As with many other Apple friendly computer peripherals, we're seeing highly competitive pricing from overseas putting pressure on the top-tier brand names and their premium priced Mac compatible group video and voice microphone products. Companies like Jabra, iPevo, Plantronics have long dominated the table-top conference microphone for business scene - along with other audio studio brands like MXL, Samson and others.

MXL AC-424 Executive Web Conferencing Microphone

Tri-Capsule Mic Array with LED Mute

For often a third the price of a premium mic like MXL's shown above, OEM manufacturers in the far east are widely selling Mac compatible cheap desktop USB conferencing microphones for MacOS users that contain sensitive, high-quality condenser mic capsules at far cheaper prices. You'll often see the same OEM hardware sold under ever-changing 'no-name' brand names: same components, different branding and packaging.

CMTECK Desktop Cheap Business Conference Microphone

Noise Cancelling Mic with LED Mute Button Indicator

As shown above, we have two fairly comparable USB conferencing mics with plug and play Mac OSX compatibility, similar styling and performance - with one at a far, far cheaper price. This is just one example of the split occurring across the Mac compatible microphone market. Premium mic brands under tremendous pricing pressure from 2nd-tier knockoffs.

Here's a sampling of Mac compatible recommended USB sound card adapters for analog microphone or headset use. These are low-cost analog 'DAC' devices that convert between analog and digital audio signals. For MacBook, iMac or Mac mini/Pro users they can be handy for connecting particular microphones or mic headsets. They might also be useful if for whatever reasons your Mac's internal audio circuitry has failed and you need an alternate way of getting sound into and out of your Mac affordably.

TS/TRS vs TRRS Analog Audio Adapters

Currenty, there's two dominant approaches to the kind of 1/8th inch / 3.5mm plugs that Apple-friendly USB audio dongles accept. For many years, particularly in the Windows PC world, computers featured SEPARATE microphone and speaker / headset connections. In general the microphone is mono and the headphone/speaker jack stereo. As such you'll find many Apple compatible USB audio adapter dongles that support two-jack style devices.

Two-Jack TS / TRS USB Sound Adapters

Those with separate jacks are ideal for older 2-plug mic headsets or mono microphones. The mic is a 2-conductor 1./8th inch (mono) plug and the headphone a 1/8th inch 3 conductor (stereo) plug.

Dual Jack Mac USB Audio Adapter

Separate Microphone Input - Stereo Output

One-Jack 4-Pole TRRS USB Sound Adapters

More recently, since around 2010 and the rise of the smartphone and iPhone - audio in and out have been consolidated into a SINGLE 4-Conductor 'TRRS' type of plug that can handle both a monophonic microphone input and stereo audio playback to earbuds or headphones. These USB soundcard DACs have a single input jack on them to handle both mono audio in and stereo audio out. Those with a single jack are more appropriate for more modern 4-pole headphone with mic type of use.

4-Pole TRRS USB Mac Audio Adapter

For 1-Plug Mic Headsets or Earbuds

Note that the above featured products are USB audio DACs that attach via a short USB cable. These may be a far better choice - especially on Apple MacBook Pro or Air laptops where a more common dongle 'block' would literally block the adjacent USB ports nearby.

Combo USB Audio Adapter Hubs

Need to conserve USB ports? This MacOS friendly device combines a 3-port USB 3.0 high-speed hub AND a dual-input microphone / headset adapter into one device.

3-Port USB 3.0 Hub With 2-Jack Audio Adapter

TR Mono Mic + TRS Stereo Headset + Hub

Whether you're wanting a microphone for Mac speech recognition, podcasting, live streaming, voice or musical instrument recording, Turtle Beach offers an affordable and Mac friendly USB recording mic that's comfortable on your desktop and also optionally supports boom microphone arm mounts.

Turtle Beach USB Mic For Mac

Multiple Mic Patterns + Headphone Monitoring

Once connected to your Mac computer via USB, the Turtle Beach Stream microphone offers up to 6 different mic pattern modes can be set with the press and or hold of a button to control directionality of the condenser microphone's pickup pattern. A colored LED ring around the mic's front-facing mute button indicates which pattern is selected. The microphone can be set to front, front and rear, or omnidirectional front, side and rear pickup depending on whether you're using it solo -- or with other people in the room.

Turtle Beach's Mac compatible USB Stream Mic also has a standard 1/8" 3.5mm stereo headphone jack for real-time audio passthrough monitoring which has it's own volume adjustment thumbwheel at the rear of the microphone. All of this is housed in an elegant, stylish and compact design that will look great with your Apple computer setup

Blue continues it's market-leading offerings with it's latest offering, the premium portable USB microphone; the Blue Raspberry. With both USB and Apple Lightning connectivity, it's a high-quality audio recording peripheral ideal for MacBook, iPhone or iPad tablet sound capture on the go or at your desktop.

Portable Premium Blue Raspberry Mic

USB and Lightning Support

Here's some key features in the mobile Blue Raspberry microphone review of note:
• High-quality mobile USB microphone for Skype, podcasting, live streaming, music and voice-over
• Blue mic's premium capsule circuitry for studio-quality, highly detailed sound
• An IAD Internal Acoustic Diffuser to focus vocalizations while minimizing ambient noise
• Onboard mic level, mute and headphone volume control for easy live monitoring
• 48kHz 24-bit resolution. Instant Plug-&-Play with Mac, iPhone, iPad or PC

USB Microphone with Focused Pattern Technology
The Go Mic Connect is Samson's newest portable USB stereo microphone. It's a highly advanced audio recording solution for Apple computer recording, as well as Mac Skype, VOIP, conferencing and Mac OSX speech recognition.

