Which USB Microphone should I get – Blue Yeti vs AirPods Pro vs MacBook
Recently I wanted to upgrade my microphone setup, because I found that audio recordings on my AirPods Pro were good, but not great.
There are 1,000+ USB Microphones on Amazon.
How do you know which one to get?
I also wanted to upgrade my Remote Working setup, so I was a bit more presentable and could work more comfortably from home.
- Blue Yeti Microphone — Blue Yeti Blackout USB Professional Multi-Pattern USB Microphone
- Apple AirPods Pro — Designed to deliver Active Noise Cancellation for immersive sound, Transparency mode so you can hear your surroundings.
- Audacity — Audacity® is free, open source, cross-platform audio software for multi-track recording and editing.
- Shure MV5 USB-C Microphone — The Shure MV5 is a digital condenser microphone that delivers studio-quality sound in a compact, portable design. It features a built-in headphone output, three DSP preset modes, and a USB connection for easy setup. Perfect for recording podcasts, vocals, and instruments.
I absolutely love the AirPods Pro.
Best personal audio device ever.
I now love my Blue Yeti USB Microphone.
For gaming, but also for business.
AirPods Pro
Best purchase I have ever made.
I use these more than any other device, in more flexible settings (home, gym, outdoors, shopping, work, etc) and pairs very nicely with Apple Watch when out-and-about.
I even have them engraved with my name.
I probably use these for more than 6 hours every day. They last, they’re very portable, easy to run with, great for video conferencing, and more.
But when I wanted to record some tutorial videos, I had two problems:
- AirPods Pro don’t look great on professional recordings — it is now associated with a conversations like videoconferencing or calls, not for broadcasting and recording tutorials or videos
- AirPods have good noise cancellation, but can still pickup pop noise and background hissing, and sometimes you hear a bit of echoing or delay
MacBook Pro
I love my MacBook Pro — does everything I need and more.
However, the microphone and webcam built in are for convenience, not for professional recording.
They work, but the quality isn’t superior, and it doesn’t need to be — professionals like musicians or photographers will have professional equipment that plug into the MacBook Pro.
EarPods
Just for comparison, I did try my EarPods for recording.
Remember those things, that used to come free with iPhones?
- Great control, the microphone is always at the right height.
- But, looks cheap when making tutorials / video recordings.
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
When I bought the Blue Yeti, I knew I was getting a quality device.
I’m certain that it’s not the best, but it’s very good value for money.
Something like this also has a timeless design, and looks great on my desk.
It’s beautiful.
I bought this for about $240 from EB Games, because JB Hifi were out of stock. Then an hour later, when I was buying an adaptor from Officeworks, I noticed it was listed for $190 — a big price difference. A big profit margin?
However, compared to the internal microphone in MacBook Pro 2017, it’s a significantly better recording quality.
I’m looking forward to using this with video conferencing and giving my ears a rest from always using AirPods Pro.
Pros
- Solid, portable solution (compared to microphones on a hinge/boom)
- USB Powered, no external power necessary
- Can connect with iPhone via the USB to Lighting Camera connector
- Comes with several options for recording settings, and gain control
- 3.5mm headphone line-out for live monitoring
Cons
- Doesn’t have a USB-C connector, may age quickly as older USB types are phased out in the next few years.
- The red ‘mute’ button is always on, and blinks/flashes when muted which is slightly poor user experience, but it would be rare that I would use this.