Doing podcasts is always fun and engaging, especially if you would talk about topics that interest you the most. If you are getting enough engagement from fans and listeners, we are pretty sure that you would be inspired to share some more podcasts. But having the right topic is not enough to have a great outcome. It is also important that you have the right gadget. Hence, having the best podcast microphones is a must for you.
There are a lot of podcast microphones on the market, most of which come in varying quality. Some may be inexpensive yet rather dull. Others may be excellent but are super expensive. What we recommend are those that would get the job done well while being affordable. In this article, we have curated ten of the best podcast microphones that might fit the criteria. We urge you to read through this article closely so that you can improve the technicalities of your podcast career.
Overall Best Starter Podcast Microphone
A great overall microphone for beginners. Also quite affordable.
Features:
• Plug-and-play USB
• Tripod stand
• Cardioid polar pattern
Overall Best Quality Sounding Microphone
A great microphone for recording high-quality podcasts. Its anti-vibration shock mount that helps reduce the sound of any movement.
Features:
• Anti-vibration shock mount
• Pop filter
• 4 polar patterns
Best Podcast Microphones
| Best Podcast Microphones | Price |
| 1. Fifine Condenser Recording Microphone | $29.74 |
| 2. Blue Yeti USB Microphone | $129.99 |
| 3. HyperX QuadCast USB Condenser Microphone | $89.99 |
| 4. Fifine USB Microphone (K668) | $14.99 |
| 5. Neewer NW-700 Condenser Microphone | $29.09 |
| 6. Rode NT-USB USB Cardioid Condenser Microphone | $160.20 |
| 7. Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone | $129.00 |
| 8. Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio XLR Microphone | $99.00 |
| 9. Blue Snowball iCE USB Microphone | $49.99 |
| 10. Marantz Pro MPM1000 Studio Condenser Microphone | $34.99 |
What to Look for in Podcast Microphones
Before we being discussing the best podcast microphones it is essential that you become acquainted with the features that an ideal product should possess. Knowing these features is important because they would help you know what a good podcast microphone should be. When you see that a product has these characteristics, then you can be sure that the said product is an ideal podcast microphone. So without much more ado, here are a few of the features that you should look for before you buy the best podcast microphones.
Durability of the Microphone
One of the main factors that you have to consider when looking for the best podcast microphones is durability. Some of these microphones are intricately designed, so some may easily get damaged even if you accidentally drop or bump them. Once they have been damaged, the overall sound performance might alter. This would make you buy another one. So we suggest investing in a heavy-duty microphone. Some of these microphones tend to be more expensive. But if you take a look at it, buying a quality microphone once would be less expensive than buying cheap microphones time and again.
Directional Capability
Podcast microphones come in various directions. Their direction has an effect on their ability to pick up sounds and noises. For this reason, you should consider buying the type of microphone depending on how you are going to use them. To give you a guide on the different directional capability, I have listed them down below.
- Omni-directional microphones are able to pick up sounds from any direction. Hence, there is a possibility that they are able to pick up unwanted noise as well. We don’t recommend this for personal podcasting. But if you are podcasting in a broadcasting type of way, then this is a good option.
- Bi-directional microphones are able to pick up sound from opposing sides, hence its terms. They are not that popular in the podcasting industry, but it is worth trying if you want.
- Cardioids are microphones that are only able to pick up sounds from the front direction, although it can also pick a little sound from the sides. Cardioids are most commonly used in recording music, so we think it’s also a good option for you.
- Shotgun microphones feature a highly directional cardioid polar pattern that would yield excellent attenuation at the sides. This is a great microphone for podcasting since it picks sound from the front accurately.
Other Features
Finally, you should also take a look at additional features that may be present in your podcast microphone. If you are new to podcasting, we recommend that you try out a USB microphone since they are easy to attach to the computer. But if you want to try out a more high-quality recording, you can pick up a dynamics or a condenser microphone since they offer a more vibrant and clear sound.
The features that we have just mentioned are only some of the key features that are important to take notice of when picking the best podcast microphones. You should keep in mind that these features should always be a part of your selection process so that you can pick the appropriate microphone.
