Most of us are aware that videos are a great way to spice things up on our blogs and get traffic from YouTube. But that’s only the case if the videos are GOOD. And one of the easiest ways to make a video crappy is to have crappy audio.
For a while now I’ve been hunting for a good, inexpensive microphone for my videos. I’ve wound up testing 4 different microphones, all of which are under $100, and all of which get really good reviews on Amazon. Which one is the best?
I know which ones *I* like (more on that at the end of the post), but to help YOU decide, I’ve done a short audio review of each one. The audio to the below video was recorded with the 4 different mics, and you can hear for yourself what the quality of each one sounds like. I also mention some of the pros and cons of each. Then in the rest of the blog post after the video, I go into more detail about each one.
Blue Microphones Yeti Microphone
Blue Yeti Microphone
Price: $99
Check it out on Amazon
PROS
- Best-sounding mic tested
- Has different modes for recording podcasts, interviews, music, etc.
- Has a mute button on the mic itself (for those times when you need to cough to clear your throat)
CONS
- Expensive
- Big and heavy
- Almost TOO sensitive. It’ll pick up my roommates’ footsteps when they come up the stairs.
CONCLUSION
This is the best-sounding mic I tested, but it’s also the most expensive. Because of its size, it’s not good for traveling. This is a good choice if you’re serious about having good audio while not wanting to spend several hundred dollars on a professional podcasting setup.
Logitech USB Desktop Microphone
Logitech USB Desktop Microphone
Price: $19.54
Check it out on Amazon
PROS
- Cheap
- It records audio…
CONS
- Recording quality not as good as the other microphones
CONCLUSION
While the sound really isn’t too bad, I thought it was probably the worst sounding of all of the 4 microphones. It’s not terrible, but nothing to write home about, either.
Olympus ME-15 Microphone
Olympus ME-15 Microphone
Price: $18.49
Check it out on Amazon
PROS
- Really small, so it’s great for travel
- You can use it as an external audio input when recording video of yourself
- Pretty good sound for its size
- Great for in-person interviews because you can easily pass the mic back and forth
- Cheap
CONS
- You don’t want to clip it too close to your mouth or else it’ll pick up all of your breathing, but consequently, it’s not super loud
- Records in mono (you hear it in only one side of your headphones), not stereo
CONCLUSION
You can easily convert the audio from mono to stereo using Audacity, but some people might not like even that much hassle. This is a solid little mic. I was surprised with how good it sounded.
Plantronics Multimedia Stereo Headset
Plantronics Multimedia Headset Microphone
Price: $29.99
Check it out on Amazon
PROS
- Recorded sound is very clear. This is the mic that I used to record the above video’s intro and outro
- Volume control wheel on the cord
- Mute button on the cord
- Great for Skype
CONS
- A little bit of noise in the background
- Not a super comfortable headset, but I do have weird ears
- Looks a little bit goofy
CONCLUSION
A good all-around microphone and a solid value. Just be sure to put the adjustable mouthpiece microphone part far enough away from your mouth so you don’t get the “popping” sounds.
Final Thoughts
Don’t buy the Logitech mic. All of the others have better sound.
If you want the best possible quality of your recordings, get the Yeti mic. But the thing is a beast.
If you travel a lot or want to interview people on location, get the Olympus lapel mic. Pair it with a set of earbud headphones and you’ve got a tiny Skype kit, too. But don’t get it if the idea of converting its mono recordings to stereo ones seems like too daunting of a task. But then again, you might not care if your audio is mono, anyway.
If you buy just one of these, I’d say get the headset microphone. I really like it, and you can use it for Skype. It’s small enough to be somewhat portable (I took it to Seattle with me last week), but the quality of recordings that you get is still really good.
As for me… I’m going to sell the Logitech mic and keep all of the others for now. I really like the sound quality of the Yeti, but it was expensive. I suspect that when I get into podcasting more, I’ll want it’s awesomeness.
I hope that helped, and I hope we see more video and audio content out in the blogosphere! I know I’ll be doing it more in the future, so be sure to subscribe the the Blogging Bookshelf YouTube channel.
- What would YOU use a microphone for? Video? Podcasts? Skype?
