In short If you think that you will be recording more than one track at a time, be it to record music or podcasts, then go with the Audio Interface and XLR microphones.
#XLR CABLE USB CONVERTER ADAPTER UPGRADE#
Now, if you want to get another XLR mic, you just buy one more and now you can record two simultaneous tracks, where if you went with a USB mic and now wanted to upgrade to a setup where you are able to record 2- or 4 tracks, you would end up spending a LOT more since you would have to ditch the USB mic and get an Audio interface plus 2- or more- XLR microphones. If you decide to go with the XLR microphone approach, sure, you will have to spend a bit more in the beginning (not that much more, if I’m being honest), but you will already own an Audio Interface as well as one XLR microphone. This is why I say that you need to seriously think about what your needs may look like in the future, because even though USB microphones are easier to use, they are much less versatile and way more expensive in the long run. I say this because most people immediately decide to go with a USB mic since it’s generally more affordable and less of a hassle, but what if at some point you need to record more than one microphone at the same time? USB Microphones are designed to work on their own, and recording two of them simultaneously in nearly impossible.īy that same token, upgrading to a better microphone means buying a whole new USB microphone, and USB microphones on their own are more expensive than their XLR counterparts, if we don’t include the external Audio Interface and XLR cables, or course. XLR microphones, on the other hand, don’t come with those additional components, which is why you will need an Audio Interface, Mixer, or a Preamp to record with them and to feed them Phantom Power.īoth setups have their pros and cons, but you will need to think about what your current needs are as well as what your needs may be in the near future. If you did any kind of research, you will probably have found out that there are many microphone models out there that come in both the XLR and USB format, such as the Audio-Technica AT2020.Įssentially, it’s the exact same microphone, but the USB version comes with additional components, such as a built-in audio interface, phantom power supply, etc., that allows the microphone to record all on its own and to draw the power it needs straight out of the USB port. One thing to note is that USB microphones don’t come with 15-meter long cables, so interference will generally not be that bad of an issue, since the longer the cable, the more interference, but they are always going to pick up more noise than an XLR cable. If you want to get an in-depth explanation of how USB cables work, check this article.Īs far as the topic at hand goes, USB cables don’t flip the polarity of the signal like XLR cables do, meaning that they are susceptible to interference. USB cables have four cables in them two power conductors and two signal pathways, which are the ones responsible for the data transfer. Now, why are XLR cables so much better at handling noise? Well, here’s how the magic happens, and this is crucial to understanding why XLR microphones are generally the better choice. However, like I just mentioned, XLR cables will require you to purchase additional gear, which means that the whole setup, while more versatile and better-sounding, will be more expensive. I always recommend people who are trying to get the best sound quality out of their equipment to go with XLR microphones since they will end up yielding a better end result. However, XLR microphones generally provide a higher-quality audio signal because of how XLR cables are able to suppress noise.
XLR Microphones require additional equipment to be used, like an Audio Interface or a Mixer, while USB microphones are designed to be connected directly to the computer via a USB Cable, making them easier to set up and use. Difference between USB and XLR Microphones I will cover this in this post as well as give you my honest opinion on which one I prefer, both for music production and for people who aren’t interested in recording or producing music. Nowadays you can get your hands on thousands of different USB microphones as well as purchase the same microphone in both XLR and USB format, but which one should you go for? After all, why are there two options available? When I first got started with audio engineering, there were no USB microphones around, so whether or not to get one wasn’t even a choice.
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