The JLab Talk Pro USB microphone is a great way to get high-quality audio onto your device without it costing you too much. This affordable mic offers a host of powerful features which make it a real all-rounder, doing everything well.
Connection: USB
Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm aux out
Condensers: 3
Directional patterns: Cardioid, stereo, bidirectional, omnidirectional
Size: 11.1 x 7.6 x 7.6 inches
Weight: 1.1 lbs
This straddles the line between offering professional-level features and audio quality while being super simple to use with a plug-and-play design. Talking of design, this is a good-looking mic making it ideal for vloggers. Equally, it works for music recording, video conferencing and more thanks to a wide selection of modes.
So is this the best USB microphone for you? This review aims to help you decide.
JLab Talk Pro: Design and build
The JLab Talk Pro USB microphone looks far better than you might expect from that price tag. This is built to be good enough for use on camera. But it's not just looks that impress here, as the build quality is also decent with a sturdy finish that feels made to last. And at 11.1 x 7.6 x 7.6 inches it's relatively portable too.
The microphone itself is a triple condenser unit that has an impressive 192kHz with 24-bit depth and a range of 20Hz to 20kHz. On the software side, it's built to work with both Mac and Windows machines.
There are physical analog controls onboard which allow for quick access to features that include volume and gain as well as a crucial mute button. This is equipped with a stand making it easy to set up and use right away.
On the bottom of the microphone is an LED light ring. This can be used to offer a downlit finish with adjustable colors to suit what you want. Again, ideal for those vloggers using this on camera.
There is also an LED color-coded meter on the front of the mic which shows the patterns of choice in use at the time. This offers stereo, omni, figure-eight and more.
On the underside of the mic is a 3.5mm port and the USB-C connection, which comes with a 10-foot braided cable with an angled connection to suit the mic perfectly. Little details like this tell you what JLab is all about and set your mind at ease knowing this is a product that's had a lot of thought and care go into its creation and perfection.
JLab Talk Pro: Features and performance
The JLab Talk Pro is crammed full of features. Primarily this has a lot of functions you can work with. Cardioid mode, for example, is ideal for a single vocalist and does a great job of producing a very crisp and clear audio result. The treble is strong and there is an element of transparency which sounds good.
Other non-cardioid modes include Stereo, Omni, and Figure-Eight or Bi-Directional patterns. All helpful for recording multiple vocalists, like in an interview scenario or on a location getting wider audio.
The only downside to this is that when you switch modes there is an audible sound from the mic itself which you wouldn't expect from higher-priced models. But with a high sampling rate and zero-latency monitoring, this gets you an audio file with depth that makes tidying up and perfecting the finish a simple option, especially with the best audio editing software.
JLab Talk Pro: Price
The JLab Talk Pro USB microphone, at the time of publishing, falls into the very reasonable sub-$200 price bracket at $150. Sure, that's not the cheapest, with plenty of sub-$100 options out there. But breaking that $100 mark and going to this amount represents a big jump in quality. This offers pro-level performance to justify that cost, making this actually a very affordable model for what you get.
You can buy the JLab Talk Pro USB microphone from Amazon, JLab and Best Buy, to name a few.
Should I buy the JLab Talk Pro?
The JLab Talk Pro USB microphone is for plenty of people. From vloggers and podcasters to musicians and conference callers, this will serve many needs. Thanks to the varying polar patterns of cardioid, stereo, bidirectional and omnidirectional, this has a setting for nearly any audio recording situation.
You will need to use this with a digital audio workstation (DAW) to get the audio recorded, but you can also use it live with software like Zoom or YouTube live. This isn't the most portable mic, but if you demand quality then it's a decent size and can fit in a bag just fine for those on the move a lot.
The JLab Talk Pro straddles the line between an easy-to-use everyday microphone that anyone can use and a pro-level audio recorder. As such, the price is relatively low and the features are rich. This does it all, does it well and does it with ease making it ideal for beginners and pros alike.
