“What’s the Best Microphone?”
The title of this post is a question I see frequently in podcast groups online and other similar message boards.
Let’s be clear - there is no “best microphone” - period. The reason for this is because every microphone will respond a little differently to each person’s unique voice.
What people usually mean by this question is, “What microphone will guarantee I sound amazing?”
Having said all that, there are microphones out there that tend to be a solid choice for most people, especially when just starting out with audio recording. Now you might be thinking, “Wait - you just said … “
I know - it may seem like I’m nitpicking, but I’m getting at a particular point. The more important questions to ask should be:
Where are you recording?
How is your microphone technique?
It doesn’t matter what kind of microphone you use if you record audio in an environment that has too many background noises. It also doesn’t matter what kind of microphone you use if you don’t know how to actually speak into that particular device. If you have good mic technique and also record in a nice, quiet environment, you could potentially create some fantastic audio with something as simple as the native recording application on your smart phone. You don’t need to purchase a $500 mic to sound great - which is good news!
“ … there is no ‘best microphone’ - period.”
Let’s address the first part - WHERE you record audio. Simply put - if you eliminate unwanted sounds BEFORE you ever hit the “record” button - you also eliminate the need for additional work AFTER recording. That means less time spent in post-production trying to make your original audio sound better.
Some people record in a closet full of clothes, a bedroom with lots of full bookshelves, and other creative spots. As long as you are in an area that helps to absorb unwanted sounds (or keep them out), go for it! Who cares if you’re not recording in a fancy booth with the latest bells and whistles. You don’t need all of that to sound good. At some point I will upload a post - with pictures - of my personal recording space, and you can see how “unfancy” my setup is - and yet I can still record some stellar audio!
I also mentioned microphone technique. I have already made a blog post on that particular subject. To read more about it, click HERE. The summarized version of all that info is this: take the time to learn how your mic is designed to be used. Yes - that includes reading the manual. If you don’t, this could result in not only missing out on recording the best version of your voice, but also picking up extra background noises.
Finally - I mentioned there are some mics that can be a safe bet for people starting out in the world of audio recording. Generally speaking, unless you have a space treated for sound absorption, it’s good practice to stick with a dynamic mic. I have some info on the differences between dynamic and condenser mics in my FAQ section. A shortcut to that page is HERE. A couple of microphones that have proven themselves in the podcast industry, and don’t have a crazy price are:
The Samson Q2U
Audio-Technica ATR2100x
As of now - when I’m writing this article - The Samson is less than $80 and the Audio-Technica is less than $50. Keep an eye out for holiday sales for even better prices! I frequently use the Samson Q2U in my own tech lineup, so I can vouch for its quality. I have since purchased a fancier mic, but it wasn’t because I needed another mic … it was because I wanted another one, ha. That’s the subject of another blog post for another day. A quick sidenote - both of the microphones I mentioned above are able to support USB and XLR options, which means you have more flexibility in your audio interface setup.
Good luck in your search! And remember - where you record your audio, and the mic technique you use have a larger impact on your sound than the amount of money you spent on the hardware.
