USB vs. XLR Microphones | Is USB Mic Tech Good Enough?

[@sweetwater]

Shop USB microphones here 👉 sweetwater.sjv.io/09G37J Shop Sweetwater’s wide selection of microphones here 👉 sweetwater.sjv.io/zxzkk6

[@Schmuddel]

I've worked in radio and voice over for close to a decade now. I think there are a lot of cool USB mics out there, especially from Rode, but I don't think any aspiring or established professional should use them. They're all limited by the capabilities of your sound card, and the integrated A/D converters in USB mics will never measure up to even a budget audio interface like the Scarlet Solo. Get a Solo, a cheap XLR cable (you don't really need Mogami Golds and the like), and a budget XLR mic like the Audio-Technica AT2020, the Rode NTG1, or even the Shure SM57 instead of a USB mic. You'll be glad you did.

[@DojoOfCool]

I got my first USB mic over ten years ago to take some Skype music lessons, it is still going strong on my desk for a variety of uses. I tell musicians and now for recording having a USB mic is one of the best tools to have around for quick and easy recording. So many times I just need to do a Zoom music lesson, record musical ideas or make practice tracks, capture some audio off my computer, make a Quicktime video and need good audio having a USB mic I can get good audio in seconds. I'm back into recording again and just needing to quickly record some audio to tryout some technique, or even a quick percussion track having a USB mic is quick and easy. That USB mic I got ten years ago is a AT2020USB still constantly connected to my computer.

[@RVGPCOCHA]

I think it depends on the room, the situation, what you are recording... I always use xlr but I play drums and put them through an interface. Even my mixer has effects etc also on stage i use a preamp that hooks to my waste by Behringer. Plug my xlr in the bottom and my iems in the top... Awesome piece of equipment, but I gotta get into some usb stuff and mess around.... Great information you know your stuff... ❤

[@ronmoes42]

Well ignorant people can also learn to use an XLR Microphone that is the gist of it, I think USB microphone are a gimmick, something you put up when you want a quick microphone, and they do not sound the same as XLR microphones going into a audio interface OR a 1073 for instance, there is MUCH more headroom and you just got to learn how to do post processing, that is the love you should have when you record anything. I have have seen tons of people who think that when they buy a Sm7B and an audio interface they instantly have an radio ready voice , and find themselfs coming home from a cold market so to speak. You got to learn how to use compressors and limiter and EQ , but when you have that audio track finished and when you put it in your video editing software, it is MAGIC !!

[@arcadepiano]

usb mic, modern cheap interfaces and bluetooth headphones has latency my friend has a home studio that sucks. everything has latency, you just cannot play on time reason why he comes to my home studio with proper equipment

[@uriel-heavensguardian8949]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@DS-nw4eq]

Hey, if you can keep making things worse with technology, why not? I mean why would anyone improve quality products. It’s important for the executives to absolutely ruin every aspect of culture where a product is involved.

[@ArthurKitchen-j7g]

There’s not a single major tour or sound company using a usb mic. Do you think Rat Sound, Clair Brothers would use one? Absolutely not.