JLab GO or Talk Plug & Play USB Microphones (Refurbished)
- Basic specs on the Go: small, portable, 96kHz sample rate, 2 condensers, 2 directional patterns, volume control, quick mute
- Basic specs on the Talk: a little bigger, 96kHz sample rate, 3 condensers, 4 directional patterns, volume & gain control, quick mute
- Great for podcasting, presenting, or clear calls
- Favorite dog breed: JLabrador retriever
Talk It Up
Are you an aspiring podcaster?
Maybe you are. Maybe you’re not. Maybe you think you’re not now, but in two months you’re going to be like, “Dang, I really wish there was a comedic Chopped recap podcast to listen to,” and you’ll decide to be the change you want to see in the world.
The problem is, it’s hard to start a new podcast because there are so many out there already. How do you get people to listen? And when they do, how will you sound? And not just: will you be funny, organized, and insightful? But also literally, will the sound quality be okay?
All podcast listeners have had that experience, right? You come across a show that seems right in your wheelhouse, so you download an episode, try to listen to it, and it’s like one host is recording from inside a running shower with the mic two rooms away, and the other has built their recording studio in a dryer set on endless tumble.
It’s miserable. And moreover, it’s avoidable. This isn’t 1985. You don’t need a full radio studio set-up to record your podcast about what The Mandalorian can tell us about geo-political tensions or whatever. You can sound totally acceptable with a simple at-home mic.
Like these refurbished options, from JLab.
Now, you have two options. The Go is smaller and more portable, with a 96kHz sample rate, 2 condensers, 2 directional patterns, volume control, and quick mute. The Talk is not as compact, features the same sample rate and quick mute capabilities, but has 3 condensers, 4 directional patterns, and volume & gain control. And they’re priced like a decent lunch or a decent lunch and a beer or two, respectively.
And by the way, these aren’t just for podcasters. They’re great for giving online presentations for work, or just having a nice, clear-sounding Zoom call catch-up with a buddy you haven’t talked to in a while.
So get one. Seriously. It’s 2023. A good mic is easy to find.
