Best USB Dynamic Microphone 2023; Reviews

Here in this article “Best USB Dynamic Microphone” we’ve rounded up 6 top USB dynamic mics for podcasting, streaming etc of various types, specifications, and budget. Below, you’ll find in-depth reviews of each, as well as an elaborate buying guide to pick out your favorite.

From singing to interviews to streaming or podcasting, the right microphone can help you connect with your audience in ways you’ve never thought possible. A dynamic microphone works via electromagnetic induction, meaning it uses a wire coil and magnet to create an audio signal. 

They are great for all-purpose use and are known for their rugged construction that stands up to show after show, city after city. There are tonnes of options out there when it comes to selecting the dynamic microphone to suit your needs. 

There are vintage-inspired microphones, special edition mics with USB or XLR connectivity. Whether you’re looking for a USB dynamic microphone for streaming or podcasting, or just looking for a cheap USB dynamic microphone under $100, we definitely have a mic to suit your needs in this buying guide. 

Why Choose A USB Microphone?

The enormous popularity of computer-based recording has revolutionized the way music is recorded. 

When it comes to routing your music through the soundcard of a computer, there are many possibilities available today, ranging from sophisticated digital audio workstations (DAWs) and digital mixing boards to simpler interfaces offering connections for a single mic and /or instrument. 

Simplest of all are USB-powered mics that offer plug ‘n’ play convenience. These budget-friendly microphones are a great choice for someone who needs quick, convenient solutions.

So, whether you’re just dipping your toes in the recording waters, or you’re a budding podcaster who needs a straight-forward solution, USB microphones are a fantastic choice.

USB Dynamic Microphone – reviews

Best Overall

Shure MV7

The Shure MV7 is an approachable microphone that lacks buttons and switches; instead, Shure outfitted the mic with a touch panel decorated by a row of LED lights to indicate the gain level. 

The panel also includes a mic mute toggle for on-the-fly changes. On the back of the body you’ll find an XLR, microUSB, and headphone jack output. 

It features other, more premium comforts like adjustable frequency responses—though, with the MV7 you must download the ShurePlus MOTIV app.

Available with black or silver metallic enclosures, the MV7’s capsule is covered by a screw-on foam pop filter/windscreen, and when this is removed, instead of a grille, you see the actual unprotected dynamic capsule. (The filter is only removable so it can be replaced with various color options—it needs the filter on to properly protect the capsule.) 

This is one of the best USB dynamic cardioid microphone for streaming & podcasting as it’s capsule has a cardioid pattern and a frequency range of 50Hz to 16kHz, and the mic’s A/D converter can record 16-bit or 24-bit audio at 44.1kHz or 48kHz sample rates.

In the box, you’ll get a Micro Type-B to USB Type-C and Micro Type-B to USB Type-A cable. 

Useful if you’re recording on the go on your phone and don’t want to pick up the background noise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlT0yBOqhVY

Build quality is solid, the chassis is sturdy and comes fitted with a swivel mount that can attach onto mic stand or boom arm threads. 

The microphone doesn’t feel cheap or plastic-y to handle, it feels like it could take some wear and tear in the studio or on the road and not immediately crumble to dust. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a mic stand included, so you’ll have to invest in one to use it comfortably.

The Shure MV7 produces amazing audio quality, capturing a full frequency range with clarity that makes your voice shine. 

If there is one thing, it doesn’t quite capture the low end as well, it lacks some of the richness and texture you may be expecting. Despite this, the MV7 still produces crystal clear, crisp audio. 

The difference in quality between the XLR and USB connections is almost imperceptible, both sound fantastic.

Pros:

• Specially tuned for vocal capture
• Hybrid XLR/USB Connectivity
• Built-in shock mount and pop filter
• Auto-leveling and software enhancements
• Simultaneous output

Cons:

• Expensive
• Mic stand sold separately

READ REVIEWS ON AMAZON

Related Articles:

• Best USB Microphone For Singing/Vocals; Reviews
• What Is A USB Microphone? How Does A USB Mic Work?
• 7 Best USB Microphones For Under $200; Reviews
• 7 Best USB Microphones For Under $150; Reviews

Best For Podcasting

Rode Podcaster USB

The Podcaster comes in a familiar, broadcast-style shape, with a grille wrapping around the top end of the mic. But the body feels less typical—it has a heavy 1.5-pound build with a glossy white exterior rather than the metallic tones.

