The complete guide
Recording away from a fixed desk setup: the MXL AC-404
Most podcasting microphones, the MXL AC-404 included, are designed around a stationary desk setup: a stand or boom arm, a consistent distance from the capsule, and a quiet room. It's worth knowing what changes if you need to record away from that.
On the MXL AC-404 specifically, MXL states: Condenser boundary microphone with 3 capsules; 180° Pick-up range; Frequency response: 40 - 16000 Hz. At £94.99 it sits in the mid-range tier of this catalogue, and those specific figures (not just the USB connection type) are what should decide whether it fits your setup over another MXL model or a different brand at a similar price.
The two biggest variables outside a fixed setup are consistent mic distance and unpredictable background noise, neither of which a microphone alone can fully solve. A short, adjustable stand or a basic desk clamp that travels well matters more for portable use than almost any spec on the microphone itself.
For content recorded away from a treated room — a hotel room, a shared office, a car — closer mic positioning becomes more important than usual, since it increases the ratio of your voice to whatever background noise is in the space, letting the cardioid pattern do more of the work rejecting it.
If most of your recording will happen away from a single desk, prioritise a compact, easy-to-transport mount for the MXL AC-404 over any other accessory — it will do more for consistency than anything else in the setup.