Best Prosumer Sound Recording Microphones For Mac

Last updated : 12/14/2011

Improve the quality of your voice and music recording with these Pro and Prosumer grade computer microphone options which provide clean digital USB audio and instant driver-free compatibility with your Macintosh and OSX recording applications:

           

Audio Technica 2020	Blue Yeti Microphone	Samson USB Mic
Response 20-16K Hz Cardioid Polar Pattern	Stereo USB Mic Gain + Mute Controls Triple-Pattern Pickup	Studio Quality Condenser 19mm Cardioid Pickup

Setting Up A Computer Microphone On A Macintosh

Your microphone settings can be verified and set in System Preferences > Sound. The Sound preferences pane lets you select devices for your sound input and output. There you can test your input device and adjust its volume. After attaching your headset or mic to your Macintosh's analog jack or USB port. If you do not see signal response, disconnect from and reconnect the mic to your Mac. Drivers are generally NOT needed for USB audio devices. OSX has generic USB audio drivers built-in for a huge range of devices.

Line level input bars help you visually sound check your microphone sensitivity. When the bars don't respond to hollering or to taps on the mic, you'll need to trouble-shoot your connection. Make sure you have not inadvertantly muted your mic. Some USB microphone solutions provide a mute button option. You'll usually find a mute toggle on the cord of the microphone or headset. USB headsets may also offer a mute button on cord - or on the USB audio dongle that connects to your Mac's USB port as well.

Once you have confirmed live voice input as indicated by the Input level bar, make sure you've set up audio properly in your recording app or video-chat program. ISPQ, iChat, Yahoo and MSN Messenger8, Mac Skype offer SEPARATE input settings in their built-in application preferences (App menu > Preferences. Make sure that your new microphone has been selected in whichever chat program you use to agree with higher-level System sound settings.

In OSX Leopard - Option-click the volume control in the menu toolbar to select input and output devices without having to open System Preferences! Many PC Microphones require power on the stereo mini jack and may not work on Mac systems. Try to check for Mac compatibility when buying USB microphone sets. Unamplified PC microphones often won't work. As of 2009 MacBook Pros (and iPads) are now compatible with iPhone microphone headphones. Just plug you headphones into the headphone jack, and the mic will be listed in your input sources. The volume/play/pause controls will work if in iTunes.

Mac compatible computer microphones, USB and 1.8" analog microphone options for Apple MacBook, Mac mini and Pro towers, iMac and MacBook Air computers. USB stereo computer headsets and microphones for Pro music and radio recordings, Prosumer podcasting and videocasts. Apple Macintosh home consumer microphone options for VOIP, online Mac Skype calls, iChat, voice chat, and fun.