The Rode Podcaster has a Cardioid polar pattern. It focuses on sound directly in front of it, whilst isolating sounds coming from the sides and back. This makes it an optimal design for recording one person, or one source.

It’s a high quality dynamic USB microphone optimised for spoken vocals and ideally suited for podcasts and voiceovers.

The Rode Podcaster has an internal pop filter built in. This can come in handy for helping prevent those annoying pops and plosives in your audio.

This one of the best USB dynamic microphone under $300 comes with the RM2 stand mount. Use it to attach the mic to stands or boom arms to keep it in place. It’s ideal as a placeholder if you don’t have an alternative lying around.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EXrrPaaDBQ

The best thing about the Rode Podcaster is it’s USB plug and play, which means you can connect the microphone directly to your computer so you don’t have to go through an audio interface or mixer.

Rode designed it to mimic broadcast microphones of the past with a fairly narrow frequency response (40Hz to 14Khz in this case) and relatively low sensitivity. 

Coupled with a built-in foam pop filter, it’s designed to be used at close range for classic radio-style spoken vocals, and while you can mount it on a stand (even a table-top one), it’s most comfortable with an angle-poise boom arm and anti-shock mount, such as Rode’s own PSA1 and PSM1 accessories.

Rode includes a small forward-facing LED which you should be able to see if you’re in the correct position. 

This recording distance coupled with the slightly narrower frequency response means voices sound fuller with greater bass than normal, while the short typical working distance from the mic means it’ll almost certainly be in shot if you’re capturing video too.

The Rode Podcaster is undoubtedly one of the best USB mic for voice over & podcasting on the market, in terms of its sound quality, look, feel, and build. It gets that radio DJ sound – clean and clear, with some nice richness to it.

Pros:

• Has a built in pop filter & shock mount
• Rich warm sound
• Good looking microphone
• No DSP

Cons:

• Expensive
• Heavy

READ REVIEWS ON AMAZON

Best For Streaming

Razer Seiren Elite

The Razer Seiren X provides delightfully crisp voice audio, a sleek aesthetic, and a compact design at an entry level price point for professional microphones. It’s an excellent grab for those in need of a high quality microphone for work calls, gaming, streaming, or content creation.

This is another great option if you are looking for a good USB dynamic microphone for streaming & gaming. 

The Seiren Elite is a cardioid-pattern dynamic mic, its long cylindrical body is addressed at the top end, not on what appears to be the front face (where the knobs are located). 

The included stand is among the best we’ve seen bundled with a USB mic—it has excellent swivel range so that the vocalist can perfectly align the capsule with their mouth. 

The detachable mic stand is heavy enough for the job and has a padded base to minimise those bangs and bumps on your desk making their way up to the mic diaphragm.

The Razer Seiren X uses a supercardioid pick-up pattern which just means it focuses on picking up the noise directly in front of the microphone, and reduces background noise coming from behind the mic or from the sides.

This pick-up pattern is optimal for speech and is great for canceling out any audio that may be coming out of your speakers or computer.

The headset volume is controlled with a knob on the front, while mic gain is controlled with a knob on the rear. 

It does a great job during streaming, picking up sound at a much higher quality than is possible through a simple headset mic. Podcasts, too, benefit from the sound of a dedicated USB microphone like the Seiren.

Making gain adjustments on the fly can be a bit tricky, since the pattern selector and gain knobs are hidden from view typically.

Unique to the Elite is a High-Pass Filter toggle, which is designed to allow the microphone to filter out unwanted low-frequency noises such as the hum of an air conditioner. 

There’s also an LED peaking indicator around the mic, which glows red to give you a heads up any time things are getting a bit blown out, as well as a built in digital/analog limiter to prevent distortion. 

Razer’s mic even comes with a foam windscreen to prevent any “pop” noises during those plosives, which is something you usually have to buy separately for these kinds of mics. 

It does a great job during streaming, picking up sound at a much higher quality than is possible through a simple headset mic. 

