The Best Podcast Microphone (2024)

Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB

The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB is quite easy to name as the top choice for most podcasters' needs. It's on the lower end of what most podcasting microphones cost, delivers audio quality that's more than adequate for podcasting needs, and is one of the only mics out there with both a USB and XLR connection option!

This is a dynamic mic with a cardioid polar pattern, so it's great for speaking directly into, making your voice sound nice and punchy while minimizing background noise from your environment.

One minor knock against it is that it looks more like a stage vocal mic and not very "broadcast/podcast"-y, but it looks good regardless and feels like a quality piece of gear with solid metal construction.

Where it truly shines is versatility. As a solo podcaster you can plug in and record directly via USB (USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables both included), or XLR if you want to plug into a mixer as a multi-mic setup.

It even has a built-in 3.5mm headphone jack (with volume dial) so you can hear yourself directly from the microphone.

It comes with a tripod desk stand, but be warned - its build quality is flimsy, and it's rather short which requires you to hunch over to speak into it.

The bottom line is that this is a fantastic podcasting microphone for the price. Whether you're the solo speaker and just want to plug in via USB and record, or need multiple of these mics to plug into a mixer, you're covered with an XLR option. The only slight annoyance is you'll probably need to toss the included tripod stand and invest in a better one. Aside from that, the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB will have you podcasting effortlessly.

Blue Microphones Yeti

When we researched the best USB microphones, the Blue Yeti was one of our top choices. It makes sense to include it as one of the smartest purchase you could make if your intention is to podcast, stream on Twitch, YouTube, vlog, or do voiceover work.

The Blue Yeti is as popular as it is because it's simply a great "can't go wrong" microphone geared towards content creators. You can be recording within 5 minutes of unboxing it thanks to the USB connection.

For starters it looks gorgeous; you won't mind leaving it out on your desk, and you can even buy it in different colors. It's quite large and hefty (about 3.5 lbs between the mic and stand) - definitely not the most travel-friendly mic.

One of the Yeti's coolest features are the 4 pattern modes:

• Choose Cardioid mode to record what's in front of the mic.
• Stereo and Omnidirectional will capture more of the room's sound, great for ASMR recordings.
• Bidirectional mode is for recording two people speaking on either side of the microphone.

It also has a headphone jack with volume knob, and a mute button.

Keep in mind it's a condenser mic, so it'll be more sensitive to the ambient noise around you. It's also not going to knock anyone's socks off in terms of the sound quality; it's a jack of all trades, but master of none. It's without question, however, good enough sound quality for your podcast.

For podcasters, the Blue Yeti USB mic just makes a lot of sense. If you're in a noisy environment it might not be the best choice for you, but for the price it's one of the very best "I just want to plug it in and start podcasting" microphones out there.

Rode NT-USB

We'll keep this review short, because the Rode NT-USB is essentially Rode's version to the Blue Microphones Yeti, and embodies much of what makes the Yeti so great.

So, scroll to our review of the Yeti first, then come back and read this.

Let's get the basics out of the way. The Rode NT-USB is a condenser USB mic, and it's pretty darn sensitive; it can pick up sounds in the distance with surprising clarity. As such, if you're an absolute beginner who records at a regular desk, we advise you to look into a less-sensitive dynamic microphone, or at least look into some level of sound proofing or isolation.

Its design is beautiful and arguably more modern looking than the Blue Yeti. It feels high-end, and comes with a cheap but functional stand and a pop filter.

So, here's where we draw the line between the Blue Yeti and the Rode NT-USB. The Yeti has the four pickup patterns you can choose from, which make it a little more versatile. Like the Yeti the Rode NT-USB is a side-address microphone (meaning you speak into it from the side), but it only has a cardioid pattern so it'll emphesize the voice directly in front.

That said, the sound quality of the Rode NT-USB is better. It's still not quite as good as a non-USB Rode mic, but it gets close.

In the end, you decide. If you'll be the only speaker on your podcast and have no interest in recording multiple speakers or ambient noise, the Rode NT-USB should be your choice. Otherwise, the Blue Yeti is a little more flexible.

Blue Microphones Snowball

As a beginner, you might not be able to spend as much on a microphone, but you also don't want your podcast to sound like it was recorded with the inbuilt microphone on your laptop!

Enter the The Blue Snowball. In terms of value-for-the-money it's off the charts, making it one of the best - and least expensive - beginner podcast microphones out there.

The more expensive Blue Yeti is known for its versatility, and the Snowball offers a slightly diminished yet worthy level of functionality. It has three recording patterns to choose from, namely cardioid, omni, and cardioid with -10db pad in case you're dealing with a loud voice or instrument.

The sound quality may not be at the level of some of the more expensive USB microphones, but if your sole intent is to use it for podcasts then this microphone is more than up to the task. The build quality also takes a bit of a hit but as long as you handle it carefully, it should last for a decently long time.

The Blue Snowball - and its slightly cheaper little brother the Snowball Ice - are definitely geared towards beginners who don't want to drop a lot of cash. The sound quality you can get out of this microphone is more than good enough for podcasting or streaming, and it can be a great launching pad for aspiring podcasters.

