The RIGHT Podcast Microphone
clients ask us…
What is the best microphone for podcasting?
It might be better to reframe the question to…
"What is the right microphone for podcasting?"
There is such a wide variety of microphones that you can easily get lost in a sea of specs.
Cost
Dynamic Range
Polar Pattern
Is it a condenser or dynamic microphone?
Is the sound flat or colored?
How is it powered?
Buying an expensive microphone is not a guarantee of a superior sound. Typically, as you spend more money, you'll need to upgrade your space in terms of sound treatment and sound equipment. What you need to understand is how you'll be recording your podcast. Will you be recording from home? On the road? In a studio? On a stage? Online using Skype, Zoom, or other VOIP solutions? Here you can see that just getting 'the best microphone' might not be the best for your situation. What you want to do, especially if your starting out or moving between different recording environments, is get a flexible or forgiving microphone.
Our answer
Invest in a dynamic cardioid microphone.
We recommend the Audio Technica ATR2100 USB. This microphone is also sold as a Samson QU2. For the cost to feature ratio, you can't beat it. This microphone:
Sounds great
Is forgiving
Is inexpensive - If you're doing face to face interviews get two.
Reduces or rejects sound from the back and sides of the microphone.
Is flexible. It will connect via USB and XLR - for usability if your setup expands in the future.
Now, to be clear, there are microphones that do sound 'better' but there will be increased cost and difficulties in terms of treating the room you're in for outside noise and reflections. I've had a discussion where someone was getting a ton of noise from all the vehicles outside his office. He had purchased a really great sounding condenser microphone at considerable cost. But he was recording in his office space which was a rustic converted warehouse style space on a busy city street. The microphone was picking up everything. Switching to a dynamic cardioid reduced the unwanted noises to something usable while still giving a nice full sound of his voice.
Looking to set up a studio in your home or office? Our team has curated other hardware recommendations here.