What's the difference between a usb mic and an xlr mic?

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When searching the interwebs for microphones for your podcats, you'll find primarily two kinds of microphones: USB and XLR microphones. It's not so important to understand what the letters in these names mean as much how each mic functions and which one you should use for your individual scenario. Here's the breakdown:

​XLR MICROPHONES

Rode PodMic | XLR

​XLR microphones utilize the "XLR" connector, which is the industry standard connection for high-quality microphones. Unlike the USB microphone, XLR mics need to be plugged into mixers, interfaces and digital recorders using an XLR male-to-female cable.

XLR mics are also very portable, but sometimes the additional gear needed to record can be bulky. If you're needing a highly portable recording solution, consider Zoom's digital recorders such as the H4n or the H6 along with an XLR mic.

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USB MICROPHONES

YETI BLUE | USB

USB microphones contain all of the necessary wiring needed to connect to a computer through the USB port and start recording right away. Most of these kinds of mics will also have a headphone jack allowing you to monitor your audio while you record.

​Unlike XLR microphones, you do not need a mixer, audio interface or digital recorder to get started. If you're looking for an easy "plug and play" solution for a mic, requiring as little gear and technical setup as possible, the USB microphone is for you. USB mics are very portable and work seamlessly on PC and MAC. ​