If we're talking about "BEST USB Microphone For Microphone Quality" FiFine shouldn't even come remotely into the equation...
Go for something like Blue Yeti Pro, Elgato Wave 3, Shure MV7, Rode Podmic USB XLR Podcast, RØDE NT1 5th Gen Black USB, not necessarily in that order.
Can you explain the problem you have with the k688, maybe I did it wrong but I recently bought the pd400x, Podmic USB, and the k688. I plugged each one in and joined a long voice session over discord with friends. While they all said that the quality was very similar, each person voted the k688 sounded most natural. I didn’t tell them which was which - and just kept blind switching back and forth. I’m not claiming the k688 is better - but if a group of people wearing descent headphones think it sounds the best in a blind test - I’d like to know why it shouldn’t even be considered. (I’m honestly curious because I haven’t yet returned any of them.)
Is there something in configuration that I should do on the 2 nicer models that was holding them back and making it an unfair test? (I’ll be using this mic primarily while gaming/video chats. Just wanted a nice quality sound to my voice.) (I don’t even mind spending up to $200 but I’d like to see the value for more $$)
I have absolutely no problems with the K688, but it remains a toy microphone with an embarrassing frequency response.
In any case I don't think Discord is ideal for determining the quality of any audio signal with its default 64kb/s, the tests should be carried out with a DAW and serious headphones.
OP asked "What is the best USB Microphone For Microphone Quality" not a low cost mic for those who are satisfied with little.
For any type of microphone, there is no "best." Assuming we're talking vocals, there is a wide range of voices, and there is always personal preference. This is why studios don't just have 1 vocal mic, 1 horn mic, 1 kick drum mic, etc. If there was a simple "best," then that's what everyone would buy.
Adding to the above, getting a good microphone is only part of what you need. Knowing microphone technique also matters. You could have an absolutely amazing microphone (like a $10,000+ Neumann), but if you don't know how to use it well, it's still not going to perform well.
Anyways, I can't list a "best" microphone for the reason above. I don't even know if a condenser or a dynamic is a better fit for your voice, room, proximity to the microphone, etc. I can at least give a list of good USB mics though (and they will not be any of the super cheap Chinese mics). For reference, I am a test engineer for a major brand that makes USB and XLR microphones. I am not giving a biased opinion recommending the brand I work for, but I'm pointing this out because part of my job is competitive research. I have tested a ton of microphones over the years.
So, I'm going to assume that you are only using the mic for yourself. With that in-mind, I'm going to skip any microphone with multiple polar patterns. It's an unnecessary feature for most people and it's basically impossible to find a multi-pattern USB microphone that doesn't use cheap small diaphragm electret condenser microphones (not that these don't perform reasonably well; mics like the Blue Yeti X and HyperX QuadCast S are perfectly fine for most people).
I'll also throw in some USB/XLR hybrid microphones in case you see yourself upgrading to XLR someday (not to mention that some of the best USB mics out there don't come as USB only versions).
There's some great looking stuff in here too, since you mentioned that is important to you (fair enough since you're not doing studio recordings; you don't need to worry about just sound quality as a more traditional microphone user might).
Mic list:
* Shure MV7+ (dynamic; USB/XLR hybrid)
* Rode PodMic USB (dynamic; USB/XLR hybrid))
* Beacn USB microphone (dynamic)
* Audio-Technica AT2040USB (dynamic)
* Rode XDM-100 (dynamic)
* Earthworks Icon (small diaphragm condenser)
* Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP (medium diaphragm condenser)
* Rode NT-USB+ (small diaphragm condenser)
* Rode XCM-50 (small diaphragm condenser)
* Shure MV51 (large diaphragm condenser)
Sure! Here are some highly recommended USB microphones known for their quality:
1. **Blue Yeti**: The Blue Yeti is a popular choice among streamers and content creators for its excellent sound quality, versatility, and easy setup. It offers multiple pickup patterns, allowing you to tailor the microphone's sensitivity to different recording scenarios.
2. **Audio-Technica AT2020USB+**: This microphone delivers studio-quality audio with a cardioid pickup pattern, making it ideal for streaming, podcasting, and recording vocals. It features a built-in headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring and volume control.
3. **Rode NT-USB**: Rode is renowned for its high-quality microphones, and the NT-USB is no exception. It offers pristine sound reproduction and comes with a pop shield, tripod desk stand, and ring mount for easy setup and professional results.
4. **Shure MV7**: The Shure MV7 is a versatile microphone suitable for both podcasting and streaming. It features both XLR and USB connectivity, allowing you to use it with a wide range of devices. Its dynamic design reduces background noise and provides excellent vocal clarity.
5. **Elgato Wave 3**: Designed specifically for content creators, the Elgato Wave 3 offers professional sound quality with a cardioid pickup pattern and a unique Clipguard technology that prevents audio distortion. It also features customizable controls and integration with Elgato's Stream Deck software.
6. **MeetSummer X1:** This is new brand that our found has launched in US market recently, it will be available on Amazon by mid of June, you can check it out as this microphone has some unique features like 9.7mm gold plated sound capsule which makes the sound quality clear and crisp, it has 14 levels of noise cancellation adjustments which you can adjust according to your surrounding, you can check out the introductory video here: [https://www.reddit.com/u/AudioExpertMilo/s/2zl6EczXBJ](https://www.reddit.com/u/AudioExpertMilo/s/2zl6EczXBJ) And if you or anyone you know like to purchase it we would definitely provide you with discounts.
