[X4U] USB Microphones?

[Gretchen Hayman]

Hi All,

Sorry if this has been covered before, but I couldn't find the old 
archives for the "old" version of this list, only the newly created 
archives from this month.

I was looking for some recommendations on USB Microphones.  We have 
someone who wants to do some voice-overs for a flash training that will 
available via our web site.  We don't need it to be CD-quality sound, 
just better than that provided by the built-in mics in our PowerBooks, 
etc.  I know that the best quality sound would probably be from a 
proper microphone via mic input, but I was looking for something a 
little more universal, that could be used on any of our Macs that have 
USB.  Anyone have any suggestions or recommendations?  Also any 
recommendations on software for recording (OS X, of course)?  I see 
that there are several available:

Audio Recorder
Audio In
Audio Companion
Sound Studio

I think we would prefer mp3 format to AIFF.  So, any good, bad or ugly 
opinions on any of these?

Many thanks for your input!

Gretchen