- Which of these microphones seems like it would fit your needs best?
- Do you already have a microphone that you like? What is it? Or is the built-in microphone on your computer good enough (mine isn’t)?
- Do you have plans to create more video or audio content for your blog?
And I’m back to updating the Daily Blogging Diary if you’re interested.
{ 62 comments… read them below or add one }
I use Yeti + I use a cheap set of headphones…depending on what Im doing. You’re right..Yeti is pretty freakin awesome…I use it for recording guitar and what not…I did some podcasts with it as well.
I use a headset for podcasts. It does a fine job.
My final thought is this.
Dont let the equipment (or lack of it) prevent you from putting your stuff out there.
I think if I had to just whittle it down to two, I’d stick with the Yeti and a headset.
And you’re definitely right about the whole equipment thing. You don’t NEED it. But it definitely can significantly improve the reader’s (listener’s) experience.
I recently got my husband to buy the Yeti mic for me during one of his trips to the States (I live in the Middle East). We can both testify that it is a big and heavy mic! In fact hubby is still reminding me 3 weeks later just how heavy it is (he had to carry it in his hand luggage because it was too big to fit in checked baggage)
However the sound (as you demonstrated) is amazing. I just recorded a video review of an algebra program (it’s my current post) using the yeti and the sound quality is way better than from the microsoft headset and mic I’d used previously.
It’s great that you’ve done a comparison of these mics so bloggers can listen and decide for themselves how much they want to spend for the quality of sound they need. Yet another useful post from Tristan!
Yeah, I definitely would NOT want to carry the Yeti onto a plane with me :)
Your algebra program review sounds great! (And I gave it a thumb up). It really is a great mic. Part of me likes its heft because I feel that it’s study and won’t break on me if I accidentally knock it over or something. I think it could take some abuse. But at the same time, it really is just impractical for any travel.
Thanks Caroline!
I would suggest another good mic, Philips. I experienced that Philips offers a good quality with reasonable price.
Cool, I haven’t had any experience with Philips mics, so thanks for the input, Dana!
You read my mind. I’ve been wondering about getting a microphone for everything from better sound while recording vids, to what to use for interviews. Plus, I need something that’s going to cooperate with my little netbook (which requires external drives for everything!). This is fantastic, and just what I needed!
Delena
Awesome! I’m glad the post was timely for you, Delena :) Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Hi Tristan,
I really love the the Yeti. For home recordings with a filter and stand with anti vibration, the sound is awesome.
The lapel mic would be really cool to have in your toolbox, well 2 for interviewing people when out and about.
Don’t think the mono sound would bother me that much. Sounded good here too.
Pete
Yeah, I’m a big Yeti fan. Have you used it for interviewing? Isn’t that one of the little settings on the back? I haven’t, and am curious how it would turn out.
And do you use the stand that came it?
Brilliant! I’ve been thinking of getting into podcasting so that people can hear my lovely voice, and think “At least I sound better than that guy”.
This info about microphones will help out, so thanks Tristan :-)
Awesome! I’m glad the info was timely for you, Stuart. Thanks for the comment, man!
I guess I’ve got the advantage that I’m a guitarist with a home studio so I’ve already got some microphones. My set-up is a bit different in that I don’t need a mic with a USB input into the computer – I plug mine into an audio interface.
Currently I’m using a Behringer condenser microphone – it’s the B-1 model. This goes into a pre-amp / compressor and then into my sound card. This gives me a great sound at a reasonable price.
Sometimes I’ll use a small lapel microphone. On the weekend I tried doing a video using the web-cam mic – the sound was horrible.
Yeah, the sound from my in-computer mic is really, really bad.
That’s awesome that you’ve already got a recording setup! I’ve heard professional podcasters talk about using a “real” microphone with a mixer thing, but that’s all too complicated for me right now, especially since I don’t podcast yet.
What lapel mic do you use? Do you like it?
Hey Tristan, On my first podcast, I used the built in mic on my Macbook Pro. The audio turned out pretty good! I know a few guys who use their iPhones and the included Voice Memos app to do podcasts. The audio on the iPhone is quite good.
That’s pretty cool that you can podcast with an iPhone! I don’t have one (my phone is like 6 years old) , though.
