• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
    Music Repo

    Music Repo

    Home Recording Made Easy

    • Start Here
    • Record
    • Learn
    • Create
    • About
    • Search

    How To Connect a Microphone To Your PC Computer, Laptop, Mac or iPad

    How do you connect a mic to record? Whether you play, sing or make vocal recordings, then if you want to record we tell you how to hook up the microphone.

    November 17, 2020

    How to connect a microphone to a PC Computer or laptop and start making audio recordings is one of your most frequently asked questions. Nearly all computers have a mic port (nowadays often combined with a headphone port), so it should be possible to directly connect a dynamic mic if you have the appropriate jack for the socket.

    However, while using this method will be appropriate for beginners and those recording for your own use only, musicians, video makers and podcasters who want a more professional sound will probably be disappointed with the quality of this method, and may also find the recording ability of the computer’s built in sound card is not fantastic.

    Also, it is not possible to directly connect a condenser microphone to a simple computer mic port – it won’t work.

    So let’s look at a few options if you are looking to make professional standard recordings using a mic and your laptop, iPad, mac or PC. And if you are here because you want to improve the sound quality on your videos then do read this post which will tell you how to make your videos sound good.

    [This content may contain affiliate links. For more information, read our disclosure policy here.]

    USB mics vs Audio Interfaces – A Video Tutorial

    1. USB Microphones

    Audio Technica AT2020USB Plus

    The Audio Technica AT2020USB+. Click here to buy from Amazon.

    A really neat one-stop solution for recording on your computer, and one which will offer a considerable improvement in quality over a generic computer microphone and sound card combination, is to consider a USB mic. A USB microphone is a high quality microphones which simply plugs straight into your USB port – perfect for musicians on the move with laptops, but equally at home in the desktop music studio. Also a really good option with the iPad and other tablets. USB mics are compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems – they just plug and play so you can get started really quickly. They represent excellent value because there is no requirement to purchase any additional hardware, and are very easy to install and use.

    Particularly good for the vocalists who want to record over backing tracks are the microphones which have a headphone output because you can ‘direct monitor’ through headphones – in other words listen to the track while you are singing along. These are equally simple to set up and use in this way and will produce really good recording results. If you just want to make good quality recordings one track at a time, or if you are thinking about voiceovers for videos etc then you do not need to be so concerned about the headphone output and you may prefer the features and equipment of the larger USB studio mics.

    While you are choosing your mic, think about whether you need to purchase a stand, shockmount or recording booth at the same time. Unless you are using a handheld dynamic microphone you will at least require a stand, though you will find that most USB microphones come with a small desktop stand to get you started.

    USB Microphones have become so popular that every major microphone manufacturer makes at least one, and the choice can be confusing. To help you out we have put together the ultimate guide to the best USB microphones. You can listen to what the most popular sound like, side by side, watch videos of how they look up close, and compare their key features. It is a really useful guide to USB Mics, with a detailed review of all the most popular.

    Tried And Trusted USB Microphones To Consider

    Shure MV7

    Shure MV7
    Shure MV7

    Click here to purchase the Shure MV7. Or find out more in our detailed review of the Shure MV7

    Shure MV51

    Shure MV51
    Shure MV51

    Click here to purchase the Shure MV51. Or find out more in our detailed review of the Shure MV51

    Shure MV5

    Shure MV5
    Shure MV5

    Click here to purchase the Shure MV5. Or find out more in our detailed review of the Shure MV5.

    AT2020USB+

    Audio Technica AT2020USB+
    Audio Technica AT2020USB+

    Click here to purchase the AT2020USB Plus. Or find out more in our detailed review of the AT2020USB+.

    Blue Yeti USB

    Blue Yeti USB Mic
    Blue Yeti USB Mic

    Purchase the Blue Yeti USB Mic. Or find out more in our detailed review of the Blue Yeti.

    Blue Yeti Pro

    Blue Yeti Pro
    Blue Yeti Pro

    Click here to purchase the Blue Yeti Pro. Or find out more in our detailed review of the Blue Yeti Pro XLR/USB.

    Rode NT-USB

    Rode NT-USB
    Rode NT-USB

    Click here to purchase the Rode NT-USB. Or read more in our detailed review of the Rode NT-USB.

    Samson C01U Pro

    Samson C01U Pro
    Samson C01U Pro

    Click here to purchase the Samson C01U Pro. Or get more detail in this review of the C01U Pro.

    All the above are well reviewed and highly rated USB microphones, robust and easy to set up and use out of the box. A really cost effective way to kickstart your home recording studio on a budget. Do, though, check out our detailed reviews of all the most popular USB microphones.

