July 27, 2026 • 8 mins
Should you use a USB microphone or an XLR microphone for your podcast? In this episode, we weigh the pros and cons of each, explain the differences in cost and setup, and help you choose the best podcast microphone for your needs. Whether you're just getting started or ready to upgrade, this episode will help you record with confidence and publish consistently.
Resource mentioned: Podcast Equipment Guide: What I Recommend After 500 Episodes
If you have questions about which mic to choose, reach out to us on the Podcaster Success team by emailing support@buzzsprout.com.
Have a topic or question we should address on a future episode? Text us or email the Buzzsprout Podcaster Success Team at support@buzzsprout.com.
Keep podcasting!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Cara Pacetti (00:00):
Welcome to Podcasting Q&A, brought to you
by the people at Buzzsprout.
I'm your host, Cara Pacetti,and I'm bringing you the best
tips and strategies to keep youpodcasting with confidence.
Today, we're answering alistener question about which
microphone to start with.
(00:21):
The question says, I'mlaunching my first podcast in a
few weeks, and the last thing Ineed to get is a microphone.
I keep seeing USB and XLRoptions, but I don't really
understand the difference.
Is it worth spending more on anXLR setup, or is a USB
microphone all I need to getstarted?
When it comes to equipmentrecommendations, the answer
(00:42):
really depends on where you arein your podcasting journey.
I want to break down thedifferences in these two
microphones so that you have allthe information you need so you
can make the best choice that'sright for you.
First, what is the actualdifference between an XLR setup
and a USB mic?
First, I want to start with alittle bit of history here.
(01:03):
XLR microphones have actuallybeen the industry standard since
the 1950s.
They were originally built forradio stations, recording
studios, live concerts, and eventelevision production.
Microphones had to be connectedusing large, durable XLR
cables.
The XLR connections weredesigned to carry clean,
(01:24):
balanced audio over long cableruns while minimizing unwanted
noise.
And that's still true today.
An XLR cable is a littlethicker.
It doesn't plug right into anyof the ports that are available
on your standard computer.
So in order to connect your XLRmicrophone, you have to have
something in between themicrophone and the computer.
(01:47):
What we use here is an audiointerface or a mixer.
And so we would connect the XLRmicrophone with that long
durable cable and then connect aUSB cord from your computer to
the mixer.
In addition to serving as theconnection point to get your XLR
microphone connected to yourcomputer, the audio interface
(02:07):
also allows you to makeadjustments to the audio that is
being sent to the mixer andthen distributed to your
computer.
Of course, this is a little bitof extra equipment.
It also adds a little bit ofcost and complexity, but it
definitely gives you a littlemore flexibility, which may
become helpful down the road.
Before shifting into answeringthe question of which microphone
(02:29):
should you be starting with, Iwant to explain the USB
microphone.
So USB microphones reallydidn't become popular until the
early 2000s when podcasting andhome recording took off.
They actually combined thetraditional microphone with a
built-in audio interface,allowing you to just plug the
microphone directly into yourcomputer without any extra
(02:51):
equipment.
That simplicity made podcastingmuch more accessible for
beginners who were just startingout.
Connecting your USB microphoneto the computer is actually very
easy.
And typically, if your computerhas a USB port, you could just
plug that microphone directlyinto your computer.
If you're working on a computerthat doesn't have a USB port,
(03:12):
maybe nowadays they have a USB-Cport, there is an adapter that
you can buy that's really easyto use where you would just plug
in the USB-C and then plug theUSB into that adapter.
Again, it's just a plug andplay, no extra costly equipment
or setup.
You just plug in the microphoneand get to recording.
(03:33):
Now that you know the maindifferences between these mics
and how they connect, let's talkabout when each microphone
makes sense for your podcast.
There are a lot of shiny newfancy microphones out there, and
it can be a little overwhelmingdeciding which one really is
the best microphone to startwith as a new podcaster.
So, to help with this, our headof marketing here at
(03:55):
BuzzSprout, Alvin Brook, createda full podcasting equipment
guide.
Now, his findings were based onhis own experience recording
over 500 episodes.
While he highlights a lot ofrecommendations for equipment
that you can get started withand how to grow your studio
setup as you evolve, I want tohighlight the microphone setup
(04:15):
that he recommends forbeginners.
In this guide, Alvin actuallyrecommends starting with a USB
mic.
Specifically, a Samsung Q2Umicrophone is a great starting
point.
The main attraction for thismic is it's simple.
You just plug it into yourcomputer and start recording.
When at home, I've recordedepisodes of podcasting QA on my
(04:37):
Samsung Q2U.
And literally, when I plug themicrophone in, the little green
light turns on and I am ready tostart recording.
And I bet you wouldn't be ableto tell the difference of which
episodes were recorded on myhome Samsung Q2U mic versus the
episodes recorded in ourprofessional podcasting studio.
The great part is here thatmodern day USB microphones have
(05:00):
really come such a long way andthey sound excellent, especially
for solo podcasters or showswith just one co-host.