All Podcast Microphones
To give you an overview of the best podcast microphones, we have provided below the specific features of each of the products. If you would scan through these features closely, you would find it easier to choose the appropriate podcast microphone that is of high quality. We recommend that you compare the products with each other while taking into account the features to consider. By doing so, you can narrow down your choices until you pick the best one for you.
1. Fifine Condenser Recording Microphone
Commencing our list of the best podcast microphones is the Fifine Condenser Recording Microphone (K669B). This is a plug-and-play USB recording microphone with a USB cable included so that you can directly connect to your laptop and start making podcasts immediately. It has a solid sturdy metal construction with a stable tripod stand. In addition to this, the microphone is a cardioid polar pattern condenser, capturing your voice properly and clearly.
2. Blue Yeti USB Microphone
The Blue Yeti USB Microphone allows you to select from multiple patterns depending on your needs
– cardioid, bi-directional, omnidirectional, and stereo. It features a mute button, a zero-latency headphone output, and gain control. It features an innovative triple capsule array. It also has a built-in headphone amplifier for zero-latency monitoring.
3. HyperX QuadCast USB Condenser Microphone
We also recommend the HyperX QuadCast USB Condenser Microphone for its features. Primarily, it consists of an anti-vibration shock mount that helps reduce the sound of any movement. It also has a built-in pop filter that reduces any popping noises or muffles for clearer voice quality. You can choose between the four polar patterns (cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, and stereo) to suit your streaming needs.
4. Fifine USB Microphone (K668)
The Fifine USB Microphone (K668) is a plug-and-play portable microphone. It features a distinctive omnidirectional pick-up pattern. It has a noise cancellation function that isolates the main sound source, giving you a clear voice quality. This microphone also has a wide frequency response for a transparent and brilliant sound.
5. Neewer NW-700 Condenser Microphone
The Neewer NW-700 Condenser Microphone has a cardioid pick-up pattern, isolating the main sound source while minimizing background noise. This microphone highlights your performance with a smooth frequency response range. It consists of an adjustable scissor arm stand that is made of steel, making it durable and sturdy. It further consists of a windscreen pop filter mask shield that removes any hissing and lisping sound.
6. Rode NT-USB USB Cardioid Condenser Microphone
The Rode NT-USB USB Cardioid Condenser Microphone is another good option that you can choose. It is a high-quality studio microphone with the convenience of USB connectivity. It features a tripod desk stand, a ring mount, a pop shield, a storage pouch, and a USB cable.
7. Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone
The Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone consists of mix control that allows you to blend your microphone signal and pre-recorded audio. It further consists of a high output internal headphone amplifier that delivers excellent clarity and musical detail. This microphone consists of accessories such as a pivoting stand mount, a threaded adapter, a soft protective pouch, a tripod desk stand, and a USB cable.
8. Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio XLR Microphone
The Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio XLR Microphone has a cardioid polar pattern that greatly reduces pickup of sounds from the sides and rear while improving the isolation of your desired sound source. Its low mass diaphragm provides extended frequency response and excellent transient response.
9. Blue Snowball iCE USB Microphone
The Blue Snowball iCE USB Microphone offers crystal clear audio for recording vocals or creating podcasts. It is an easy plug-and-play microphone, there is no need for you to install drivers for it to work. Furthermore, its cardioid condenser capsule delivers clear quality.
10. Marantz Pro MPM1000 Studio Condenser Microphone
Completing our list of the best podcast microphones is the Marantz Pro MPM1000 Studio Condenser Microphone. This is a desktop or stand-mounted condenser microphone that provides superior audio performance for crystal clear audio capture. Thanks to its directional cardioid pattern, this microphone keeps your recording on point. It has high sensitivity and low signal to noise ratio.
Conclusion
So there you have it. We hope that the list that we have curated has opened your eyes to the best podcast microphones that you would choose from. Their quality and functionality will surely allow you to have a microphone that would last a long time. Just remember the ideal features that a good podcast microphone should have. Then, you are good to go. Weighing in on their strengths and weaknesses would make it easier for you to pick the product that would suit your needs the most.
