Besides having a reputation for premium sound quality, be sure the soundcard uses drivers ensuring low latency – and phantom power if you want to record with condenser mics. There are both external and internal PCI models available, but there are a few things to keep in mind while shopping for one. If you want to set up your own home studio, you might consider getting a multichannel soundcard for your computer. They also provide phantom power for condenser microphones and have headphone jacks for latency-free monitoring. Both work without external power, so you can record wherever you can set up your laptop. Or you can opt for something like the MVi, an interface offering a selection of onboard signal-processing presets. There are single-channel analog-to-digital converters like the X2u connecting an XLR mic to the computer's USB port. If you're recording on the go with your laptop, a portable audio interface might be what you're after. And if the mixer supports phantom power, you can also use condenser microphones. This method eliminates having to amplify the signal with your recording software, hopefully eliminating any unwanted background noise in the process. You can also increase the microphone signal to line level with a small mixing console, but you'll still need an adapter cable to connect to the computer's standard audio jack. This will only work with dynamic microphones. That makes this option best for a quick-and-dirty solution when you don't have access to an external power source. However, this has the disadvantage of giving the microphone a low-impedance connection, which can impair the sound quality. Using a passive transformer like the A96F can boost a signal by 12 dB. Potential solutions Option 1: A passive transformer That's because the onboard audio inputs on most computers aren't sensitive enough to pick up the signal from your microphone, so it will likely sound either too quiet or too noisy when amplified by your audio software. Still, even with your mic plugged in, you might not be all that satisfied with the sound quality of your recordings. Unless you're handy with a soldering iron, you're going to need a special cable like the RP325. Of course, plugging in your trusty SM58 isn't so straightforward: Laptops, as well as desktop PCs and Macs, normally have 3.5 mm jacks, whereas most professional mics use XLR plugs. Perhaps you already have a traditional microphone you'd like to use with your laptop or maybe you're after a distinct sound that a USB model simply can't provide.
But they're not always the solution for everyone. These days, there are plenty of great USB mics offering high-quality audio and plug-and-play convenience for computer recording. Do you want to use a professional microphone with your laptop, but aren't exactly sure how to do it?
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