Over the past few years, USB microphones have become increasingly popular amongst podcasters and sound engineers.
This is partly because they can be paired with a wider range of recording devices. As technology continues to evolve, the traditional XLR connection is arguably starting to become redundant.
Amongst the plethora of USB microphones available to choose from, one of the most favored is the H&A HA-UPM Professional Microphone. Capable of doing everything a microphone with an XLR connection can do, it’s easy to set up and simple to use. Which, first and foremost, is what you want from a USB mic.
While this microphone’s beauty lies in its simplicity, it also boasts several other features that have seen it gain popularity. But what are they? We decided to dig a little deeper and uncover every feature of this fantastic microphone.
Table of Contents
Connection
As you might have guessed, the HA-UPM Professional USB Microphone features a USB connection. It also comes with an included USB cable so you can start recording straight away.
The great thing about a USB connection is that you’re able to use your microphone with almost any recording device. It’s also effortless to install a simple plug and play design that doesn’t require any drivers or special software to get you up and running.
The USB connection this microphone uses also gives you more freedom over your set up. This is because the cables are much thinner than an XLR, allowing you to use it with either a boom arm or mic stand without it getting in the way.
Design
There’s no denying that the H&A HA-UPM is an aesthetically pleasing microphone. While this doesn’t make much of a difference to its performance, it’s always nice to own a piece of recording equipment that looks as professional as it feels.
It’s also incredibly durable, and this is due to its all-metal construction. This means it won’t get easily damaged if it were to get accidentally knocked over. It also gives you more peace of mind should you wish to take it out on the road and record in different locations.
Polar Pattern
The H&A HA-UPM features an oversized, 25mm thin diaphragm that works alongside the cardioid condenser capsule to record smooth, warm, natural tones. This is the kind of audio you want when you’re recording a podcast.
It’ll be pleasing to your audiences’ ears and give them the feeling of being in the same room as you.
The cardioid polar pattern will also only pick up sound coming from a 180º arc directly in front of the microphone. This helps to enhance the vocals’ quality while simultaneously ensuring that no background noise appears on your finished recording.
It’s a great microphone for using when you’re recording an interview podcast or panel show too. Again, this is because of the cardioid pickup pattern that will focus solely on the voice of the person sitting in front of the mic.
Another feature to mention here is that the H&A HA-UPM has a frequency response of 30Hz-18KHz. This allows it to digitally capture a wide variety of vocal notes and produce them into natural, conversational tones.
Built-in Controls
When you’re recording, it’s important to make sure you’ve got your levels correct and that they are maintained throughout the session. However, this can mean flicking through tabs on your screen or finding the right combination of keys to press to get to where you need to be.
These annoyances are a thing of the past with the HA-UPM Professional USB Microphone. Located on the body of the mic for ultimate convenience, you’ll find a variety of buttons and dials that give you quick, easy access to your levels.
The first of these is a mic gain dial. This gives you the ability to directly adjust your gain levels from the microphone both before and during recording. But how do you monitor your gain once you’ve hit record exactly?
The opportunity to do this comes from the 3.5mm headphone jack, located on the front of the mic. Plug in a pair of headphones, and you’ll be able to monitor your levels in real-time.
This takes a lot of effort out of the editing process, too, and helps to make sure everything sounds amazing throughout your recording session.
This integrated headphone jack also gives you the ability to listen to yourself with zero-latency monitoring—no more annoying feedback or echoes when you’re interviewing a guest over your webcam. Just smooth listening every time.
You can also adjust the level of volume your headphones are playing directly from the microphone, too, with the volume control dial.
A mute button is another feature you’ll find located on the body of the microphone. Pressing this will prevent the microphone from picking up any sound at all. It’s perfect for those moments when you need to say something that you don’t want to be recorded.
It’s also super useful if you can feel a sneeze coming or if you need to cough quickly.
There might come a time when you need to use your microphone to record something a little louder than your voice, such as a musical instrument. This is where the 10dB sensitivity switch comes into play.
It works by keeping your levels within a normal range and preventing the microphone from becoming overloaded.
The final built-in control is the low cut switch. This helps to minimize any low, rumbling sounds that can come from working on certain frequencies.
It’s also super useful as an alternative to a pop filter and will help ensure no plosives or breath sounds appear on your recording.
Software Compatibility
The H&A HA-UPM is universally compatible with all operating systems. This is useful on a variety of levels. First of all, you won’t have to worry about it, not working with your preferred recording software.
Whether you use a PC, a MAC, or any other recording device with a USB connection, this microphone will work with it.
Universal compatibility also allows you to switch between recording platforms without having to change your microphone. It’s useful for editing, too, allowing you to use both Audacity and GarageBand without having to swap mics.
Another great thing about this microphone being universally compatible is that it makes traveling with it much easier. You won’t run the risk of arriving at a studio and not being able to use your favorite mic.
Instead, you can plug it in and begin recording.
Adjustable Stand
We mentioned earlier that the HA-UPM Professional USB Microphone is easy to install on both boom arm and mic stands. What we didn’t mention is that it actually comes with its very own adjustable desk stand.
This gives you even more versatility over your set up and can even save you a bit of money since you won’t have to worry about purchasing a separate stand if you don’t already own one.
The stand is super easy to set up simply by pulling each of the three legs out from the main body. When you’re finished with it, pop them all back in, and you can store it away safely and compactly.
It’s also height adjustable. This allows you to find the most comfortable position for your needs, which, in turn, helps to ensure you sound relaxed and comfortable when you’re speaking.
Price
Looking at all of these remarkable features, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the H&A HA-UPM Professional USB Microphone comes with a hefty price tag. However, this isn’t the case at all.
It’s a really affordable microphone that’s an ideal choice for anybody on a budget. Its affordability also makes it a fantastic starter-microphone for a new podcaster and will allow you to find your sound before moving onto something more expensive.
Not that you’ll need to, of course! With such durability, reliability, and outstanding features, this is a microphone that you’ll be using for a long time.
Final Word
If there were one phrase to sum up, the H&A HA-UPM Professional USB Microphone, it would be ‘feature-packed.’
The integrated dials and buttons make it super easy to use and help you produce the best possible sound quality for your podcast.
It’s also super versatile. Not only does it come with a variety of mounting options, including an adjustable desk stand, but it can be used universally across operating systems.
This gives you the kind of freedom you need when you’re recording and, partnered with the USB connection, gives you more versatility over your recording device options.
It’s affordable, durable, and feature-packed. This is a microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern that would suit people new to sound recording and experienced podcasters.
The perfect piece of recording equipment for capturing high-quality audio without costing you a fortune.
