How do you get the best sound for your podcast? Whether you’re new to it or need an upgrade, here are the best podcasting microphones of 2022.
The podcasting world has grown so much, and it’s amazing how some of the most successful podcasts are made from a small amount of equipment. However, the quality of that equipment and how your story is captured might just be the make or break of your podcast’s success.
While we focus on the microphones we’ve previously written an article on the best DAWS to use for podcasting and we’ve also had a look at some gear that is focused on content creation. Here’s a list of the best you can get from the highest quality to great price points to different designs.
Shure SM7B (Cardioid Dynamic)
You’ve probably seen this in podcast videos or musicians singing in the studio, heck — you’ve heard this microphone if you’ve heard Thriller by Michael Jackson. Introduced in 1973, The Shure SM7B is a dynamic cardioid microphone has since been a studio icon — and now podcast icon — that’s withstood the test of time.
With a hefty design, bass roll-off and mid-range control, internal air suspension shock isolation, and a foam cover that acts as a pop filter, it’s no wonder this is a go-to podcast microphone. This microphone rejects all unwanted noise and focuses on what’s only right in front of it. We gave this legendary piece of gear a full article, read it here.
The Shure SM7B comes in at at $749 AUD, see more at Shure.com
Audio-technica AT2020USB-X (USB)
Audio-Technica dominate in the world of professional and personal audio and they have just dropped this USB microphone this year. The Audio-technica AT2020USB-X is an upgrade on their AT2020USB+ which is a USB version of their AT2020, a cardioid condenser that won them awards and music fans worldwide.
Coming with a sturdy desktop stand and 24-bit/96 kHz sample rate, this might just be the best new microphone on the market for podcasting if that’s your sole intention. We wrote a full feature article on this, check it out here.
This comes in at $269.01 AUD and you can see more at Audio-Technica’s website.
Electro-Voice RE20 (True Cardioid Dynamic)
The Electro-Voice RE20 — often known as the EV RE20 — is one of the world’s favourites for radio presenters and podcasting, in fact, one well-known Australian radio presenter even has a gold plated one! With or without the gold the it’s also widely used as a vocal microphone on countless recordings from Gang of Youths to AC/DC.
It’s got an internal pop filter, internal element shock-mount to reduce noise, and a Variable-D design to minimise proximity effect. The polar pattern is true cardioid meaning there’s no coloration at 180-degrees off-axis. All of these things make it a perfect podcast microphone, especially if you have multiple people in the room.
As well as coming in standard silver, there’s black and a few variable models you can get — RE320 (comes with a lower frequency range), and RE27N/D (Neodymium element design brings 6 dB more sensitivity). We did a deep dive on this iconic microphone, you can read that here.
The EV RE20 retails at $1199 AUD. For more details on the EV RE20 head over to Electrovoice.com
IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 (USB)
Here’s one you don’t see to often, a handheld USB microphone. The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 is aimed at mobile podcasting and/or broadcasting and it’s a neat package with a USB and headphone connection on the bottom of the microphone.
The mic works up to 24-bit/96 kHz sample rate and comes with all the bits — lightning iOS cable, USB cables, table tripod, mic stand adapter, carrying pouch, and a 5/8″ to 3/8″ thread adapter plus it includes a full suite of recording software/applications. On the top it’s got a power indicator light, gain knob and headphone level knob.
The IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2 comes in at $235 AUD. For more details on the IK Multimedia iRig Mic HD 2, head over to ikmultimedia.com
RØDE Procaster (Cardioid Dynamic)
Australian company RØDE does it again, a high-quality microphone at a ridiculous price, honestly don’t tell your friends about this RØDE Procaster dynamic microphone. It’s kind of a copy of the aforementioned EV RE20 and boy does copy it well, as it’s got the same internal pop filter and integrated capsule shock mounting design.
While the Procaster comes with a stand mount and a pencil case, you can buy extra accessories for it like a shock mount, pop filter wind sock, and RØDE make the perfect podcaster microphone stand — a studio arm that attaches via clamp to a desk.
The RØDE Procaster comes in at $289 AUD. For more details head over to rode.com
RØDE NT-USB (USB)
While we are here talking about RØDE, here’s their USB offering, the NT-USB. It’s a neat package that will sit comfortably in it’s supplied desktop tripod stand on your desk. It comes packaged with a serious pop filter too. The controls on the side of the microphone offer headphone level and a computer audio to direct monitoring blend knob, situated just above the 3.5mm headphone output jack.
It connects via the standard USB connection and comes with a cable. While it’s only 16-bit/48 kHz sample rate, I’m not how many of the audio boffin’s amongst us have been really concerned with hitting those higher sample rates. The price is right in line with what RØDE offer, affordable and high-quality.
The RØDE NT-USB comes in at $189 AUD. For more details head over to rode.com
