Best External Microphone for MacBook Pro in 2024

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With the rise of remote work and online content creation, a high-quality external microphone for your MacBook Pro is a must-have. But with so many different options on the market, choosing the right one for your needs can be overwhelming. Here we’re with the top 5 best picks of external microphones for everyone.

Quick Summary

The HyperX QuadCast S is the perfect external microphone for gamers and streamers using MacBook Pro. It offers customizable RGB lighting and 4 selectable polar patterns.

Does your recording demand versatility? With multiple recording patterns, the Blue Yeti USB microphone offers a flexible design and is ideal for content creators, musicians, and podcasters with endless ways to take your audio quality to the next level and a zero-latency headphone jack.

The Apogee MIC PLUS is the best choice if you’re completely committed to Apple and looking for a product that feels the same. Well integrated with all of Apple’s products and extremely portable, this mic is ready to rock the world of musicians, podcasters, and voiceover artists with its wide frequency response and compatibility with multiple devices.

To step up your audio game at home, the Blue Snowball iCE Condenser Mic delivers quality sound at an affordable price. Its classy design and brand reputation imply a degree of quality you’ll experience first hand whether you’re recording your guitar or narrating a home video. Finally, the Razer Seiren Elite stands out for its advanced features and customizable lighting, making it an excellent choice for gamers, streamers, and content creators looking for a stylish option.

Do I Need a Mic for My MacBook Pro

An external microphone is not usually a cheap investment, and those who purchase them usually need them for a regular task.

That could be as mundane as frequent video-conference calls for work where you need others to be able to understand you clearly or as technical as creating your own music in a home recording studio.

But the occasional Skype with an old friend will probably be just fine using your Macbook’s built-in microphone.

5 Best External Microphone for MacBook Pro in 2024

The market is teeming with diverse products, from budget-friendly options to professional-grade microphones. We will dive into the technicalities and features of the five best external microphones for MacBook Pro in 2024. These microphones have been carefully selected based on their sound quality, versatility, and compatibility with MacBook Pro

1. HyperX QuadCast S

The HyperX QuadCast S USB Condenser Gaming Microphone is a great option for gamers and streamers who want to enhance their excellent audio quality. This microphone offers an array of impressive features, including customizable RGB lighting, a built-in anti-vibration shock mount, and a tap-to-mute sensor with an LED status indicator. Its mount adapter effortlessly attaches your microphone to various stands and boom arms, providing flexibility in positioning and optimizing your recording setup.The microphone is customizable via the HyperX NGENUITY software and works on various streaming platforms like Streamlabs OBS, OBS Studio, and XSplit, making it a versatile choice. Plus, the the built-in headphone jack allows you to monitor your audio in real-time with zero latency and make instant adjustments for an enhanced audio experience. Though the microphone is pricier, it is worth the investment if you are looking for high-quality audio and customization options.

Pros

• The shock mount effectively isolates the microphone from vibrations and handling background noise
• Has an elastic rope suspension, ensuring clear and crisp audio
• Four selectable polar patterns help adapt to any recording situation

Cons

• On the pricier side

2. Apogee MiC Plus

The Apogee MiC Plus is a versatile microphone that delivers high-quality audio recordings for musicians, podcasters, and voiceover artists. Its high-frequency response of 20Hz – 20kHz accurately captures a wide range of sounds, making it reliable and efficient. The microphone can handle loud sounds up to 130dB SPL without distorting the sound, making it perfect for capturing loud instruments like drums or electric guitars.

The microphone’s -36 dBFS/Pa sensitivity at 1kHz ensures that even quiet sounds are precisely captured. Its cardioid polar pattern makes it ideal for recording vocals or a single sound source, ensuring that the microphone is most sensitive to sound in the direction of the sound source. The Apogee MiC Plus also features a 1/8″ (3.5mm) headphone output, allowing real-time audio monitoring during live recording sessions.

While primarily designed for Apple devices, the Apogee MiC Plus is compatible with Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android devices, making it versatile and easy to use with most devices. However, it may not be the ideal choice if you need a microphone for recording voices in loud environments.

Pros

• Compact and portable design
• Delivers high-quality sound with low self-noise
• Includes a headphone jack for direct monitoring

Cons

• It may not be suitable for recording in noisy environments
• Limited to a cardioid polar pattern

3. BlueSnowball iCE USB Microphone

The Blue Snowball iCE USB microphone is an ideal solution for those who need a high-quality microphone on a budget. Despite its affordability, this microphone has features that allow users to achieve professional-level audio recording. The Snowball iCE features Blue’s custom condenser capsule, which delivers superior audio quality and outperforms built-in computer microphones. The Snowball iCE microphone also comes with a cardioid pickup pattern that captures clear and focused sound, making it suitable for various applications such as streaming, podcasting, and video conferencing. Its adjustable desktop stand allows for convenient positioning and optimized sound quality while saving space on your desk. Moreover, it is certified by Skype and Discord, ensuring clear and effective communication for interviews, streaming, and VOIP applications.