It requires less equipment.
So you're going to spend lessmoney as you're getting started.
And it's super easy to travelwith.
If you need to travel for aguest interview, all you have to
bring is your laptop and yourUSB microphone.
(05:22):
So this is a great way to justhit the ground running and
remove any roadblocks, whetherit be cost or maybe complexity
that would prevent you fromproducing new episodes.
So if a USB mic is ourrecommendation for new
podcasters, then when is itappropriate to switch to an XLR
setup?
Of course, if you have themeans to start with an XLR mic
(05:44):
and an audio interface, you canabsolutely do that.
But typically, ourrecommendation would be to
choose in that investment whenyour setup requires it.
So it obviously takes a littlelonger to learn how to use an
interface.
It costs a little more topurchase this setup, but it does
offer some flexibility.
And so if your podcast has nowbecome a long-term hobby or a
(06:09):
business or a professionalproduction, then at those times
the XLR mic might just be theright fit for you.
Typically, if you are recordingmultiple people in the same
room and you want to connectseveral mics into your audio
interface, if you're producingmultiple shows, if you are
building a dedicated studio andyou want more flexibility for
(06:30):
future upgrades, or even if youjust want a little bit more
control over adjusting audiolevels as your audio is being
recorded, these are all greatindicators and signs that you
might be ready to switch up yoursetup from a USB mic to that
XLR mic with that audiointerface setup.
One of the main takeaways thatI want you to grab from this
episode is that ourrecommendation is just to keep
(06:53):
it simple.
I want you to avoid buying theshiny new fancy equipment just
because that's what you'reseeing podcasters do in the
industry.
Keeping it simple, keeping iteasy to use, easy to travel with
is going to help eliminate anyroadblocks that would prevent
you from recording andpublishing new episodes.
(07:13):
Remember that great podcastscome from clear audio and
consistent publishing, not fromhaving the latest and greatest
and most expensive podcastinggear.
So for my listener who sent inthis question about should you
buy a USB mic or an XLR mic?
As I mentioned in thebeginning, it just depends where
(07:33):
you are in your journey.
For most podcasters, a USBmicrophone is absolutely the
right place to start.
It's more affordable, it'ssimple, and it produces
excellent sound.
My recommendation to you wouldbe go ahead and grab that easy
and simple USB mic, plug it intoyour laptop and start
recording.
Either way, the best microphoneis the one that helps you
(07:54):
consistently create and publishnew episodes.
If there's specific equipmentthat you are kind of torn
between and you'd like for me todo a deep dive on a future
Podcasting Q&A episode, justshoot me some fan mail and let
me know.
I would love to cover that.
If you have specific questionsabout your podcast, please reach
out to us on the podcastersuccess team by emailing support
(08:16):
at buzzsprout.com.
Be sure to join us every Mondayto kickstart your week.
Thank you so much forlistening.
And as always, keep podcasting.
Welcome to Podcasting Q&A, brought to you
by the people at Buzzsprout.
I'm your host, Cara Pacetti,and I'm bringing you the best
tips and strategies to keep youpodcasting with confidence.
Today, we're answering alistener question about which
microphone to start with.
(00:21):
The question says, I'mlaunching my first podcast in a
few weeks, and the last thing Ineed to get is a microphone.
I keep seeing USB and XLRoptions, but I don't really
understand the difference.
Is it worth spending more on anXLR setup, or is a USB
microphone all I need to getstarted?
When it comes to equipmentrecommendations, the answer
(00:42):
really depends on where you arein your podcasting journey.
I want to break down thedifferences in these two
microphones so that you have allthe information you need so you
can make the best choice that'sright for you.
First, what is the actualdifference between an XLR setup
and a USB mic?
First, I want to start with alittle bit of history here.
(01:03):
XLR microphones have actuallybeen the industry standard since
the 1950s.
They were originally built forradio stations, recording
studios, live concerts, and eventelevision production.
Microphones had to be connectedusing large, durable XLR
cables.
The XLR connections weredesigned to carry clean,
(01:24):
balanced audio over long cableruns while minimizing unwanted
noise.
And that's still true today.
An XLR cable is a littlethicker.
It doesn't plug right into anyof the ports that are available
on your standard computer.
So in order to connect your XLRmicrophone, you have to have
something in between themicrophone and the computer.
(01:47):
What we use here is an audiointerface or a mixer.
And so we would connect the XLRmicrophone with that long
durable cable and then connect aUSB cord from your computer to
the mixer.
In addition to serving as theconnection point to get your XLR
microphone connected to yourcomputer, the audio interface
(02:07):
also allows you to makeadjustments to the audio that is
being sent to the mixer andthen distributed to your
computer.
Of course, this is a little bitof extra equipment.
It also adds a little bit ofcost and complexity, but it
definitely gives you a littlemore flexibility, which may
become helpful down the road.
Before shifting into answeringthe question of which microphone
(02:29):
should you be starting with, Iwant to explain the USB
microphone.
So USB microphones reallydidn't become popular until the
early 2000s when podcasting andhome recording took off.
