USB Microphones

[jerry367]

Are those USB condenser mics capable of creating air-quality audio?

[frankberry]

Absolutely.  The only problem is latency.  Good for voice tracking though.

[Charlie]

As pointed out, the latency can be an issue - but in terms of quality, they're OK.  The NewMediaGear Youtube channel has lots of microphone samples on including a USB one. http://www.youtube.com/user/NewMediaGear

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Just for grins and curiosity,  I recently picked up a USB headset...  the kind you might use for on-line gaming or to use with Skype telephony.  I was amazed with the quality that little $29.95 gizmo provided.  Did it match my basic studio condenser mic?  NO!  But when I took the parametric equalizer to the recordings on the headset mic I came up with some very good audio.  If I were operating a small market station or if I were programming an LPFM and I do not have a building full of available, scheduled, full-time talent I would turn to a source broadcasters have used for years.... but usually not in large volume:

In just about every community there are people who are capable of making good broadcast content.  But to make a living, to make a career, they have turned to other areas.  Teaching school.  Playing lawyer.  Grinding the numbers as an accountant.  Driving truck.  But if they could sit down once a day and belt out two to five minutes worth of ORIGINAL and LOCAL material... at their convenience... and you could round up 25 or 30 of these people... you could cook up some very interesting local radio.

So if about all the person needs to invest, (or the station invest and provide) is a mic costing between $30 and $125 to let their creative fantasies roll off their tongue....  we have a viable mechanism.  No more leaving home 45 minutes early to drop by the station to record your sports commentary.  Do it in your pajamas while the coffee is brewing and mail it in. 

The big drawback I see for USB mics is that they tend to be "loners".  They don't "mix" well.  If this free-lance talent includes someone that decides to move up the food chain with interviews now we get back to the need for traditional analog mics and mixers.   

But... maybe there could be an APP for that.  A little hub that takes TWO USB MICS and puts one in the right channel and one in the left channel!