Blue Microphone Yeti USB Desktop Microphone, Platinum

The Yeti is a really great mic, not only in its price range but overall. The quality of sound, the ease of use for adjustments to recording style, and the real-time headphone connection, make this mic a must have for podcasting, voice-over and even recording live music. I paired it with Audacity software and couldn't be happier.

This is an excellent mic for people who are just starting. It's everything you want in a condenser mic without breaking the bank. If you have a bigger budget, there are better condenser mics out there. This mic is a great purchase to make, especially while on sale. The physical size of the mic is larger in real life than it looks in the photos. If you use it in an area with a lot of ambient sound, you must adjust the mic sensitivity because it can be very sensitive. Do NOT set this mic close to your mouth. It should be approximately one arm's length from your mouth. You do not need a pop filter unless you spit when you talk or you will be sharing a mic with others for sanitary reasons. ALL condenser mics are sensitive to movement, so they are always used on a stable surface that can't move easily when bumped.