They actually combined thetraditional microphone with a
built-in audio interface,allowing you to just plug the
microphone directly into yourcomputer without any extra
(02:51):
equipment.
That simplicity made podcastingmuch more accessible for
beginners who were just startingout.
Connecting your USB microphoneto the computer is actually very
easy.
And typically, if your computerhas a USB port, you could just
plug that microphone directlyinto your computer.
If you're working on a computerthat doesn't have a USB port,
(03:12):
maybe nowadays they have a USB-Cport, there is an adapter that
you can buy that's really easyto use where you would just plug
in the USB-C and then plug theUSB into that adapter.
Again, it's just a plug andplay, no extra costly equipment
or setup.
You just plug in the microphoneand get to recording.
(03:33):
Now that you know the maindifferences between these mics
and how they connect, let's talkabout when each microphone
makes sense for your podcast.
There are a lot of shiny newfancy microphones out there, and
it can be a little overwhelmingdeciding which one really is
the best microphone to startwith as a new podcaster.
So, to help with this, our headof marketing here at
(03:55):
BuzzSprout, Alvin Brook, createda full podcasting equipment
guide.
Now, his findings were based onhis own experience recording
over 500 episodes.
While he highlights a lot ofrecommendations for equipment
that you can get started withand how to grow your studio
setup as you evolve, I want tohighlight the microphone setup
(04:15):
that he recommends forbeginners.
In this guide, Alvin actuallyrecommends starting with a USB
mic.
Specifically, a Samsung Q2Umicrophone is a great starting
point.
The main attraction for thismic is it's simple.
You just plug it into yourcomputer and start recording.
When at home, I've recordedepisodes of podcasting QA on my
(04:37):
Samsung Q2U.
And literally, when I plug themicrophone in, the little green
light turns on and I am ready tostart recording.
And I bet you wouldn't be ableto tell the difference of which
episodes were recorded on myhome Samsung Q2U mic versus the
episodes recorded in ourprofessional podcasting studio.
The great part is here thatmodern day USB microphones have
(05:00):
really come such a long way andthey sound excellent, especially
for solo podcasters or showswith just one co-host.
It requires less equipment.
So you're going to spend lessmoney as you're getting started.
And it's super easy to travelwith.
If you need to travel for aguest interview, all you have to
bring is your laptop and yourUSB microphone.
(05:22):
So this is a great way to justhit the ground running and
remove any roadblocks, whetherit be cost or maybe complexity
that would prevent you fromproducing new episodes.
So if a USB mic is ourrecommendation for new
podcasters, then when is itappropriate to switch to an XLR
setup?
Of course, if you have themeans to start with an XLR mic
(05:44):
and an audio interface, you canabsolutely do that.
But typically, ourrecommendation would be to
choose in that investment whenyour setup requires it.
So it obviously takes a littlelonger to learn how to use an
interface.
It costs a little more topurchase this setup, but it does
offer some flexibility.
And so if your podcast has nowbecome a long-term hobby or a
(06:09):
business or a professionalproduction, then at those times
the XLR mic might just be theright fit for you.
Typically, if you are recordingmultiple people in the same
room and you want to connectseveral mics into your audio
interface, if you're producingmultiple shows, if you are
building a dedicated studio andyou want more flexibility for
(06:30):
future upgrades, or even if youjust want a little bit more
control over adjusting audiolevels as your audio is being
recorded, these are all greatindicators and signs that you
might be ready to switch up yoursetup from a USB mic to that
XLR mic with that audiointerface setup.
One of the main takeaways thatI want you to grab from this
episode is that ourrecommendation is just to keep
(06:53):
it simple.
I want you to avoid buying theshiny new fancy equipment just
because that's what you'reseeing podcasters do in the
industry.
Keeping it simple, keeping iteasy to use, easy to travel with
is going to help eliminate anyroadblocks that would prevent
you from recording andpublishing new episodes.
(07:13):
Remember that great podcastscome from clear audio and
consistent publishing, not fromhaving the latest and greatest
and most expensive podcastinggear.
So for my listener who sent inthis question about should you
buy a USB mic or an XLR mic?
As I mentioned in thebeginning, it just depends where
(07:33):
you are in your journey.
For most podcasters, a USBmicrophone is absolutely the
right place to start.
It's more affordable, it'ssimple, and it produces
excellent sound.
My recommendation to you wouldbe go ahead and grab that easy
and simple USB mic, plug it intoyour laptop and start
recording.
Either way, the best microphoneis the one that helps you
(07:54):
consistently create and publishnew episodes.
If there's specific equipmentthat you are kind of torn
between and you'd like for me todo a deep dive on a future
Podcasting Q&A episode, justshoot me some fan mail and let
me know.
I would love to cover that.
If you have specific questionsabout your podcast, please reach
out to us on the podcastersuccess team by emailing support
(08:16):
at buzzsprout.com.
Be sure to join us every Mondayto kickstart your week.
Thank you so much forlistening.
And as always, keep podcasting.
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