Amazon Basics USB Conference Microphone (microphone only, not speaker)

Product Information

Usually, people can manipulate functions like wireless microphones and noise levels. Some teams may need their microphones to work with their laptops if the business takes a BYoD approach. Any musician will tell you that Shure has been putting out industry-defining hardware for close to a century, so it’s no surprise that they also put out the best USB microphones in the world. Shure’s MV5 is meant to be mobile and interfaces with your computer or mobile device so you can record professional-quality audio on the go. Its DSP presets switch between podcasting, voice-over, and vocal/instrument recording modes, effectively making it three microphones in one.

Being geared more toward the professional musician set, the Shure MV5 might be more microphone than the average remote worker or YouTuber might be looking for. But, if you’re looking for something more substantial, it doesn’t hurt to take a cue from the pros. How to choose the best USB microphone Looking past the room's layout, the team may need their audio equipment to meet certain specifications. Some setups may let users adjust their individual mics. For example, some of the microphones may have their own mute buttons. A mute button allows the muting of individuals in a situation where everyone has their own mic. Other setups may have a single mic. Trying to use the mute feature with a single mic has its own problems. In this situation, using the mute button removes everyone from the conversation. These speakerphones tend to be VoIP phones that are designed for conferences. They have a lot of good features that are expected from UC and VoIP. A front and side shot of the Neat Skyline microphone on a desk. (Image credit: Future) Neat Skyline: DesignThe Skyline microphone doesn't possess a headphone output, so this means that you will need to hear your audio through another output device (such as your computer’s speakers). There’s no input gain control on the microphone itself, either, so you'll have to make all adjustments to your input and output levels through the sound settings on your computer. Pay attention to the bit and sample rate as well, if you plan on using it for your professional work or if you want hi-res recording in general. 24-bit/96kHz is considered high-resolution. Of course, 16-bit/44.1kHz is already CD quality. Take frequency range into account as well, how wide it is, if you plan on recording anything other than voices, such as musical instruments. A small room will not require a wireless setup or individual mics for each speaker. So, it's unnecessary to spend a lot of money on unnecessary features. Because everyone will be sitting around one desk, the conference room only needs one stationary microphone. Choosing the best USB mic for you isn’t hard, but there are a few things that you need to consider, and you might need to read up on technical terms before you dive in, if you’re not familiar with mics in general. USB mics are good. They are just more convenient than traditional mics because they have an audio interface already built-in, so you wouldn’t need to invest in a separate stand-alone interface.

The Neat Skyline microphone houses a condenser microphone capsule which is incredibly sensitive. The Skyline has a sample rate of 96kHz and a bit depth of 24 bits. This is impressive audio fidelity for the price, and one might argue it’s a little too sensitive for its intended use.

The Neat Skyline USB microphone is well-built and designed for the corporate environment. Professional users probably don't need a colorful, attention-getting microphone, and the Skyline is built to blend in, not stand out.