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  • The one recommended by our equipment team at work for podcast / interviews / meetings / etc at that kind of price point is the Blue Yeti https://www.logitechg.com/en-gb/products/streaming-gear/yeti-premium-usb-microphone.html

    A fraction higher in price point is this: https://www.elgato.com/en/wave-3 also well regarded.

    A big jump and almost everyone purchases an external audio interface (SSL2 for example) with something like a Cloudlifter for phantom power, and then something like the Shure SM 7B mic. But this is a huge leap in cost as once you throw in a mic arm and cables you're basically at £850. There's a big gap in price between the good USB mics and the studio mics.

    The Blue Yeti is very well regarded, just buy that unless the aesthetics appal you and you prefer the look of the Elgato (and also are not running Linux as you won't be able to control most of the features as software is nearly always Windows and Mac only).

  • Do you happen to know what they're like for noise rejection im specifically thinking of keyboards? I sort of don't want to have to have to have a mic arm hanging over the top of me if can help it.

    I have considered getting an external interface but I don't know that I need it that much tbh I just wanted my voice to be a bit more 'present'

  • Typically good mics have a polar pattern you can configure or control that determines where it will pick up sound from and that limits noise being picked up from the environment you're in, including keyboards.

    Indeed the Blue Yeti can be run in a cardioid pattern which will pick up only noise directly in front of the mic, if it's mounted on a mic arm then it will also prevent heavy typing coming through the mic stand.

    But if you're using a desktop PC with an Nvidia video card you can also use Nvidia Broadcast which is a free download that uses your GPU to run a noise reduction AI thing that removes things like keyboards.

    The cardioid pattern should be enough though.

  • Audio interfaces don’t have to be super pricy. I have both focus right Scarlett’s (pricey) but for work machine I use this SubZero branded unit as it’s USB and plug and play meaning I don’t need to beg IT for any additional drivers or software. I also like that the basic controls are physical buttons rather than in software.

    It then means you can scour the web for second hand studio/PA gear which is often much better than “streaming” gear and often cheaper. May be overkill and certainly isn’t as easy as plugging in a single usb external mic but a potential option.

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