We all know that quality sound is a critical component of your podcast – you want (and need) to sound great!
Fuzziness, echoing, or sounding like you are underwater is going to turn people away quickly.
In fact, a study performed by the University of Southern California (USC) found that the quality of audio influences whether people believe what they hear … or not.
With so many microphones available that vary dramatically in price, features and overall quality, how do you pick the best podcast microphone for your budget?
🎙️ First Things First
First, figure out what you actually need.
For example, will you be recording solo, or are you going to have guests or a co-host in the same room with you? This will determine if you’re going to need a hook-up for multiple microphones.
Will you be recording on the road, or will your studio stay in one place? This can determine if mobility is an important factor in your decision.
Once you have the answers to those question, here are six great options:
Samsun Q2U
The Samsun Q2U is a great starter microphone for most podcasters. You’ll get quality sound due to its cardioid pickup pattern that captures sound from in the front of the microphone, rather than the side and rear.
It’s both XLR and USB, which means you can start out by plugging it into your computer, but can also use XLR cables for professional equipment.
At the time of writing this article, Samsun was selling this mic (with accessories) for $69.99 on their website.
Learn more about or purchase the Samsun USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone here.
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
The iconic Blue Yeti USB is another popular microphone that’s reasonably priced and a top choice for podcasters.
As it states in the name, this microphone can only be hooked up to your computer and does not have an XLR option.
The mic features a tri-capsule array, which allows for multiple pickup patterns, allowing you to record in almost any situation and additionally boasts a setting for solo recording, two-person recording, and group recording.
Another popular feature is that it allows you to control the gain (how much quiet sound the mic picks up). Just be careful – too much gain means echoey recordings.
The bottom line is that this mic will deliver great quality audio, is versatile and is simple to use.
At the time of writing this article, the Blue Yeti USB Microphone was selling for $84.99 on Amazon.
Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
This is a handheld dynamic microphone that has both USB and XLR capabilities. It’s a great microphone for podcasting due to its smooth, extended frequency response.
It comes with a built-in headphone jack so you can easily listen to the mic’s output without a delay. Check it out on Amazon here.
Rode Procaster Broadcast Dynamic Vocal Microphone
This is an XLR dynamic microphone, and it’s a bit pricier than an entry-level microphone, but it’s worth it. It won’t pick up much background noise, giving you a smooth recording. It has an internal shock mounting capsule for low handling noise, and does a great job increasing clarity of sound.
HEiL sound PR-40 Dynamic Studio Microphone
A dynamic mic, this is a good choice for podcasters who don’t work in professional environments. It includes an internal breath blaster so that the vocal range doesn’t have any pops or hisses. It’s more expensive than the Rode, but gives similar results. However, it’s very popular among podcasters because the sound it produces is excellent. It’s worth trying out and comparing.
Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
Does this mic look familiar? The SM7B is the choice of many successful podcasters and is perfect for a variety of applications ranging from high-profile broadcasting and professional podcasts to studio recordings.
The SM&B features state-of-the-art electromagnetic hum reduction for clean audio. Designed to capture and enhance the nuances of the human voice, the SM7B excels at eliminating background noise and performs best when paired with preamps that offer +60dB of gain.
A fun fact is that the SM7b was used by artists such as Michael Jackson and the Pentatonix.
This legendary mic delivers smooth, warm vocals, ensuring an exceptional listening experience every time. This microphone isn’t cheap, but is one of the best. It’s not a beginner mic, but more for established podcasters looking for better sound.
At the time of writing this article, the Shure SM7B dynamic microphone is selling $399.00 on Shure’s website here.
Shure MV7
The MV7 is a dynamic microphone that draws inspiration from the iconic SM7B, that combines versatility with technology. Created for seamless integration with both computers and professional interfaces, the MV7 features dual USB and XLR outputs, providing flexibility in your recording setup.
One unique feature accessible via USB in ShurePlus™ MOTIV app, is the Auto Level Mode that lets the microphone automatically optimize levels for you, ensuring a great sounding recording every time.
Whether you’re a content creator, musician, or podcaster, the MV7 was designed to meet your needs.
At the time of writing this article, Shure was selling the MV7 podcast microphone on their website for $249.00.
Happy Podcasting!
So which one is the best podcast microphone? That all depends on how much you want to spend, and what your needs are. These options will fit most needs and budgets and you should be able to find a mic that perfectly meets both.
