Similarly to YouTube or social media streaming, podcasts have become incredibly popular over the past few years. These days it seems like there is every type of podcast out there - from sports ones to crime stories, there's an incredible range! But to get your podcast off the ground, you need a good microphone.
Whether you're starting out a new hobby, or you're looking to upgrade your current setup, one of the best podcast microphones is a key component to this. Of course, the majority of it comes down to the sound editing, but a great microphone can truly help cut down the post production.
Related: The best wired headphones
Additionally, if you have a low-quality microphone there are certain things post-production just can't fix. It can improve bad audio, but can't completely transform it. Whether this is for a hobby or your career, you still don't want to be trying to salvage hours of bad quality audio.
A good microphone can produce excellent audio quality, making the experience for the listener a much more enjoyable one. Whereas a lesser microphone would pick up on background noise and cause extra feedback.
There are a wide variety of brands that supply podcast microphones, from JLAB to Shure and Yeti, and we have the cream of the crop in our best podcast microphone guide.
And if you're just starting out and have a couple of questions, make sure you keep scrolling for our FAQ section below. Here you'll find answers to what a microphone polar pattern is and the different types of microphones out there, including dynamic, condenser and lapel.
The best podcast microphones at a glance
Best podcast microphone for professionals: Shure MV7 USB Podcast
Best microphone podcast for beginners: SAMSON Q2U Recording and Podcasting Pack
Best value for price: Blue Microphones Yeti Professional USB
Best podcast microphone for transportability: Rode Smartlav+ Lavalier
Recommended: Rode Procaster Broadcast Dynamic Microphone
Best budget podcast microphone: Blue Microphones Snowball iCE Plug 'n Play USB
Best budget podcast microphone for professionals: JLab Audio Talk USB Microphone Plug
The best podcast microphones in detail:
Best podcast microphone for professionals
ShureThis is, without a doubt, one of the best podcast microphones out there, particularly for professionals. As it can connect via USB and XLR, it's extremely adaptable and easy to connect, both to your laptop and to your mixer board. It hardly picks up any background noise, and the audio produced is smooth, natural and full, making the post-production aspect very easy! The touch panel on the mic body helps streamline your next streaming session, and ensuring smooth audio no matter what the environment.
Pros
- Light-changing touch panel puts it above other microphones in it's class
- Shure are known for great microphones, and this is no different
- Comes with mount for putting on a mic stand
Cons
- On the pricer side
| Polar pattern: | Cardioid |
| Microphone type: | Dynamic |
Best microphone podcast for beginners
SamsonIf you're starting a podcast as a hobby or you're thinking of launching a career in it, then we recommend the SAMSON Q2U. It's easy to see why it's one of Amazon's top choices, similarly to the model above, it can be connected via XLR and USB. It's also incredible value for the price, aside from being fairly inexpensive as other microphones go. This also includes the XLR cable, a foam windshield and a tripod mic stand. In terms of the sound, as it's a dynamic cardioid microphone it picks up very little background noise, focusing mostly on the audio direction it is pointed at.
Pros
- The included stand is perfect for putting on a desk for a quick setup
- Bundling the mic and cables makes it more accessible for beginners
- Versatile mic that is good for music as well as podcasting
Cons
- Micro-USB connection, not USB-C
| Polar pattern: | Cardioid |
| Microphone type: | Dynamic |
Best value for price
LogitechAlthough this product has built a reputation for being the go-to choice for gamers and Youtubers, it's also pretty awesome when it comes to podcasting. What's truly impressive about this device, is that it has three different audio directions: cardioid, bidirectional and omnidirectional, it is incredibly versatile! The fact it's a condenser microphone too makes it better for recording things like voices, so if you want a higher quality then look no further.
Pros
- Condenser microphone type is superior to dynamic
- Multiple polar patterns to suit different setups
- Great build quality
Cons
- Limited mounting options
| Polar pattern: | Omnidirectional, cardioid, bidirectional |
| Microphone type: | Condenser |
Best covert
RØDEWhen it comes to transportability, the Rode Smartlav+ Lavalier is an excellent option. It's incredibly lightweight and super compact, so it's great if you move a lot while recording your podcast, as it can be clipped directly onto your clothes. As it's specifically manufactured for smartphones, the Smartlav+ can be connected to any audio app. Although it specifically pairs with the Rode Rec app, and as it picks up sound omnidirectionally - you can very easily transform your smartphone into a field recorder.
Pros
- Omnidirectional means no more off-axis recording
- Small enough to stuff in a pocket
- Great recording from just a smartphone
Cons
- Audio quality suffers from the size
| Polar pattern: | Omnidirectional |
| Microphone type: | Lavalier |
Best unidirectional
RØDEAnother excellent option when it comes to podcasting microphones is the Rode Procaster. Even though it has a pretty sleek design and only weighs 745g, its metal build means it's quite sturdy. What makes it really ideal for podcasting, is the fact that it has an internal pop filter, which is made to eliminate any plosive sounds.
Pros
- Just as good as mics above it's pricepoint
- Sturdy build quality with metal construction
- Polar pattern naturally isolates voice without the need for software
Cons
- Needs a lot of gain to work well, so you'll need an audio interface too
| Polar pattern: | Unidirectional |
| Microphone type: | Dynamic |
Best beginner
Blue
When it comes to most electronics, you generally need to spend more to get better-quality devices. However, there are a few caveats to this and the Blue Microphones Snowball iCE is one of those exceptions. Aside from being one of the cheapest podcast microphones out there, this device is very powerful and versatile. You can connect it via USB, and it is Skype and Discord certified, so this is excellent for podcasting - whether you're talking to or interviewing people remotely.
Pros
- P
lug and play makes it very beginner-friendly - Ultra budget, perfect for presents too
- Robust design to handle any knocks or bumps
Cons
- Stand limits options for mounting or positioning
| Polar pattern: | Unidirectional |
| Microphone type: | Dynamic |
Best budget
What's The BestWhat we love about this microphone is that it is extremely versatile. It has four different polar patterns: cardioid, omnidirectional, stereo and bidirectional, making it excellent for any type of podcasting, whether it's one individual or more sharing the microphone. It's also an impressive option for professionals as it features three studio-quality condensers and has professional-grade recording. Check our review of this JLab here.
Pros
- Remarkable audio quality for such a budget mic
- Robust but affordable
- Plug-and-play to get you recording right away
Cons
- Can be sensitive to background noise
| Polar pattern: | Omnidirectional, cardioid, stereo, bidirectional |
| Microphone type: | Condenser |
FAQs:
What are the different types of microphones?
Microphones usually fit into one of three categories: dynamic, condenser or ribbon. We've included dynamic and condenser selections in our guide as well as one lapel microphone, as these are better suited for podcasting. Ribbon microphones are typically used for input sources with lots of high-frequency content.
What is the best microphone to use for podcasting?
A dynamic or condenser microphone would be best for podcasts. The best polar pattern for a podcast microphone would be cardioid (so named because the pattern is heart-shaped), such as the Shure MV7 or the SAMSON Q2U. A cardioid polar pattern captures sound that is travelling directly to the microphone, meaning it focuses specifically on the audio towards it and not on any background noise.
This is assuming that there is only one person utilising that microphone, if there's more than one speaking, you'd require a microphone that is omnidirectional.
What is the polar pattern of a microphone?
A polar pattern describes the direction in which the microphone picks up audio. The type of pattern varies, though cardiod is the most popular by far. It's called this because the way it picks up audio (the polar pattern) resembles a heart shape, with sensitivity to sounds coming in from the front, and excluding sounds around it.
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