Samson Go Mic

While there are countless options when it comes to podcasting microphones, choices diminish substantially once you start looking for a portable podcast microphone under $50. Fortunately, the Samson Go Mic hits that sweet spot and is perfect for content creators on the go.

Arguably the coolest thing about the Go is that, apart from traditional mounting options, it can clip onto a laptop screen with ease.

For this price, it seems almost criminal to expect a rugged build-quality, but luckily the Samson Go is built pretty solidly and will be able to live up to the rigors of a life on the move.

Feature-wise, this is a USB condenser microphone and comes with switchable cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns, which add to its versatility. There's a headphone output for monitoring, and an LED indicator which helps you avoid clipping the signal.

Obviously, the Samson Go does not offer the same level of audio fidelity as a full-sized microphone. It's the compromise you make for such a small form factor. That said, it's certainly good enough for podcasts and non-musical streaming.

If podcasting on the road is what you intend on doing, then we can't recommend the Go Mic enough. Being able to easily clip it to your computer and begin recording is a pleasure. If you're mostly podcasting at a desk and don't want to spend a lot of money, we would advise looking at something like the Blue Snowball or Snowball Ice instead.

Rode PodMic

When it comes to broadcast-quality mics for podcasting, the Rode PodMic is a pound-for-pound winner, drawing many comparisons to the much pricier Shure SM7B for a fraction of the price.

It's got "Pod" in the name, so Rode is pretty clearly going after the podcasting crowd here, and it shows. The build quality is amazing; it's heavy and feels like an expensive piece of gear. The PodMic will look great wherever your setup resides. No stand is included, but it attaches to most standard boom arms.

In terms of specs, this is a dynamic mic with a cardioid polar pattern. Sound quality wise, it outperforms most USB mics we tried, and comes very close to the warmth and clarity of the much pricier Shure SM7B. If your goal is to start a podcast, believe us, you wouldn't be able to tell.

The only knock on the Rode PodMic is the XLR connection, which means that if you're a solo podcaster who's getting started, you'll need some kind of interface or mixer to ultimately plug into your computer/tablet/smartphone.

If however you need several mics for two or more speakers, a few Rode PodMics plugging into an interface like the RODECaster Pro will be a professional-level setup you won't soon outgrow.

Honestly, it's astounding that Rode doesn't charge more for this mic. Until Rode comes to their senses and raises the price, snag one or two of these for your podcasting setup. You won't regret it.

Rode Procaster

A step up from the Rode PodMic is the Rode Procaster. It's roughly 2 times the price, but this is definitely a step towards the pros.

This is a dynamic microphone with a tight polar pattern, and it'll perform its best when you get up close and personal with it. It is remarkably good at ignoring background noise around you.

If the Shure SM7B is widely considered to be king of the podcast microphones in terms of pure sound quality, the Rode Procaster is a close second. In our tests we detected little difference, though the Procaster did seem flatter (i.e. more reflective of the way your voice actually sounds).

The built in pop filter works well. It's a beautiful mic, with all-metal construction and significant heft, so make sure your mount or boom arm isn't flimsy.

Note: Make sure your preamp has plenty of gain on tap, otherwise you might need a CL-1 Cloudlifer (or the cheaper Klark Teknik CT 1 Mic Booster) to boost the signal a bit; without a boost it comes in a little quiet.

Reasons to buy the Rode Procaster:

As an XLR mic, it's suitable if you need a multi-mic setup or already have a mixer or interface. It also offers extremely good quality sound, while still being significantly cheaper than a Shure SM7B.

Reasons to skip it:

It's by no means cheap. If you're just starting out and need one or more XLR mics, it's difficult to justify this price when you could buy two Rode PodMics for the price of one Procaster.

Bottom line is you need to decide if it's worth the money FOR YOU. If you need to record a crystal clear speaking voice with no ambiance, the Rode Procaster should be on your shortlist.

Shure SM7B

It's hard to do a review of the Shure SM7B without rehashing what has already been said time and time again. This is a fantastic mic, and arguably the best podcast mic around... provided your budget is hefty.

This mic's a legend; it was used to record Michael Jackson's vocals for thriller. In the podcasting world, look no further than The Joe Rogan Experience podcast to see the SM7B featured as the mic of choice for both Rogan and his guests.

The SM7B is a cardioid dynamic mic with an XLR connection. It does it's best work if you speak into it quite closely. It's got a great low-end response, and picks up nuances in your voice beautifully. On the mic are two switches for bass roll-off and a midrange enhancer, both of which you should play with.

Here's the rub: Unless you have a lot of money to blow and want to spend time optimizing the setup for this mic, it's probably not the best choice for beginners.

For the price, you could pick up 3 or 4 other mics that will sound 70% as good as the SM7B.

Furthermore, the SM7B is known for a low output level, which means something like a CL-1 Cloudlifter is recommended to boost the mic's signal going into the preamp (this unfortunately means more $$$).

The SM7B looks sleek and professional, and matches those looks with a great build quality. It offers several mounting options, of which hanging upside down on a boom stand seems to be its default state.

So should you buy a Shure SM7B as your podcasting microphone? The answer is yes if nothing but the best will do, and you can afford it. Just make sure you don't mind putting in the time and money to optimizing your results with it.

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