How To Connect a Microphone To Your PC Computer, Laptop or Mac
USB Microphones
USB Audio Interfaces
PCI Soundcards
One of our most frequently asked questions is how to connect a microphone to a PC Computer or laptop and start making audio recordings. Many computers ship with simple dynamic microphones made especially for connecting directly to the soundcard, equipped with 1/8 inch plugs (mini-jacks) that can be plugged straight in to the mic-in socket (often coloured pink on standard sound cards).
However, while this will be appropriate for beginners and those recording for their own use only, musicians and podcasters who want a more professional sound will probably be disappointed with the quality of these generic mics, and may also find the recording quality of a standard sound card is not too good either.
USB Microphones
A really neat one-stop solution for recording on your computer, and one which will offer a considerable improvement in quality over a generic computer microphone and soundcard combination, is to consider one of the Samson USB mics. For many people who talk to us this really is the ideal solution. From the brilliantly simple and compact , to the original and biggest selling , or their flagship . These high quality microphones simply plug straight into your USB port - perfect for musicians on the move with laptops, but equally at home in the desktop music studio. They are compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems. They represent excellent value because there is no requirement to purchase any additional hardware, and are very easy to install and use.
The most recent addition to the Samson USB Mic stable was the . Literally selling by the thousand in the US, these funky little mics are just taking off here, and you can see why. Unbelievably good looking, with shiny stainless steel and an integrated stand, plus designed to work on iPad via USB Adapter, as well as on PC and Mac.
Once you have chosen your mic, we have a available for these products too.
USB Audio Interfaces
What if you want more than just a USB mic? Well the next thing to look at is a dedicated USB Audio interface that is specifically designed to allow a mic (or several microphones) to be connected. These USB audio interfaces already have the necessary pre-amps and software to give you a really high quality recording result on your PC or Mac without the need to install a PCI sound card, so they are also great for mobile recording on a laptop or notebook and easily transferrable if you upgrade your system in the future.
The is a superb step up to pro-quality recording, shipping with the software you need as well as the hardware. It has a mic pre-amp and line/guitar in with gain so it is perfect for vocalists and instrumentalists. The ideal mic to team with thisis the as the Pro Tools Fast Track USB does not have a phantom power supply, and the Q7 is a suberb high-quality dynamic mic ideally suited to recording vocals.
If you require an interface with phantom power (most condenser mics require this unless they are self-powered) then the is another top-selling solution. Use with the Q7 as above, or it works really well with the . The Mobile Pre has two high quality microphone/line inputs for stereo recording, and also now comes with Pro Tools SE for a neat out of the box solution.
Want MIDI as well as Audio in your USB interface? Then there are a number of USB devices which are really well-featured for the home musician featuring both MIDI and Audio Inputs and Outputs. As well as providing a high-quality audio interface with pre-amps for mics and gain for instruments, the , and the take you into an even higher realm of computer music making. All offer phantom power for your microphone, high quality amplification, professional analogue to digital conversion at high resolution, MIDI input and output,and all in compact devices that sit neatly on your desk or travel easily with you and your laptop or powerbook. They all ship with Recording Software so you can get going right away.
On a bigger budget and looking for the best quality? Then our top recommendation is the new Avid M-Audio C-Series. The Fast Track C400 and C600 have everything you need in terms of absolutely top quality hardware, with pristine recording results and fantastic features such as built-in reverb and the ability to monitor on more than one set of speakers to get the perfect mix effortlessly. The base versions come with Pro Tools SE and they are both also available in M-Powered packages too, this offers a great way to get Pro Tools M-Powered AND a top quality recording interface in one box. Tremendous.
PCI Soundcard
It is relatively simple to upgrade your computer's sound card to something that will give a much better recording and playback result such as the . As most PCI sound cards don't have built-in mic pre-amps you will also need to purchase a separate mic pre-amp unit such as the . Connect the mic to the XLR input on the Audio Buddy, then connect the Audio Buddy to the input of the soundcard. We also love the Alto Professional Zephyr Mixers - run your microphones and other instruments through them and hook up the outputs to the sound card. They are fantastic quality and amazing price. Sound cards to take a look at include the , a rock-solid PCI sound card which has just sold and sold since its launch. Alternatively, the is a great sound card with mic pre-amps already connected (though bear in mind these do NOT provide phantom power and so you will have to use a self-powered microphone or a dynamic mic.
All the above devices ship with excellent software packages which will be more than adequate to start you on the road to making excellent recordings on your computer.
Common Questions: What is phantom power?
In most condenser mics, a power source is needed to maintain an electrical charge between the elements inside. Many pre-amps and audio/MIDI interfaces have an AC power supply built into them for use by a condenser mic. This is called a phantom power supply, meaning that the electrical power is carried up the cable that attaches the mic to the pre-amp or interface. Most condensor mics (apart from all our USB ones) require a phantom power supply, but dynamic mics (such as the Q7) do not.
What is a pre-amp?
A pre-amp is a device that amplifies the signal from your microphone to make it strong enough to be usable by the computer. You can buy a versatile external interface that combines a soundcard and pre-amp, connecting via the USB port, such as the , or if you are perfectly happy with your existing soundcard then you can purchase an external stand-alone pre-amp such as the .
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