USB vs. XLR Microphones: How to Choose the Right Podcast Mic

Should you use a USB microphone or an XLR microphone for your podcast? In this episode, we weigh the pros and cons of each, explain the differences in cost and setup, and help you choose the best podcast microphone for your needs. Whether you're just getting started or ready to upgrade, this episode will help you record with confidence and publish consistently.

Resource mentioned: Podcast Equipment Guide: What I Recommend After 500 Episodes

If you have questions about which mic to choose, reach out to us on the Podcaster Success team by emailing support@buzzsprout.com. 

Keep podcasting!

Transcript

Welcome to Podcasting Q&A

Cara Pacetti 0:00

Welcome to Podcasting Q&A, brought to you by the people at Buzzsprout. I'm your host, Cara Pacetti, and I'm bringing you the best tips and strategies to keep you podcasting with confidence. Today, we're answering a listener question about which microphone to start with. The question says, I'm launching my first podcast in a few weeks, and the last thing I need to get is a microphone. I keep seeing USB and XLR options, but I don't really understand the difference. Is it worth spending more on an XLR setup, or is a USB microphone all I need to get started? When it comes to equipment recommendations, the answer really depends on where you are in your podcasting journey. I want to break down the differences in these two microphones so that you have all the information you need so you can make the best choice that's right for you.

What's the difference between? XLR vs. USB

Cara Pacetti 0:55

First, what is the actual difference between an XLR setup and a USB mic? First, I want to start with a little bit of history here. XLR microphones have actually been the industry standard since the 1950s. They were originally built for radio stations, recording studios, live concerts, and even television production. Microphones had to be connected using large, durable XLR cables. The XLR connections were designed to carry clean, balanced audio over long cable runs while minimizing unwanted noise. And that's still true today. An XLR cable is a little thicker. It doesn't plug right into any of the ports that are available on your standard computer. So in order to connect your XLR microphone, you have to have something in between the microphone and the computer. What we use here is an audio interface or a mixer. And so we would connect the XLR microphone with that long durable cable and then connect a USB cord from your computer to the mixer. In addition to serving as the connection point to get your XLR microphone connected to your computer, the audio interface also allows you to make adjustments to the audio that is being sent to the mixer and then distributed to your computer. Of course, this is a little bit of extra equipment. It also adds a little bit of cost and complexity, but it definitely gives you a little more flexibility, which may become helpful down the road. Before shifting into answering the question of which microphone should you be starting with, I want to explain the USB microphone. So USB microphones really didn't become popular until the early 2000s when podcasting and home recording took off. They actually combined the traditional microphone with a built-in audio interface, allowing you to just plug the microphone directly into your computer without any extra equipment. That simplicity made podcasting much more accessible for beginners who were just starting out. Connecting your USB microphone to the computer is actually very easy. And typically, if your computer has a USB port, you could just plug that microphone directly into your computer. If you're working on a computer that doesn't have a USB port, maybe nowadays they have a USB-C port, there is an adapter that you can buy that's really easy to use where you would just plug in the USB-C and then plug the USB into that adapter. Again, it's just a plug and play, no extra costly equipment or setup. You just plug in the microphone and get to recording. Now

When a USB mic makes sense

Cara Pacetti 3:34

that you know the main differences between these mics and how they connect, let's talk about when each microphone makes sense for your podcast. There are a lot of shiny new fancy microphones out there, and it can be a little overwhelming deciding which one really is the best microphone to start with as a new podcaster. So, to help with this, our head of marketing here at BuzzSprout, Alvin Brook, created a full podcasting equipment guide. Now, his findings were based on his own experience recording over 500 episodes. While he highlights a lot of recommendations for equipment that you can get started with and how to grow your studio setup as you evolve, I want to highlight the microphone setup that he recommends for beginners. In this guide, Alvin actually recommends starting with a USB mic. Specifically, a Samsung Q2U microphone is a great starting point. The main attraction for this mic is it's simple. You just plug it into your computer and start recording. When at home, I've recorded episodes of podcasting QA on my Samsung Q2U. And literally, when I plug the microphone in, the little green light turns on and I am ready to start recording. And I bet you wouldn't be able to tell the difference of which episodes were recorded on my home Samsung Q2U mic versus the episodes recorded in our professional podcasting studio. The great part is here that modern day USB microphones have really come such a long way and they sound excellent, especially for solo podcasters or shows with just one co-host. It requires less equipment. So you're going to spend less money as you're getting started. And it's super easy to travel with. If you need to travel for a guest interview, all you have to bring is your laptop and your USB microphone. So this is a great way to just hit the ground running and remove any roadblocks, whether it be cost or maybe complexity that would prevent you from producing new episodes.

The perfect time to switch to an XLR setup

Cara Pacetti 5:33

So if a USB mic is our recommendation for new podcasters, then when is it appropriate to switch to an XLR setup? Of course, if you have the means to start with an XLR mic and an audio interface, you can absolutely do that. But typically, our recommendation would be to choose in that investment when your setup requires it. So it obviously takes a little longer to learn how to use an interface. It costs a little more to purchase this setup, but it does offer some flexibility. And so if your podcast has now become a long-term hobby or a business or a professional production, then at those times the XLR mic might just be the right fit for you. Typically, if you are recording multiple people in the same room and you want to connect several mics into your audio interface, if you're producing multiple shows, if you are building a dedicated studio and you want more flexibility for future upgrades, or even if you just want a little bit more control over adjusting audio levels as your audio is being recorded, these are all great indicators and signs that you might be ready to switch up your setup from a USB mic to that XLR mic with that audio interface setup. One of the main takeaways that I want you to grab from this episode is that our recommendation is just to keep it simple. I want you to avoid buying the shiny new fancy equipment just because that's what you're seeing podcasters do in the industry. Keeping it simple, keeping it easy to use, easy to travel with is going to help eliminate any roadblocks that would prevent you from recording and publishing new episodes. Remember that great podcasts come from clear audio and consistent publishing, not from having the latest and greatest and most expensive podcasting gear. So for my listener who sent in this question about should you buy a USB mic or an XLR mic? As I mentioned in the beginning, it just depends where you are in your journey. For most podcasters, a USB microphone is absolutely the right place to start. It's more affordable, it's simple, and it produces excellent sound. My recommendation to you would be go ahead and grab that easy and simple USB mic, plug it into your laptop and start recording. Either way, the best microphone is the one that helps you consistently create and publish new episodes. If there's specific equipment that you are kind of torn between and you'd like for me to do a deep dive on a future Podcasting Q&A episode, just shoot me some fan mail and let me know. I would love to cover that. If you have specific questions about your podcast, please reach out to us on the podcaster success team by emailing support at buzzsprout.com. Be sure to join us every Monday to kickstart your week. Thank you so much for listening. And as always, keep podcasting.