Macs apparently have pretty good built in mics. The one on my PC laptop sucks pretty bad though. I just listened to the first part of your 5.12 review podcast, and yeah, it’s not bad!
I have a Shure SM-58 mic that I use with a mixer. However, I have been thinking about buying a Yeti for those times when I don’t want to use my full set up.
I’ve heard pro podcasters mention that it’s best to use a legit mic with a mixer, but that 1)seems to complicated for me, and 2) sounds too expensive. I like the simplicity of the Yeti that is just plug-and-record. It probably doesn’t sound as good as your Shure, but I’ve found that it’s good enough for me :)
Thanks, Fred!
I’ve heard good things about the Yeti. I purchased a Samson that works great with my Mac, though I left it in the states (didn’t want to lug it to Thailand). For my Kodak Zi8 I use an external mic along with a mono to stereo converter I got at Radio Shack for less than $2. The external mics are usually mono and the camera records in stereo, so it keeps the quality solid.
For my videos now I just use the Mac earbuds/mic. Editing takes care of the rest and the quality is surprisingly good.
There’s such a thing as a mono to stereo converter? Sweet! I’ll go pick one up tomorrow! You made my day, Robert :)
How do you like the Zi8? I’ve been thinking of getting one…
I’m not using a microphone for blogging, at least not yet. To me, blogging has always been about words and lately images. But hopefully, sometime in the future I’ll be doing videos as well. As you said, videos are great if the quality is good (and since I don’t speak english that well, I won’t do a video before I feel comfortable doing it).
The only microphone I am using is the integrated one on my Mac. And I only use it for Skype :-)
From what I’ve heard, the built in Mac microphones seem to be pretty good. The one on my PC… not so good.
I can understand you not feeling comfortable with recording yourself in English (your English is great, though). I speak Russian, but I definitely wouldn’t feel comfortable podcasting in Russian!
Thanks, Jens!
Fantastic! This is something not a lot of people think about. As a voice actress on the side, I can tell you that these are great pics! I would also suggest a Snowball mic or a Samson microphone, both are pretty cheap on Amazon, about $70-90.
Quality does matter and the Logitech desktop mic is a good starter!
This is so thorough, I love it! Thanks a lot for this!
My brother has a Snowball mic and really likes it. And you’re the second person to mention a Samson microphone in the comments here. I’ve never heard of them before; I’ll go check them out for sure.
Yeah, the Logitech mic isn’t terrible, but I do think the headset mic sounds a bit better, and is only $10 more.
Thanks Morgan!
The logitech USB Microphone looks cool and is even cheap, it seems I have to purchase one now
Yeah it looks cool… But I’d recommend getting the headset mic over the Logitech one. It’s only $10 more and I think the quality is significantly better.
Thanks Ankur!
This was timely for me T’. I’m going to be starting a podcast within the next couple of months and right now I’m in the ‘learning’ phase—audio being one of my major need areas. Thx bro.
Marcus
I’d really like to do a podcast but dangit, I still can’t figure out what exactly I want it to be about. That and I’m not super verbally coordinated. Writing is definitely the medium I’m most comfortable with.
We should do one together :)
Btw, your guest post here will be going live at midnight MST.
Thanks for this! I’ve been sort of half-heartedly researching microphones for voiceovers on my videos, and I tend to fall into the trap of going for top-quality, studio-type gear when I really only need to be two notches up from a tin can and a string.
I’m the same way, Dave. Even the Yeti mic that I talked about here is more than I need for my video voiceovers, since I don’t have a real podcast yet!
Thanks a ton for taking the time to comment!
Hey Tristan. I have a Yeti microphone that I use for my radio program recordings. I agree that it is the best sounding mike and in my owl lil mind it was well worth the extra money. If you want a pod cast to sound good, a good mike is essential.
Although… I DO have to remember to turn off the refrigerator and coffee maker in my office before recording; it is quite sensitive.
I agree, Allan, I think that the Yeti was a good investment and worth the money.
But you’re right, the thing IS super sensitive. My room is close to the bathroom, and the mic will pick up the sound of the toilet flushing…
I don’t have plans to video blog but who knows what the future will bring, so I’ll would choose the Blue Yeti Microphone, seems the most professional of them all.