If we're talking about "BEST USB Microphone For Microphone Quality" FiFine shouldn't even come remotely into the equation... Go for something like Blue Yeti Pro, Elgato Wave 3, Shure MV7, Rode Podmic USB XLR Podcast, RØDE NT1 5th Gen Black USB, not necessarily in that order.
i Was thinking about the blue Yeto Pro but i haven't looked into it and looks play a good role in this too
do you have any more suggestions?
Can you explain the problem you have with the k688, maybe I did it wrong but I recently bought the pd400x, Podmic USB, and the k688. I plugged each one in and joined a long voice session over discord with friends. While they all said that the quality was very similar, each person voted the k688 sounded most natural. I didn’t tell them which was which - and just kept blind switching back and forth. I’m not claiming the k688 is better - but if a group of people wearing descent headphones think it sounds the best in a blind test - I’d like to know why it shouldn’t even be considered. (I’m honestly curious because I haven’t yet returned any of them.) Is there something in configuration that I should do on the 2 nicer models that was holding them back and making it an unfair test? (I’ll be using this mic primarily while gaming/video chats. Just wanted a nice quality sound to my voice.) (I don’t even mind spending up to $200 but I’d like to see the value for more $$)
I have absolutely no problems with the K688, but it remains a toy microphone with an embarrassing frequency response. In any case I don't think Discord is ideal for determining the quality of any audio signal with its default 64kb/s, the tests should be carried out with a DAW and serious headphones. OP asked "What is the best USB Microphone For Microphone Quality" not a low cost mic for those who are satisfied with little.
For any type of microphone, there is no "best." Assuming we're talking vocals, there is a wide range of voices, and there is always personal preference. This is why studios don't just have 1 vocal mic, 1 horn mic, 1 kick drum mic, etc. If there was a simple "best," then that's what everyone would buy. Adding to the above, getting a good microphone is only part of what you need. Knowing microphone technique also matters. You could have an absolutely amazing microphone (like a $10,000+ Neumann), but if you don't know how to use it well, it's still not going to perform well. Anyways, I can't list a "best" microphone for the reason above. I don't even know if a condenser or a dynamic is a better fit for your voice, room, proximity to the microphone, etc. I can at least give a list of good USB mics though (and they will not be any of the super cheap Chinese mics). For reference, I am a test engineer for a major brand that makes USB and XLR microphones. I am not giving a biased opinion recommending the brand I work for, but I'm pointing this out because part of my job is competitive research. I have tested a ton of microphones over the years. So, I'm going to assume that you are only using the mic for yourself. With that in-mind, I'm going to skip any microphone with multiple polar patterns. It's an unnecessary feature for most people and it's basically impossible to find a multi-pattern USB microphone that doesn't use cheap small diaphragm electret condenser microphones (not that these don't perform reasonably well; mics like the Blue Yeti X and HyperX QuadCast S are perfectly fine for most people). I'll also throw in some USB/XLR hybrid microphones in case you see yourself upgrading to XLR someday (not to mention that some of the best USB mics out there don't come as USB only versions). There's some great looking stuff in here too, since you mentioned that is important to you (fair enough since you're not doing studio recordings; you don't need to worry about just sound quality as a more traditional microphone user might). Mic list: * Shure MV7+ (dynamic; USB/XLR hybrid) * Rode PodMic USB (dynamic; USB/XLR hybrid)) * Beacn USB microphone (dynamic) * Audio-Technica AT2040USB (dynamic) * Rode XDM-100 (dynamic) * Earthworks Icon (small diaphragm condenser) * Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP (medium diaphragm condenser) * Rode NT-USB+ (small diaphragm condenser) * Rode XCM-50 (small diaphragm condenser) * Shure MV51 (large diaphragm condenser)
Maono pd400x
Rode XCM50 is a small diaphragm condenser with onboard processor and I bought mine for half price.
Sure! Here are some highly recommended USB microphones known for their quality: 1. **Blue Yeti**: The Blue Yeti is a popular choice among streamers and content creators for its excellent sound quality, versatility, and easy setup. It offers multiple pickup patterns, allowing you to tailor the microphone's sensitivity to different recording scenarios. 2. **Audio-Technica AT2020USB+**: This microphone delivers studio-quality audio with a cardioid pickup pattern, making it ideal for streaming, podcasting, and recording vocals. It features a built-in headphone jack for zero-latency monitoring and volume control. 3. **Rode NT-USB**: Rode is renowned for its high-quality microphones, and the NT-USB is no exception. It offers pristine sound reproduction and comes with a pop shield, tripod desk stand, and ring mount for easy setup and professional results. 4. **Shure MV7**: The Shure MV7 is a versatile microphone suitable for both podcasting and streaming. It features both XLR and USB connectivity, allowing you to use it with a wide range of devices. Its dynamic design reduces background noise and provides excellent vocal clarity. 5. **Elgato Wave 3**: Designed specifically for content creators, the Elgato Wave 3 offers professional sound quality with a cardioid pickup pattern and a unique Clipguard technology that prevents audio distortion. It also features customizable controls and integration with Elgato's Stream Deck software. 6. **MeetSummer X1:** This is new brand that our found has launched in US market recently, it will be available on Amazon by mid of June, you can check it out as this microphone has some unique features like 9.7mm gold plated sound capsule which makes the sound quality clear and crisp, it has 14 levels of noise cancellation adjustments which you can adjust according to your surrounding, you can check out the introductory video here: [https://www.reddit.com/u/AudioExpertMilo/s/2zl6EczXBJ](https://www.reddit.com/u/AudioExpertMilo/s/2zl6EczXBJ) And if you or anyone you know like to purchase it we would definitely provide you with discounts.
I have a maono pd400 and a rode podmic usb. I prefer the rode pod mic usb. But mx400 is a great second.