    2. Audio Interface

    mic connected to computer via audio interface
    The Scarlett 2i2 Audio Interface – Perfect to connect any kind of XLR mic to computer

    What if you want more than just a USB mic? Maybe you want to start up a small home studio with more capability than just one microphone input. Well the next thing to look at is a dedicated USB Audio interface that is specifically designed to allow a mic (or several microphones) to be connected, and usually other instruments as well – we have articles on exactly what is an audio interface if you want to know more, and then how to choose the right audio interface for your home recording studio needs. These USB audio interfaces already have the necessary pre-amps and software to give you a really high quality recording result on your PC or Mac without the need to install a PCI sound card, so they are also great for mobile recording on a laptop or notebook and easily transferable if you upgrade your system in the future, but you will need to purchase a microphone and cables separately if you don’t already own a mic.

    Many interfaces feature a mic pre-amp and line/guitar in with gain so they are perfect for vocalists, guitarists and instrumentalists. Check whether the device you are looking at has phantom power or not and remember you will also need an XLR cable to connect the microphone to the interface,and headphones or powered speakers for monitoring. The sound will come out of the interface, not your computer so if you currently listen through your computer speakers you will need to bear this in mind.

    If you require an interface with phantom power (most condenser mics require this unless they are self-powered) then make sure the interface you pick does have a phantom switch or you will end up having to buy a separate power supply. While you are checking this, think about many microphone/line inputs you require, and also look at what software comes with the audio interface for a neat out of the box one-stop recording solution.

    Some interfaces also have MIDI in/out so you can also connect up a keyboard or digital piano making them really versatile and multi-functional.

    Popular USB Audio Interface Bundles With Professional Mic Input and Microphone

    Below are our favourite usb audio interface bundles. You can read full reviews and details of how to set up these all-in-one recording studio packages. These are easily the best way to get a quality microphone and interface for a reasonable sum of money.

    Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Recording Bundle

    The complete home recording studio – Scarlett’s best-selling interface, millions of musicians use 2i2 to write and record every day. This pack is a complete package with headphones, cable and mic.

    Presonus Recording Studio Bundle

    You can start recording today with this complete, all-PreSonus package. It is based on the AudioBox USB 96 audio/MIDI interface and includes production software, headphones and mic.

    M-Audio – Complete Recording Bundle

    Contains all you need to record – USB Audio Interface, Microphone, Shock mount, Cable, Headphones and Software Suite from M-Audio

    Mackie Onyx Artist Professional Studio Pack

    2-2 Audio/Midi interface With Pro Tools First/Tracktion Music Production Software Studio Bundle with Professional Recording Condenser Microphone

    Common Questions:

    What are the different types of microphones?

    If you have yet to choose a microphone, then you should refer to our ultimate guide to types of microphones, in which we look at what all those technical terms on the spec sheet actually mean. Plus we look at which mics are best for different recording situations. If you already know what kind of microphone you need, then read more about the best condenser mics and the best dynamic mics.

    What is phantom power?

    In most condenser mics, a power source is needed to maintain an electrical charge between the elements inside. Many pre-amps and audio/MIDI interfaces have an AC power supply built into them for use by a condenser mic. This is called a phantom power supply, meaning that the electrical power is carried up the cable that attaches the mic to the pre-amp or interface. Most condensor mics (apart from all our USB ones) require a phantom power supply, but dynamic mics do not.

    What is a pre-amp?

    A pre-amp is a device that amplifies the signal from your microphone to make it strong enough to be usable by the computer. You can buy a versatile external interface that combines a soundcard and pre-amp, connecting via the USB port, or the other option is to buy a dedicated pre-amp or mixer with the appropriate signal.

    Other Posts You Might Like

    • Best USB Microphones For Recording in 2020: The Ultimate Guide
    • Blue Yeti Pro USB/XLR Microphone Review
    • What is a USB Microphone? How Does a USB Mic Work?
    • Blue Yeti USB Microphone Review
    • Shure MV7 Review – A Game-Changing XLR/USB Dynamic Podcast Mic
    How To Connect Mic To Computer

    Hopefully you have found this useful, please do share this post with others who might also find it helpful.

    Found this helpful? Please share it ...

    [This content may contain affiliate links. For more information, read our disclosure policy here.]

    Previous Post: « MIDI connection MIDI Connection | How to Connect a MIDI Keyboard to a Computer
    Next Post: Use your Computer for Music Making and Music Education »

    SMALL PRINT

    • About Music Repo
    • Privacy and Cookie Policies
    • Site Map
    • Technical Support
    • Contact Us

    EQUIPMENT

    • Audio Interfaces
    • Microphones
    • MIDI
    • Studio Headphones
    • Studio Monitors
    • Recording Software
    • Audio Cables

    TUTORIALS

    • Get Started
    • Video Tutorials
    • How To Guides
    • Record
    • Learn
    • Create
    • Songwriting

    INSTRUMENTS

    • Guitar
    • Keyboard and Piano
    • Piano

    FOLLOW

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    Copyright © 2021 · Music Repo · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Genesis Pro with the Mai Delight Theme