Good USB-C Mic for Macbookpro 2017

okamm wrote:

Thanks --makes sense as its not exactly opera I'm recording.

Any specific mic's you have used or recommend?

I don’t really use an external mic. However, Nuance has a list of compatibility tested mics. You’ll need to choose Dragon for the Mac from their pull down menu, then choose the category (wired). There are no hard links as it comes up as a report.

http://support.nuance.com/compatibility/

This one is on their list:

https://www.bluedesigns.com/products/yeti/

It‘s a big mic with a stand. It looks like something you’d see in a recording studio or a radio station. There are similar ones on the market, although this seems to be the only one of its kind certified for Dragon for Mac. The photos show XLR and USB mini-B ports at the base. I suppose it’s possible to connect it directly with a mini-B to USB-C cable rather than the mini-B to USB-A cable that comes with it. Something like these:

Amazon.com: Belkin USB-IF Certified 2.0 USB-C to Mini-B Charge Cable, 6 Feet / 1.8 Meters: Computers & Accessories

https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-Mini-USB-C-Black/dp/B00UUBS0SS

Here’s a review of the Blue Yeti showing it being used with an MBP. The video shows it connected with a USB-A to USB-C adapter.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=AXHI-IiBL0Q

Blue’s Snowball and Snowball Ice are on the list too. They’re little balls on a small tripod and only USB. Not as bulky as the Yeti and a bit cheaper too. They can be mounted in various ways. The Snowball seems to be a bit more expensive and has additional features such as an omnidirectional setting.

http://www.bluedesigns.com/products/snowball/

http://www.bluedesigns.com/products/snowball-ice/

They both use use the old USB-B connection, like the kind used with printers. There are USB-C to USB-B cables Like these:

Amazon.com: Belkin USB-IF Certified 2.0 USB-C to USB-B Printer Cable, 6 Feet/1.8 Meters: Computers & Accessories

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VKSF39O/

This review compares the Snowball to the Snowball Ice. The reviewer has it mounted on a swing arm.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lK_qdQDFYIs

Just to be complete, the other ones Nuance certified are from SpeechWare, but they're extremely pricey.

You could probably find a cheap USB microphone, but that might not be any better than using the built-in one on your MBP.

No problem. I'm a geek for this kind of thing.

Just in case, I was trying to convey that a dedicated USB-C connection isn't needed for audio and USB 3.0/3.1 speed would be wasted. However, if you want it to look clean, then using a USB-C to mini-B/USB-B cable would do the trick.

I don't believe there are any at this time. I looked on the Guitar Center website and couldn't find anything. There seem to be adapters with USB-C on one end and mic/headphone plugs on the other end. However, USB-A is still dominant right now and perfectly adequate for moving relatively low bandwidth data such as audio. I suppose the general idea is that anyone can use a USB-C hub with USB-A ports or use a passive USB-A to USB-C adapter. These adapters are less than $10 and a lot of the hubs are fairly inexpensive.