Podcasts, too, benefit from the sound of a dedicated USB microphone like the Seiren. Less expensive microphones lose out on that natural, conversational sound. 

Recording with the Seiren is almost like being there, and even over something like Discord or Skype, the sound is noticeably better than with a cheaper headset mic. 

Podcasts, too, benefit from the sound of a dedicated USB microphone like the Seiren. 

Pros:

• Warm tone
• High pass filter
• Headphone monitoring
• Solid build

Cons:

• Missing a ticker to tell where your knobs are positioned

READ REVIEWS ON AMAZON

Best Cheap USB Dynamic Microphone

Audio-Technica AT2005USB

The AT2005 is built to be a versatile microphone. It is used for both music recording and podcasting. Thanks to the additional XLR connectivity it can also be used as a regular dynamic instrument or live vocal mic.

The mic is priced under $100, and that is why this microphone has such a high popularity as one of the best budget dynamic microphones the market has to offer.

It comes with a mic stand clamp, a tripod desk stand, and both USB and XLR cables. It also has a headphone jack for zero latency monitoring with a headphone volume control dial on the bottom of the mic. Additionally it sports an on/off switch which works in both USB and XLR modes.

The AT2005USB mic is rugged, well-made, even stylish, and comes with easy instructions for PCs and Macs.  And it has a lovely blue LED indicator light to show when it’s on and connected.

The Audio-Technica AT2005USB works out of the box with very little set-up and without a mixer or external audio interface.  

You plug it directly into the USB port on any netbook, laptop, or desktop computer.  You can plug your headphones directly into the base of the mic for latency-free monitoring.

This microphone is fantastic for podcasts, screencasts, and other methods of simple audio recording.

The microphone makes use of a directional cardioid polar pattern to minimize off-axis sound. 

This polar pattern naturally, yet effectively tamps down room tone and focuses the audio capture on what’s directly in front of the mic. That’s why it’s equally effective on the stage and in the home-studio.

At 50Hz – 15kHz, the Audio Technica AT2005 offers a smooth, extended frequency response, which will be most effective on voice-based applications. 

This is further enhanced by the low-mass diaphragm, something we see in condenser microphones to increase the response time.

Pros:

• Great value for money
• Affordable
• Great for streaming, podcasting, singing, instruments
• Comes with great accessories

Cons:

• Users may sometimes face low output
• No internal shock mount

READ REVIEWS ON AMAZON

Best Under $100

Samson Technologies Q2U

Being a dynamic microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern the Samson Q2U is ideally suited to picking up vocals, whilst rejecting much of the sounds around and behind it. 

And the Q2U actually does a better job than most other dynamic-cardioid mics on this front.

It also performs well with handling noise. It’s always preferable to mount your mics in a boom arm or stand, but if you’re doing some on-location interviews it might be easier to walk around holding the mic. 

The first thing you’ll notice about the Samson Q2U pack is its design. The pack is marketed as a “podcasting pack,” but in reality it’s just a USB microphone with related accessories — like a microphone clip and small tripod, pop filter, XLR cable, and a USB cable. 

The Samson Q2U’s polar pattern is a unidirectional microphone. The speciality of the unidirectional microphone is that it picks up the sound from the top section of the grille while ignoring the sound to be recorded from all corners and from the rear as much as possible. 

The Samson Q2u microphone actually sounds quite good for spoken voice purpose.

You may want to make use of the included pop filter to avoid wind noise, but in general the microphone is nice and deep while still present enough in the high-end.

Essentially, the Q2U bundle brings everything you need to get your voice to the world, assuming you already have a computer or sound system. 

The mic itself has both XLR and Mini-USB, meaning it’s equally capable of serving as a plug-and-play mic for recording, podcasting, or streaming as it is broadcasting your voice to a live audience.

If you are looking for a USB dynamic microphone under $100 then this mic could be a good choice for you.

The features are straightforward. The dual-colour LED indicates power and audio clipping. The On/Off Switch acts as a mute button via the USB interface. 

Volume buttons work via USB which interfaces with the master volume in your system. There is a headphone output using a 3.5mm jack for latency-free monitoring. 

