10 BEST MICROPHONES FOR YOUTUBE
BEST MICROPHONES FOR YOUTUBE
1. SUBZERO SZC-500-USB
Great entry-level content-creation microphone
Key features:
- USB condenser microphone with easy plug-and-play setup
- Cardioid polar pattern reduces background noise for a focused sound
- Headphone output for direct monitoring
- Includes shock mount and USB cable
The SubZero SZC-500-USB is a very affordable USB microphone with a condenser capsule. Great for voiceover, voice calls, streaming, and podcasting, it’s very easy to set up, just plug in and start recording!
Thanks to its cardioid polar pattern, the SZC-500 rejects background noise, making it great for untreated rooms. Whether you’re podcasting or livestreaming, it’s ideal for live recording courtesy of its headphone output. The delay between your recording and monitoring without this feature can be distracting.
The SZC-500-USB comes with a shock mount to reduce handling noise and a USB cable for a fast and easy setup. If you need something quick and effective that still has high-quality sound to get you started on your YouTube journey, this USB mic is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Shop now | SubZero SZC-500-USB Condenser Microphone
2. PRESONUS REVELATOR
Great for livestreaming
Key features:
- USB condenser microphone with built-in stand
- Three different polar pattern settings to achieve the sound you want
- Stereo loopback for incorporating game sound, voice calls, and background music into your recordings
- 16 onboard effects to keep your audience entertained
The PreSonus Revelator is a very convenient, affordable USB condenser microphone that’s great for entry-level content creation. And to make life even easier, this mic comes with a handy desktop stand.
The Revelator has a few unique features that make it great for YouTube creativity.
Firstly, PreSonus have added 16 onboard voice effects that you can apply to your voice while live. This is great for livestreaming, podcasting, or adding a little extra personality to your voiceover. There’s also a mute button, adjustable volume, and headphone monitoring to help you control your sound.
The Revelator comes with Studio One Artist, a great recording, mixing, and editing software for podcasts, music, voiceover, and even video! Three different polar pattern options – cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-eight – then let you adjust your pickup pattern to fit the results you want.
Two stereo loopback channels also allow you to record external sound from games, voice calls, and anything else you might want to include while recording.
Shop now | PreSonus Revelator USB Microphone
3. AUDIO TECHNICA AT2020
Great for voiceover, streaming, and music
Key features:
- XLR condenser microphone provides a rich and full sound
- Low mass diaphragm design quickly responds to your voice for added detail
- Maximum SPL of 144 dB
- Includes stand adapter and soft carrying pouch for portability
The Audio Technica AT2020 is the first XLR microphone on our list. A highly popular entry point into XLR-based large diaphragm condensers, the AT2020 will need an audio interface to convert its signal into something your computer can receive and power it via phantom power.
This microphone is great for adding clarity to deep voices or body to your voice if it’s a little higher pitched.
While XLR microphones often come with fewer features and software than USB mics, they usually have more intricately designed capsules, like the AT2020’s low-mass diaphragm that ensures it sounds clear.
The low-mass diaphragm also really improves noise floor and the volumes the mic can handle before clipping, meaning you can shout, record closer to your mouth, or record instruments like guitars, drums, and amplifiers. Anything up to 144 dB will be picked up clearly if you set your gain right.
Its cardioid polar pattern helps reject background noise too, so the focus is on your voice.
The AT2020 comes with an adapter that provides compatibility with any stand you like, from boom or upright stands to studio arms for flexibility. Plus, there’s a soft carrying pouch if you need to travel with your mic.
Overall, the Audio Technica AT2020 is a great choice for voiceover, podcasting, and musical recording.
Shop now | Audio Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone
4. SUBZERO DB30
Great for podcasting and voiceover
Key features:
- Dynamic XLR microphone for podcasting
- High-pass filter for cutting low-frequency rumble
- Presence boost switch boosts mids for extra clarity
- Hypercardioid polar pattern for excellent rejection of background noise
The SubZero DB30 is a dynamic XLR microphone designed for podcasting, offering a great, clear sound with controls to tailor it to the results you want. It starts with a flat frequency response but features a switchable high-pass filter and a mid boost to cut low-frequency mud and add presence.
