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Looking for USB microphones to improve your audio quality? Here are our best recommendations, with a brief dive into their details.
If you are someone who is having trouble in online meetings, we have suggested great solutions to improve your situation. People who are looking for the perfect microphone for podcasts will also find a suitable solution here. The problem with existing microphones available on most devices is the subpar quality.
Moreover, these do not have any specialized features to properly adjust your audio input based on the situation. Laptops, phones, or tablets all tend to have a microphone that simply is not enough for the needs of a working professional who needs reliable voice capturing. To fix this, there is a perfect solution: USB microphones.
These plug directly into your device through a USB port, and you basically get plug-and-play functionality. Of course, many mics also come with software that you can use. These apps contain personalized features, as well as modes for various situations. We will talk about other ways to improve your audio quality later on, so you know how to get the best out of your hardware. Whether you want a USB microphone for podcasts or online meetings, you are sure to find the perfect product below.
Even for gaming, these USB microphones will be great to use. You can easily improve your voice quality in apps like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Discord, Slack, or others. With that said, let’s explore the 5 best USB microphones for podcasts and online meetings.
Note: The listed microphones’ prices are accurate as of July 19th, 2025.
Top 5 USB Microphones for Podcasts and Online Meetings
1. Elgato Wave 3 White – Premium Studio Quality USB Condenser Microphone
- $149.99
Specifications
| Spec | Details |
| Weight | Base 10.76 oz, Mic & & U-Mount 9.88 oz |
| Resolution | 24-bit |
| Sensitivity | 15 dBFS (max gain), -25dBFS min gain) |
| Capsule | 17 mm Electret |
| Max SPL | 120 dB (140dB with the Clipguard engaged) |
| Sample Rate | 48 / 96 kHz |
| Dynamic Range | 95dB (115dB with the Clipguard engaged) |
| Dimensions | 153 x 66 x 40 mm |
| Frequency Response | 70 – 20000 Hz |
Overview
Elgato Wave 3 Mic is one of the best microphones available. It has a sleek design with excellent build quality. You can save a ton of space in your setup by opting for this premium solution made by Elgato. The company makes a lot of other gear for streaming and podcasting. For online meetings, too, the Elgato Wave 3 is an effective solution. You can use the Elgato Wave Link app, which gives you access to more features to customize the experience.
Even if you use it on another PC, it has plug-and-play functionality to get you ready instantly. Elgato Wave 3 features a cardioid condenser capsule design. It features a 24-bit/96 kHz converter. The microphone is available in both white and black colors, making it a perfect fit for any setup.
2. Logitech Creators Blue Yeti USB Microphone
- $119.99 ($20 Off)
Specifications
| Spec | Details |
| Weight | 1.94 lbs (mic), 1.1 lbs (stand) |
| Max SPL | 120 dB |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz – 20 kHz |
| Capsules | 14 mm condenser capsules |
| Bit Rate | 16-bit |
| Sample Rate | 48 kHz |
Overview
Logitech is one of the most trusted brands in tech. Their products are very durable and of great quality, and the Logitech Blue Yeti is no different. This is a great USB microphone to use for podcasts, meetings, and a variety of other situations. You have many color options available, such as Midnight Blue, Black, Pink, Silver, and White.
The Logitech Blue Yeti features a three-capsule array, producing powerful and broadcast-grade recording quality. The design is superb, and it also has a portable base. You can easily control the microphone with the dedicated knob. Logitech Blue Yeti also supports the Blue Voice software for advanced modulation, as well as customized effects.
3. MAONO AU-A04 Plug & Play Podcast Condenser
- $47.99 ($15 Off)
Specifications
| Spec | Details |
| Sound Chipset | 192kHz/24-bit |
| Data Port | USB 2.0 |
| Microphone Stand | Sturdy Boom Arm, with pop filter and foam windscreen |
| Compatibility | PC, Mobile, Laptop |
Overview
MAONO’s Condenser Mic is a very affordable solution to get as your USB microphone. You will get improved voice quality for online meetings as well as podcasts, without spending too much. This solution features a 16 mm electret condenser transducer, and Maono specifically states this will give you a strong bass response. It has plug-and-play functionality too.
