Why does my microphone work in Windows but not in Zoom?

Zoom has its own audio device selection in Settings, Audio, Microphone. The Windows default recording device and the Zoom microphone setting are independent. Select your USB microphone in Zoom's settings explicitly — it will not automatically use the Windows default in all cases. Confirm by clicking Test Microphone in Zoom's audio settings and speaking — you should see and hear a short recording playback.

Why does my Blue Yeti produce echo or reverb?

The Blue Yeti is a condenser microphone and captures the sound of the room in addition to the voice. If you hear echo, the room has significant reflections — bare walls, hard floors, and sparse furniture all cause echo. Short-term fix: place the Yeti inside or near a closet filled with clothing, which absorbs reflections. Long-term fix: acoustic foam panels on the wall behind and to the sides of the recording position. Bidirectional mode is more susceptible to room echo than cardioid — ensure the Yeti is set to cardioid (the single circle on the polar pattern selector).

How do I stop my microphone from picking up keyboard noise?

Four approaches in decreasing order of effectiveness: use a dynamic microphone (Shure MV7) rather than a condenser — dynamic microphones are much less sensitive and pick up less keyboard noise. Use a cardioid polar pattern and position the keyboard behind the microphone (in the cardioid rejection zone). Enable noise suppression in Discord, OBS (using the Noise Suppression filter on the audio source), or Nvidia RTX Voice. Increase the microphone distance from the keyboard — this reduces the keyboard level relative to the voice, improving signal-to-noise ratio.

Why does my microphone sound distant or hollow?

A distant or hollow sound from a USB condenser microphone is almost always caused by the microphone being too far from the mouth, or the room echo dominating the recording. Move the microphone 4 to 6 inches from your mouth (closer is generally better for condenser microphones, not farther). If the microphone is already close and the sound is still hollow, acoustic treatment is needed — the room reflection is arriving at the microphone with enough volume to color the recording. A portable reflection filter (Kaotica Eyeball, sE Electronics Reflexion Filter) reduces reflections directly behind the microphone without treating the full room.

USB Microphone Not Working? 8 Fixes for Windows, Mac, Zoom, and OBS

A USB microphone that stops working, appears silent, or is not detected is almost always a software configuration issue — permissions, default device selection, or the recording application's own audio settings. Work through these fixes in order before concluding the hardware has failed.

Fix 1: Check Privacy Permissions

Windows: Settings → Privacy → Microphone. macOS: System Settings → Privacy → Microphone. Enable for every app.

Fix 2: Set Default Recording Device

Right-click speaker icon → Sound Settings → Input → select USB microphone. Not always inherited by individual apps.

Fix 3: Select Correct Device in Zoom/Discord

Each app has its own audio device selection. Zoom: Settings → Audio → Microphone. Discord: Settings → Voice and Video → Input Device.

Fix 4: Increase Gain or Windows Input Level

Physical gain knob to 50%+. Windows input level to 80-100. Add Microphone Boost for dynamic microphones.

Fix 5: Reduce Gain for Distortion

Lower gain knob to 30-40%. Remove Microphone Boost. Peaks should reach -12 to -6dB, never above -3dB.

Fix 6: Fix in OBS

Settings → Audio → Mic/Auxiliary Device → select USB microphone. Check Audio Mixer for mute or Monitor Only settings.

Fix 7: Fix Blue Yeti/HyperX Not Detected

Try USB 3.0 port on motherboard. Enable hidden/disabled devices in Sound Settings. Uninstall proprietary software and let Windows reinstall generic driver.

Fix 8: Try Different USB Cable and Port

Avoid USB hubs. USB 2.0 port avoids USB 3.0 interference static. Different cable eliminates cable fault.

For USB microphone recommendations, see best USB microphones.