Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Grateful as some are that Apple construct microphones into the iMac and its laptops , no one with a amply - function hardening of ears would claim that the outcome of recording undertaken with these build - in mics are wholly square . No , to avoid the kind of background noise and in the main - lo - fi result you get from Apple ’s mic you need an outside microphone . And one of the easiest way to unite one to your Mac is via the Mac ’s USB interface . A motley of society make USB mics that act upon with plug - and - play simplicity .
I of late rounded up a collecting of popular USB mics , compared their stipulation , and record trial files ; I now present the results of my work . This collection includes Blue Microphones ’ $ 139Snowball , Marshall Electronics ’ $ 170MXL.006 USB , Rode Microphones ’ $ 369Podcaster , and Samson ’s $ 232G - Track .
To learn how these microphone equate to a “ veridical ” professional microphone ( mean one that does n’t expect USB ) , I also recorded test file with my preferent podcasting microphone , a vintageAKG C414 EBlarge - diaphragm electrical condenser mike plugged into CEntrance ’s $ 150MicPortProUSB mic preamp , and with the make - in mike on my MacBook Pro . Here are the links to those audio file :
Samson G-Track
Similarities and differences
All the microphones I tested are of the cardioid condenser eccentric . These are directional mike that pick up auditory sensation in front of them in a heart and soul - form pattern . The Snowball mike has an extra omnidirectional mode that , with the toss of a switch , provide the mic to record from all side of meat . Each mike include some variety of mount ironware : a viewpoint for the MXL , G - Track , and Snowball mics ; and a tie-up mount for the Podcaster .
Samson G - Track
No special drivers are necessary for the mike to operate . When you plug them into your Mac , they appear as an input choice in the Sound pane of System Preferences — identified as either USB Audio Codec ( for the MXL and Samson mics ) or by the mike ’s actual name .
Marshall MXL.006 USB
The gain of the Podcaster and Snowball mike can be align via the Input Level Pseudemys scripta in the Input tab of Sound preferences . This slider is gray - out with the MXL and Samson microphones ; rather , these mics admit computer hardware controls for adjusting increase . On the MXL mic , this appears in the form of a three - attitude switch mark Lo , Med , and Hi . The Samson G - Track offers a addition knob marked Mic ; once you ’ve adjusted the gain to your liking , you press the knob to interlock it in position . The G - Track also admit an LED that burn green until you over - power the mic , at which distributor point the LED turn reddened . This is a dainty sense of touch as it makes it easy to set and test the gain without experience to memorialize a long segment , only to realize afterwards that the gain was too hot .
Marshall MXL.006 USB
The G - Track sports two extra knobs , which hints that it ’s more than simply a USB mike . Above the Mic thickening you ’ll line up the Inst and Volume knob . The Inst thickening keep in line the gain for the miniplug remark ( “ In ” ) larboard find on the bottom of the microphone . You use this input for link up — and , thus , enter — instruments such as an electric guitar , bass part , or keyboard , or for tape a transmission line - level input — the output from a tape deck or mixing add-in , for instance . To shift between instrument and line - level input , there ’s a toggle transposition on the left-hand side of the microphone .
Rode Podcaster
The G - Track ’s Volume pommel see to it output book from the mic ’s built - in Headphone laborer , also found on the bottom of the mic . Plugging your earphone into this port reserve you to supervise the mic ’s input directly , without the latency you ’re likely to get from sound going through the G - Track , into a tethered computer , and back out to the laptop computer or mike ’s earpiece jack . But if youwantto listen what ’s coming from the computer — from a digital audio workstation practical app such as GarageBand , for example — you may riffle another toggle substitution on the side of the G - Track to the C.P.U. placement .
Rode Podcaster
The Rode Podcaster mike also includes a earpiece jack with a dedicated book knob . you’re able to apply this jack to monitor the mike ’s input or to pick up audio from your reckoner . ( For the latter , you need to choose the microphone as your output twist in the Output tab of Sound preferences . )
Blue Snowball
The Snowball microphone includes a three - position switch on the back . The first position puts the mike into cardioid ( directional ) mode , the 2nd position places a -10dB pad — lower berth remark profit by -10dB — on the cardioid function , and the third location switches the mike into omnidirectional mode , where it records sound from all sides rather than just those sounds in front of it . The current Snowball uses dissimilar electronics than the original version of the mic — which we antecedently reviewed — and those electronics meliorate its sound . If you prove a Snowball when it first appeared on the conniption and were n’t felicitous with its audio , strain today ’s example . You ’ll remark a distinct improvement in sound quality .
Audio quality
If I were a professional voice - over person and knew how to perfectly work a mic , you ’d hear heavy differences between my AKG mike and the USB mics in the test file linked to this review . Yet even with inexact mic proficiency , to my ear the AKG C414 EB sound richer than the USB mics . This is hardly surprising , give that this mic is most at home in professional studio apartment , whereas these far - less - expensive USB microphones are plan with computer users ( and their budgets ) in mind . But it means that if you ’re reckon for sodding audio , you ’re not going to happen it in one of these USB mike . That said , you’re able to still get utterly decent audio from them .
Blue Snowball
Among the USB microphones I tested , I found the MXL and Samson models to furnish the most - balanced audio recording as well as an acceptable amount of gain . It ’s difficult to pull deep - baritone , FM - DJ strait from these things , but what you do get is quite listenable .
The Rode Podcaster and Blue Snowball microphones produce reasonable sound quality once you hike , with your recording software on your figurer , the volumes of file you ’ve put down — but hike up them you must , because their gain is low , even when you crank up the Input Volume slider within OS X ’s Sound preferences . These are mics you require to get really close to to produce a lot of sound . But when you do , you risk a stop job — popping Ps and Bs .
Macworld’s buying advice
If you exact a microphone that sounds like those found in a professional transcription studio , none of these USB mike is what you ’re after — instead , get a “ real ” mike , plug it into a USB or FireWire user interface , and discover to practice it . If you do n’t demand pristine audio and prefer the convenience of a plug - and - play solution , either the Samson G - Track or MXL USB.006 is a good option , with the G - Track stimulate the more - enthusiastic nod thanks to its more - conciliatory transcription and output options .
Senior editor in chief Christopher Breen hosts the Macworld Podcast .
