Current best microphone USB or not?

[Kerry F]

Okay, I need some recommendations.  I have used primarily the $150 little Martel Electronics mic that Stenograph also sells for years.  What other comparable mics are there for under $200 other than the USB mics.  I'm not crazy about the USB mic sound quality, even the ones sole by

Sound Professionals, unless there's something new.  I'd just rather not rely on a USB port to be working properly.  Rather plug a mic into the mic jack on the computer.

 

Thansk

[Freddie Reppond]

I have two of the $150 Martel mics that I've been using for years.  Maybe they're just getting old, but I've been getting sub-par results with them lately, even with fresh batteries.  I tweaked the settings but nothing seemed to help.

 

On a whim I dug out a Labtec mic that someone had suggested once.  Real cheap, like $8 each online.   I was amazed at the improvement in the audio quality.  I can't explain why.  I keep checking the audio to make sure it wasn't just a fluke.  Uses no batteries either.

[Kerry F]

You can't buy the Labtecs anymore, I don't believe.  My mic is really old, too, but it has lasted a long time..........just wondering with it's going to die and looking for a new mic.

[Janiece Young]

I use that $150 High Gain mic from Martel.  They do wear out after awhile and you have to replace them.

[Kerry F]

Wear out how?  What do you know if they need to be replaced?  I've had mine forever, take really good care of it moving it around.

Audio is still good, but I feel it could be better.    I was just looking for an alternative.   Was wondering if they aren't made as well as they used to be, since a friend of mine has replaced hers a few times and the more recently replaced ones don't seem to be as good as my old one.

Thanks

[Janiece Young]

Hi, Kerry,

I don't know the details of "how they wear out."  I just know what happened the last time it stopped recording as loud and then one day it actually stopped recording.  I know it was the mic b/c my computer has microphones and I can record from just the computer.  Once I replaced the mic my recording went back up to what I was used to.  I'm assuming the wires inside the mic break.  I'm really careful with mine too.  Mine usually last for at least a couple years.

[Kerry F]

What does everyone thing of the USB versus non USB mics?  Sometimes I like to slide my Martel mic closer to the witness if they're hard to hear and you can't do that with a USB mic unless you have a USB extension so it moves...............

[Tricia McLaughlin]

Kerry,

I have a USB mic here and never used it.  I think the "Labtecs" are equally as good.  You may want to Google "external mics" and see what you can come up with.  Good luck

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

When I went to Windows 7, my regular mics wouldn't work.  I had to get a USB mic and it works really well, especially when I have the mic facing the person.

[Kerry F]

I have friends using regular mics with Windows 7 just fine.  Are you sure about that?  I like talking on the phone to the tech guy at Sound Professionals.  He's great with Windows settings for mics.  He told me you can use mic extensions with the USB ports if you want to move the mic closer to a witness.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

I called and talked to Advantage Software for over an hour on this issue and he thought there was something wrong with my plug into the computer for the regular mic.  That's why I went to the USB.  All works fine but newer computers don't have as many USB ports and it limits what I can attach, like output for realtime to attorneys, my software key, writer, etc.  That sometimes is a problem.

[Quyen]

Kelli, you can get a USB hub like this one:  Belkin 4-Port USB Hub.

I have one.  It's compact (so not a lot of additional weight), works great, pretty inexpensive and very convenient to have.

 

Here's an even cheaper one.  Looks cute too.  Belkin 4-Port Ultra Mini USB Hub

And since you use a USB mic, this will allow you to extend your mic, if you don't do that already.

[Kelli Combs (admin)]

The instructions say not to use the USB microphone through a hub, has to go directly into the computer.  I know, lovely.