The Skyline microphone doesn't possess a headphone output, so this means that you will need to hear your audio through another output device (such as your computer’s speakers). There’s no input gain control on the microphone itself, either, so you'll have to make all adjustments to your input and output levels through the sound settings on your computer. USB mics are good. They are just more convenient than traditional mics because they have an audio interface already built-in, so you wouldn’t need to invest in a separate stand-alone interface. The Neat Skyline microphone houses a condenser microphone capsule which is incredibly sensitive. The Skyline has a sample rate of 96kHz and a bit depth of 24 bits. This is impressive audio fidelity for the price, and one might argue it’s a little too sensitive for its intended use. Its form follows function, as one of the most important features of its design is a well illuminated and comfortable to use “MUTE” button. This might sound like a somewhat elementary point, but there are some real world examples of high priced, professional push-to-talk and mutable microphones that do not clearly show how to access the talk or mute features.The Neat Microphone company did an admirable job having designed a user-friendly button function that takes the guesswork out of its operation.

Bear in mind, however, that these mics do have their limitations. They won’t be as versatile as traditional XLR mics, however, so you can’t really build a whole studio around a USB mic. How we test USB mics When testing a USB microphone, we like to see first its plug-n-play ability and it’s compatibility with our preferred recording software and/or streaming app. We, of course, take a listen to how well it reproduces different audio sources. These speakerphones tend to be VoIP phones that are designed for conferences. They have a lot of good features that are expected from UC and VoIP. Looking past the room's layout, the team may need their audio equipment to meet certain specifications. Some setups may let users adjust their individual mics. For example, some of the microphones may have their own mute buttons. A mute button allows the muting of individuals in a situation where everyone has their own mic. Other setups may have a single mic. Trying to use the mute feature with a single mic has its own problems. In this situation, using the mute button removes everyone from the conversation. Being geared more toward the professional musician set, the Shure MV5 might be more microphone than the average remote worker or YouTuber might be looking for. But, if you’re looking for something more substantial, it doesn’t hurt to take a cue from the pros. How to choose the best USB microphoneAny musician will tell you that Shure has been putting out industry-defining hardware for close to a century, so it’s no surprise that they also put out the best USB microphones in the world. Shure’s MV5 is meant to be mobile and interfaces with your computer or mobile device so you can record professional-quality audio on the go. Its DSP presets switch between podcasting, voice-over, and vocal/instrument recording modes, effectively making it three microphones in one. Usually, people can manipulate functions like wireless microphones and noise levels. Some teams may need their microphones to work with their laptops if the business takes a BYoD approach. Teams don't need to spend a lot of money to spend a lot of money on a technologically enhanced, collaborative digital whiteboard. For businesses that require basic phone conferences, a collaborative whiteboard may be a bit much. At the same time, many businesses do not consider their hardware choices deciding on a phone conferencing system for their conference room.

Instead of purchasing anything that works, selecting the right microphone can improve the sound quality of the conferences. It's really a matter of choosing the right microphone style for your conference room. Why Are Special Conference Room Microphones Necessary?A small room will not require a wireless setup or individual mics for each speaker. So, it's unnecessary to spend a lot of money on unnecessary features. Because everyone will be sitting around one desk, the conference room only needs one stationary microphone. Of course, a large conference that has a 12-foot-long desk will need more than one microphone. One microphone in the center of the table is not enough. The speaker is going to make a person sitting at one end of the table sound very far away. What Options are Available? Ceiling mics are ideal when cluttering a conference table is not an option. Other types of microphones will take up a lot of space on a table and have visible wires. Having a ceiling mic will help to ensure that conference tables are kept free of annoying wires.

A front and side shot of the Neat Skyline microphone on a desk. (Image credit: Future) Neat Skyline: Design Choosing the best USB mic for you isn’t hard, but there are a few things that you need to consider, and you might need to read up on technical terms before you dive in, if you’re not familiar with mics in general.Boundary mics are in their own microphone class. There are many options to choose from and the concept is simple. The microphone gets placed along the mounting surface or boundary. Basically, mics can be placed on a desk or a floor as if it is on a presentation stage. Finally, recording into one of the many digital audio workstations that today’s content producers use may invite significant frustration. User-friendly workstations such as the open source Audacity, Apple’s Garageband and Logic Pro X, allow for simple routing of the Skyline microphone into the input of these programs. No problem here!