In short
Plug the USB microphone in, choose it under System Settings › Sound › Input, and set Input volume so your voice fills the middle of the meter. Choose the same microphone in your call app, and place it close to your mouth, about a hand's width to 20 cm away.
To use a USB microphone for calls on a Mac, plug it in, choose it under System Settings › Sound › Input, set Input volume so your voice fills about the middle of the Input level meter, and choose the same microphone in your call app. Then put it close to you: roughly a hand's width to 20 cm from your mouth, pointed at you. Distance does more for how you sound than the microphone itself.
This guide covers kinds of microphone, setup on the Mac and in call apps, placement, and a quick test. It does not recommend brands; it describes what to look for.
Set up a USB microphone on a Mac
- Plug it in. Use the cable that came with it, directly into the Mac or a powered hub. Most USB microphones need no driver.
- Select it in macOS. Open System Settings › Sound. Under Output & Input, choose Input and click the microphone's name.
- Set the level. Speak at your normal volume and watch Input level. Adjust Input volume so the meter sits around the middle and never hits the end. If the microphone has its own gain dial, set that first and use Input volume to fine-tune.
- Select it in the call app. In Zoom, click the arrow beside Mute and choose it; in Teams or Meet, open the audio settings. Or set the app to follow the system, if it offers that.
- Position it. Close to your mouth, pointed at you, slightly off to one side so you do not breathe straight into it.
- Test. Record ten seconds and play it back, or use the call app's microphone test.
If you listen through the microphone's headphone socket, set Output in System Settings to the microphone too.
Kinds of microphone
| Kind | How it sounds | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB dynamic | Picks up mainly what is close | Noisy or echoing rooms | Needs to be close; quiet if far away |
| USB condenser | Detailed, sensitive | Quiet rooms | Hears keyboards, fans and room echo |
| USB headset | Always the same distance from your mouth | Shared offices, moving around | Comfort on long days |
| Clip-on (lavalier) with USB | Close and out of shot | Video calls where you want no visible microphone | Clothing rustle |
The pickup pattern matters as much as the type. Many desk microphones are cardioid: they hear mainly what is in front of them. Point the front at your mouth. Some have switchable patterns; for a call, choose cardioid, not omnidirectional or figure-8, which pick up more of the room.
Where to put it
Sound gets quieter quickly with distance, and room echo does not. So a microphone twice as far away hears noticeably less of you and about the same amount of room. That is why a microphone close to you, even an ordinary one, sounds clearer than an excellent one across the desk.
- Close: about a hand's width to 20 cm from your mouth.
- Off to one side: angled at your mouth from slightly below or to the side, to avoid breath noise.
- Away from the keyboard and the computer's fans.
- On an arm or a stand, not the desk surface, if the desk carries typing noise.
- Pop filter or foam cover if you hear bursts on "p" and "b" sounds.
USB headset or desk microphone
Both are good choices for calls; they suit different days.
- A USB headset keeps the microphone at the same distance from your mouth however you move, and puts the call in your ears, which stops echo. It suits shared offices and long days of calls.
- A desk microphone on an arm sounds more natural and leaves your head free, but you need separate headphones, and it hears more of the room if you lean back.
If you have one of each, the headset is the safer choice for an important call in a noisy place.
Headphones still matter
A USB microphone does not stop your Mac's speakers from being heard. If the call plays through speakers, a sensitive microphone may pick up the other side more, not less. Wear headphones; fixing echo in call recordings explains why it matters for recordings as well as calls.
When the call app and the Mac disagree
Call apps keep their own microphone choice. Plug in a USB microphone and macOS may make it the default input, while Zoom keeps using the laptop microphone it used last time, or the other way round. Choosing the right microphone on a Mac shows every place the choice lives and how to make them agree.
If the USB microphone sounds too quiet, check its gain dial, its mute button and Input volume before anything else. Mac microphone too quiet? covers the rest.
Microphones and transcripts
Speech recognisers work from what the microphone gives them. A close microphone in a quiet room gives them a clear voice with little echo, which helps with the words recognisers find hardest: names, numbers and jargon. Getting better meeting transcripts covers the room and habits too.
A few practical points for recording calls:
- Keep the microphone in the same place from call to call, so your level stays the same.
- Mute with the call app, not by unplugging. Unplugging makes the Mac switch to another input, and anything recording your side may switch with it.
- Leave the gain alone during a call. A sudden change is harder to transcribe than a steady level.
With Notey
Notey records the input selected in System Settings › Sound as your side of the meeting, and what your Mac plays as the other side. So once the USB microphone is the Mac's input, it is also Notey's. Set the call app to the same microphone and both hear the same you.
Before an important call, press Start in Notey, speak for a few seconds, and check the You meter on the floating button moves. Setting up your Mac's audio for calls covers the rest of the setup.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a driver for a USB microphone on a Mac?
Most USB microphones are class-compliant and work without one. Plug it in and it appears in System Settings › Sound › Input. Some models come with an app for extra settings; check the maker's instructions.
Why does my USB microphone not show up on my Mac?
Try another cable and port, avoid unpowered hubs, and check the microphone's own mute button or gain dial. If it still does not appear in System Settings › Sound › Input, check the maker's instructions for a Mac.
Is a dynamic or condenser microphone better for calls?
In an untreated room with background noise, a dynamic microphone close to your mouth usually picks up less of the room. A condenser microphone captures more detail and more of the room. A headset microphone beats both for noise.
Will a USB microphone improve my transcript?
Often, yes, if it is closer to your mouth than the microphone it replaces. Recognisers do best with a clear, close voice and little room noise. A good microphone far from you does less than an ordinary one close to you.
Why does Zoom still use my laptop microphone after I plugged in a USB mic?
Zoom keeps its own microphone choice. Click the arrow beside Mute and choose the USB microphone, or set Zoom's audio settings to follow the system.
Can I use a USB microphone with a USB-C Mac?
Yes, with a USB-C cable or an adapter. If the microphone does not appear, try connecting it directly rather than through a hub, and check the adapter carries data, not only power.