Podcast best microphone: Many new podcasters are searching for a long time for the optimal podcast microphone. In the following, you will find out what makes a good podcast microphone, what problems can occur and what you should pay attention to.
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Podcast best microphone: Top 3
First of all, there is to say that there is no such thing as the ONE optimal podcast microphone. This is due to the fact that there exist many different requirements and tastes. For some people, microphone A sounds perfect, for others microphone B. In addition, some people want more adjustment possibilities, while others want to change as little as possible.
But there are also different requirements that you should consider. While some people sit in a small room, others podcast in a large room. Sound is definitely an issue here. While one is podcasting outdoor, another is recording at a trade fair and the third is sitting in a quiet living room.
All these factors need to be taken into account, so before choosing a podcast microphone, you should think about what exactly you need. So, what should you look for in a podcast microphone?
1. Rode Podcaster Studio Custom Kit
![Podcast best microphone [Top 3 Guide] 1](http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00KTGNC3M&Format=_SL1000_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=digital0e4-20&language=en_US "Podcast best microphone [Top 3 Guide] 4")
The Rode Podcaster Studio Custom Kit (podcast best microphone) is a very decent bundle consisting of a high-end microphone together with a microphone spider and two-way broadcaster arm. The price tag is quite high but you cannot go wrong with this one.
Advantages
- The microphone offers a rich and natural sound with good bass when you are close enough.
- It has a low sensitivity, which can be seen for example in the fact that it is relatively insensitive to reverberation.
- The Rode Podcaster has very low self-noise, which has a very positive effect on sound quality.
- The high processing quality is very positive.
- The microphone can be connected easily and quickly via USB. No expensive audio interface is necessary.
- The headphone output on the microphone allows you to listen to the signal and offers its own volume control.
- The internal pop screen does a good job.
- Overall, the microphone has a very good price/performance ratio.
Disadvantages
- Due to the relatively high weight, a stable microphone stand is necessary.
- You have to be close to the microphone when recording. Otherwise, the low sensitivity will make the sound not sound good. The sound quality decreases significantly if you are more than 10 cm away. Therefore an articulated arm is highly recommended.
- This way you don’t have much room to move during recording, which is usually not a problem for podcasters and YouTubers but maybe for other people.
- The internal pop screen is not perfect, so you should think about an external pop screen.
- The price is not insignificant for beginners, even if it is perfectly reasonable.
- There is no gain control on the microphone itself, but most of the time it is not a good idea to use it anyway.
- USB Connection
- Includes Stand Mount
- Cardioid Polar Pattern
- Rode PSM1 Shock Mount for Rode Podcaster Microphone
- Two-Section Broadcast Arm with Integrated USB Cable
Last update on 2024-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2. Blue Blackout Yeti + Lola Black Ninjas in Pyjamas Pro Gamer Bundle
![Podcast best microphone [Top 3 Guide] 2](http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0731QWWCN&Format=_SL1000_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=digital0e4-20&language=en_US "Podcast best microphone [Top 3 Guide] 6")
The Blue Blackout Yeti + Lola Black Ninjas in Pyjamas Pro Gamer Bundle is a very decent bundle of a headset and an extra microphone. The price tag is quite high but you cannot go wrong with this one.
“An incredible microphone packed full of features – for an amazing price” – by Luke Gall
Advantages
- Microphone works great!
- The earpads fit most ears well enough to cover most background sound
- The sound from the headphones is VERY nice
Disadvantages
- The knobs are very tight and need a good amount of pressure to turn, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing
- Yeti, the world's #1 streaming USB-microphone
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Last update on 2024-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. Rode NT-USB Microphone Bundle
![Podcast best microphone [Top 3 Guide] 3](http://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00SF6LGXQ&Format=_SL1000_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=digital0e4-20&language=en_US "Podcast best microphone [Top 3 Guide] 8")
The Rode NT-USB is a very popular microphone among YouTubers and podcasters, partly due to its good price.
Advantages
- The microphone provides clear and crisp sound, even without post-processing.
- The Rode NT-USB has low self-noise, which is almost unnoticeable.
- The headphone closure is a nice thing for Lets Plays and podcast recordings.
- The mix control is a really great feature that makes the microphone ideal for YouTubers or Lets players.
- The pop screen is high quality, works well and is removable if desired.
- The manufacturing quality is once again very good. There is nothing to criticize about the microphone itself.
- The Rode NT-USB offers a very good price/performance ratio
Disadvantages
- Due to the condenser technology the microphone is somewhat susceptible to reverberation. In sound sensitive rooms it is not so well suited.
- There is no gain control on the microphone, so all settings have to be done in the operating system.
- The table stand is made of plastic and relatively small.
- Keyboard noises are audible with this microphone, so you should use a quiet keyboard.
