We’re so fortunate to live in a time when almost any info we need is just a few clicks away. And what’s even more mindblowing when you think of it is that you can now do any kind of education through online platforms. Yes, that goes for music lessons as well. With a platform like Rock Out Loud Live, you’d be surprised how online lessons can be effective. Today’s topic is the best USB mics for online music lessons.
However, in order to maximize this, you need more than just a solid platform. In order for a teacher to make out what you’re playing, you need a solid microphone. Since it might get tiresome to use external audio interfaces combined with regular mics, a viable alternative comes with USB microphones. Note that some platforms offer better audio quality than others from the start, such as Rock Out Loud Live.
What we think should be pointed out from the get-go is that you can add headphones to the USB microphone. This allows you to monitor the music as it’s playing, a really valuable feature when it comes to online music lessons. For example, if you’re playing the piano, you can plug the headphones into the mic while monitoring the instrument.
Otherwise, if you wear the headphones without plugging them into the mic, you won’t hear the acoustic piano at all. This is the reason why we stress the importance of wearing the headphones plugged into the USB mic – you can directly monitor the audio that you are playing. With that said, let’s dive into the products!
Best USB Mics for Online Music Lessons – Fifine K670
While the market is filled with so many options to choose from, we can’t help but single out Fifine’s awesome K670 as our top choice. And it’s not just the features and qualities that we’re talking about here, but rather a very reasonable price as well.
The main idea here was to have a fully-functioning quality microphone that comes with a “plug-and-play” mode of operation. You just simply plug it in and use any program or an app that you need. Of course, just like any other USB mic, this is technically a compact audio interface combined with a microphone. For additional functionality, you can plug your speakers or headphones into its 3.5-millimeter jack for direct output. What’s more, it not only works with Windows and Mac OS devices but can also go well with Linux and can even be plugged into Sony’s PS 4 gaming console.
Fifine K670 is great for platforms like Discord, Twitch, and OSB. So there won’t be any need to add compression, equalizers, or any other effects to enhance your voice or the sound of your instrument.
Furthermore…
Of course, this is a condenser microphone. But although it’s a simplified one, it can work as well as any other average regular condenser mic with an XLR connection. Additionally, the mic comes with one simple volume control that helps you adjust your input level. All of this is summed up with a frequency range going from 50 Hz and up to 15 kHz, as well as a cardioid polar pattern.
It’s also important to note that the microphone comes with very durable metal construction. Accompanying it, we have a fairly adjustable stand with an anti-slide base that will keep things in order. You just simply can’t find a better one at this price.
Blue Yeti
Another fairly decent device is the now-famous Blue Yeti USB mic. Becoming very popular among independent podcasters and other content creators, this one is also pretty great for music students doing online lessons. There are some basic parallels that we can draw between Blue Yeti and Fifine K670. Aside from the basic “plug and play” operation with its USB connection, we also have a volume control knob. In addition, it comes with a mute button, which can come in handy in some settings. Yeti also has a control that lets you pick between multiple pickup patterns as well, making it fairly versatile.
While its construction is pretty great, and you get some additional features, it’s significantly more expensive compared to K670. Sure, you’ll get more versatility in there. And it might give some advantages with its sound quality. But the product’s price level can be somewhat off-putting if you’re looking for a microphone that’s mainly for online music lessons.
Rode NT-USB
As is the case with Blue Yeti, Rode’s NT-USB mic has also gained popularity among content creators. When you compare it to K670, this one is better for vocal or instrument recording. Being a condenser mic, it has a pretty great capture quality with its cardioid polar pattern. It also has a very wide frequency range, spanning from 20 Hz and all the way up to 20 kHz. This covers the entire audible spectrum.
The NT-USB model comes with a very compact yet easily adjustable stand. And, once again, we can see that this is a fairly durable and robust mic. It can certainly withstand even some rougher handling. Other than that, we also have a headphone or speaker output for direct monitoring with near-zero latency, as well as two separate controls for monitoring and recording level output.
Essentially, this is a cheaper USB version of Rode’s famous NT-1. But with this said; this one might still be a bit expensive for those who are trying to find a decent online music lesson mic.
Fifine Mini Gooseneck
Looking more into Fifine and their collection of great products, their Mini Gooseneck model is another viable solution. In case you’re up for a cheaper product, that’s still capable of getting you all of the necessary qualities for music lessons; this is the one that you should be checking out.
With the standard “plug and play” operation, you can simply connect it to your PC, and it will work with any app that supports microphones. This goes for Windows, Mac OS, and Linux devices, giving you quick auto-installation. And considering its price level, it’s more than a decent mic, with a frequency range spanning from 50 to 17000 kHz, condenser construction, cardioid polar pattern, and great sensitivity.
But other than that, it’s just a simple USB mic with no bells and whistles, like additional controls or headphone outputs. Adjust its 5.7-inch goose-neck, plug it in, and you’re ready to rock! This wraps up our rundown of the best USB mics for online music lessons. We hope you enjoyed it and learned something new. Stay safe!
Check out RockOutLoud Live for the best online music lessons.
