The Yeti X microphone is a step up for online calls

When I finally set up the Yeti X microphone recently, it worked so well I wished I'd done it earlier.

After the pandemic hit and I moved my office home, I turned to the Jabra Speak 710. It worked great for the many Zoom calls then.

Last year, I decided to set up the Yeti X microphone I had. It proved to be another big step up - one I honestly didn't expect.

🌟 Just better

First, I'll be honest. I was awed when I spoke with Ricky Lien last year and saw his really cool mic setup. I knew I wanted, I mean needed, something like that.

But isn't a standalone microphone something used only by podcasters, streamers, or influencers for live selling?

I see it another way. It's hard enough to do online calls. Why not stack the odds in your favour by making sure you can be heard clearly - and sound better?

🛠️ Setting it up

I quickly realised there's an excellent reason to use a dedicated arm - mics such as the Yeti X are so sensitive that they easily pick up vibrations from the desk.

A mic arm paired with a shock absorber mount largely mitigates that.

Here's how I set up my Yeti X:

• Rode PSA1+ Pro Boom Microphone arm.
• $20 Thronmax shock absorber mount.
• $10 foam windscreen for Blue Yeti.

I've positioned it such that it picks up my voice well - out of sight of the webcam. And when I'm done, I push it out of the way for zero desk clutter.

👍 What I liked about it

While the Yeti X offers four different patterns for sound pickup - I leave it at cardioid to reduce the chances of picking up noises from my home.

I'll recommend enabling Blue Voice Effects from the Logitech G Hub for a rich, full-bodied sound. There are many other settings if it's your cup of tea, but I didn't tweak much.

In fact, I was on a one-on-one call with a PR professional recently, and he blurted out: "Why do you sound so good". Since I know it's not my voice, it must be the Yeti X.

A quick summation of why I like it:

• High-quality audio pickup.
• Tap to mute at hardware level.
• LED lights show mic gain, mute status.

The Yeti X is listed at SG$299, but you can get it much closer to $200 with some patience (and/or) judicious stacking of vouchers from e-commerce outlets.

𝗣𝗦: Some might point out that the Yeti X is a rather "old" mic. If it bothers you, you can check out the Rode PodMic USB, which is a reliable product I use for my in-person podcast sessions.

What about you? Do you use a dedicated microphone for your calls?