooth in the upper end.

[@bedykev1]

@@Podcastage Thanks. I can see some differences when looking at the spectrum, but hearing a difference without any visual queues is very difficult. Thanks again for the reply to my question.

[@EnglishELS]

I feel great when I watch your videos💯

[@Podcastage]

Thank you very much for watching, I’m glad you enjoy them.

[@mountainhobo]

What about field work, out in nature? Does one have an advantage over the other, like with shotgun mics?

[@Podcastage]

In the field I’d say XLR definitely because you’re likely not going to have your computer up and recording and you’d probably be running into a portable recorder.

[@mosiffd4092]

Recommendations for broadcast style dynamic xlr mic? Preferably budget in the 50-70 dollar range give or take

[@CWU2006EOY]

There is a difference in the mic quality but not a $4,000 difference to me.

[@Podcastage]

Yeah. Law of diminishing returns in effect for sure. Thanks for sharing your ghostbusters on it….I typed out “thoughts on it” but for some reason it was auto corrected to “your ghostbusters on it” and that’s just awesome, so I’m leaving it .

[@emilemarcotte2782]

7:15 sorry, but I actually prefered the sound of the cheap USB mic in this scenario 🤣 It sounded a bit smoother and fuller in these circumstances 😊 (altough maybe less accurate)

[@Podcastage]

No problem, to each their own. Just goes to show that you don’t need a $4,000 setup to get good audio and publish videos, and adds to the argument against the dumb idea that “USB MICS JUST SUCK AND YOU NEED XLR!” Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@ekambrar5448]

Agreed, it was obviously better on his voice

[@linkofhyrule1121]

I don't think KZbin delivers on sound quality as good as you are hearing, but even though it sounds clean and nice

[@amritachodha]

I really appreciate this. I didn't observed the big difference between Neumann and Rode. Recently, I got Fifine AM8T, some youtubers was calling it Shure SMB7 killer can you make a video on that and I have to keep it very close to my mouth any solutions for that or any software recommendation for talking zoom calls, google meet and recording loom videos + voice notes sometimes OBS too. I want bit deep base sound signature and keep it not visible on my camera.

[@oskarwroniewicz]

The Rode sounds noticably worse but I'm pretty sure it would be more than useable for content creation for most people. With some EQ in the mids it could even be pretty good but that kind of defeats the "plug and play" aspect of it

[@Podcastage]

It should sound worse than a $4,000 setup IMO. I that even with the basic DSP that’s available for this adding a bit of compression and EQ, you could have it setup and recording and not have to think about it and not get any complaints from people. If the NT-USB+ doesn’t fit your preference there are other USB mics below that price that sound great also. Wave 3 is another really nice option with some good mixer functionality.

[@ActionPopCast]

Excellent explanation dude 🤘

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much of watching.

[@michaelj.4187]

I started with a Yeti, has Logitech killed that company as well? Thanks for the video, Mr. Scott...I had to give a resounding thumbs up...

[@Podcastage]

The yeti has been the entry point for a lot of people. It was also quite good compared to alternative when it first launched. Logitech has to the best of my knowledge discontinued all the Blue mics other than the USB and I think the Blue Sona.

[@dannylightning-audio-reviews]

Great video, this is on my list of videos to make but I think you're going into way more detail on the subject and I was playing anything but actually it's cool that you provide all that extra information on the videos, whatever I will say the USB never sounds quite as good even when you take like the road into one 5th gen or the pawn Mike USB I even hear a slight difference in quality between the two, to my ear the XLR sounds just a little bit nicer and then most USB microphones don't have as high quality preamps inside of those so I do think your average USB is not quite as good but some are very close. Honestly I heard very little difference between those two microphones, I can hear a difference but not as big as you would think kind of one definitely sounded a little thinner but they're pretty close over KZbin at least on a set of SE215s and my telephone

[@Podcastage]

The point I was making wasn’t that there isn’t a delta. There’s going to be a delta between two different preamps and two different converters. The main point I was trying to get across is that the idea that “USB mics sound like garbage and you’ll sound terrible if you use them”, because I’ve seen people holding an absurd opinion like that. I think there are even instances where the XLR sounds worse than USB, like with the original MV7. I liked the USB output more than the XLR. With the MV7+ I think it’s the exact opposite, usb is not great but XLR sounds better.

[@glynnetolar4423]

Nice explanation

[@Podcastage]

Thank you very much for watching Glynne, and for the kind words.