A unique hypercardioid polar pattern provides an intimate, upfront quality that eliminates background noise significantly.
There’s an included shock mount which has a unique design that not only reduces handling noise and rumble but also screws on tightly to the microphone’s body for protection.
The DB30 also comes with a windshield and leatherette carrying bag.
Shop now | SubZero DB30 Dynamic Podcast Studio Microphone
5. RODE PODMIC
Great for podcasting, streaming, and voiceover
Key features:
- Dynamic XLR microphone for podcasting
- Built-in pop filter reduces sibilance and plosives
- High sound pressure handling prevents distortion at high volumes
- Custom-tuned frequency response for classic broadcast sound
The Rode Podmic is an XLR microphone that provides the ideal sound for podcasting.
Clear, loud, and smooth, the Podmic features a built-in pop filter to reduce harsh plosive sounds and sudden noises. As it’s a dynamic microphone, it can handle huge sound pressures incredibly naturally, without the need for phantom power.
The Podmic boasts another large benefit of XLR microphones: a custom-tuned frequency response. This makes these kinds of microphones more characterful and unique, with a sound all of their own. Its cardioid polar pattern helps reduce background noise and put your voice up front and in focus.
This microphone features a robust metal design that makes it well-suited to handle the challenges of constant use. Designed to work with Rode’s Rodecaster Pro podcasting mixer, this setup will let you run a podcast, stream, or voiceover work when needed.
Shop now | Rode Podmic Dynamic Podcasting Microphone
6. RODE VIDEOMIC-R
Great for interviews, vlogging, and videography
Key features:
- Portable shotgun condenser microphone ideal for vlogging and location recording
- Easily attaches to DSLR cameras or microphone stands with included shock mount
- Supercardioid polar pattern rejects unwanted background noise in challenging conditions
- High-pass filter and adjustable pad to tweak your sound
The Rode VideoMic-R is a shotgun microphone, the first – but not the last – that we’ll be covering here. Shotgun microphones are extremely common in videography and are often used in film and TV since they can be mounted onto a DSLR camera to record audio that syncs directly with the footage you capture.
The VideoMic-R is a condenser capsule, meaning it produces a detailed sound with an intentionally flat response for an accurate, naturalistic quality that puts your viewers in the moment with you.
Its supercardioid polar pattern adds more focus and directivity, only capturing what’s directly in front of it. This is a big reason why these kinds of microphones are so popular for location recording.
The VideoMic has a high-pass filter to cut low-end mud with two settings as well as a Pad with three steps to prevent distortion in louder environments.
An included shock mount then reduces handling noise from camera movement and can even be connected to a boom pole or microphone stand.
The VideoMic-R is great for vlogging, travel content, interviews, sketches, and any other location recording.
Shop now | Rode VideoMic-R Shotgun Condenser Microphone with Rycote Suspension
7. FOCUSRITE VOCASTER DM14V
Great for podcasting and voiceover
Key features:
- Dynamic XLR microphone for podcasting
- Swivel joint for easy setup and positioning on microphone stands or studio arms
- Built-in pop filter for smooth, natural sound
- Attached shock mount always reduces handling noise and rumble through stands or desks
The Focusrite Vocaster DM14v is a dynamic XLR microphone designed specifically for podcasting. Recreating the classic broadcast sound with a thick low end and upfront mids, the Vocaster offers a warm, clear sound that translates well to all kinds of spoken word applications.
The Vocaster has built-in features that typically come as included accessories with microphones of its type. Its built-in windshield reduces plosives and sibilance, and similarly, a built-in shock mount prevents rumble and handling noise.
There’s also a swivel joint that makes positioning the mic comfortable and easy, especially when attaching to boom stands and studio arms.
