In this example on Windows, the output is set to the named speakers of the built-in computer sound device, the input is set to the USB turntable (usually called or including the phrase "USB Audio CODEC") and recording channels are set to stereo. Windows 10/8/7 calls most USB external devices "microphones". Some higher-end USB recording interfaces may appear as their explicit manufacturer's name. Then, ignoring any instructions in the manufacturer's guide to select " stereo mix", simply press the Record button on Transport Toolbar.

Another consideration is how many people will be speaking simultaneously. If it's only one person talking in the room, a cardioid pattern mic is probably the best route. It might be worth considering a mic that has a figure-eight pattern if there's a one-on-one interview happening—placing the mic in the middle of the two speakers in this scenario (provided they are not far away from each other) can yield a natural recording. Rode NT1 5th Generation Consider how much TV you actually want to record and store. Some viewers prefer to record entire seasons of their favourite show and then binge-watch the lot in one go. Others record and then catch up on their show soon after it's been broadcast. For those who like to store several entire series at once, buy the largest storage capacity your budget will allow. Consider the read speed With all that out of the way, let's break down the discussion into the three most typical uses for a USB mic and the various options, characteristics, and needs for each application. They have built-in electronic programme guides, which is where you choose what to watch and record. The HDD will be formatted in a proprietary format. Next to this, the HDD will be linked to this particular TV. You therefore cannot record a TV programme on one TV, disconnect the HDD and try to watch the programme on another TV or on a computer.If you have just made a recording it is strongly recommended that you immediately export your audio using File > Export > Export Audio to WAV or AIFF (ideally to an external drive) as a safety copy before you start editing the project. USB 3.2 (Only used on Type C connections and later): Between 5Gbps and 20Gbps, depending on the version.

There's a wide price range among USB mics and we've done our best to test models across the entire spectrum. Spending more doesn't necessarily mean you get a better product, but there does seem to be a fairly sensible scale of quality that comes with price. Some connect to the internet giving you access to catch-up and streaming apps, such as iPlayer and Netflix.

What is an audio interface, and how does it work?

For the average TV user who is recording HD films and TV shows, you'll want at least 128GB. Stay mindful of what you've recorded and regularly delete older content though. We can't say exactly how many hours of TV will be stored as this all depends on the resolution it's being saved at. Sometimes your TV will let you choose whether to record at a high or medium resolution to save space. As always, with the different TV brands and models, your milage will vary. Outside of the USB mic world, there are several styles of microphone (such as condenser, dynamic, or ribbon) that, combined with the various microphone polar patterns (such as cardioid, hypercardioid, omnidirectional, or figure-eight), produce a wide range of options for the recording engineer. Among USB mics, it's mostly (but not always) condenser mics with cardioid patterns. We could talk in circles here, but a USB mic for music recording should probably have only minimal DSP, if any. Although some models employ DSP, it is really subtle in these scenarios compared with that of a typical gaming mic. And there are plenty of music mics that use no DSP whatsoever. MSI Immerse GV60 William Lobley is a Deputy Editor and reviewer for What's The Best, specialising in technology, gaming, and outdoors. He also writes for Empire Online. Some gaming mics up the ante by providing multiple polar patterns. Although cardioid (single-direction) is the standard, maybe you want to capture more than one voice with an omnidirectional or figure-eight pattern. Some gaming mics also have built-in switches to work with specific consoles.

Digital TV channels: USB Recording is only enabled on digital TV channels – not on analog channels. You can record SD, HD and 3D. Before we dive into the world of USB mics, you should know how most professional microphones work. In a typical recording studio scenario, a microphone is an analog piece of gear that sends a signal to a console or computer through an XLR cable (often through a mixer that can handle multiple microphones at once). The signal from the mic should be more or less pure; EQ, dynamic compression, and reverb are all later steps in production. Again, don't base your decision entirely on pricing and buy the most expensive thing. Determine what you need first and see what options meet your criteria. Fast forward to today: the government has closed down analogue TV broadcasting and replaced it with a form of digital TV based on DVB-T (standard definition) and DVB-T2 (high definition). The digital signal that probably arrives through the same TV aerial has to be decoded by a Freeview or Freeview HD tuner, and Freeview tuners have been included in all TV sets sold in the UK since 2008. If you own a smart TV, it's likely able to record, pause and rewind live digital terrestrial channels. However, as smart TVs do not typically ship with an internal HDD for such purposes, these features are unavailable until an external memory drive connects via a USB port.

Professionals should grab the Universal Audio Apollo Twin USB Heritage Edition

There's also the omnidirectional route if you're trying to capture the sound of a room. This can be particularly useful for location recordings—say, if your podcast calls for you to get the sound of a softball game in a park or the sound of glasses clinking and diners chatting at a restaurant. But this brings up another point—if your podcast is going to involve on-location recording, you should consider a mic that can record directly to mobile devices.