Comparing the Best 3 USB Microphones for Podcasting

The Samson Q2U, original Shure MV7, and RØDE PodMic USB are the three microphones in this listening test.

So I thought it would be fun to play a game of critical listening and do a blind taste test of all three microphones to help you decide which one is best for you and your situation.

I am not going to reveal which microphone you're actually hearing until the end but I will switch between these three microphones and give you their letter and corresponding color.

As I describe each one of these microphones and tell you why they made it to the top of our list, do these 3 things:

1. See if you can identify a favorite: 🔴, 🔵, or 🟢

2. Decide why it's your favorite

3. Guess which is which: Q2U vs MV7 vs PodMic

Really listen for the tonal quality of my voice, the full range of frequencies, and the clarity. Is one more harsh than the other, more warm than the other, or more pleasing to you?

Let your ears be the judge of which microphone is the best for you. 

Before we start the blind taste test, if this is your first time here, welcome! I'm Studio Steve, an audio and video producer at PSS Creative Media. 

I have about 20 years of experience in professional audio production and microphones are one of my biggest passions in life.

Before I break down each microphone, I would like you to notice that all 3 USB microphones (Samson Q2U, Shure MV7, and RODE PodMic), in addition to being a USB microphone, also have an XLR output that you can use with an audio interface.

This brings up an important question…

Why would you want to use one of these USB microphones or all three with an audio interface instead of plugging them directly into your computer via a USB cable?

To answer that question, let's start by talking about what we're really hearing when we listen to a podcast voice.

1. The preamp

2. The microphone

3. The compressor

A preamp is a component that gives power to the microphone so that we can raise it from mic level up to line level so that our computer can record it.

These preamps are usually attached to the gain knob on audio interfaces.

But in the case of USB microphones, the preamp is built into the microphone so USB microphones are actually combo units, they’re an all-in-one microphone and audio interface.

1. microphone

2. preamp component

3. AD converter

4. DA converter, or analog-to-digital converter

That means there's an audio interface inside these USB microphones!

This internal audio interface performs the transduction process by transforming an analog audio signal into a digital stream of data.

BIGGEST CON: So as you might assume, since these are combo units with these four different important components in them, it would make sense that the preamp component and the AD and DA converters, or the audio interface component inside of each of these USB microphones may NOT be the highest of quality, especially for the lower price we're paying for these microphones.

So this is why it is really cool that all three of these USB microphones have an XLR output.

When you plug an XLR cable into any of these USB microphones and put the other end of that XLR cable into an external audio interface, it bypasses the three internal audio interface components so you're only using the microphone component of these microphones.

The microphone component is really the best component of the 3 USB microphones we’re discussing in this blog post.

But even still, and as you likely can tell by now, all three of these capture very high-quality recordings and the audio interfaces in them are impressive, just not as impressive as standalone units like audio interfaces and preamps.

For content and podcasting, they more than cut the mustard.

And now without further ado, let’s start the blind taste test!

So why don't we walk through our three favorite USB podcast microphones starting with the least expensive one?

The first contender on the list is one of our favorites, it's been our favorite for a long time, the Samson Q2U.

This bad Larry goes for about 70 US dollars right now.

BIGGEST PROS

• It does an incredible job of capturing a voice with clarity, quality, and even a lot of warmth and tone. 

• It's a very straightforward microphone and it's easy to use. You just plug it into your computer.

HEADPHONE OUTPUT

There's a headphone output on the Q2U microphone because when you plug any of these USB microphones into your computer, they will typically take over as the audio device on your computer.

For example, if you're watching YouTube, Netflix, or something on your computer, that output of audio will actually go out of this microphone so you'll need to plug headphones in there to hear it. That of course is something you can change in your system preferences.

ADJUSTING THE GAIN ON THE Q2U

The way that you adjust the gain or preamp component is from the settings on your computer.

