Admittedly, my personal USB microphone experience is limited to a USB headset mic I have for Skype. I have tested it out for recording purposes and was not impressed with the quality.
I’ve heard some recordings made with desktop USB microphones, though, and found the listening experience to be pretty decent. One example that comes to mind is some recordings done with a Snowball mic by BlueMic.
The problem with USB mics is that they require a computer; they take away your portability unless you plan to carry your computer around with you (much bulkier than a portable digital recorder). And, in the case of the headset mics, I find that people who use them for recordings tend to place the microphone directly in the path of their breathing. If you do use a headset mic, I recommend placing the microphone slightly above the mouth and forward enough that it’s out of the way of both your nose and mouth breathing.
Particularly with USB microphones — which are generally consumer grade for affordability — be sure you test drive a few before you make your final purchase decision. Spending a few extra dollars for a better recording the first time is better than jumping in with cheap gear to start and then eventually moving to something that can be listened to. The audio quality forgiveness period in podcasting has long passed.
I’d disagree with you there – while USB mics are certainly not going to give you the same kind of audio quality you’d find with the more conventional types, it’s an excellent option for people who are working on a *very* small budget. I use the Logitech Digital Precision PC Gaming Headset (I’ve also seen it referred to as the Logitech Premium USB Headset 350, although be sure you have the version with the volume control on the cord, NOT the earpiece) for all my Skype projects, and the mic is far enough away from my mouth that I don’t run into breathing sounds or popping. It runs for about $40 Canadian, and you can’t beat that.
Comment by Sage Tyrtle — July 16, 2008 @ 5:50 am
To be fair, there are some very good USB microphones (even USB headset microphones) available at a reasonable price. They’re just not my first choice.
The headset you’re using is clearly better than most. More importantly, you have figured out the best way to use it to avoid popping and breathing, and to capture your voice well.
One of the reasons why I don’t recommend the headset mic is because you can’t use it on your portable recorder. So, if you’re looking to save money or limit the amount of equipment you have cluttering your room (I’m speaking from experience, here), you end up having to spend twice, once for each environment.
Comment by Mark — July 16, 2008 @ 8:28 am