How To Select A Computer Microphone

Microphones for Computers, Headset Microphones, Desktop Microphones

Apr 19, 2009 Chad Criswell

Although fairly inexpensive, headset mounted computer microphones are not the best choice for every application. This article gives and overview of the various options.

While many brand name computers come with microphones provided as a part of the package, not all of these microphones are of decent quality. For a user that wants to record a podcast, dictate into a speech to text software program, or simply chat over Skype, buying a better quality computer microphone is important.

There are many varieties and styles of computer microphones to choose from, and each style fits into a specific niche use. This article give a general overview of computer microphone products and lists some representative models to choose from in each category.

Headset Mounted Computer Microphones

Best For: Chatting via Skype, Gaming

Headset mounted computer microphones are becoming very popular and commonplace, especially among those that use Skype or other videoconferencing services to communicate between themselves and loved ones.

Headset mounted microphones come in a variety of styles, from petite and lightweight to larger models with well cushioned headphone ear cups. While these types of microphones are widely available some speech to text applications such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking come with very good quality headset mounted microphones included in the box.

Headset microphones may come with either USB or standard 1/4 inch audio jacks. There can be a significant difference between the two varieties in terms of latency. Users of USB computer microphones may discover that this latency issue precludes them from using the headset for anything other than videoconferencing. Recording live audio and syncing it with other audio is difficult at best with some brands and models of headset mounted computer microphones.

Recommended Headset Microphones: Logitech ClearChat Pro, Plantronics GameCom Pro 1

Dedicated, Freestanding Computer Microphones

Best For: Recording Music and Professional Quality Podcasting

Amateur podcast producers generally seem to prefer using free standing computer microphones as opposed to headset microphones. Having a desktop podcasting microphone allows for a bit more flexibility while recording such as being able to easily turn your head to cough instead of coughing directly into a headset microphone.

They also allow the speaker to have greater control over how they sound by varying the distance between them and the microphone. This also helps to reduce the incidence of popping caused by enunciating hard consonant sounds.

Desktop microphones also tend to have higher quality diaphragms and components which in turn produce a more accurate and full sounding recording of the human voice. Some dedicated podcasters go even farther and use traditional, studio quality microphones that are then fed into a converter box to send the audio signal into the computer.

Recommended Free Standing Computer Microphones: BlueMics Snowball, Logitech USB Desktop Microphone

The right computer microphone can a very personal decision that hinges on the ideas mentioned above as well as other factors such as aesthetics and comfort of use. One type of microphone is never best for all applications, nor for all users. As with most technology purchases try to find a way to try out a product before making any expensive purchase and always keep the receipt.

The copyright of the article How To Select A Computer Microphone in Computer Hardware/Accessories is owned by Chad Criswell. Permission to republish How To Select A Computer Microphone in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Microphone

What do you think about this article?

---

NOTE: Because you are not a Suite101 member, your comment will be moderated before it is viewable.

post your comment

What is 9+2?