Whether you’re podcasting, recording music to your computer, posting a YouTube video or recording professional voiceover material, you need a professional-quality USB microphone for recording. Blue Microphones offers a range of USB microphones to fit your specific needs. Need help deciding what you need? Take a quick look at each, their features and strengths:

Blue Microphones Snowball

Snowball Style: Black, Brushed Aluminum or White

Features:

*Great for podcasting, vocal and instrumental recording

*Three settings: Cardioid for talking in front of the mic, Omni for round-table or multiple source recording and Cardioid with a -10dB pad for louder sounds such as a band, guitar, or if you want to temper any “popping” you hear in your audio

*Plug-and-play: No complicated drivers required and works on PC and Mac – Use it with GarageBand, Audacity, iChat, Skype, Power Point, YouTube

* Buy here

Yeti

The world's first THX-certified microphone

The ultimate in-home studio USB mic, features:

*Perfect for instrumental or vocal recording, podcasts, Skype, voiceover, sound effects, broadcast, and more

* Contains three premium condenser capsules for allowing four recording patterns – Omni: For round-table or multiple source; Cardioid: For directly in front of the mic; Bi-directional (or Figure of 8): For front and back of the mic (great for duets or interviews); Stereo: Records the right and left channels (great for music; paints a true audio picture of your live instrumentals)

* Gain control

* Zero-latency headphone jack for direct monitoring, along with volume control so that you can hear instantly what’s being recorded

* Digital mute button (for a cough or content you don’t want on the podcast)

* Buy here

Snowflake

The portable solution for USB recording, features:

* Great for Skype calls, recording quick musical demos on the road or podcasts on location

* Carrying case for protected, easy traveling

* Cardioid pattern for recording Skype, podcasts, interviews on-the-go

* Sits on the tabletop or hangs on the back of your laptop for easy positioning

* Buy here

Icicle

Do you have your favorite professional microphone, but you want to get that sound onto your computer? The Icicle XLR-to-USB converter allows you to do just that!

* Great for getting that XLR professional sound straight into your computer without the mixing board

* Plug the XLR cable into one end, then plug the USB cable into your computer

* Supplies phantom power

* Analog gain control

* Buy here