Great for podcasting and voiceover recording, the DM14v can handle even the most animated of speakers.
Shop now | Focusrite Vocaster DM14v Dynamic Microphone
8. AUDIO TECHNICA AT2035
Great for voiceover, streaming, podcasting, and music
Key features:
- XLR condenser microphone for voiceover, streaming, podcasts, and music recording
- Fixed high-pass filter cuts low frequencies for improved clarity
- 10 dB pad prevents distortion at high volumes
- Premium capsule reduces noise and increases sound quality
The Audio Technica AT2035 is another XLR condenser microphone that provides some more premium features and controls than its more affordable sibling.
It offers a high-pass filter at 80 Hz to cut low-frequencies and add clarity. The addition of a 10 dB pad also helps to attenuate loud signals to prevent distortion, so even if you get very loud, you’ll still sound great.
The AT2035 offers a cardioid polar pattern, again helping to improve clarity and prevent background noise. An upgraded microphone capsule develops the sound of the AT2020, boosting clarity even more and reducing the noise floor. This results in more professional-sounding audio where it counts.
Great for voiceover, podcasting, streaming, and music recording alike, the AT2035 is a workhorse microphone for all kinds of studio-based audio recording.
Shop now | Audio Technica AT2035 Condenser Mic
9. SENNHEISER MKE 400
Great for interviews, vlogging, and filmography
Key features:
- Compact shotgun condenser microphone ideal for vlogging and filmmaking
- Shock mount reduces handling noise and attaches to stands, cameras, and smartphones
- Three-stage gain sensitivity switch lets you adjust your volume for any source or setting
- Headphone monitoring output for listening while recording
The Sennheiser MKE 400 is a compact shotgun microphone. Owing to its small size, supercardioid directivity, and easy mounting, this microphone is great for fixing onto cameras. Whether you use your phone or a DSLR camera to record, the MKE 400 is great for all kinds of location recording.
The MKE 400 has an integrated windscreen and shock absorption to reduce weather noise, handling noise, and plosives, offering clarity while recording outdoors or in other challenging conditions. The MKE 400 also provides a three-stage gain sensitivity switch to adjust your volume for whatever and wherever you’re recording.
There’s also an onboard headphone monitoring output and a low-cut filter to reduce low-frequency mud. This makes it ideal for a focused and clear vocal sound in uncontrolled spaces.
Ideal for vlogging, filmmaking, and streaming outdoors, the MKE 400 is a very versatile and portable mic for facing some unique challenges. And it can be used indoors, mounted above your computer monitor or TV for more standard voiceover and indoor streaming applications too.
Shop now | Sennheiser MKE 400 Camera Microphone
10. SHURE MV7
Great for podcasting, interviews, and streaming
Key features:
- Dynamic USB and XLR microphone for podcasting and streaming
- Built-in pop filter reduces sibilance and plosives
- App control via Shure MOTIV app provides processing like compression, limiting, and EQ
- Record via USB and XLR outputs simultaneously
The Shure MV7 is a combination USB and XLR microphone that’s optimised for podcasting and voiceover.
Shure designed the MV7 with untreated rooms in mind, providing voice isolation technology to reduce background noise and increase clarity. The MV7 also has an automatic level setting, so your voice’s level remains consistent and constantly adjusts in real time.
Taking heritage from the legendary SM7B, the MV7 is a modern standard in vocal microphones with the convenience of USB and additional features. It’s warm, clear, and attention-grabbing. And not only does it have both USB and XLR connectivity, but the MV7 lets you record both simultaneously!
Control via the Shure MOTIV app. You can adjust the processing on the USB output and add effects like compression to get that upfront radio presenter sound for podcasts, limiting to prevent distortion no matter how loud you get, and EQ to bring out all the character in your voice.
Plus, a headphone output for direct monitoring, mute button, gain, and monitor mix controls let you really tweak how you use this microphone.
Shop now | Shure MV7 USB/XLR Podcast Microphone
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