Pros

• An affordable price point for a quality microphone
• Clear and focused sound quality.
• Includes an adjustable desktop stand

Cons

• Limited frequency response compared to higher-end microphones

4. Blue Yeti USB Microphone

The Blue Yeti USB microphone is ideal for content creators, musicians, and podcasters due to its versatility, superior audio quality, and user-friendly features. It has three 14mm condenser capsules that allow it to capture sound from various directions, making it perfect for recording a group of people or instruments. It also offers four polar patterns, cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo, making it suitable for different recording scenarios.

The microphone’s frequency response range of 20Hz to 20kHz covers the entire range of human hearing, ensuring it accurately captures all the sound details for clear and crisp audio output. With a maximum sound pressure level (SPL) of 120dB, the Blue Yeti can handle recording loud sound sources without distortion. However, it may be optional for those who do not require advanced features or high-quality sound recording.It also features a built-in headphone amplifier with a 3.5mm jack for real-time audio monitoring, eliminating latency issues and accurately representing recorded sound. Finally, its USB connectivity provides a digital output for clear and noise-free recordings, making it an excellent choice for podcasting or recording music.

Pros

• Versatile polar patterns for different recording scenarios
• Headphone output for real-time monitoring
• Compatible with most operating systems

Cons

• The microphone is quite bulky and may take up a lot of desk space

5. Razer Seiren Elite

The Razer Seiren Elite is an excellent choice for anyone who values high-quality audio in their recordings. Its advanced features, including the high-pass filter and shock mount, make it stand out from other best USB microphone in its class, and its sleek design and customizable lighting make it a stylish addition to any setup. Whether you’re a gamer, streamer, or content creator, the Seiren Elite is an excellent investment that will elevate your audio to the next level.The Seiren Elite’s sleek design and customizable lighting add a touch of style to your setup. The microphone’s base has a built-in LED strip that can be customized to your preferred color or synced with other Razer Chroma-enabled devices for a complete, immersive gaming experience. The microphone’s simple plug-and-play setup makes it easy to get started, and its intuitive controls make it easy to use, even for beginners.

• Superior quality of audio with a 25mm condenser capsule
• Built-in high-pass filter and shock mount to reduce unwanted noise
• Real-time monitoring with a built-in headphone jack

Cons

• Relatively expensive compared to other best USB microphones

The Razer Seiren Elite is a top-of-the-line USB condenser microphone that offers exceptional audio quality and versatility for various recording applications. While it may be a bit pricey and flashy for some users, its advanced features and ease of use make it a great choice for anyone who demands professional-grade audio.

Additional Tips & Resources

Picking up on all the lingo of a new technical product or field can be difficult and confusing. When it comes to microphones, one of the key things to learn about is the polarity pattern of your potential purchase.

This pattern determines how well sound will be picked up at different angles, which becomes more or less important depending on how you plan to use it. This guide will give you a great explanation of what each pattern means and when each is most useful.

Once you have the right mic, you’ll also need to make sure to set up your recording properly as well.

While it may seem like the best settings are simply pushing all sliders to the max, this actually isn’t the case, and this discussion will help guide you through picking a sampling rate and bit depth that works for what you need.

What to Consider While Getting an External Microphone

Size

The microphone’s size is an important consideration when purchasing an external microphone for your MacBook Pro. The level of portability you require will depend on your intended use. A larger microphone may be good for home recording, but for on-the-go use, look for a more compact option.

Recording Pattern

Microphone polar patterns are crucial when choosing an external microphone for your MacBook Pro. Cardioid patterns capture sounds from the front, while omnidirectional patterns pick up sounds from all angles. Bidirectional patterns capture sound from two opposite directions, and stereo patterns capture sound from the left and right sides. It ensures your microphone is effective and records only what you need.

Recording Quality

When choosing a USB microphone for your MacBook, recording quality is crucial. USB mics come in various recording qualities measured in bits/kHz, and a higher rate equals better quality sound. Don’t pay for more than you need, as the final file format of your recording may make a high rate obsolete. It won’t be a concern if you’re using the mic for Skype.

Compatibility

Not all external microphones are compatible with all laptops, and the same goes for different operating systems. Before purchasing a microphone, check that it’s compatible with your MacBook Pro and your operating system.

Brand and Price

Brand and Price are also important factors. Numerous brands and models of external microphones are available in the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Research and read reviews to find the best microphone that fits your budget and needs. It’s important to balance quality and affordability and not be swayed by brand names alone.

Can I Use An External Microphone With My Macbook Pro?

Yes, we would recommend getting a USB-based external microphone for easy setup. Many have reported issues with the external 3.5mm microphone and headphone combination on the 3.5mm jack connection.

Besides, Apple does not have any recommended solution other than its iPhone standard earphones set.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Words

Top external microphones for MacBook Pro in 2023 offer versatility and quality, including Blue Yeti with 3 condenser capsules & 4 polar patterns, RAZER SEIREN ELITE with 25mm capsule & 4 polar patterns, Blue Snowball iCE USB for a budget-friendly option, and Apogee MiC Plus for professionals. HyperX QuadCast S offers advanced features with 4 polar patterns and frequency response. Choose based on personal needs, budget, and intended use. All are great options for upgrading audio quality.

Do you currently use a USB mic? We’d love to hear what you think of your model and what you look for in picking a new one.

About Lorena