If you want to record good audio on your youtube videos, then it’s important to choose the right microphone, one that will capture your voice and edit out background noise.
This can make the difference between an amateur-sounding recording and one that sounds as though you’re giving a speech at the White House!
Here are six of the best mics on the market right now, as well as some things to look out for in each type of mic so you can choose one that fits your budget and needs perfectly.
Our Choice
Rode VideoMic Pro+: Youtube is a great way to make money these days, with more and more people relying on ad revenue to finance their channel.
A video without audio can hardly be called a video at all! If you plan on doing vlogs or podcasts (such as Let’s Plays), then you need to buy one of these. There are many microphones out there but we think that the Rode VideoMic Pro+ is perfect for streaming your videos live or recording podcasts.
It’s great value and will easily pick up your voice. It doesn’t have amazing specs, but it does what it says on the box and comes at a reasonable price of around $120.
Rode NT1-A (Vocal / Instrument) This popular condenser microphone has a large diaphragm, and it provides accurate recording that is clear and warm.
The built-in shock mount system helps minimize handling noise, meaning you’ll get great sound quality every time. There are two polar patterns available: cardioid and omnidirectional.
This allows you to choose your desired pickup pattern depending on your circumstances—it’s a great mic if you need something versatile and affordable.
The Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone is our #1 pick because it provides clear, balanced sound that doesn’t need any additional equipment or software. It’s also affordable and user-friendly.
1. Rode NT-USB
The Rode NT-USB offers a great level of quality without breaking your budget. It’s an incredibly versatile microphone and is compatible with both PC and Mac, as well as most iOS devices.
The Rode also has a future-proof design, which means it can be used as your business grows into new fields of technology. One of its most useful features is how easy it is to use; you simply plug it into any USB port and you’re ready to go!
On top of that, because you can take advantage of digital recording technology, audio recording is made easier than ever before. And if you don’t have a laptop or tablet on hand?
The Rode NT-USB is a versatile side-address USB condenser microphone that can be used on most computers. This mic uses a cardioid pickup pattern, and it has a solid max SPL of 144 dB with an extended frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
As a result, you can record anything from vocals to instruments without any interference or distortion whatsoever. Moreover, since it features an integrated headphone jack and controls on its base, you don’t have to download any special software just to use it.
2. Elgato Wave 3
The Elgato Wave 3 is a USB mic that offers everything most users need to start recording audio on a computer—at a surprisingly affordable price.
With an included software suite, it records both voice and music. The microphone itself connects via USB to computers running Mac OS X 10.7 or later or Windows Vista or later; users can also take advantage of the built-in stereo mic preamp with no additional gear needed.
Audio files can be edited directly within Elgato’s desktop and mobile apps, which offer basic sound processing features like filtering and compression.
The Elgato Wave 3 is a professional-quality condenser microphone that has everything you need to record crisp, high-fidelity audio. It’s compatible with both PCs and Macs and plugs directly into your computer via USB.
Which makes it a good choice if you’re on a budget. The mic itself is extremely versatile; it records exceptionally well while still being affordable enough to use as a backup or even travel mic.
The Elgato microphone boasts a fairly simple design and is available on Amazon starting at $80. With a compact size and a simple plug-and-play design, it’s great if you’re just looking to get up and running without any fuss.
Its noise cancellation capabilities are very good, with overall sound quality ranked by many reviewers as above average. The only downside is that it has a small USB dongle attached to it rather than connecting wirelessly.
But that's not enough of an issue to turn away potential buyers. If you're thinking about starting your own YouTube channel or simply want better audio quality from your current setup, consider adding one of these microphones to your gear bag.
3. HyperX Quadcast
You won’t see professional YouTubers or streamers using a headset microphone. If you care about sound quality and don’t want to spend a lot of money, you should go with one of our picks below.
The HyperX Quadcast is a great all-around choice that can double as a gaming headset thanks to its 7.1 surround sound features and THX-certified headphone amplifier with up to 125 dB sensitivity.
This makes it one of our most versatile picks (and only $80 on Amazon). The tangle-free braided cable also detaches from the mic, which means less chance of it getting damaged over time.
If you’re serious about making videos, then you need a mic that can capture all of your voice—and not just what happens to be directly in front of it.
The HyperX Quadcast features four high-quality condenser capsules, each pointed at different parts of your mouth and head. This way, no matter where you’re speaking from (or how loud), you’ll always sound crystal clear.
Any gamer who’s serious about their stream or gaming videos needs a good quality microphone to produce high-quality audio. The HyperX Quadcast is a large-diaphragm USB condenser mic with excellent noise-canceling features.
