The AC-404 USB from MXL (www.mxlmics.com) is a high quality capsule microphone that improves voice quality on conference calls. It’s great for folks who rely on free or subscription Internet conferencing services such as FaceTime or Skype.

The AC-404 conference mic — which you can pick up for about US$90 — uses boundary microphone technology and built-in custom circuitry. The result is quiet, professional sounding conference calls.

The AC-404 — which is Mac and Windows compatible — sports a three-capsule boundary design with 180 degree coverage. It’s USB powered so it’s easy to take on the road if you need to. For the tech minded, it has a 40Hz-16Hz frequency response and an A/D converter (16-bit Delta Sigma with THD+N – 0.01%).