Are you looking for a new microphone for your YouTube channel or podcast? For the following article, I looked at 5 different popular USB mics and compared them in a detailed review.

If you’re new to the world of audio, you might not know that USB microphones are not the standard. Until a few years ago, USB microphones were pretty rare. Usually, they were built for Skype calls and online gaming and most professional users worked with XLR microphones instead. So, why use USB?

USB mics have a big advantage compared to XLR mics: They can be plugged directly into your computer. With an XLR microphone, you don’t have that luxury - you have to put it into an audio interface first, and that means you have to buy (and know how to use) an audio interface. With USB, you don’t have to go through any of that trouble, which means that USB microphones are much more beginner-friendly than other mics. This makes them ideal for YouTubers, podcasters and hobby musicians.

Now, the question is: What should you look for in a USB microphone for YouTube?

You want to capture your screen or gameplay to create video tutorials or gaming videos? Or you simply want to record videos with your webcam? Then you need solid screen recording software. In this article I’ll take a look at Bandicam - one of the most popular screen capture programs for YouTubers.

Bandicam has three main modes:

Additionally, you’re able to create high quality screenshots in BMP, PNG and JPG format in any of these modes.

Are you playing with the idea of buying a Blue Yeti microphone or have you already acquired one? In both cases, it’s a good idea to look for a quality pop filter before you start recording. But wait, what’s a pop filter again, and do you really need one for your Blue Yeti?

A pop filter is a noise protection filter that will protect your microphone from popping sounds. These popping sounds can happen when fast moving air hits the mic, for example when you’re prounincing letters such as “p”, “t” or “k”. If you want to experience the impact of these sounds, just hold your palm about 2 inches in front of your mouth while you’re speaking. You will see that some consonants propel more air forward than others. These are generally the ones that can cause problems when you’re recording without a pop filter.