For example:

1. On a Mac, you go to the settings and choose sound.

2. Find Samsung Q2U from the dropdown menu

3. From there, you'll be able to adjust the input volume

This means you’re adjusting the preamp and sending more gain to the preamp component in this microphone.

For 70 bucks? You can’t beat it!

And now the next microphone on our list is the very popular and awesome RODE USB PodMic.

The original RØDE PodMic is XLR-only. The PodMic USB is a separate model with both USB and XLR connections.

Choose the PodMic USB when you want its direct USB workflow and onboard processing options, and check the current price rather than treating the two versions as interchangeable.

Now, there are a couple of extra special things about this microphone.

1. It comes with a nifty little windscreen or poofy pop filter, and that can really help with plosives.

2. It works with the RODE Central app on your computer so you can apply built-in effects from the get-go. This makes it the go-to microphone for live streaming because you can have advanced processing effects like compression and noise reduction built into the microphone, which is pretty incredible.

NOTE: For this blind taste test, I went to the RODE Central App, I chose PodMic, and I turned the processing OFF so you're only hearing the microphone and audio interface components of the RODE USB PodMic.

ADJUSTING THE GAIN ON THE RODE USB PODMIC

It is also from this RODE Central App with this microphone that you will find the preamp and give this microphone more or less gain.

HEADPHONE OUTPUT

Similar to the Samson Q2U, there's a headphone output and also a volume adjuster for the headphone output in this microphone. But like I said, the microphone gain itself will have to be adjusted via your computer.

And now we can move on to our third contender, and that is the Shure MV7. We love the MV7! It’s an all-around really cool microphone.

They make it to kind of look like the famous Shure SM7B, which is arguably the most popular podcasting microphone.

The Shure MV7 goes for about 280 US dollars right now.

There are also a lot of fun new variations of this microphone:

• different colors

• new fancy technology updates

ADJUSTING THE GAIN ON THE SHURE MV7

What’s different about the MV7 from the Q2U and PodMic is this microphone actually has a way to adjust your preamp on the front of the microphone.

For this blind taste test, I have my preamp level set to a nice level.

HEADPHONE OUTPUT

There is a way that you can press a button to easily toggle between your headphone level and your gain or your preamp level.

And that brings us to the final moment that you've been waiting for, the great reveal.

Below is the moment of truth where I reveal which letter is which microphone.

But before I do, make sure you go down into the comments below this video on YouTube and tell me which was your favorite and your guess as to which is which. You get bonus points if you guess correctly.

💥 Did you guess which was which? Alright! Are you ready? 💥

The letter A with the color red is none other than the RODE PodMic.

Did you guess it right?

Alright, now the letter B with the color blue is the Shure MV7 microphone.

Are you surprised?

And of course, last but not least, that means that the letter C, or the color green, has been the Samson Q2U. 

Now does that put anything into perspective?

Remember that the Samson Q2U microphone is 200 dollars cheaper than the Shure MV7.

How did you do? Did you guess them right? Did you vote for your favorite? I'm excited to go to the comments and find out.

🤔 Which one is your favorite?

A. RODE USB PodMic

B. SHURE MV7

C. SAMSON Q2U

After going through our blind taste test, it’s clear that each of these USB microphones, the Samson Q2U, Shure MV7, and RODE USB PodMic, has its unique strengths and characteristics. 

The Samson Q2U stands out for its incredible value, offering impressive clarity and warmth for a modest price.

The RODE USB PodMic brings built-in effects and a sleek design, making it an excellent choice for live streaming and professional setups.

Lastly, the Shure MV7 offers advanced features and exceptional sound quality, closely mimicking the iconic SM7B.

Ultimately, the best microphone for you depends on your specific needs and budget. Whether you're a podcasting newbie or looking to upgrade your setup, any of these microphones will serve you well.

Remember, the most important aspect is how your voice sounds to you and your audience. So, trust your ears, review your notes, and choose the microphone that best captures your unique voice.

Don't forget to leave your comments on which microphone you prefer and why. We’re excited to see your thoughts and guesses.