Have you always wanted to get into content creation? Well, with many of us stuck at home due to the global pandemic, now is the perfect time to start! One of the major things you will need to get started is a Microphone. So, here are a list of 5 awesome easy to use USB microphones to start you in your content creation journey.
Blue Yeti ($199)
This is the microphone of many streamers and content creators, for good reason. This mic is incredible for the price and easy to setup. This studio grade microphone is incredibly worth the investment, however it is on the slightly more expensive side of the list. This mic comes with a variety of settings and is very versatile, and if you’re wanting crisp audio without a lot of mucking about, then this is a great solution for you.
Pros
- Very versatile
- Studio grade audio
- Solid stand and easy to mount a pop filter too
- Also supports recording music really well if you are a musician
Cons
- Bit more expensive
- Very sensitive, so if you live in a loud house or by a busy street, it might pick up other sounds
- Does require a bit more setup and knowledge than other USB mics
- If you want to connect this to a boom arm, just remember the connector on Blue mics aren’t standard. You’ll need to find a specific arm stand designed for Blue microphones like this one
Razer Seiren X Condenser Microphone ($179)
This is one of the microphones we use at Thermaltake Australia. I was very impressed with this mic upon using it for the first time. Similar to the Yeti it has a sturdy base and picks up sound incredibly well. We used it to pick up the audio of 5 different people talking around a table, and it handled everyone’s levels perfectly. It’s another easy, simple mic to setup, and comes with lots of options for fine tuning.
Pros
- Easy to set up
- Decent Price
- Audio is fairly decent
Cons
- Sound needs a bit of tweaking if you want a certain quality
- Quite chunky, so it’s worth getting a boom arm if you have a smaller desk
source: Forbes
Audio-Technica AT2020 USB ($229)
This is the microphone of choice for the Thermal Talk podcast (we do have the XLR version though). The quality of this microphone is it’s biggest appeal, and when we made the jump from our old set up, to these, the change was very noticeable. These are a nice compact size and look really nice too. They do come with a little stand, but we’d recommend getting a boom arm so you can get nice and close for the best sound.
Pros
- Sound is CRISP!
- Nice compact size
- Looks really sleek
Cons
- Will require a little more setup
- This is the most expensive mic on the list, so will cut you back a bit funds wise
- Will probably need to pay extra for an additional boom arm
source: Store DJ
RODE NT- USB ($209)
RODE microphones have an incredibly good reputation, and the NT-USB mic is no exception. This extremely versatile mic is great for both speaking and musical performances, like singing or playing an instrument. Unlike the rest of the mics on this list though, this one actually comes with a pop filter instead of having to buy one separately. (Which I would recommend for almost all of the mics on this list.) It does come with a stand, but similar to the AT2020, it isn’t great, and worth upgrading to a boom arm.
Pros
- Very high-quality mic
- Looks very professional
- Comes with a Pop filter
Cons
- Expensive
- Will require more set up
- Will probably need an additional boom arm
source: Store DJ
Blue Snowball ($109)
This is the cheapest microphone on the list, so naturally it is a bit basic. That being said, if you’re new to audio and just want something simple, this is perfect. It delivers a decent quality sound and it also isn’t as chunky as the Seiren or Yeti, so it can sit on your desk without taking up too much space. The biggest down side is it is just a standard mic, so you won’t have as many options as you do with some of the more upmarket ones. But then again, if simple and easy is what you want, then this mic is perfect.
Pros
- Simple and easy to set up
- Compact
- Cheaper
Cons
- Not as versatile as the other mics
- Connecting this to a boom arm seems to be quite the task if you don’t want to use the standard stand
source: Officeworks
So, there is a bunch of easy to use USB microphones to start you in your content creation journey!
Whether it’s YouTube, streaming, or starting a podcast, one of these USB microphones will serve you well whatever you decide to create! To check out our post on Streaming Tips in case you want to become a streamer yourself, jump over HERE!
