The use of the microphone in our daily tasks has increased in recent years. This is due not only to the large number of online games, but also to activities such as content streaming through different specialized platforms and to all this we must add group teleworking and being able to study remotely to interact. It is at this stage that the sound quality of the microphone is important and poor quality is noticed above good. Even if the first question that comes to mind is: Is a micro USB or a mini Jack worth more?
The fact that sound cards have almost disappeared from the board means that many computers lack sufficient sound quality, not because they don’t have enough processing capability, but because in many configurations the parts such as the DAC, digital to analog converters, and the ADC, analog-to-digital converter are of poor quality. Many microphones are sold with noise cancellation, however, this noise is caused by poor sound pickup. Which means that many professional users find themselves using an external box when they need to record content with their microphone, regardless of the connection it has.
Why a USB Microphone Isn’t the Best Option
USB microphones are considered much better for novice users for a very simple reason, we tend to think that since said interface is faster and newer, it will be better. However, the problems appear as soon as we see a series of problems which become evident as soon as we raise our technical requirements, among which the fact that the use of said port adds additional latency, which is not at all appropriate if you are streaming in real time. To make matters worse, many models have a pretty bad internal ADC and the sound quality is affected. Although with a good USB microphone you will be able to record with great quality, in the low-mid range they are best avoided.
On the other hand, the classics with a mini jack do not have the latency problem of the USB port and are ideal for live streaming. Of course, the sound capture will depend on the ditto card you are using. Our recommendation? Unless you know your motherboard has a good DAC/ADC or the sound card you’re using, our recommendation is to get one, especially if you want to record with multiple people at the same time. On the other hand, remember that static charge tends to build up over time, so occasionally unplug the microphone cable and rub the connection with a non-wet cloth to discharge it.
conclusion
Does that mean USB mics are worse? Well, no, since the highest qualities have their built-in analog-to-digital converter. However, there are laptops and motherboards that support USB audio, which are conventional USB ports but with additional hardware for audio capture and streaming. If you have one of these ports on your PC feel free to use it.
In any case, if what you want is not to broadcast in real time and you are looking to podcast with others, being able to use a USB hub with several ports at the same time will help you. Also, having the audio from different sources will help you in later editing to eliminate sound flaws.