[@senpos]

What about combined USB/XLR mics? In theory, they offer both convenience and flexibility at the same time. If I need to plug a decent microphone to my laptop for a work call - I use USB. But if I need it for something more serious - I could plug it into the interface. Or there are drawbacks to such mics? Related question: are combined mics more reliable? If the USB part of it does, one can still use it via XLR? Or if it dies, the whole package dies?

[@Podcastage]

USB/XLR mics are a great in between. The Q2u, ATR2100USB, and AT2005USB are some of my most recommended early podcasting mics for that exact reason. I haven’t had the usb fail on any of my multi output so I’m not sure about that, but assuming the Analog and Digital signal paths are separate it should theoretically still work via the XLR output. You would lose any USB functionality though like headphone playback, DSP, etc though.

[@Kename]

@@PodcastageAgreed! I bought the Q9U three years ago after your review (and a great sale). I’ve used the USB interface at home and the XLR at work.

[@estebangardila]

5:04 A little bit off-topic from this fantastic series you've started but... Did you ever do a review of the Podtrak P4, Bandrew? I know it's two or three years too late but man I'd really like to know your thoughts on it.

[@KillahKuin]

07:16 Well...Bandrew, I love you, and I must be honest: I, indeed, heard a difference. But not a $3830 difference tho At least, not with my $3 dollars earphones

[@Podcastage]

Yeah. That’s full on diminishing returns with that level of gear. Better, but is it $4000 better? Nope.

[@KillahKuin]

​@@PodcastageSpeaking of gear, I'm thinking about making the jump from my Yeti Nano to a Rode NT1, particularly the latest generation, for Voice over. But for a monetary issue (since I live in Argentina and we are broke), I am torn between buying the 5th generation, or the Signature Series with a Scarlet Solo 4th generation, or an Arturia Minifuse. The difference monetarily is small, but my question is... is the USB mode of the 5th generation inferior to what I would get from the Signature Series+Interface?

[@Podcastage]

5th gen doesn’t have a headphone output. Scarlett/Arturia don’t have DSP processing. So it comes down to what feature you value more. Do you want zero latency monitoring? If so, then the interface route is the way. Do you want Digital Signal Processing? Then the 5th gen USB option is the one.

[@Fenderbenne]

I didnt hear a difference between the mics. Keep in mind its on KZbin, being compressed to high heavens and through peoples speakers or headphones. For KZbin or content creation, there is other factors like built-in functions or software that drives the selling point for USB, not to mention price. I got a SM7b hooked up to my Focusrite 2i2 3rd gen w/ a subzero mb1 pre-amp and wouldnt trade it for anything, but a blue yeti with proper setup will serve most people for conversation, podcasts and simple recordings.

[@Podcastage]

Yup my point is most people wont' notice or care what mic you're using. So getting one that functions and makes your job easier is the best recommendation I have.

[@OlexanderZnaharenkoUA]

Hi. 😊 I'm here. Watching videos without commenting. Thanks.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks as always for watching Olexander, I really appreciate it.

[@aikenpenchog8976]

The only glaring difference I heard was the sibilance in the usb mic but still pretty good!

[@Podcastage]

Yup, still more than sufficient for KZbin.

[@thescienceinterview]

I get consistently barely audible volume with USB mics like the fifine k688 or the solocast. Gain knob fully cranked up. What gives?

[@blakecamp5848]

Ok what about combo mics or Shure MVX2u xlr to usb digital interface?

[@largefatherbassmusic]

ngl both times u a/b'd the usb vs xlr the usb sounded better :x

[@hank9th]

Couldn't tell any appreciable difference between the mics in this video, because I was watching on my phone and listening on its crappy speakers 😅

[@Podcastage]

And that's how most people watch KZbin videos, so that makes perfect sense and reiterates that point that USB mics are fine for online content creators.

[@YvdB]

I definitely want complex and expensive. 🎉

[@Podcastage]

You and me both!

[@joeMW284]

If you only need one mic input, I think you're much better off picking up a Scarlett solo and spending your money on a quality mic rather than buying a USB mic. If there's one thing I know about USB audio interfaces, it's that they don't last forever. Driver support is another thing. I suppose if you travel a lot, need the simplicity and are going to be writing it off anyway, perhaps a USB mic would make sense, but for everyone else.. just stick with XLR. The day will come when you'll be throwing your interface in the trash. Why send the mic with it?

[@Podcastage]

Different strokes for different folks, but I think the argument you’re making for longevity makes sense.

[@lucas_92]

Long live the Rode NT USB+, greatest audio for non professionals!

[@Podcastage]

It’s definitely a good option and offers nice features for the price.

