Updated on Mar 14, 2022
Starting your podcast is a fantastic accomplishment but finding the perfect microphone for podcasting is easier said than done. The odds are you're not an expert on audio equipment, and if you were, you probably wouldn't be reading this right now. So how can you find the best microphone for podcasting?
The team here at Musician Nerd knows a lot about how to record a podcast, and because of this, we were able to compile a list of the very best microphones for podcasting on the market. Whether you're just starting and don't want to spend a lot, or you're going all in, we have options that range in price.
The microphones on this list are great for speech, but most are incredibly versatile. We're going to start by running you through the list of our favorite picks, and then we'll dive into the details of each one. Our list contains a huge variety of options, whether you're looking for the most professional equipment or even something portable. So, let's find the best microphone for podcasting!
As the name suggests, the Rode Podmic is hands down one of the best microphones for podcasting, and given the modest pricing; it's easy to see why we have it listed as the best overall.
The Rode Podmic is a broadcast-quality dynamic microphone offering a rich, balanced sound that gives your voice enhanced clarity. Despite being a dynamic mic, it offers a wide-range frequency response of 20Hz – 20kHz, providing your audio with a strong level of depth.
This podcast microphone also uses a cardioid polar pattern that minimizes noises coming from anywhere other than the front of the mic. There’s also an internal pop filter that minimizes plosives (such as your P’s, B’s & T’s).
The best part is, it’s not a very expensive microphone. And for the modest cost, you get rich sound & essential features that make up a great microphone for podcasting.
The Shure SM7B is a huge favorite amongst the podcast & video community thanks to it’s incredible ability to make your voice sound professional. This popular microphone for podcasting is used by big-league players, such as The Breakfast Club & Joe Rogan. Never mind the famous YouTubers with their custom editions!
The Shure SM7B is by far one of the best microphones for vocals, giving you purified & polished audio that sounds beyond professional. The mid-range emphasis boasts a massive presence, with a bass roll-off for that authentic feel. The flat, wide-range frequency response gives perfect reproduction of your sound.
The essential features they offer include an air suspension shock isolation & pop filter that do their part to reduce plosives, mechanical noise, and breath. On top of that, you get electromagnetic shielding that eliminates humming noise from nearby electronics. This is what makes it so popular on apps like YouTube, as you can play games without your keyboard or monitor being picked up by the mic.
Given how popular the Shure SM7B is amongst even the professionals, for not just podcasts but even music (like Michael Jackson), I still find the price to be reasonable. If you want the best microphone for podcasting, disregarding cost, then look no further.
The 512 Audio Limelight may not be a household name like others on this list, but let me tell you, it's one heck of a podcast microphone. Our team was given the opportunity to review this microphone recently, and out of all the individual reviews we do, the Limelight was one of the best experiences we've had. The sheer level of quality was better than we were expecting, and at the price point they sell it for, I was astonished. It's a competitor to the above options on this list but comes in at a bargain.
The microphone is built with high-quality materials, using a durable construction that can withstand various conditions. This microphone's primary objective is vocal clarity, utilizing a modern circuit & dynamic capsule with a hypercardioid polar pattern for optimized vocal isolation.
The frequency response comes in at 50Hz to 20kHz, fine-tuned for close-range vocals helping to reduce background noise. You'll even get a switchable low-pass filter, which helps reduce background noise even more, whether it's traffic from your window or an air conditioning unit.
If you're looking to get your podcast equipment set up at a modest price, the 512 Audio Limelight is the right microphone for you. It reminds me so much of both the Rode Procaster and the Shure SM7B. If you want to learn more, check out our review linked below.
The Audio-Technica AT2020 is another favorite amongst the podcast & video community thanks to the sheer level of quality it brings. This studio-grade condenser microphone is affordable, sounds amazing, and makes your voice sound rich.
This versatile podcast microphone comes at a reasonable cost, considering the many things it's great at. The low-mass diaphragm offers an extended frequency response & superior transient response that are perfect for picking up anything from speech to rapid moving vibrations like a guitar.
The level of depth in the audio makes your voice sound full, giving an authentic feeling to your podcast. The cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup from the noise coming from anywhere but the front. What’s also cool is the high SPL (Sound Pressure) that allows it to pick up really loud sources like instruments without distortion. This is why it's so versatile, not just a great microphone for podcasting but also for musical recordings as well.
Overall, the Audio-Technica AT2020 was sure to show up for our list of podcast microphones because it’s so versatile, so affordable, and so high quality. We love it as an ASMR microphone, YouTube, or even for a home studio.
The Rode Procaster is a higher-end alternative to our #1 suggestion on this list. It stemmed from Rode's same line of microphones and was specifically designed to be the best microphone for podcasting!
The broadcast quality sound is not to be underestimated here. The high output dynamic capsule offers a no-compromise performance specifically tailored for your voice. As such, the frequency response rate of 75Hz to 18kHz is designed to get the essentials out of any speech-based application.
The high output on the Rode Procaster is really ideal for broadcasting applications like podcasts or live streams, especially with the low balance impendence. The capsule's internal pop filter and shock mounting ensure low handling noise and plosives.
