You can buy a mic on someone else’s recommendation, and I’m not saying you shouldn’t.Īt the end of the day, though, you should use what makes you sound and feel the best. Here are a few factors that will help you figure out what to look for in a microphone for your recording needs. Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone For Voice But is the Heil a good mic? It sure is, and it’s worth a look. I think you will find most other reviewers echoing these sentiments. Finally, there’s a bit of a jump in price point from the Procaster to the PR-40. For another, the online reviews for the Procaster were a bit better than the PR-40. Well, for one thing, I was already familiar with Rode products, so I decided to stay loyal to the brand. This is a popular option among known podcasters like Cliff Ravenscraft and Pat Flynn.Īnd, as far as microphones of its kind are concerned, it sounds as good as you would expect it to.Īs with the Rode, this is a dynamic microphone, so it will eliminate a lot of the extraneous noise in your environment (you would notice a lot of this noise if you were using a condenser microphone, such as your computer fan – seriously). When I was first starting to look at broadcast quality microphones, I was seriously considering buying the Heil PR-40. Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone There are plenty of satisfied customers of the Yeti, so if you’re not looking for anything fancy, you will get a lot of mileage out of this mic. But you won’t sound nearly as good through the Blue as you will through one of the previously mentioned mics. The Yeti is a great option, especially if you don’t have a big budget. It’s just that condenser mics can be a bit harder to work with because they pick up so much detail in the sound. They can work quite well depending on the situation and can even provide superior audio quality with more depth. Now, if it seems like I’ve been harping on condenser mics, that’s not the case. One thing that might take you aback is the fact that it’s a condenser microphone. Of the options mentioned so far, the Blue Yeti is the most affordable. Plus, Blues tend not to cost an arm and a leg. Their mics are portable, convenient, durable, easy to use, and don’t require an audio interface to work. Blue Yeti USB Microphone For Podcastingīlue has made a name for itself in the podcasting realm. It might be worth renting and testing out a few mics before buying the SM7B, especially at its price point. So, it might not be ideal for your sound recording environment unless it’s been acoustically treated. But it’s also the most expensive microphone I’ve mentioned so far.Īdditionally, this microphone tends to pick up more background noise compared to those already mentioned. This is a great microphone, and unlike the PR-40, certainly lives up to the hype. I’ve been in a radio station or two that swears by them. When it comes to conversations around recording voice, inevitably the Shure SM7B will come up. These aren’t even Shure’s most expensive or highest quality mics! But they are durable and perfect for certain situations. Virtually every studio has a SM57 or two, and most live venues worth their salt will have several SM58s at the ready.
Overall, this is a great mic at a great price.
But it can’t hurt to experiment with the Rode. You might have other mics that are better suited to certain situations, in which case use those instead. Much to my surprise and delight, the Procaster can also be used for vocals and instruments if you so desire. I bought a foam mic cover to deal with this, and these are relatively inexpensive. If I have any complaints, it’s that: a) you must boost the gain on your audio interface to get a decent signal from this mic, sometimes to max, and b) the internal pop-filter wasn’t quite enough to eliminate the popping. I’d been using Rode products for a while before picking up the Procaster, so I knew I was putting my money into something good.
So, even if you’re recording from your bedroom, or in a noisy environment, you can still sound like a pro. Plus, a dynamic microphone, by design, eliminates a lot of room noise and mostly only picks up the sound that’s near it. It makes your voice sound deep and smooth. It’s exactly like it sounds – a microphone that’s specifically designed for broadcast.
BEST MICROPHONES FOR PODCASTING WITH NO BACKGROUND UPGRADE
I’ve been podcasting since 2009, and in that time, I’ve used a few different microphones – basically whatever was available to me.īut eventually I knew I wanted to upgrade to a broadcast quality dynamic microphone.