The best thing about the Maono A04 professional podcaster USB microphone is that it comes as a complete set. You get a stand and a pop filter. It is an all-around solution to fix your voice quality needs.
4. Sennheiser Professional Profile USB Cardioid Condenser Microphone
- $115 ($34 Off)
Specifications
| Spec | Details |
| Transducer principle | Pre-polarized condenser microphone |
| Max. sound pressure level | 125 dB SPL (Min gain) |
| Connectors | USB |
| Transducer type | Pre-polarised condenser |
| Polar pattern | Cardioid |
| Weight | 0.77 lbs |
| Dimensions | 50 x 152 mm |
Overview
Sennheiser’s Professional Profile is a high-quality USB microphone. If you can extend your budget, this is an excellent mic to get. It features a natural and warm sound signature. You don’t need any additional software to use the mic. All the dials are present on the hardware itself, so you can easily adjust audio and mic levels on the fly.
Sennheiser is a German-made brand with high-quality engineering. This mic has plug-and-play support and features a portable design that doesn’t occupy much space in your setup. You can easily connect it with its USB-C port.
5. RODE NT-USB Mini Versatile Studio-quality Condenser USB Microphone
- $99
Specifications
| Spec | Details |
| Dimensions (mm) | 184 (H) x 62 (W) x 50 (D) |
| Output Connection | USB and 3.5mm headphone |
| Acoustic Principle | Pressure Gradient |
| Power Requirements | USB |
| Active Electronics | JFET impedance converter with bipolar output buffer, A/D converter 16-bit 48kHz |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB SPL |
| Capsule | 0.50″ |
| Frequency Range | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Address Type | Side |
| Bit Depth | 16-bit |
Overview
RODE NT-USB is another amazing USB microphone to buy for your recording needs. The brand is well known within the audio industry for high-quality products. It features built-in signal processing. This microphone even features a studio-grade headphone amplifier, allowing you to seamlessly connect your headphones with the 3.5 mm port. You can use the RODE Connect software to get access to many useful features. These include the compressor, noise gate, and the APHEX Aural Exciter.
Improving Voice Capture Quality on Your PC
Apart from getting a USB mic, there are also other ways of improving the microphone quality recorded on your PC. Of course, you should combine these methods with the best USB microphone you can get. We suggested many USB mics above, and these were at various budgets, too. Let’s talk about improving voice capture quality further on your PC.
NVIDIA Broadcast App
The NVIDIA Broadcast app is one of the best apps for improving your voice quality for meetings as well as podcasts. You can get the app here on Nvidia’s website. It has many powerful features and can completely transform how people hear you. If you do podcasts while being visible to your audience, you can even improve how you look with this software. NVIDIA Broadcast is an AI-powered solution that relies on your NVIDIA graphics card to work.
So, you do need a PC that has Nvidia graphics to use this software. In terms of system requirements, this app requires an RTX 2060 or higher. It also supports Quadro RTX 3000 GPUs. You also need at least an i5-8600-level processor and 8 GB of RAM.
With AI, you can enhance your voice and video. You have noise and echo removal, which can completely remove unwanted noises from your voice capture. It is common to come across problems, such as people hearing your keyboard clacking in the middle of an online meeting. Microphone static, outside noises such as traffic, or even the echo caused by your room are all problems that you can fix with NVIDIA Broadcast’s noise and echo removal feature.
Then there is Studio Voice, and while this is in beta, it is an excellent solution to completely change your voice capture quality. AI will rebuild your voice and make it sound like you are in a studio. Other than that, there are features for improving your video quality, such as auto framing, noise removal, a fix for eye contact, and virtual background.
Other Software
If you do not have access to NVIDIA Broadcast, you can improve your voice quality in other ways, too. For Elgato’s microphones, there is dedicated software that we highlighted called Wave Link. Logitech has the Blue Voice software too. If you use Discord, you can use the noise suppression feature.
For meetings, Microsoft Teams has features for noise suppression and isolation. You should also check out the advanced sound settings on your PC. Under your microphone settings, you can find settings like the audio level and microphone boost. We hope this was a helpful guide for finding the perfect USB microphone and getting the best out of it in your podcasts and online meetings.
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