- Rode NTUSB Versatile Studio-Quality USB Microphone - Tripod Mount (Stand) - Pop Shield - USB Cable (6m/20") - Manual - Microphone Pouch - Mic Clip/Mounting Ring - Rode 1 Year Limited USA Warranty - Rode PSA-1 Professional Studio Boom Arm
- Adorama Valuable Bundle. Kit Includes.
- Rode NTUSB Versatile Studio-Quality USB Microphone, Tripod Mount (Stand), Pop Shield, USB Cable (6m/20"), Manual, Microphone Pouch, Mic Clip/Mounting Ring, Rode 1 Year Limited USA Warranty.
- PSA-1 Professional Boom Arm, Velcro Cable Wraps, Desk-Clamp and Desk-Insert Style Attachments (for verstile mounting in desks), 3/8" Adapter, Rode 10 Year Limited USA Warranty.
Last update on 2024-03-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5 microphone features to look out for!
Below I have listed 5 features you should look out for to find your ideal podcast microphone.
1. Directional characteristic
The directional characteristic indicates the direction from which the microtone can pick up sound. The simplest variant is omnidirectional. Therefore, sound can be picked up in all directions.
But this is usually not useful for podcasters. Instead, they want to record only their own voice and nothing else. This is where the cardioid polar pattern comes in, which ensures that the sound is picked up much more from the front than from the side. No sound at all is picked up from the rear. In this way, you can filter out computers or typing noises, for example.
Even more extreme is the so-called super-cardioid or hyper-cardioid, which hardly absorbs any sound from the side. But it is a little more susceptible to sound from behind. The bottom line is that the difference between cardioid and hyper-cardioid is negligible for podcasters.
A special case is a bidirectional characteristic, also known as the figure of eight. If, for example, two people want to record a podcast or conduct an interview in the same room, this is a good and interesting solution. Some microphones offer explicit settings for this purpose, allowing the directional characteristic to be adjusted.
2. Ambient noise
Often background noise interferes with the podcast recordings. It could be the children in the next room, cars on the street or the loud fan of your own PC. These noises should not be included in the recording.
Dynamic microphones are definitely better at masking such background noise. Since they are not so sensitive, you have fewer problems with such noise. Here, the frequency range between 40 and 18000 Hz is covered.
It is therefore important to consider whether the higher sound quality of a condenser microphone should be exchanged for a dynamic microphone. I have both in use and in certain situations both can be used. In the end, you should test both with yourself.
3.Pop shield
In any case, you definitely should use a pop shield.
This prevents exhalation and certain letters from causing rashes that you don’t want. You can get a pop shield for cheap and some of them are already included with the microphone.
Other microphones even have an integrated pop screen built into the microphone housing. This is also a good solution. In any case, it reduces the effort for editing the recording later on
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4. Microphone spider
A microphone spider is also highly recommended. This ensures that the microphone no longer stands firmly on a stand, but is suspended so that it vibrates.
Especially with podcasts it can happen that you put a tea cup on the table, move your feet or type on the keyboard. These mechanical activities emit solid-state sound and are picked up by the microphone.
Therefore I always use a microphone spider for my podcast recordings. This is very noticeable in the quality and it also reduces the amount of post-processing.
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5. Connection to the recording device
USB microphones are especially for podcasters the most convenient solution. They allow you to connect the microphone quickly and easily to your PC or laptop. Plug&Play is easily recognized on Windows or Mac and can be used immediately.
A disadvantage is that you can’t change much of the signal because it goes directly into the PC. A mixing console cannot be used here.
This is different from the XLR connection. Here the microphone is connected to an audio interface or a mixing console, which makes it possible to adjust and optimize the sound live. It is also possible to connect several microphones and control them.
Microphones with blade connectors can be connected to smartphones and cameras. So-called lavalier microphones, i.e. those that can be plugged in, usually come with this connector.
Further features and setting options
Furthermore, many higher quality podcast microphones offer additional features. For example, there is sometimes a headphone output that allows you to hear your own voice well during recording, which can be useful in noisy environments, for example.
Other microphones offer, as already mentioned, a directional characteristic adjustment and are therefore very flexible.
Another feature is the possibility to adjust the gain. This refers to the sensitivity with which the microphone records the sound waves. This makes it very easy to control which sounds are recorded and which are not. But this also influences the distance you have to keep to the microphone yourself.
Conclusion on the best podcasting microphone
If you are looking for a podcast microphone (podcast best microphone), USB microphones are a good compromise between quality and performance.
But it is also clear that you should not podcast with a 30 Euro microphone or headset. A low three-digit amount should be taken in hand, that this has a considerable effect on the recording quality and you get high-quality recordings from the beginning.
Podcast best microphone: If you want to have less effort in postproduction, you should go for a dynamic microphone. If you want the clearer sound, use a condenser microphone. Both, however, always with cardioid characteristics, pop protection, and microphone spider.
