In this article, we’ll list the three best microphones for podcasting, broadcasting, and vocal recording. We’re also going to take an in-depth look at what makes a good podcast microphone and what you should be looking for when picking one.
Quick Answer: The Shure MV7 is great if you want the portability of a USB mic combined with the connectivity of XLR. The Shure SM7B is a legendary broadcasting mic with a fantastic array of features, while the EV RE20 offers a similar feature set with additional clarity.
- Shure MV7 Hybrid Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_mv7
- Shure SM7B Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_sm7b
- Electro-Voice RE20 Microphone: https://currentprice.io/re20-black
Podcast Microphone Overview
If you’re looking to record a podcast, there are hundreds of microphones out there that can give you a high-quality, consistent recording. So before diving into our recommendations, we want to explain a little about the criteria we used to narrow our search down to the three best podcast microphones.
We’re not giving you a list of the three least expensive, three most popular, or three newest podcast microphones. We’re giving you three no-brainer recommendations to ensure you get an awesome microphone that will provide you with 10 – 15 years of consistent, high-quality recordings.
If you’d like more podcast equipment recommendations, make sure you read our podcasting buyers guide!
Podcast Microphone Price Range
Price is always a deciding factor when you’re making a big purchase. However, we’d never feel comfortable recommending a microphone that’s worth less than $100. The audio and build quality just aren’t there, and it’s unlikely it will last for 10 – 15 years. Not that you’d want to keep it that long!
At the same time, we understand that a $1,000 price tag is completely prohibitive for most people. That’s why our podcasting mic recommendations are limited to high-quality, high-value offerings in the $100 – $500 price range.
XLR Output
We’re only going to recommend microphones with an XLR output as we don’t think it makes sense to recommend a USB mic to anyone who is serious about podcasting for the next 10+ years.
USB microphones are reasonable if you’re committed to only doing a one-person podcast for that duration. However, if you ever want to do a group podcast or integrate with an audio interface or mixer, you’re going to need an XLR microphone.
If you’re still not convinced, we’ve written an entire article on the pros and cons of USB mics vs XLR mics.
Podcast Microphone Plosive Protection
We’ll only be recommending microphones that have internal plosive protection or a foam windscreen at most. That means any microphone with a large external pop filter won’t make the grade. Why?
Large external pop filters are unwieldy and not camera-friendly. Let’s face it, they can be pretty ugly and distracting, putting a barrier between you and anyone you’re speaking to.
End Address Microphones
In a similar vein to external pop filters, we feel that side-address microphones are bulky, distracting, and a barrier to conversation. For that reason, all of our top 3 microphones for podcasting are end address models.
Broadcast Style
All of our podcasting recommendations are broadcast-style microphones. They’re heavier, better suited to being mounted on a stand or boom arm, and look and sound better than a handheld mic.
In our opinion, handheld microphones belong on the stage. We know that the Shure SM58 was designed as a studio broadcasting mic, but microphones have come a long way since the SM58 was designed.
Dynamic Microphones
We recommend using a dynamic microphone for your podcast recording for two main reasons.
- Background Noise
Dynamic microphones are much better at rejecting background noise. - Voice Focused
Dynamic microphones focus on the frequencies that are important for voice recording and voice reproduction.
High-quality condenser microphones are clean and articulate, which can actually be a bad thing for your podcast recording. They’re more likely to pick up computer fans, mouth noises, clothes rustling, keyboards, and other distracting background noises.
Cardioid Pickup Pattern
A microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern generally focuses on capturing sound coming from wherever its top end is pointing while ignoring everything else.
This is important for a podcast or broadcast-style recording as it helps to eliminate distracting background noises that might be going on around you.
Good Reputation
We’re only recommending podcasting microphones from reputable companies with a longstanding reputation for creating high-quality, consistent, and reliable products that last for a long period of time.
Best Podcast Microphones – Our Recommendations
Podcast Microphone #1 – Shure MV7
- Shure MV7 Hybrid Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_mv7
- Shure MV7X XLR Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_mv7x
Earlier, we explained that we don’t recommend USB microphones for podcasting due to connectivity issues and future-proofing. The hybrid Shure MV7 is interesting as it works as both a USB and an XLR microphone.
You can use it as a USB mic if you’re traveling or recording on the go and as an XLR mic if you want to use it in a group podcast environment. If you only need XLR connectivity, save a few bucks and get the MV7X XLR only variant.
The Shure MV7 is a purpose-built podcasting microphone with legendary Shure build quality and an easy-to-use yoke-based mount. As the least expensive microphone on our list, it offers excellent value, and we have no doubt it will serve you well for 10+ years.
Podcast Microphone #2 – Shure SM7B
- Shure SM7B Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_sm7b
No podcast or broadcast microphone list would be complete without mentioning the legendary Shure SM7B. It’s built for broadcasting and has a history that spans back long before podcasting was a thing.
The Shure SM7B has earned a strong reputation thanks to its high build quality, internal shock mounting, and electronic noise rejection. It’s well suited to podcasting and looks great on camera, thanks to its sleek design and built-in cable management.
We know of SM7Bs that have taken 15 years of abuse and are still going strong, so we know that you’ll get a long-term return if you decide to invest in this podcasting microphone.
Podcast Microphone #3 – Electro-Voice RE20
- Electro-Voice RE20 Microphone: https://currentprice.io/re20-black
The Electro-Voice RE20 is our favorite microphone on this podcasting mics list. The other two mics are great, but we like the RE20 more; it’s like the SM7B, just with more clarity.
The RE20 also has what Electro-Voice calls Variable-D Technology. This helps the RE20 sound the same regardless of how close you get to the mic as you speak, helping to eliminate the proximity effect that can boost lower frequencies in your voice.
3 Best Podcast Microphones Pricing & Specs
- Shure MV7 Hybrid Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_mv7
- Shure MV7X XLR Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_mv7x
- Shure SM7B Microphone: https://currentprice.io/shure_sm7b
- Electro-Voice RE20 Microphone: https://currentprice.io/re20-black
- Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro Headphones: https://currentprice.io/beyer_dt_990
- XLR Cable: https://currentprice.io/xlr_cable
- TRS Cable: https://currentprice.io/trs_cable
- Mic Stand: https://currentprice.io/desk_stand
- Rode PSA1 Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/boom_arm
3 Best Podcast Microphones Topics
- 0:00 – Introduction
- 0:32 – Overview
- 1:10 – Price
- 1:40 – XLR Output
- 2:21 – Plosive Protection
- 2:59 – End-Address Microphone
- 3:30 – Broadcast Style
- 5:17 – Dynamic Microphones
- 5:16 – Cardioid Pickup Pattern
- 5:56 – Good Reputation
- 6:10 – Podcast Microphone #1 – Shure MV7
- 7:55 – Podcast Microphone #2 – Shure SM7B
- 8:53 – Podcast Microphone #3 – EV RE20
- 9:45 – Summary
- 10:55 – Final Thoughts
