This really depends on your needs and what your goals are with hangouts.
Here’s what I was looking to accomplish. I wanted to graduate from a headset mic to a great sounding dynamic mic in a price range that fit my budget. I really didn’t want to dump a lot of cash only to find out that my headset would’ve been just fine or worse, that a fancy mic on a boom was overkill.
My friend Ben Brady suggested the Audio-Technica ATR 2100 USB / XLR, And he was so convincing, this is the one I chose. Watch the video to see our Google Hangout discussion.
What will you be doing in your hangouts / Why do you need a mic?
If you’re just chatting with pals and making new friends, I think that a headset is just fine. I have been using the Skype Everyman talk because it is USB, has great sound, is portable, and cost around $25.
I also like my love my Logitech ClearChat wireless (discontinued). It is the best sound, best price ($40), awesome range, and best of all, a mute button on the headset, perfect for long hangouts. The downside is the mic wire is notorious to fail. I had two pairs, and I had to solder both of them. But I still love it.
But because I do a lot of tutorial videos and interviews, I wanted something a little more professional; I started looking at dynamic microphones.
I watched plenty of videos and read a ton of reviews and everyone seemed to be talking about the same few models. So I decided I would start there.
I had my choices narrowed down to the AT2020 USB, The AT2020 XLR, the Blue Yeti, and the Heil PR-40. I went to Ebay and started watching auctions on used mic’s. My budget was no more than $200 for a full setup, which included accessories (boom, shock guard, and pop screen.)
But what about the other choices, and why did I not choose them?
First comparing the difference from the Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Condenser USB Microphone
Both models sell retail for around $150, but E-bay auctions you can pick them up for around $50. There are a lot of them online and many people are bidding on them. This tells me that you could get one, try it, and if it’s not what you want, you should be able to resell it fairly easily and not lose a lot in the deal.
The next one I was looking at was the Blue Yeti USB Microphone (aff). I didn’t see as many of these being auctioned. This tells me that this microphone is one that you buy and hold onto. The one that I was watching sold for $78 and had minor wear. Looking at the sold listings, it seems that you should be able to get a used one for around the same price. I have heard many great things about this one, so don’t ignore it if you can find it for the right price.
The next one I considered was the big dog, the Heil PR40 (aff). This appeared on many posts as the best microphone for podcasts. It has incredible reviews, and many podcasters give it high praise. The major downside to this one was the price tag. It comes in around $325 retail and auctions run around $235. That’s as far as I went with that one.
So I bought a new Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone (aff). I paid $35.97 with free shipping. It lists for around $60 most places. What I like best is the price. Also, it came highly recommended by many others here on Hangouts.
I like that it can be either USB or XLR. It’s plug and play and I can upgrade to a mixer if I want in the future. You can plug your headset directly into it, and it does not need any drivers. It has great sound, and it was in my budget. It came boxed with a stand, a USB cable, a 3 meter XLR cable, and the microphone.
I think I made the best choice and this is the perfect microphone to make the transition from headset to dynamic.
I would love to hear your thoughts about your favorite microphone for Hangouts.
(photo credit: Jason Petefish)
Host of "Get on Track, Stay on Track" weekly interview series, helping your small business one expert at a time. And CEO of Wiser Sites, a general contractor and marketing agency - connecting your customers with your products.
Great article – i have been looking for a high quality Mic and this article was just the ticket, cheers pal. I think im gonna try getting the one you have got as it seems to be great value for the money.
Thanks again
Best
Greg
I enjoyed this article. I have similar concerns with which to work. I have been the MC for Karaoke parties and I would like to have a microphone that I can use to record performances.
Also, at some time in the future, I may like to expand my resume by putting together a few webcasts.
Thank you.
Daron, I have no idea how this performs for live events, but for podcasts and HOAs, the AT2100 is unanimously hailed as the best mic for the price. I keep seeing great reviews about it from my peers on Google plus, and most importantly, I love mine. It just sounds great!
Jason … thank you for doing the research on this. I’ve been wanting to switch to a non-headset microphone for hangouts. I spoke with Shawn Welch a little while back, and he swears by the round kind (I believe he called it a “pop” microphone). Shawn says his is directional and doesn’t pick up extraneous sounds. My headset broadcasts the conversation in the kitchen better than my voice speaking directly into the boom :)
Yeah, I am pretty new to this also and definitely not the expert, as you can see in the video. But I tell you what, I’ve had this mic for a week and I absolutely love it! Especially, loving the fact that I can use speakers and the mic and no ear buds or headphones and there is no feedback in the hangout! This is totally awesome.