5 Benefits to Using a Microphone With USB and XLR Outputs

First-time microphone users often ask if they should get a USB or XLR microphone—why not both?

In this article, we’ll run through five reasons why using a microphone with USB and XLR outputs can streamline your workflow and improve the audio quality of your podcasts, musical performances and videos. 

PROFESSIONAL-QUALITY SOUND AT-HOME AND IN THE STUDIO

Microphones with USB and XLR outputs are built with the same parts as XLR-only mics so you can achieve professional audio quality wherever you are. 

For example, using the USB female to XLR male microphone cable included with the Yeti Pro, you can connect to your laptop via USB for the team Zoom meeting and record band practice later that night using an XLR microphone cable and external analog mic preamp. 

With its ability to seamlessly maneuver between USB and XLR connections, the Yeti Pro is a versatile and multipurpose microphone that grows with your recording studio, video production facility, home office or virtual classroom.

MICROPHONES WITH USB AND XLR OUTPUTS ARE READY FOR ANYTHING

No audio interface? No problem! Just plug a USB cable directly into your computer, tablet, or mobile device. Got a studio full of incredible vintage gear? Great! Connect the Yeti Pro via XLR and you’re good to go. 

Our USB microphones are plug-and-play on PC and Macintosh computers so you can start recording quickly. Journalists, musicians,  podcasters, social media managers and anyone else who needs to connect with an audience during an on-location livestreaming event are sure to appreciate the Yeti Pro's “anything goes” approach to connectivity.   

MAKE PERFECT STEREO RECORDINGS WITH DUAL XLR OUTPUTS

Before the Yeti Pro arrived on the scene, making an accurate stereo recording was a complicated process requiring two microphones, a measuring tape and strict adherence to the three-to-one rule to avoid phase cancellation—but not anymore.  

The Yeti Pro features two perfectly aligned microphone capsules and includes a dual-XLR stereo breakout cable so you can make pristine recordings with a true-to-life stereo soundstage—all with a single microphone. 

In Stereo mode, you can easily capture wide acoustic guitars, an intimate piano performance or even a singer-songwriter duo without having to delicately position and balance multiple microphones to produce a coherent stereo track. 

USB AND XLR MICS MAKE MORE ENGAGING CONTENT

We’ve all heard the phrase “pivot to video” by now, but surprisingly, it’s audio quality and not fancy video editing or silky smooth b-roll that determines how long viewers interact with your content. 

Researchers at the Australian National University in 2018 discovered a correlation between audio quality and the audience’s perception of a speaker’s credibility. They found that even if two people present the same information using the same language, audiences consistently favored the person with better audio. On social media, this translates into longer view times and better placement in the algorithm. 

So, simply improving your intelligibility with a microphone upgrade could be the secret to more likes, shares and subscribers.  

LEGENDARY SOUND AND PERFORMANCE

The Yeti Pro brings Blue’s legacy of building premium studio-quality microphones to your carry-on bag. The world’s top artists and content creators use Blue microphones in the studio, and the Yeti Pro combines the convenience of USB microphones with the flexibility of XLR microphones no matter where you record.

We hope these five benefits inspire you to use your USB and XLR microphone in new and exciting ways along your creative journey. Check out our Music blog for more microphone tips and techniques.