Nuance Dragon for Mac, v5. Command Cheat Sheet. Controlling the microphone. Move forward/backward [number] words. Move left/right [number] words. (Technically, you can use your Mac's internal microphone, or the one in your monitor if you use an Apple display On the plus side, headsets offer very good accuracy—speech recognition software will get more words right because the microphone connected to a headset is generally in a good position.

If you have been looking into USB microphones, chances are you have come across the Blue Yeti multiple times. It's an extremely popular choice amongst podcasters, gamers, and musicians alike, and the reason it's so beloved is due to its impressive versatility and podcast veteran, Rene Ritchie, says it's his go-to option for a USB microphone. 'Blue Yeti is still my pick for best USB microphone — not just for the Mac but for anyone starting out doing anything, including podcasts, audiobooks, live streams, videos, and more.

It plugs right into your device, no audio interface needed, sounds great out of the box, and has a few simple options if you need to adjust for particular circumstances, like two people sharing one mic. Of course, it can't beat a high-end XLR mic and interface, but at a tenth or less the price, it sounds so good you'll probably think twice, hard, before considering those higher-end purchases. It's the mic I used for years, still, travel with today, and always recommend to anyone who asks.' — Rene Ritchie, 10-year podcast veteran and host of iMore show, MacBreak Weekly, and VECTOR. The Rode Podcaster is a very simple, but elegant USB microphone that Lory Gil has been using with great success for years. 'I use the Rode Podcaster bundle. It's easy to set up, sounds great, and the boom stand mounts to my desktop so I can swivel it into range when I need it.

The Rode is specially designed for voice, so it has warm tones with even bass and the cardioid pattern isolates my voice so there isn't too much background noise being picked up.' — Lory Gil, Managing Editor of iMore It's formatted for Mac and Windows right out of the box, meaning if you want to switch back and forth it's just plug-and-play for both operating systems.

The Snowball has become a beloved microphone for the budget podcaster, myself included, because of its low price point and versatility. It has three different modes: cardioid, which is great for single person recording; omnidirectional, a fantastic option for multiple-person recording; and cardioid -10 db, allowing for great noise reduction, which is perfect for video calling. A USB microphone for your Mac makes video calls, streaming games, or recording any sort of audio easy and simple. Just plug them in and start recording! I still believe the is the best all-around microphone for most Mac users. It's four recording modes offer an incredible amount of versatility, meaning regardless of what you're trying to record, you should be able to get a high-quality recording. Updated October 2018: Added the Rode Podcaster to our list!