I don’t think you can go wrong with the Yeti, Ali. It really is a great-sounding mic.
Thanks!
Good one. I at some day may need to take advantage of this information. I appreciate your reviews and especially for breaking them down with the pros/cons. I think the Yeti looks the coolest! PEACE
The Yeti definitely looks the coolest. You can’t see it clearly in the pic, but its stand looks like a dude. Or… a yeti. Pretty rad.
Thanks Jk!
Yo Tristan, I actually use a “gaming” headset called the Ear Force px21 by Turtle Beach. I bought it right at best Buy but here’s the Amazon link (NOT an affiliate link):
http://www.amazon.com/Force-PX21-Gaming-Headset-Playstation-Pc/dp/B002BU0DPE
I didn’t intend to use it for vids and podcasts, I only got it because I could hear the in-game audio and the voice chatter at the same time. It was just a happy coincidence that it worked so well for video tutorials, etc.
It’s funny, Logitech *used* to be my goto brand for almost everything. But one by one I ended up replacing all that stuff. I think their quality has suffered in recent years.
Anyway great roundup!
Dang, that’s a pretty cool looking headset :)
I’ve got a similar story. I bought my headset mic (at Best Buy, too!) just for Skype, but the recording quality was so good that now I use it for a lot of stuff when I don’t want to bust out the formidable Yeti.
And now that I think about it… I used to be a Logitech fan, too, but now all I’ve got of theirs is the mic, which I’ll be getting rid of.
Thanks for the great comment, John!
I’ve got the Yetti’s cousin from the same company — the Snowball. Like you said, it’s a really nice mic but it does pick up EVERYTHING. When I was using it, I set up a makeshift recording studio in my closet — just hung blankets all over the place to dampen the sounds. Problem was that it was picking up the slight hum of my laptop computer. I ended up having to put it outside the closet.
If your decluttering efforts ever get you to a clean closet, I’d recommend some closet recording. It can get hot in there — especially if you’ve got a lamp and a computer — but you can’t beat the sound if you’re on a budget.
When I get more into audio stuff, I’ll probably end up making a closet studio, too. Not looking super forward to that, though…
I really like the mental image, though, of you boiling in a closet with your laptop and a lamp.
Hey great reviews of the microphones! I’m looking for a replacement that stands on the desktop as opposed to being a headset.
I agree the Yeti sounds ahead in quality quite a bit. The other I liked was the lapel one but it had a much lower playback sound. I struggled to hear it as well.
The last one is ok but not too sure about the look,! My post lady gives me funny looks as it is when she passes by my window and see’s me talking away into the headset I have lol
Thanks for doing the review
Lynne :)
I like the lapel one a lot, too. And as someone else said in the comments, you can get a mono-to-stereo converter plug thing for about $2. But it is a bit quiet. Still, it’s super small and pretty cheap.
Yeah, I try to avoid people when I’m wearing the headset mic. For Skyping it’s fine… as long as it’s not a video chat :)
Thanks Lynne!
Hi Tristan,
Great one. This information about microphones is really helpful. Thanks very much for sharing.
All the best,
Mavis
No problem, Mavis. Thanks for taking the time to comment!
Tristan,
This post couldn’t have been more timely. I have been looking forward to buy a microphone because the one that is built in my computer is not worth a shit (O:
I do have plans to go into podcasting and create more videos. I like the Yeti one but like you said it looks pretty bulky. Maybe I need to follow you advice and go for the headset one.
Thanks for the review brother.
Yeah, the one on my computer sucks, too! That’s how I ended up owning 4 microphones :)
The Yeti is indeed big and heavy… but dang, it sure sounds good.
Thanks for the comment, Adam!
Tristan,
I am not really into podcasting but I surely will bookmark this post when there’s a need to look for a good mic. I usually get questions about tech stuff and recording hardware is a usual topic (blogging is like coming to an age, and podcasting is the thing).
Thanks for this rundown of different mics. This will be useful to me in the future (maybe) in one way or another.
No problem Marlon. Thanks so much for the comment!
