As of June 2011, there are a variety of companies producing USB recording microphones. For the most part, these microphones look and function the same as products that use normal mic cable connections. Though they vary depending on the manufacturer, nearly all have a standard external appearance made up of a screen and casing. The only major difference in appearance is that many are designed with a built-in mounting system such as a tripod or a stationary base. Anything that does not include this additional feature requires either a microphone stand or a very steady hand.
A USB studio recording microphone connects directly to the USB port of a computer, rather than running through an external interface. Once the connection is made, users generally must open their computer's system preferences to select the attached microphone as the sound source. Different digital audio workstations may require additional changes in settings or a driver download to enable the device.
The most prominent type of USB microphone on the market as of June 2011 was a cardioid condenser, which is arguably the most widely used pattern for studio vocal recording. It bears the name "cardioid" because it records sound coming from one direction in a heart-shaped pattern of sensitivity. Several manufacturers even include onboard switches that allow users to change between recording patterns on the same unit, including cardioid, stereo (wide panning), omnidirectional (all sides of the mic) and bidirectional (two sides of the mic). USB microphones usually record at a depth of either 16 or 24 bits, which is generally dependent on the price of the unit. Higher-end products tend to record at a higher rate.
USB microphones serve a number of purposes. Many artists simply want a basic recording solution that bypasses the need to invest in a portable recording interface, which can cost several hundred dollars. Because of its portability, traveling musicians often hook up their microphone to their laptop to create a makeshift studio for the purpose of creating demos. Still, perhaps the most widespread use has been that of voiceover recording. Because the microphones are often easy to set up on the top of a desk, many voiceover engineers prefer a simple USB option over that of a sound booth.