[@lucas_92]

@@Podcastage certainly! It’s been great for conference calls and doing some home recordings. It requires some EQ to bring up the treble and calm the bass and low-mids when recording acoustic guitar, though.

[@seru715]

Can you take a look at the Zoom H1 XLR? I want a super simple way to record audio podcasts on the go with 2 people.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have seen it and do want to eventually check it out but I haven't had a chance to order one yet.

[@NovaDoll]

I have a mic that has both. And I have two mixers. Lol.

[@Podcastage]

Sounds like you have all bases covered. Ha.

[@Infinity028mc]

sorry it’s kind of unrelated but are you going to review the new shure sm4 mic?

[@Podcastage]

I ordered it today so I can review it.

[@Infinity028mc]

@@PodcastageOh nice, looks like an interesting mic

[@zora_tech]

I will say atleast using wireless earbuds it was very difficult to tell any difference between the two. I would say that Mic A sounded slightly warmer and a little better with my earbuds. But not to the point I would shut off the video or even notice a difference if I wasn't told to look for one. Now I am curious if the hybrid isn't and XLR are a best of both worlds, Jack of all trades where it's not as good as either one, or if it just takes the worst parts of both and crams it into one.

[@Podcastage]

XLR/USB mics are a good middle ground which can offer you that USB connection for simply plug and play and then if you want to upgrade down the road you ahve that option. The selection there is only a few. Rode NT1 5th, Podmic USB, Shure MV7 / MV7+, Samson Q2u / Q9u, Audio Technica AT2100X-USB. I think there are a few FiFine and Maono options as well.

[@djerikfox]

please make a review of the new shure SM4....regards😄

[@Podcastage]

Ordered already, it's on the way.

[@Chatty_Matty2024]

I believe you could have found a lot of things to spend $3800.00 on that would have benefited you so much more . Pretty much no difference to the naked ear .

[@ramiroradio6996]

Talking about USB mics, I would love to see a review of "apogee hype mic" I'm very curious about the built in analog compressor of this mic!

[@Podcastage]

I haven't checked that out, but maybe in the future I'll pick one up and review it. Thanksvery much for the suggestion.

[@ramiroradio6996]

@@Podcastage thx and greetings from México!

[@ChickFilA_Sauce]

Rode nt1 5th gen is both 😎

[@Podcastage]

Yes it is. There are a number of XLR & USB mics. Samson Q2u & Q9u, AT2100X-USB (and other AT mics), Shure MV7 and MV7+, ROde Podmic USB, Rode NT1 5th gen.

[@neerajkashyap-bg6fe]

Very useful video ... More such comparisons please ... 🥀🥀

[@Podcastage]

There are 6 more videos in this series about microphone selection coming out over the next few weeks.

[@glynnetolar4423]

There are bad USB mics out there though. Now since I didn't know the whole market I can't say there are more than XLR. But I airport because USB tends to be more entry point level. One should be careful what USB mic you buy. I remember when the Blue Yette was popular with the "creators". Dang thing was horrible. Likely not due to the mic making it easy to misuse.

[@Podcastage]

There are some bad USB mics, but there are also some great USB mics. I included a lot of very good sounding options here from $30 - $170. Samson Go Mic, Q2u, Wave 3, NT-USB, Podmic USB. Others are the Razer Seiren Mini (for the price), Shure MV7, etc etc etc. The Yeti can sound good if it’s used properly. Seems like mine may be dying on me because it sounds pretty bad here….a lot worse than I remember.

[@meistudiony]

On phone speaker, theres no difference worth talkin about. Listening on good speakers or headphones theres a difference. Is it $4k. No. Would either work for content creation? Absolutely. Were at an interesting stage of audio gear development where the barriers of long ago just arent there anymore. And for anyone to turn their nose up at the cheaper option is just silly.

[@artysanmobile]

Just fyi, I strongly prefer the very expensive microphone solution if you’re buying.

[@Podcastage]

I would prefer the expensive mic that gives me the sound I want as well.

[@artysanmobile]

@@Podcastage We’re mic snobs.

[@aloktripathi27]

do i need a preamp with scarlett solo 3rd gen?

[@Artec619]

The interface has a preamp. If you mean 'need' as in 'need for your recordings to sound any good', the answer is probably not.

[@Podcastage]

No I do not believe you need one. The scarlett has a preamp that can drive every mic I’ve tried to a proper recording level of around -18dBFS to -12 dBFS with a very reasonable noise level.

