No matter your level of experience or budget, there are options for podcasting mics to create outstanding audio for your content. Our guide will review the best podcasting mics for all budgets and provide recommendations for which level of experience each mic is best suited for. Keep reading to discover our picks for the best podcasting microphones for all budgets.
This section covers mics that are great for beginners or intermediate podcasters looking for a backup mic or a decent microphone to use for podcast guests. Anyone who doesn’t have a lot of money to invest can use this section to find the best budget podcast microphone for their needs. It includes mics that use a USB connection as well as affordable XLR mics for studio use. Keep reading to learn more about the best podcast microphones under 100 dollars.
The RODE PodMic is a compact XLR mic that can easily fit into any recording setup. As a broadcast-grade mic, it’s designed specifically for vocals and provides a full-bodied sound to audio recordings. The Rode PodMic connects to any audio interface or preamp, but you get the most out of the mic’s features when it’s paired with the RODECaster console. It’s important to note that this mic doesn’t include a desktop stand, connection cable, headphone jack, or gain adjustment knob.
Best for: The Rode PodMic is great for beginners who can’t control all the noise in their recording environment. It’s very affordable for anyone starting out and the built-in shock mount, internal pop filter, and noise reduction features work together to block distracting background sounds.
This dynamic microphone doesn’t require phantom power and is perfect for voice recording because of the hypercardioid pickup pattern. The Audio-Technica AT2040 podcasting mic has several internal features to help reduce background noise of disruptive sounds in audio. An integrated shock mount reduces noise from vibrations and a multi-stage internal windscreen functions as a pop filter to further reduce noise. This mic captures clear, warm vocals.
Best for: This podcast mic is great for beginners who can afford to invest a little more of their podcast budget in a quality mic or intermediate podcasters looking to upgrade their plug-and-play mic to get a more professional sound. The Audio-Technica AT2040 delivers broadcast-quality vocals at an affordable price.
Beginners, intermediate, and advanced users can all find a mic that suits their specific needs in this section. If you’re just starting out, these mid-range mics will give you a great start for producing clear vocals. Intermediate users who are looking to upgrade their equipment will find many affordable options in this section and advanced users looking to invest in a secondary mic will benefit from these recommendations.
Blue microphones from Yeti are known for providing quality sound at affordable prices. The Blue Yeti is simple to set up and comes with a desktop microphone stand. The microphone has easy-to-use controls to adjust gain, headphone volume, pick up pattern, and for muting. One of the standout features of this mic is that it can be used with three different polar patterns: cardioid, bidirectional, or omnidirectional. The Blue Yeti comes with Blue VO!CE, a software program that allows you to add vocal effects to your recordings.
Best for: This mic is great for budget-conscious beginners who want to start recording a podcast quickly. The Blue Yeti has all the basic mic functionality you need to get a podcast up and running and the three different polar pattern modes allow flexibility for finding your best recording setup.
The Samson Q9U is a USB and XLR mic that performs well in any studio setting. Since you can control the type of microphone you use the Samson Q9U as, it can connect directly to a computer in a home studio or to an audio mixer or another piece of recording equipment in a more professional recording setting. This mic can record at 24bit/96kHz and monitor latency-free using the 3.5mm headphone jack when used as a USB mic. If you need more control over your audio, connect the mic to a mixer with an XLR to manage your EQ or compressors.
Best for: This mic is great for professionals who want a versatile mic that can be used with an audio interface or plugged directly into a computer. The Samson Q9U does well in any studio setting and integrates easily with other recording equipment. Professional podcasters will love the audio quality the mic provides for its affordable price.
The Sontronics Podcast Pro is a versatile mic that connects to a soundcard or mixer with an XLR cable or directly to a computer or recording device with the included XLR-USB cable. It’s easy to set up and incompatible with any angled, desktop, or floor-mounted mic stand. This powerful mic doesn’t require any EQ or gain-boosting devices and produces high-quality audio that doesn’t require post-production tweaks.
Best for: This podcast mic is ideal for hosts who need to capture great sound in a variety of settings. Its supercardioid pickup pattern and built-in pop filter reduce background noise to produce quality sound in any recording environment.
The sE Electronics NEOM USB was built for podcasters and other creators to easily record or go live from anywhere at any time. This USB microphone is compatible with Mac, Android, Windows, and iOS devices and is compatible with most industry-standard recording apps and software. The mic features a unique front-addressed design, which helps reduce unwanted sounds from the side and rear of the mic. The sE Electronics NEOM USB features separate headphone volume and mic volume so it’s easy to hear how loud each source is.
Best for: This USB mic is perfect for on-the-go podcasts who stream or record their content outside of a studio. The sE Electronics NEOM USB is compatible with all mobile, desktop, and laptop devices so podcasters can just plug in and start using the mic. The gain, mic, playback, and headphone knobs make recording or streaming on the go easy without additional software or equipment.