Dual-Element USB Condenser Microphone

Focused Capture With Peripheral Noise Supression

It's somewhat unusual design is much like a webcam, the Go Mic is a compact oblong device with 2 front facing condenser mic elements. Below is a folding clip to position it atop a MacBook's lid or an LCD desktop display for optimal center positioning. On the rear is a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack for realtime audio monitoring. Atop the mic is a mute button. There's a LED behind the front metal microphone grille to indicate mute status as well as turning RED as a peak level warning indicator.

By combining Active Noise Cancellation and Focused Pattern Technology, the Go Mic Connect generates a targeted pickup pattern which focuses the mic’s sound-field toward the preferred source. This helps to ensure that cleaner, high-qaulity audio is delivered to your Mac's computer applications.

• Pattern: Omnidirectional Polar
• Mic Capsule: Dual 10mm Condenser Capsules
• Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20kHz
• Sample Rate: 44.1kHz - 48kHz
• Bit Rate: 16 Bits
• USB Power Requirements: 50Milliamps at 5V
• Color:s Available: Black or Silver
• USB Cable and Protective Pouch Included
• Windows and MacOS compatible: No driver required
• Digital Noise Reduction: Software Filter Algorithm

At the core of the Mac compatible Go Mic Connect is a advanced, unique version of the Samson Sound Deck software. The software’s Focused Pattern Technology allows the focus array to be positioned, as well as toggled on and off. Once set, all sound that originates outside the focus area is significantly reduced, making the Go Mic Connect ideal for business communications and mobile recording. Sound Deck’s Active Noise Cancellation improves intelligibility of the audio heard through VoIP communication, while the Echo Erase feature reduces echo or feedback caused by monitoring audio with speakers during recording.

Go Mic Connect features a custom, compact design that clips to the top of your laptop or computer monitor, as well as internally shock-mounted dual microphone capsules and a headphone output for zero-latency monitoring. Go Mic Connect combines studio-quality sound and “next-level” technology for exceptional audio via Skype, FaceTime, Google Hangouts and more.

• Portable USB stereo microphone
• Compact design clips atop your laptop or computer monitor
• Zero-latency headphone monitor output
• On-board mute switch
• Focus Pattern Technology aligns the microphone’s peak sensitivity with a desired sound source
• Active Noise Cancellation eliminates background noise for clearer communications
• Echo Erase (Windows only) minimizes feedback caused by computer speakers
• Compatible with VoIP, DAW, Chat and Speech Recognition software
• Ideal for FaceTime, YouTube, Hangouts, Skype and other conferencing platforms

Download and install the Mac OSX version of Samson Sound Deck software app from www.samsontech.com

Shopping for a great sounding, large capsule condenser mic for your Mac audio recording needs? Fo under 50 bucks, CAD's GXL2400 shock-mount USB microphone delivers smooth and sensitive sound capture at a great price!

CAD USB Microphone For MacOS

With Desktop Tripod and Shock Mount

• Microphone features a 1" Aoedein capsule which delivers studio fidelity
• Includes a quality shock mount, desktop tripod stand, and USB cable
• Windows and MacOS compatible - No driver installation required
• Perfect for voiceovers, vocals and music recording, podcasting, Skype
• Full-Range frequency response : 20Hz - 18kHz
• Backed by a full 1 year limited warranty

Shopping for a quality but cheap condenser microphone for your Mac audio recording needs? We're seeing a large number of import microphones hitting the market that are offering quality sound reproduction at prices half that of established major brands.

Fifine USB Condenser Mic With Stand

Onboard Volume And Echo Controls

Above we have Fifine's stylish condenser mic with mini-tripod stand that offers the flexibility of it's native 3-Pin XLR interface for mixing decks, but also comes with a XLR to USB cable for direct recording to your Mac computer. On-board controls allow direct adjustment of volume and another to add digital ambient echo when desired without having to fiddle with settings in your Mac's DAW application. A foam windscreen is also included to minimize 'pop' at close range.

The Blue Nessie USB microphone is a versatile and adaptive Mac compatible desktop mic that's ideal for a wide variety of uses: For podcasting, dictation and speech recognition, personal music and vocal recording, and more.

Multi-Mode USB Desktop Mic For Mac

Voice + Music + Raw Recording Modes

MacBook users on the go might find the Apple compatible Blue Tiki microphone to be an excellent choice for their music, podcast or voice recording needs on the road. The compact and highly portable Blue Tiki mic delivers far higher audio quality than your Apple laptop's internal microphone can ever hope to achieve.

Blue Tiki MacBook Mic

Portable Dual-Mode Condenser Element

Designed to plug directly into your MacBook Pro or Air's USB port, it's diminutive size makes it easy to take along in your MacBook sleeve or cases pocket while taking up very little space.

Looking for a compact, stylish and unobtrusive desktop microphone that's ideal for an Apple Mac mini or Macintosh Pro tower? Samson's golf-ball sized Meteorite USB condenser mic can be a great choice for Apple desktop computers that don't come with a built-in microphone.

Samson Meteorite USB Mic

Ideal For Mac mini or Mac Pro

14mm condenser microphone diaphragm
Pickup pattern: Cardioid
44.1/48kHz, 16-bit resolution
Flat, smooth frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz
USB bus powered - iPad compatible with USB Lightning Adapter
Chrome-plated body : White & Matte Black Editions Available
Removable magnetic base for optimal desktop positioning