[@aloktripathi27]

@@Artec619 my mic, mxl v67 is picking up low sound and here i saw in the video , a preamp before focusrite so got confused for a sec. maybe my xlr cable needs replacement

[@aloktripathi27]

@@Podcastage thanks for the info.. my mic (mxl v67) is not picking up sound as it used to.. i guess the xlr cable needs replacement

[@JakeRayTM]

​@@aloktripathi27 did you accidentally disable +48v phantom power?

[@withiddenoise]

I have tried a few usb mics in hopes of simplifying my set up and I wasn't happy with any of them.

[@Podcastage]

If you're unhappy with the features and sound they're offering, then it sounds like you're an XLR mic person.

[@withiddenoise]

@@Podcastage That would be a correct assesment! For quick and dirty recording I use a dynamic (sm58 or comparible) into a Zoom H6 either stand alone or as an interface.

[@JustVoylin]

7:20 Maybe its because of my speakers but ... I couldn't hear any difference tbh.You keep switching between microphones and I can't really tell the difference or notice when you switched ... please tell me that's because of my speakers or else I'm wondering why I should even get a more expensive microphone in the first place XD

[@LautaroQ2812]

I did hear a difference... is it 3730 dollars difference? Not even close. It's a... 20 bucks difference maybe. The Neumann had a bit more stage, it sounded a bit more "open" but that's about it. I want to give an advice to novices like I was: If you end up buying a "plug and play kit" Like I did of a condenser mic that is not USB but is XLR to 3.5mm Jack... you do NOT need an interface. I got one thinking it would be better but either the interface doesn't work or the fact that the mic already has an electret module makes it saturate. So is not needed. The ability for the mic to pick up stuff will vary depending on the type of mic it is some have 2 connectors instead of 1, and i believe cheaper motherboards will not be able to make it work due to a lack of power. More info, for some reason, whatever way Windows seem to be "taking in" the mic, is very very low on volume. This does not happen to me on Linux. This means that on Windows you will probably need to put on a filter, make it sound "Louder" and have it very close to your face, whereas on Linux is not needed. The sound is FINE. Especially with a filter on top, it sounds good for a kit that coster 23 dollars (with arm shock mount, pop filter and all). That said, I did not know and wasn't told you needed a pre-amp besides the interface for normal XLR condenser mics and ALSO I have been advised that if you're in a very noisy environment... a dynamic mic might work better than condenser.

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

[@Steveoaudioandstuff]

At 3:23 did your brain want your mouth to say, " doobly doo"? 🙃

[@Podcastage]

My brain always wants to say Doobly doo.

[@Steveoaudioandstuff]

@@Podcastage please keep on doing the awesome doobly doo's. Love your work.

[@BassRacerx]

i'm going to say USB most of the time unless you are recording and using the mic as an "instrument"

[@Podcastage]

I wouldn’t go that extreme, I think there are other reasons to go XLR besides instruments, but for a lot of online content creators I think USB is perfectly fine.

[@donkeyhead68]

A video on Shure Nexadyne please!

[@Podcastage]

I have one ordered. I will review it eventually.

[@donkeyhead68]

@@Podcastage thank you :)

[@iconiccfs]

7:31 i mean anomaly... the swedesh cs youtuber. uses a nt usb and he have well over 1 mil subs. so i mean a usb mic is more then enough for youtube.... just make sure that what you get is a good unit like the nt usb or røde podmic usb and something like that. that is higher end so it sound great even though its only usb xD

[@Podcastage]

Yes. You can make incredible content and use a $30 mic, $75 mic, $170 mic, $5,000 mic. The person consuming that information doesn't care about the mic unless it's painful to listen to or if there's a distracting amount of noise.Thye are there for the content.

[@aleksandars9254]

Neumann is just clean on my monitors... that's a sick mic

[@ThatLazyyGuy]

Tbh I thought DSP stood for digital sound processor. I was never told what it stood for so that was just my guess Edit 4:27 lmao

[@Podcastage]

Same idea for sure.

[@paulidson1483]

I thought option B sounded the best, I thought this must be the 4000 dollar set up but no, 😮😲

[@Podcastage]

Case in point. Thank you very much for sharing!

[@jerry.berumen]

wow you are not coping the nt+ sounds super shrill wtf

[@Podcastage]

Haha. Phew. Thank goodness I haven’t totally lost my mind.

[@Boojakascha]

Apart from electronics longevity, there is also software longevity. If you buy a XLR mic, you will be using it for decades, just as the whole band of Drews said =) If you buy a USB mic, you get something with the lifespan and reliability of an audio interface. That means: Discord and/or Windows update and you might be screwed. Usually, as per Murphy, at the most inconvenient occasions.