Experienced podcasters who have a larger budget and want to invest in a mic that will last them a long time should check out these more expensive options. This section contains the best USB and XLR hybrid mic in our guide. Keep reading to learn more about some high-end mics with premium features that will elevate the quality of your audio content.
The Shure MV7 functions as an XLR or a USB mic, or as both at the same time. This way, you can record a low-res and high-res files at the same time and the low-res files can be used as backups or shared instantly online without any additional compression. The ShurePlus MOTIV app that’s included with the mic is compatible with Android and iOS devices and can turn your smartphone or other mobile device into a portable recording studio.
Best for: The Shure MV7 is best for professional podcasters who have a decent budget to pay for premium features. A consistent, high-quality sound is important for podcast professionals and broadcasters and this mic’s auto-set features make it easy for any user to achieve this.
The Shure SM7B is a mic built for professionals in the podcasting or radio space. It includes a wide-range frequency response that’s perfect for recording vocals at close proximity in a professional studio setting. This mic includes internal air suspension isolation as well as bass roll-off and mid-range control. Its advanced internal design helps to eliminate noise from other recording equipment and smooths out sound created from breathing into the mic’s pickup range. The mic’s dynamic cartridge produces clean and crisp recorded vocals.
Best for: This mic is best-suited for professionals who want to upgrade their equipment and purchase a future-proof mic they’ll be able to use for the foreseeable future. Professionals will love this mic because of its versatility as either a USB or XLR mic, especially at its price point.
The Electro-Voice RE20 is a premium cardioid mic that doesn’t need phantom power to work and as its name suggests, it’s designed for voice recordings. Because of the mic’s design, records well at close proximity without losing clarity in your vocals. The mic’s large diaphragm provides a high level of sensitivity and wide frequency response so that nothing gets missed when recording vocals. The ball roll-off switch allows you to adjust to control low-frequency response. This mic performs especially well in professional studio settings and is a favorite of professional broadcasters and podcasters.
Best for: This mic is best for professionals who need to create highly-produced content and don’t want to spend a lot of time cleaning audio in post production. Because of all of its built-in features, you can record high-quality sound without having to make tweaks to your audio files.
Our guide for the best podcasting mics on the market has great selects for every level of podcaster and every budget. Here are our recommendations for the best podcast microphone for beginners and intermediate and professional podcasters:
While many would recommend the Blue Yeti for beginners, we only suggest it for those who are recording in a controlled and quiet environment. From our experience, while the microphone is versatile, it isn’t the greatest when there is a lot of background noise. You can read our Blue Yeti review to find out if it’s suitable for you, but other options you can explore as a beginner are the RODE PodMic and the Samson Q90.
Our pick for the best podcasting mic for those who have some podcasting experience is the Shure SM7B. This mic is used by many podcast professionals and is the perfect choice if you have a bigger budget for investing in a mic. You won’t need to upgrade from this microphone and it provides versatility since it functions as both an XLR and USB mic.
The best microphone for echo in a room is one that picks up minimal background noise. In this case, you’ll definitely want to choose a cardioid microphone, and it may be better to choose a dynamic mic with less sensitivity. From our list, we’d say the best mic for echo in a room is the Shure SM7B.
Note that using a suitable microphone should help, but we definitely suggest soundproofing and treating your studio or recording space.
If you’re recording in a room with a few people and only have one microphone, then you’ll need an omnidirectional microphone. This picks up sound coming from all directions. From our list, the best microphone to pick up noise from the whole room is probably the Blue Yeti. This mic’s polar pattern can be adjusted and you can record with omnidirectional directionality.
For the best results, we do think it’s better to have one microphone per person. This is especially because you don’t want to pick up background noise in your audio recordings.
If you’re planning on connecting your microphone to a laptop whether it be a Mac or Windows PC, you’ll want to make sure it has the right connectors. In this case, you’ll likely be using a USB microphone over an XLR mic.
Some good podcast mics compatible with mac from our list include the Blue Yeti and the sE Electronics NEOM USB mic.
Finding the right mic for your podcast can be tricky. Have a clear idea of your budget and recording environment before selecting a microphone. The main things to consider when looking for a podcast mic are the cost, the connection type, the frequency range, and the polar pattern. With a little research, you can find the perfect podcast mic for your unique needs.
Do you still have questions about choosing the best mic for podcasting? Our FAQ section has information about the mics other podcasters use to help you narrow down your choices. Keep reading to learn more about the best microphones for podcasting.
There’s no overall consensus among podcasters when it comes to the best podcasting microphone because every creator has different needs. Reference the above article to find out the factors to consider when shopping for a mic and recommendations for the best podcasting microphones for every budget.
The Joe Rogan Experience is recorded with Shure SM7B microphones. Check out the Shure SM7B section in the above article to learn more about this podcasting mic’s features to determine if it’s a good fit for your recording needs.
All the microphones above can be included when looking at the best microphones for speaking. These microphones don’t only suit podcasting but you can use them for any type of speech recording. If you’re looking for a microphone for live performances or speeches on stage, then you may need something else.
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