I had a few audio projects coming up and I didn’t want to rely just on my built-in laptop microphone. But I am not an audio engineer and didn’t want to have to buy racks of equipment just so I could record high-quality audio. I also wanted my setup to be portable and durable.
So after shopping around I decided on the Rode Podcaster USB Microphone
This is a hefty microphone — very solid design. Also, using it couldn’t be easier. Just plug it into my laptop’s USB port (Mac) and start recording — no need for external power supplies or other interface gadgets.
As a simple example, I just plugged in the mic, fired up Garage Band, and recorded the introduction to the story “A Scandal in Bohemia” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle from the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Here is the audio MP3:
Introduction to “A Scandal in Bohemia” [MP3] 1 min 28 seconds
I’ve already mentioned the heft of the microphone — this means that you will likely need a solid mic stand to support the mic, especially since it connects to the stand at the base of the mic, and so the result makes the stand and mic a little top-heavy.
But I am very happy with this mic — easy to use, durable, and makes high-quality recordings.
Rode Podcaster USB Microphone