#Usb mics for mac mac os#
#Usb mics for mac drivers#
#Usb mics for mac full#
#Usb mics for mac professional#

With the rise of podcast companies and the booming on-demand audio industry, there are independent creators left behind who cannot afford a multitude of equipment, space, and time to produce an audio show. Podcasting at its heart is independent and accessible to everyone for both the creator and the listener. The microphone should be user-friendly, accessible, and provide excellent sound quality. The qualifications for this list are specific to a podcaster starting out or upgrading to using a higher-quality microphone. So we’ve tested out the top USB microphones on the market today to help you choose your next podcast or streaming investment.

#Usb mics for mac full#

Now that the market is full of these types of microphones, it can be difficult to understand what the best option is for your own setup. When Apple started to sell Blue’s Snowball microphone in their stores in 2005, it opened doors for independent creators to make their home recordings sound significantly better than what the consumer market had offered previously, by just plugging a microphone right into the USB port on their computer. But for a hobbyist or someone starting out in the field, there are now more options than ever to get your show up and running for a fairly low price. You can’t just plug any microphone into your computer and start recording.

#Usb mics for mac professional#

For professional use, the answer is complicated. I then recorded the following comparison in Garage Band using the “Male Voice” setting.As the resident audio engineer at The Verge, I am occasionally asked what microphone one should get if they wanted to start a podcast. I connected the Snowball and my old Logitech USB mic to my late 2009 iMac and matched the levels in System Preferences.

#Usb mics for mac mac os#

Tip: In Mac OS X, Option-click on the audio slider in the menu bar to quickly select a mic! How Does It Sound?Īlthough the Blue Snowball is much hyped in podcasting circles, I wanted to hear the difference for myself. Position 3 is great for recording group conversations, however. Being a desktop mic, a directional pattern is most useful. Of the three audio settings, I imagine most will leave the switch in position 1. I imagine it’s just as easy to use in Windows. I was able to select it in System Preferences as the default mic, and set Skype to use it, too.

#Usb mics for mac drivers#

The Snowball required no drivers in Mac OS X, setting up instantly. But the included USB cable is so burly that its weight tugs the mic out of alignment – I used a slimmer USB A-B cable instead. The mic can be located by telescoping the tripod and tilting the Snowball mic itself. The bundled tripod is solid and stable thanks to three low and wide legs. It’s heavier than one would expect thanks to a cast metal housing. The Blue Snowball impresses from the start. The great eye of the Blue Snowball peeks out of the retail package The Snowball has received great reviews (I first heard about it in Wired magazine) but since Gestalt IT handed out a few as door prizes at our first Tech Field Day in November the raves have been coming in from folks I know and trust. It’s a white softball-sized usb mic with three selectable audio modes. Ironically, the Blue Snowball doesn’t actually come in blue. Tip: Although Blue Microphones enforces a “minimum advertised price” of $99, Amazon actually sells the Blue Snowball for under $75 with free shipping! The Blue Snowball

Wanting better sound, I upgraded my Logitech microphone to the highly-regarded Blue Microphones Snowball desktop USB microphone. I’ve long suffered listening to the inaudible and miserable microphones used by so many others, but my own gear wasn’t much better.

Since I work out of my home office, I’m also an avid audio and video conference user. Over the last year I’ve really jumped into recording podcasts, from InfoSmack to the VMware Communities Roundtable. The Blue Snowball is the size of a softball and packs killer sound performance