Tristan,
Man! that Yeti is expensive, but man, does that sound good. I thought Ted Williams (the homeless “voice” guy) took over your microphone for a minute. It is ridiculously better.
Of course then again it is also three times the price. I agree with you absolutely by the take the best sounding one listen to them all the Plantronics one is a pretty good compromise one. thanks for this review one of these days in the near future and think I might be buying a new mic myself, so this is a very useful review, for me.
Appreciate it, bro
Yeah man, you can just call me Ted :)
Sure, it’s three times the price, but it’s still only $100. Not TOO terrible. And it’s something that I think will last for ever.
Thanks Steve!
Just as a heads up, I went to give you some link love. On Blog Engage there is a bunch of code being added to your summary section. Likely the auto adder not finding what it wants or something. All this gibberish:
function sbmgValidateFormPostPg1(name,email) {
var name_fld = document.getElementById(‘sbmgValidateFormPostPg1′ + ‘_’ + name);
var email_fld = document.getElementById(‘sbmgValidateFormPostPg1′ + ‘_’ + email);
var reg = /^([A-Za-z0-9_\-\.])+\@([A-Za-z0-9_\-\.])+\.([A-Za-z]{2,4})$/;
var msg = ”;
if ( name_fld.value == ” ) msg = ‘- Name Required\n’;
if ( reg.test(email_fld.value) == false ) msg += ‘- Valid Email Required’;
if ( msg == ” ) return true;
else alert(msg);
return false;
}
Just in case you don’t know…
Yeah, I’ve noticed that, too. It’s super weird. I haven’t gotten around to fixing it so that doesn’t happen, but I did fix it on this particular post.
Thanks Steve!
This might be a totally novice question, Tristan, but what is wrong with using the computer mic if you’re in a quiet area? Will it not pickup well for video purposes? I’ve been using it for skype but haven’t posted videos (yet) on my blog. :)
The quality just isn’t that great, in my opinion. Especially if you listen to the recording with headphones on, you’ll hear a lot of background noise. It’s good enough if that’s all you got, but not ideal.
Great question, and thanks, Stella!
Interesting! This would never have occurred to me (mainly because I assume skype quality is good enough for video quality). Not very tech savvy here as you can see! Thanks for the great info, Tristan!
I’ve been considering the Yeti for a while now due to a friend’s recommendation. You’re the second positive review for it so perhaps this is the one for me. For $99 (up to $150) it’s an easy investment decision to make. I’m certain many folks spend more going out to eat or buying drive-through coffee every month. Thanks for the review.
If you’re look for a high quality yet still somewhat reasonably priced microphone, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Yeti. You should definitely give it a shot .
Thanks for commenting, John!
Tristan,
Man I was so going to get the Logitech mic when I saw your comment, “Don’t buy the Logitech mic…” Ok I think that pretty much excludes that from my shopping list. Based on what you said, I think I might just got for the Plantronics. You mentioned something about not being very comfortable while wearing it. I do notice some feedback on Amazon saying that it really hurts your heard while wearing it.
Ok I gotta get my hands and try this on and see if this really is comfy and worth the money :D
I want to start my own podcast and I don’t know which microphone to choose. My limit is about 200 $, and my current favorite was the Logitech USB Microphone, because it’s price and USB connectivity (I have an iMac, so USB is my preferred choice). Which microphone do you think I should buy, that is good for podcasting and Mac compatible?Thanks for answers.
My favorite is the Behringer Podcast Studio which is about $99 bucks from Amazon or Walmart, I did a showcase of it on my blog after receiving as a birthday gift -> http://www.justingermino.com/testing-a-podcast-with-behringer-podcast-kit/ it isn’t just a mic but a 2 channel mixing board so you can plug in an audio device and have it feed and dub as well if you need. Really worth the money in my opinion and is among the best sub $100 I have ever tested.
Great review. Just what I was looking for. Thanks. I think the Yeti sounds best for my needs – software instructional videos. I like also, how the date of your review is the same as my birthday [but a few years ago :-)]
I have Audacity and I think that should work for any microphone.
I tried to do it with my mobile phone and it seems strange. Or just my voice is strange? I’m not sure.
{ 2 trackbacks }