Best USB Microphones Under $300 for New Streamers
One of these USB microphones is going to be your best solution if you want to start livestreaming and creating content fast and without a lot of hassle. We specifically looked for microphones that deliver professional sound quality without requiring you to be an audio engineer, and are optimized for fast setup so you can begin creating right away. Your first stream doesn’t need to sound like it’s your first stream, if you start off with one of these USB microphones for content creation.
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| Feature | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Background Noise Rejection | Poor | Good | Good | Poor |
| Low-Latency Headphone Out? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plug and Play? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mute Button on Mic? | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| App Control? | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Pop Filter and Desk Stand? | Internal Pop Filter, Desk Stand | Integrated Pop Filter | Desk Stand | Internal Pop Filter, Desk Stand |
| Output | USB-C | USB-C, XLR | USB-C | USB-C |
| Available Colors | Silver | Black or White w/ LED color strip | Black, Cream, Red, Sea Foam | White, Black |
| Feature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Background Noise Rejection | Good | Mid | Poor |
| Low-Latency Headphone Out? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plug and Play? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mute Button on Mic? | No | Yes | Yes |
| App Control? | No | No | Yes |
| Pop Filter and Desk Stand? | Internal Pop Filter | Desk Stand | Desk Stand |
| Output | USB-C, XLR | USB Mini-B | USB-C |
| Available Colors | White, Black, Blue, Purple, Red, Pink, Orange, Green | Black, Midnight Blue | White |
Best USB Mics for Streaming Over Background Noise
These USB mics are your best solution to avoid picking up noises from your keyboard, roommates and traffic outside. These are either dynamic microphones (which only capture sound in a focused area), or condenser mics with built-in noise reduction.
Rode PodMic USB
The PodMic USB is a dynamic broadcast mic that delivers pro sound quality and visual customization with selectable windscreens. Lots of vibrant colors are available separately to make this mic match the vibe of your content.
- Pro sound quality without key and mouse clicks
- Colored pop filters available separately to customize your look
- Fast and simple setup so you can start creating content immediately
- Pros: clear and focused sound, color options, simple setup
- Cons: requires a separate stand or boom arm, no Mute button
Shure MV7+
This dynamic podcasting microphone has built-in DSP to make you sound fantastic, and a convenient app for streamlined control. Not only does the MV7+ look like a professional broadcast mic on its own, it has an LED color ring that you can adjust with the app for a subtle visual highlight.
- Onboard DSP to optimize your sound with convenient app control
- LED color ring can be customized to match your visual style
- Onboard DSP with De-noiser, Pop Blocker, reverb effects and more to enhance your sound
- Pros: excellent sound quality, built-in audio effects, customizable LED color ring
- Cons: requires a separate stand or boom arm, no Mute button
Tula Portable Recorder/USB Mic
Tula serves double-duty as a USB-C microphone and a portable recorder. And because it has advanced noise-cancelling technology built in, you get the background noise reduction of a dynamic mic with the clarity, detail, and sensitivity of a condenser mic.
Simple to use with handy onboard controls, including a Mute button
Advanced noise reduction software built-in for noise-free audio in any environment
Provides a cool retro look on camera while streamlining your audio workflow
Pros: advanced noise reduction technology, works as a portable recorder, onboard controls including Mute
Cons: possibly distracting look, could be too sensitive for some rooms or voices
Best USB Mics for Quiet Spaces or Acoustically-Treated Rooms
These USB microphones are best when you have a quiet recording space and some acoustic treatment to balance the sound of your room. These are condenser mics, which capture sound with less focus and greater reach than dynamic mics. In other words, these mics will capture your voice, noises from other rooms in your house, your AC system, and traffic outside if you don’t have any acoustic treatment in your room.
Earthworks ICON
The ICON microphone brings ultra-detailed studio sound to your stream in a desktop-friendly format. It’s also ideal for use with portable devices, supporting power over USB for single-cable simplicity.
- Super-detailed sound quality
- Plug and play with portable devices, laptops and streaming computers
- Classy silver finish and included desktop stand
- Pros: ultra-high sound quality, plug and play with portable devices, includes Triad-Orbit mic stand adapter
- Cons: could be too shiny depending on your lighting setup, sensitive to background noise
Blue Microphones Yeti
The Blue Yeti is a USB condenser microphone that features four selectable polar patterns that help it avoid background noise more than the other condenser microphones on this list. That’s why we rated it as “mid” on our table above; it is still a condenser mic and sensitive to background sounds.
- Tried-and-true streaming microphone available in Black or Midnight Blue
- Onboard controls including a handy Mute button
- Selectable mic patterns help you optimize the sound capture for your room
- Pros: can be optimized for your room, convenient onboard controls
- Cons: more sensitive to background sounds than dynamic mics, USB Mini-B port
Yamaha AG01
The AG01 is a USB condenser microphone that’s optimized for single-cable streaming simplicity. It’s a plug and play USB-C mic with headphone output for monitoring, and a TRRS connection for your smartphone. And all of your necessary controls are front and center for easy access.
- Fast setup to start streaming immediately
- Easy access to all controls including Mute button and levels
- Audio input with loopback for echo-free external audio
- Pros: start streaming fast, easy access to controls, streamlined operation
- Cons: sensitive to key and mouse clicks
Elgato Wave:3 MK.2
The Wave:3 MK.2 is a USB-C condenser microphone optimized for streamers and content creators. It features onboard Wave FX for sonic enhancement, and also supports VST plug-ins for advanced users to customize their sound. The Wave:3 MK.2 makes it ultra simple to get the optimum audio levels every time, with Auto Gain and Clipguard technology to streamline your audio workflow.
- Clear, detailed sound plus onboard effects engine
- Supports VST plug-ins for customizing your vocal chain
- Fast for beginners to set up, lots of smart features for advanced users to take advantage of
- Pros: Simple to set up and start streaming, pro sound quality, tap-to-mute on front panel
- Cons: Sensitive to desktop noise, requires tweaking onboard effects for best sound
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