Fifine AM8: Is This USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone Right for You?

The Fifine AM8 is a dynamic microphone with two outputs: USB for plugging straight into a computer, and XLR for connecting to an audio interface or mixer. That combination is the main reason to consider it. You can start with a single cable and move to an interface later without replacing the microphone. This guide explains who the AM8 suits, how to set it up in each mode and how to confirm it is working.

Who the AM8 suits

Dynamic microphones are generally less sensitive to distant sound than condenser models. That makes them a common choice for speaking close to the mic in untreated rooms where background noise and echo are a concern. The AM8 is a reasonable fit if you stream, record podcasts, take video calls or do voice-over work at a desk, and you want an upgrade path from USB to XLR. It is a weaker fit if you need to capture a whole room, record from a distance, or need a microphone that picks up quiet sources without speaking close to it.

Before buying, confirm the details that matter for your setup against the manufacturer's current specifications and the documentation for your unit. These include the supported sample rate and bit depth over USB, the included cables, the onboard controls, and compatibility with your operating system or console. Listings can change between production batches, so do not rely on a retailer summary alone.

Before you start

• Decide which connection you will use: USB for direct computer use, or XLR if you already own an audio interface or mixer.
• For USB, have a cable that matches the microphone's port and a free port on your computer. Prefer a direct port over an unpowered hub.
• For XLR, have an XLR cable and an interface or mixer with a microphone preamp. Dynamic microphones need more preamp gain than condenser models, so check that your interface has enough clean gain for speech.
• Have headphones ready if you want to monitor your voice.
• Close other apps that may be holding the microphone, such as call or recording software.

In both modes, the AM8 is handled by your computer or interface locally. Basic recording does not require an account or an online service. Any app you record or call with may still process or upload audio according to its own policies, so check those separately if privacy matters to you.

Step-by-step instructions

USB mode

• 1. Connect the AM8 to your computer with the USB cable. Wait for the system to recognize it as a new audio device.
• 2. On Windows 11, open Settings, then System, then Sound. Under Input, choose the Fifine microphone as the input device. On macOS, open System Settings, then Sound, then Input, and select it there.
• 3. If you plan to monitor through headphones plugged into the microphone, also select the AM8 as the output device. If you prefer your usual speakers or headset for playback, leave the output unchanged.
• 4. In the app you are using, such as OBS, Discord, Zoom or a recording program, select the AM8 as the microphone. Many apps keep their own device choice and ignore the system default.
• 5. Set the gain with the microphone's gain control, if your unit has one, while speaking at your normal distance and volume. Aim for a level that moves clearly on the meter but stays well below the top during your loudest speech.
• 6. If the app offers a sample rate setting, match it to a rate the microphone supports. Mismatched rates between the device and the app can cause crackling or pitch problems.

XLR mode

• 1. Turn the interface gain down before connecting. Then connect the AM8 to a microphone input on the interface or mixer with an XLR cable.
• 2. Phantom power is not needed for a dynamic microphone. Leave it off unless the manufacturer's documentation says otherwise.
• 3. Select the audio interface, not the AM8, as the input device in your operating system and in your app. Over XLR, the computer only sees the interface.
• 4. Raise the interface's preamp gain while speaking at your normal distance until the input level is healthy without clipping.
• 5. Expect controls on the microphone body, such as gain, monitoring volume or lighting, to behave differently or not at all over XLR. In this mode, the interface typically handles gain and monitoring. Check the manual for your unit to confirm.
• 6. Do not connect USB and XLR at the same time unless the manufacturer's documentation explicitly supports it.

Both setups are reversible. To switch modes, unplug the current cable, connect the other one, and reselect the input device in your system and apps.

Check the output

• Watch the input meter in your system sound settings or your app while you speak. It should respond to your voice and stay out of the red.
• Record a short test clip in the app you will actually use. Play it back on headphones and listen for distortion, hiss, hum or a thin, distant tone.
• Stay silent for a few seconds during the test. Then listen for background noise such as fans, traffic or keyboard sounds in the gap.
• On a video call, make a test call or use the app's built-in microphone test to confirm the correct device is selected.
• Check the file's format and sample rate in your recording app's export or project settings if you need them for editing or delivery.

Keep in mind that the recording quality you hear depends on the whole chain, not just the microphone. In USB mode, the AM8's own converter sets the limits. In XLR mode, your interface's preamp and converter do. Room acoustics and speaking distance affect a dynamic microphone strongly in either mode.

Common problems and next steps

The microphone is not detected or no sound comes through

Over USB, try a different cable and a direct port on the computer. Confirm the AM8 is selected as the input in both the system and the app, and make sure a mute control on the microphone is not engaged. Over XLR, confirm the interface is selected and the correct input channel is in use. Then check that the preamp gain is turned up.

The level is too quiet

Dynamic microphones need you to speak close to them, so move nearer and address the front of the capsule rather than the side. Raise the gain on the microphone in USB mode, or on the interface in XLR mode. If your interface runs out of gain before the level is usable, it may not suit a dynamic microphone well. Check your interface's documentation before adding any inline booster.

Distortion, crackling or robotic sound

Lower the gain if the meter reaches the top. Crackling or dropouts that persist at sensible levels often come from a sample rate mismatch between the device, the system and the app. Set them to the same supported rate. Also close other programs that may be using the microphone at the same time.

Too much background noise or echo

Reduce the gain and speak closer, which improves the balance between your voice and the room. Point the back of the microphone toward noise sources such as a computer fan. Soft furnishings help with echo. Use noise suppression in your call or streaming app only after you have set the gain correctly, because heavy suppression can make your voice sound processed.

You hear yourself with a delay or twice

This usually means two monitoring paths are active, for example the microphone's headphone output and an app's "listen to this device" or monitoring option. Turn one of them off. For the lowest delay, monitor through the microphone's headphone output in USB mode or the interface's direct monitoring in XLR mode.

If the AM8 works reliably over USB and you later want more control over gain and processing, moving to XLR with an audio interface is the natural next step. Being able to make that change without buying a new microphone is the main reason to choose this model over a USB-only alternative.