It’s a little more expensive than its counterpart at the number 1 slot, but way worth it once you hear how your voice sounds. If you value professional sound over anything else, give it a look.
The Electro-Voice RE20 is another high-end microphone for podcasting that offers incredible sound. I recently acquired one after seeing it on a favorite podcast series of mine and thought it did an awesome job at bringing out the low-end of the voice.
As an industry-standard broadcasting microphone, it's been used by many FM Radio personalities and sports announcers alike. The Electro-Voice RE20 offers smooth & linear characteristics that uniquely shape your voice, giving you an exquisite, professional sound. The ability to shape deeper voices is a favorite component of mine.
One of the more unique & incredible features this podcast microphone offers would be the Variable-D. What does that mean, you ask? It means you can move around while speaking without ever sounding "off-mic." For a uni-directional microphone, this feature blew me away.
If your podcast requires something high-end, then give this one some serious consideration. I put this microphone right up there with the Shure SM7B, and it's no surprise that we often see them together.
The Blue Yeti is by far the most popular USB microphone, and thanks to the ease of plug and play, it makes for the perfect microphone for podcasting. If you want something affordable that requires the least amount of configuration, USB microphones are often the way to go.
One of the first features to touch upon is, of course, USB connectivity. You can plug it into your computer and go, and this simplicity makes it super convenient for anyone to get started. But even yet, it offers more features that are sure to surprise you.
The Blue Yeti has 4 different polar pattern modes, cardioid (front only), stereo (left, right, front), omni (all sides) and bi-directional (front & back only). This versatility allows you to change how the mic works whether you’re doing a 1 on 1 interview (bi-directional) or a group session (omni) or just by your lonesome (cardioid).
There's also a headphone jack for latency-free monitoring. And of course, we wouldn't recommend this one if it didn't sound great! We see the Blue Yeti used all the time as a YouTube microphone, and as such, it’s also a great microphone for podcasting.
The Audio-Technica AT2005USB+ is another massive favorite in the podcast community, not just for the brilliance of Audio-Technica sound or the convenience of being USB compatible, but the fact that it's super affordable!
This cardioid dynamic microphone was designed as a vocal microphone, which you can tell by the shape and size of the body. It uses the cardioid response pattern to only pick up audio from the front and has durable construction for long-lasting performance.
The smooth, extended frequency response gives an authentic feel to your voice, with a low-mass diaphragm. It comes with a tripod desk stand so it’s easy to use as a microphone for podcasting, and even has an on/off switch!
Beyond the high-quality sound & reliable build is the fact that it’s compatible with both USB & XLR cables. This one feature gives you a lot of flexibility and is a highlighting reason for why you should consider it.
The Samson Go is a more unique USB microphone on our list. This small, portable microphone can be used just about anywhere, whether you’re doing a travel vlog or sitting at home, it’s super affordable and easy to use.
This relatively cheap microphone is extremely unique, with its small size yet powerful audio reception. As a condenser microphone, it's able to pick up a wide range of audio with utmost clarity. It uses a smooth, flat frequency response of 20Hz to 18kHz, giving your recordings a good amount of depth.
The real highlight, however, is that the Samson Go is incredibly portable and simple to use. Not only is it small enough to fit in your pocket, but it can also plug right into your laptop and it’s ready to go. This is why it’s so popular for Vloggers looking for a portable computer microphone.
The last feature to touch upon is switching from cardioid to omnidirectional polar pattern modes. This offers a great range of versatility, depending on what you're recording. This is hands down one of my favorite Samson microphones that I highly recommend.
The Elgato Wave:3 is one of my favorite microphones for podcasting, not just because it’s a USB microphone or that it’s affordable, but the software it comes with is unreal! The streaming functionalities make it perfect for gaming as well.
This is one of my favorite microphones, so I'm always excited to write about it. The slick look with the steel grille gives great sound diffusion, with a subtle suspension mechanism for suppressing vibrations. You have a multifunctional dial on the mic itself that allows you to tweak input gain, headphone volume, and crossfading between your mic & PC mix.
The reason I love it is that they have their own software- Wave Link. Wave Link is intuitive, giving you the option to separate numerous tracks while live streaming your podcast. You can include separate channels for sound effects, music, in-game volume, and of course, your Wave:3 microphone.
So not only does the Elgato Wave:3 sound great, it has custom software designed for your audiences benefit, making it the all-around perfect microphone for podcasting.
By now, you should have an idea of the best microphone for podcasting. The options on this list vary greatly in cost, and going with a more high-end choice can give you that professional sound you're looking for. That being said, starting with one of our more modest options will get you far.
For many, using something like the Blue Yeti as a starting point is going to be highly advantageous. It’s moderately priced, offers USB connection, and sounds great. It’s not as beautiful sounding as the Shure SM7B, which can double as a vocal microphone, but you don’t need the best right off the bat.
To learn more about podcasts, read our guide for recording podcasts. If you go ahead and purchase one of the suggested choices, let us know in the comments below. We're always eager to hear how our suggestions work out for you, and it helps us tweak our content for future readers. We also take strong consideration into any suggestions you send to us, so let us know.
Posted on Feb 09, 2021
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