Do XLR to USB Cables Work?

Can a XLR to 1/4th cable be used to plug a SM58 to an Audio interface like a MOTU M2?

Have you tried it with a smartphone? BTW, Not sure I love the audio quality from the SM58 through that interface. Have you compared it to the quality through your Focusrite?

The quicker you change audio to digital the better ! Try a powered USB hub. Try USB4 and the power is there ! If you could A to D at the mic and usb to hub into the computer ! Bomb ! Everything will change soon ! Mic's have smarts with DSP power. USB4 carries more juice !

So the key takeaway here is that the cable doesn't provide 48v phantom power. Not surprising. Seems like the cable is still useful... just not for condenser mics

Use 12V phantom power supply instead of the 48V and its perfectly ok.

Most dynamic mics in India come with an XLR cable, this advice proved very helpful.

If you plug multiple dynamic XLR microphones to your PC like this would it be seen as one USB PNP device or multiple?

Thanks for the review banjo! But btw this world is temporary and all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and we are all going to stand with Him on Judgement day! But fortunately For God so loved the world He sent His only Begotten Son so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life! Repent and Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will have eternal life!

I just bought an XLR cable to USB. For some reason I am not getting the power on the USB cable. The light does not turn ON. In your video I see that when you plug in the USB, the light turns on. Why is it that the light does not turn on. Need your help

Hello, Have you tested the XLR to usb type C Cable.

Be aware! You could always convert an analog signal to the digital usb interface.But what you pay is what you get in sense of audio quality.There is lot of crap from China around the world spreading their e-waste.

On pc those devices have a gain control if the proper drivers are installed.

will it work with my android phone

theres no tutorial how to make this cables female xlr to usb please do a tutorial

Sterling Audio ST155 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone would a XLR to USB work on my PC?

Thank you I am working on a set up to make Videos for Acoustic guitar and vocal it is nice to know the 58 works with the adapter in case I go that route although the Blue yeti might be the better choice for picking up guitar and vocal all n one for blues and roots stuff Thanks man

nice! The best thing I took away is how important lighting is!
Link to the light? Got a video on room lighting? I bet you do!
(I wasn't really to test that cable)

Rookie mistake bro! That mic is wifi

What about USB to XLR cables?

Using a condenser mic running into phantom power, then running out of the phantom power using an XLR to USB cable works great. This was not shown here. Here is an even better option, run your condenser mic into your phantom power, then run from your phantom power out using an XLR to 3.5 cable, then plug your 3.5 jack directly into your sound card mic input, this is the best option. You are completely bypassing using USB altogether. If you have a good 24-bit sound card, you really don't need an audio interface. I have a sound blaster Z, which has a 32-bit floating resolution and a 116dbs sound threshold. Add-on sound cards are not dead yet, you just need the right cables. You can use your DAW to control your mic volume, and even add real-time effects with compression. There's more than one way to skin a cat.

Thanks SO Much! I have the SM58 and Nobody talks about Its Easy connectivity- So The Cable WILL Work- Yay!

6 years later still helpful

dynamic microphone with xlr to usb works, got it

With so many comments, I cant find the link. This is the cable am looking for i think. I have a PGA 57 mic instead which I plan to attach to my bose sound system. Will this work? May I have the link? Thanks.

XLR to USB converter cables are ideal for the appropriate application. With low-impedance dynamic and condenser microphones, the signal to noise ratio is fairly high, and you can get good quality audio from analog connections to a typical PC. However, if you are using a high-impedance microphone, such as the Electro-Voice RE20, an analog connection to a typical computer will produce very poor results. The gain needed for an adequate signal produces objectionable noise, as the signal to noise ratio is low for conventional hi-Z mics. Convert the connection to digital using an XLR-to-USB cable, and BAM! The noise problem is gone. Bottom line: Don't convert to USB unless you have a high noise experience using an XLR analog connection from a hi-Z mic. The converter cables are very inexpensive and work very well in this situation.

This is kind of a stupid question, but do you think there's any chance that this would work with a regular music rig? mostly when recording with gear, people say you should have an Audio Interface for quality. But instead of XLR as a mic device, why not a run an XLR-out from a piece of gear into this cable?

Why didn't I find this mic before I wasted $15.... exact same experience...... but what usbc to usbc mic should I buy?

Does it was a condenser mic ...which u plugged with phantom power ???

What about the other way around?

@podcaststage would this work with the shure sm7b or would you still need all the interfaces and what not?

Clearly y don't understand how this works. Phantom powered mics will not work on these cables as they don't have the power.
You have to use dynamic like your Sure mic you used.

couldn't you just plug it in to a phantom power?

I know this video is about 6 years old...I bought this cable and use it with my Shure MV7x and it works GREAT! Sorry to give you a thumbs down. It was mostly b/c you didn't recommend it at all. I thought this cable is a good choice for small budgets. I did not want to buy a Focusrite for only that purpose ($127) seems too much.

Did you try 48-watt phantom power?????

NO PHANTOM POWER, USE A DYNAMIC MICROPHONE!!!

I've been planning to buy one of these for my old Dynos dynamic microphone, so this will be perfect.

This was super helpful! Thanks!

Helpful. Thanks

I'd like to know if a USB to XLR cable would work running from a Korg EK-50 Keyboard (Keyboard is USB only) to a Steinberg UR44C then into a computer & DAW?? I can record the keyboard when I'm actually playing, with a direct USB cable to the computer, but for some reason it won't pick up the keyboards preset rhythmns. (so I end up with music only & no beats). I thought running it through the steinberg UR44C might help...BUT the UR44C doesn't have any USB connection (input) ports... only XLR or 3/4 Jack inputs..... Suggestions anyone??

Get this videos kinda aged and I'm pretty late, but you have no idea how elated I was when you mention it works specifically for dynamic mics as I just got a dynamic for my set up so this video definitely put my mind at ease

You have saved me so much time for my church. 6 years ago and you’re still providing value to us all.

do u think the xlr to usb cable would work with the audio technica at2040

This video is so helpful..thanks!

Great work!!!
Hats off to you

What is "clipping?"

These cables are quite useful when paired with very high output dynamics mics like the the Shure Beta 58A

6 years later, and this video is still VERY useful. short and to the point. Thanks SO MUCH!
I bought a (apprently obsolete?) XLR to 3m cable, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why it would only provide very quiet distorted sound. I know a fair amount about audio, computers, drivers, etc. (I can usually fix things).. but I don't know much about microphones... till now! Now I know.. a LITTLE BIT :D