The mini USB port is a better and more secure connector over the micro USB for certain peripherals. 

If you’re starting a podcast, looking for a USB dynamic microphone, and have a limited budget, then this is an excellent option for you.

Its simplicity, versatility, and accessories make for amazing value.

Pros:

• Easy to set up 
• USB & cable connection. Both long cords so you can move things around. 
• Works with Skype. 
• Works with wireless headphones.

Cons:

• Stand is a bit flimsy

READ REVIEWS ON AMAZON

Best Cardioid Mic

Audio-Technica ATR2100x

The Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB is a great entry-level podcast microphone that will give you professional-quality sound.

The best feature about this microphone (besides the sound quality) is that it has both USB and XLR outputs so you can plug directly into your computer (via USB) or plug into a mixer (via XLR).

The ATR2100x-USB also offers a high-quality analog-to-digital converter (24-bit, up to 192 kHz) for excellent fidelity, and a headphone jack with level control for direct monitoring from the microphone. 

Its cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of unwanted sounds from the sides and rear. The mic includes an on/off switch and comes with two 2 m (6.6′) USB cables (USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to USB-A) and a 3m (9.8′) XLRF-to-XLRM cable for maximum versatility. A sturdy tripod desk stand with folding legs is also included for use on tabletops.

With its headphone jack and level control, the mic lets you listen to the sound that’s being captured, without delay or manipulation.

With simple plug-and-play operation, the ATR2100x-USB is compatible with PC and Mac and works with your favorite DAW without the need for an audio interface. 

This great dynamic XLR microphone for streaming features high-quality A/D conversion up to 192kHz sampling rate, low self-noise, and frequency range from 50Hz to 15kHz, the ATR2100x-USB has a pleasant and flattering tone, and its cardioid polar pattern does an excellent job of rejecting unwanted ambient noise that can ruin your recordings and live streams. 

Pros:

• Excellent mic for streaming and recording
• Durable metal construction
• Handheld – and comes with a desk stand
• Built in analog-to-digital converter (for USB)
• Easy to carry

Cons:

• Mic stand is a bit flimsy

READ REVIEWS ON AMAZON

USB Dynamic Microphone Buying Guide

Known for their versatility and simple, sturdy design, USB dynamic microphones are available in a wide range of prices and levels of quality.

Here are a few factors to consider before choosing your best USB dynamic microphone.

Things To Look For In A Good USB Dynamic Microphone

Impedance 

This term refers to a microphone’s receptiveness to AC current or audio signal. Measured in ohms, low impedance mics (600 ohms or lower) are better at retaining audio quality when using cables longer than about 16 feet (approximately 5 meters). 

Sensitivity

The ability to pick up low-volume sounds. Often given as something like “-65dB ± 5dB”, which means that some frequencies will pick up sounds as quiet as -70dB, while some will be less sensitive. 

Higher value with less variance is better (remembering that you’re dealing with negatives).

Polar Pattern

Sensitivity in a given direction. Omni directional microphones pick up sound equally from in front and from the sides. Directional mics pick up more sound from in front. 

Shotgun mics are highly directional mics, and pick up sound a lot from in front, and only a little from the sides. 

Use omnidirectional mics for recording ambient sounds, and directional mics for targeted recording.

Proximity Effect

Proximity effect is not given as a specification, but is an important mic characteristic that is sometimes mentioned in descriptions.

Proximity effect causes bass frequencies to become more pronounced as the sound source moves closer to the mic. 

This is desirable for singers who “work the mic” to create effects. A recording engineer might select a mic with a strong proximity effect for close miking an instrument to bring out its bass tones.

Conclusion

Microphones aren’t sexy. Most of us don’t get the same rush buying a mic as we do a new camera or lens, but it is something that can shift your podcast or stream to a new height and is of critical importance. As alluded to above, it is often the first differentiator of quality in any content.

The type of USB dynamic microphone is very dependent on the content you want to create. Ask yourself, are you looking for a best USB dynamic microphone for podcasting or streaming, live show, or singing? Choose the equipment that gives you the best chance of producing your desired sound. Remember: If you take your audio seriously, your audience will take your content seriously.

 

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