How Good Can A Cheap Headset Microphone Sound?

To get proper recorded spoken audio that sounds crisp and clear, you have several options of how to go about it. One way is to go the expensive route with a fancy microphone and a proper studio environment. The other way is to simply use a USB-connected headset with attached microphone.

Being that I know I can achieve a good recorded sound as long as you purchase the correct headset w/microphone, I purchased a Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000. The price was $32.09 after tax at Best Buy.

Here’s how it sounds: Download test WMA file and take a listen (will play in Windows Media Player or VLC).

This is the LX-3000:

These are the controls mid-wire:

Bear in mind you don’t have to use the LX-3000, but I do recommend recording your spoken word using something USB-connected. You have many choices for headsets (that link shows nothing but USB-based headsets).

So if you were ever wondering how I get that crisp, clear sound, now you know. All you need is the most basic of equipment.

To remind you again: The test file above used the free Sound Recorder built-in to Windows 7. No filters. No "fixing" involved. The recorded audio sounds that good just on its own.

Not bad for a 30-dollar headset microphone, eh?

If you have WMAs recorded from Sound Recorder you need to convert to MP3 (such as for web services that offer freely hosted podcasting like MyPodcast.com that require the MP3 format for audio) just use the site YouConvertIt to convert the WMA to an MP3, and you’re good to go.