[@Podcastage]

Very true. The more complex the software, the more support it requires from the manufacturer. Who knows how long that software will be supported.

[@lyianx]

While i did hear a "little"difference", it wasnt much of one, like barely any. It certainly wasn't nearly $4000 wroth of a difference. I doubt it was worth even $200 difference. But the thing i think its important to keep in mind is, where is the content going to end up? If your just using a mic for Making videos on KZbin, the Numann isnt worth it. Hell i dont think the SM7B is worth it. After KZbin compresses you dont hear the difference anyway. And if your Streaming, its even more so. and if your Teleconferencing, its even worse than that! The only times it would be worth spending extra is if you can distribute your content in a format to people that is either uncompressed, or nowhere nearly as compressed as current online services do so the listeners actually hear that quality. Otherwises, its just a waste of money.

[@Podcastage]

I agree most people won’t notice a difference or even care. I have a video called “no one cares about your audio gear” exploring this idea and diminishing returns. But if you enjoy audio and are trying to get the best you can, I don’t think it’s necessarily a waste of money especially if you’re enjoying it and it makes your job easier. Just like people spending money on hobbies isn’t a waste of money. But will those watching notice you’re using a $50 mic or a $7,000 mic? Most likely not. So if you’re buying it to impress someone I would say it’s a waste of

[@Stories10]

There is no difference between the two microphones as far I can say after listening to your test.

[@getstew]

But not EVERY XLR needs to go through a pre-amp.

[@Podcastage]

They don’t? Every XLR mic I’ve encountered needs a preamp. But some interfaces only have line inputs so you need to use an external preamp with those. This is typically on higher end interfaces meant to to be used with big preamp racks or consoles.

[@getstew]

@@Podcastage Maybe it depends how you're defining pre-amp? I used a Beta 58a direct into a 2i2 with nothing to boost when I started podcasting. Best...

[@Podcastage]

@@getstew The Scarlett 2i2 has a microphone preamp in it and almost all audio interfaces have microphone preamps in them. In the past the more affordable options still had preamps but they did not have a lot of gain or the equivalent input noise was high, so the addition of an INLINE PREAMP (cloudlifter, fethead, etc) was helpful. In the last 4-5 years it seems that most affordable interfaces now have plenty for gain and low enough noise. But still, every mic still needs to go through a preamp.

[@getstew]

@@Podcastage Right. I guess my point is the video kind of implies the need for a separate pre-amp aside from an interface.

[@Podcastage]

@@getstew That's why there's a note at 00:44 explicitly pointing out that audio interfaces have preamps.

[@blacktea-uq3tb]

a cup of coffee

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much Black Tea! I really appreciate the support!

[@gdv2268]

U the best❤

[@45KevinR]

Hardly surprising, but after youtube processing and on tiny tablet speakers it's really hard to hear a difference. In the second part (after the reveal) I could just hear a small difference in overall tone. [[ I really need to try good headphones on my devices! ]]

[@Podcastage]

And most people listen to youtube and streams on phone speakers which leads to that point that USB is good enough for content creation if you don’t care about the audio thing. For podcasts, people use in ear headphones a lot so I think the audiences are a bit more discerning.

[@chronicmayhem]

The mics sound the same

[@Podcastage]

If that’s what you here, it’s just further proof you don’t need to spend a bunch of money on XLR.

[@absurdnihilism6931]

Most streamers with sm7bs have worse audio than streamers with blue yeti usb mics. Skill issue.

[@Podcastage]

Yup. That’s why in my video from 4 years ago I said “do not buy the sm7b or yeti just because you see everyone else using it”. If you’re buying a $400 mic you should probably know how to use it properly before buying it and sounding bad. But it’s their money so they can spend it however they see fit. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3_IooR5bs6sf5Ysi=Tk549G-DyDYb15ow

[@absurdnihilism6931]

@@Podcastage i think it's reasonable to expect someone spending $400 on a voice instrument to have some understanding on how they work for sure. Even if that means learning how audio works. USB mics are surprisingly adequate on cutting out the need for a lot of the knowledge requirements.

[@WillianMaier]

If you want the best audio, forget USB 😂

[@Podcastage]

Yes if you want the BEST audio, usb won’t provide that as I mentioned; usb mics have a cap to where you can get because no one is making a USB U87 or anything like that. But for KZbin videos, podcasts, streams that exhibit lossy audio, they are more than sufficient.

[@RadOo]

Especially KZbin, Twitch and whatnot although I would argue youtube having better audio but still... 128kbps..