Meaning it’s great for capturing clear audio from close distances. It comes with a travel pouch, breakaway cable, and optional pop filter—so you have everything you need to create great audio at an affordable price point. Available on Amazon for $50 (USD).
4. Blue Yeti Pro USB Microphone
The Blue Yeti Pro has a switchable polar pattern that allows it to record from any direction, meaning you can sing into it, speak into it, or grab your guitar and play directly into it.
It also has an advanced four-capsule array with multiple pattern settings and built-in shock mounts on both sides of its durable chassis. The result is clear sound quality that’s ideal for recording instruments, like a tambourine or ukulele.
The mic was especially sensitive to bass frequencies and excels at picking up sounds from up close. The Blue Yeti Pro is a condenser microphone with multiple pattern settings, including cardioid (heart-shaped), bidirectional (figure 8), omnidirectional, and stereo.
It comes with an external pop filter and two mic stands to provide flexibility in how you place it on your desk. The Blue Yeti Pro also includes three different mounting options:
A table stand, a desktop arm, and a clamp that attaches to any standard tripod or lighting stand. When you want better audio, choose between sampling rates of 16-bit/44.1kHz or 24-bit/48kHz.
The Blue Yeti is a USB microphone that produces audio of impressive quality. The mic has four modes: Stereo, Cardioid, Omnidirectional, and bi-directional (meaning it can pick up sound from all around).
It also features three pickup patterns: Cardioid, Omnidirectional, and Bidirectional. Cardioid picks up sound primarily from one direction; Omni picks up sound from all around; while Bidirectional picks up sounds at both front and back.
5. Rode Procaster
WITH a USB microphone, Rode Procaster delivers professional-quality sound at a price that doesn’t break your bank. If you’re looking to upgrade from your computer mic but don’t want to spend too much cash, look no further than Procaster.
Its multiple polar patterns and frequency response ensure you’ll be able to edit out any unwanted sounds, and its bass-reduction feature helps make sure your voice is clear and crisp.
In other words: You won’t have to worry about grainy vocals or bad sound quality when you invest in Procaster. Rode's Procaster is a versatile broadcast and podcasting microphone with a 1 diaphragm that provides excellent sound quality while minimizing harshness and sibilance.
Whether you're recording voiceovers, voice acting, narration, or podcasting; you'll get consistent performance across all your recording needs. Additionally, its durable construction means it will stand up to heavy use without fail.
The unique side-address design allows more placement options than any other mic on our list. If you need both hands free (or if you want to pretend like you do), then Rode's Procaster is a great choice for all your studio needs!
A beast of a mic, Rode’s Procaster is perfect for capturing vocals at home or on location. It’s built with broadcast-grade components and offers four different polar patterns
(cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo) to help you achieve optimum sound no matter what recording environment you find yourself in.
6. Shure SM7B
The Shure SM7B is a legendary microphone that has been used in countless recordings, commercials, and radio broadcasts over its decades-long history. What makes it so popular? It offers incredible durability, high sound quality, and easy adjustability.
The best part? It will only cost you around $600! While it might not be as fancy as other options on our list, it definitely gets the job done. Best of all: it’s suited for professional use as well as personal recording/streaming/podcasting sessions.
If you’re looking to save some money (and space), then you should consider getting yourself an SM7B—we highly recommend it! This mic is a legend, and it’s also at an entry-level price point. It’s perfect for on-camera use or behind a desk, but you might be surprised by how well it works in a home studio setting.
Shure makes one of the most widely used podcasting microphones around (the SM7B), so it’s a safe bet that their other products are equally as awesome.
The SM7B picks up audio with excellent clarity—and sounds great when put through post-production editing software like Pro Tools. You can easily record two people on either side of it.
And trust us: You want that ability to record two people together if you want to get started making YouTube videos. The Shure SM7B, which was released back in 1993 and was designed to be a premium microphone that did not pick up background noise.
This dynamic microphone has three polar patterns: cardioid, figure-of-eight and omnidirectional. When placed at a distance of 1 from your mouth, it will produce a frequency response of 40Hz to 20kHz.
conclusion
The Blue Yeti is a premium USB mic with built-in sound controls. It’s high price tag and cumbersome shape are worth it, if you want to create crystal clear audio on your desktop computer.
The Blue Yeti is perfect for people who want to start recording podcasts or video blogs, or if you’re just looking to improve your recording quality.
A complete set of top-notch features make it a no-brainer pick for our top spot. You can use two different types of polar patterns (Cardioid or Omnidirectional), which means there’s an option that will work well regardless of what you plan on recording.
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