ZINGYOU Unidirectional Volume Control Laptop Microphone

You’re used to seeing and hearing the world through your computer, but what happens when it’s time for people to hear you? Whether you’re chatting with teammates in your favorite first-person shooter or putting your talents out there with your first podcast, there comes a time when the tiny mic next to your camera just won’t do. Trading up to a full-fledged laptop microphone can be a small step in terms of cash, but it can pay off big in sound quality.

The first obstacle you’ll encounter when shopping for a microphone of any kind is a fair amount of jargon. So before you run screaming to your roadie cousin, let’s break down some of the common features of a laptop microphone.

First, there’s the connection. While you may find some wireless models that connect to your computer by Bluetooth, most mics will plug into your laptop by a USB cable. You can expect the USB versions to have superior sound quality, though the difference might be negligible if you’re using the mic for gaming or casual chats. Most USB mics have a couple of important built-in circuits: An A/D converter and a preamp. The A/D converter takes the analog sound captured by the mic and turns it into a data file that your computer can easily work with. The preamp boosts the signal so that your voice (or whatever you’re recording) comes out more or less the way you hear it — no mixing board required.

Then there’s the way these microphones actually capture sound. Most USB microphones are condenser mics that use a quick-moving diaphragm that interacts with a fixed backplate. Without getting too technical, the interaction between those two components allows a good condenser mic to capture even the smallest sounds in the general vicinity. That’s ideal if you’re gaming or chatting on a voice call in a quiet room. No matter which way you bob, weave or recline, you can be sure the microphone will pick up your voice.

You can also find dynamic laptop microphones, though they are rarer (and generally a bit more expensive). These mics don’t pick up quiet noises as easily, but they are great at effectively translating louder sounds in a wide area. As such, they are best for recording live music and other atmospheric sounds. For a laptop user, that means podcasting with a lot of guests or recording outdoor scenes.

The way these microphones pick up ambient sound can be further refined by their polar pattern or pickup pattern.

Omnidirectional mics, as you might imagine, pick up sound from all around the microphone, in all directions. Again, a great option if you don’t expect a lot of background interference.

Cardioid microphones pick up sound mainly from the front, with less interference from the side and hardly any pickup from the rear. This is ideal for solo podcasters or those on an important zoom call.

Bi-directional mics can catch sound from the front of the mic and the rear, but very little from the sides. This is a great budget option for podcasters who do a lot of one-on-one interviews.

Some higher-end microphones will even be able to switch between polar patterns, allowing you to suit your pickup to the occasion. If you plan on recording professional-grade vocals, you may want to consider a more dedicated microphone that can jack directly into a mixing board. But for versatility and ease of use, nothing beats the latest USB mics.

Want a little refinement on those vocals, especially when it comes to spoken word? You might want to invest in a pop filter for your microphone. These thin screens guard the mic against plosives, which is a fitting term for those tiny “pops” caused by fast-moving air. They tend to happen most often when people sharply pronounce the “p” sound, and they can be an almost subliminal source of irritation for sensitive listeners.