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*Updated in May 2024
Ok, so perhaps there is no such thing as a “best” microphone for a specific purpose, but there certainly are groups of microphones much better suited to a specific purpose than others. Below I’ve compiled a list of microphones that I believe are excellent options for you to consider for the purpose of podcasting, arranged by price tier.
This list is going to be skewed towards dynamic microphones. This is mainly because this list is about podcasting mics and a large percentage of podcasters don’t have studios with sound treatment at their disposal. Condenser microphones are more sensitive than dynamic microphones and will generally pick up more of the ambient sound around you in addition to your voice. Dynamic microphones are less sensitive and while they won’t magically fix a poor recording space, they also won’t transmit a bird chirping outside your window as loudly as a large diaphragm condenser.
If you do have a dedicated quiet space with sound treatment to record in, a condenser mic can produce an excellent quality recording and for this reason I’ve included a couple in the list below. There are also some condenser microphones designed for broadcast use, such as the Earthworks Ethos. These have been engineered to pick up less background noise, making them suitable for recording in a podcast or broadcast setting.
For audio samples of many of the microphones on this list, check out the embedded video at the bottom of the page.
PRICE TIERS:
Overall Top Picks
Best beginner/budget: Zoom ZDM-1
Best with USB & XLR: Rode PodMic USB or Shure MV7 Plus
Best pro-level: Electro-Voice RE20
Under $50 Microphones
Behringer XM8500
- MSRP: $29.99
- Type: XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 50Hz – 15kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: The XM8500 continues to be one of (if not the) best values in audio, making it a great choice for beginners. It sounds better than it has any right to at this price point, and build quality is better than expected as well. Nobody will question your audio quality and you will be able to outfit your podcast without breaking the bank.
Zoom ZDM-1
Top Pick: Beginner/Budget
- MSRP: $49
- Type: XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Supercardioid
- Freq. Response: 50Hz – 18kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: $49 is a crazy good price for the sound quality. I have one and can’t believe it flys under the radar like it does. At -54dBV, the ZDM-1 is slightly more sensitive than the famously quiet SM7B (-59 dBV) and the RE20 (-56 dBV), which means you don’t need quite as much gain to drive it. I don’t find it to be overly bright, but it’s got more high end than neutral mics like the SM7B. One downside: it is quite susceptible to handling noise/bumps, so this is not one to put on a table stand where you’ll bump into it frequently. This microphone also has a supercardioid polar pattern, meaning it is a tighter area of sensitivity than a cardioid pattern although is has a slight area of sensitivity immediately behind the capsule. It does a great job of minimizing ambient noise, but you won’t want to place a source of noise like a computer directly behind it within about 12-18 inches.
$50 – $100 Microphones
Fifine AM8
- MSRP: $64.99
- Type: USB or XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 50Hz – 16kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: Fifine has emerged in the last couple of years as a maker of “better than expected” microphones available on amazon. Several of their budget-friendly options offer performance above the price point, including the AM8. While the RGB lighting may not be for everyone (it can be turned off), what does appeal to any content creator is the warm tone of the dynamic capsule and dual USB & XLR outputs that can be used simultaneously. It’s often discounted below the MSRP on amazon as well, making it an even better value. The USB conversion is 16-bit / 48kHz, which is perfectly usable, but see my note under the Samson Q2U regarding 16-bit depth vs. 24-bit. The AM8 is a good fit for anyone wanting to avoid spending too much on their setup and would prefer to start with USB before investing in an XLR audio interface.
Samson Q2U
- MSRP: $69.99
- Type: USB or XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 50Hz – 15kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: There’s a reason why this microphone is recommended frequently as a starter podcast mic. The Q2U has a lot going for it, including the option to connect over USB or XLR, so you can start without an audio interface to keep cost down, but if you decide to go the XLR route you won’t be required to immediately buy a new microphone. It’s a little on the bright side, so if that doesn’t suit your voice but you still want an affordable USB/XLR mic, consider the ATR2100X. The only minor downside is that its built-in conversion is limited to 16-bit, 48kHz, so you won’t be able to take advantage of 24-bit recording. 16-bit depth has less dynamic range available than 24-bit, and if your recording level is too low, significantly raising the level in post will introduce more noise than if it was recorded in 24-bit depth. It does not mean you won’t have high quality audio, you just need to watch your levels more closely.
Audio-Technica ATR2100x
- MSRP: $79.00
- Type: USB or XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 50Hz – 15kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: Another great choice that offers both USB and XLR connections, the 2100x offers 24-bit, up to 192kHZ recording. The tone of the 2100x is different than its main competitor, the Samson Q2U. It’s a bit less bright but still captures enough high end to sound clear, but the low end is a little bit less pronounced. The similar-sounding AT2005USB is a slightly lower-priced option, but only offers 16-bit conversion.
Rode PodMic
- MSRP: $99.00
- Type: XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: When you name something the PodMic, you’re likely hoping to end up on many “best podcast mic” lists. Well it turns out that since it was released in 2019, the Rode PodMic has proven to be a great choice for spoken-word applications and has earned a rightful place on this and many other lists. Rode also had the sense to make it look decent on camera (and you absolutely will see it on camera on YouTube). The $99 price point for dynamic microphones has a lot of competition in 2023, but the PodMic still holds up. It seems Rode took a cue from Electro-Voice on the construction because it’s built like a tank – you don’t want to drop this thing on your foot. It’s what I would call a little bit mid-forward with a bit of warmth, but not as much low-end as mics like the Zoom ZDM-1 or EV RE20. With a touch of EQ and compression I find it to sound quite nice. If you ever spring for a Rodecaster Pro 2 and need to outfit it with four mics, you can get four of these for the price of one SM7B. The podmic does require a relatively strong preamp due to its low sensitivity (-57 dBV). If you like the PodMic but are looking for USB-connectivity, look no further than the PodMic USB.
sE Electronics V7
- MSRP: $99.00
- Type: XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Supercardioid
- Freq. Response: 40Hz – 19kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: Handheld dynamic mics can make great podcast mics – the Shure SM58 is another industry standard. But I personally prefer the tone of the sE V7 for its smoother high frequencies and pleasant, round low end. If you don’t like the sound of the PodMic, I suggest checking out either the Zoom ZDM-1 (which is a crazy value), or the V7. Build quality is excellent which is par for the course with sE. It’s worth noting that the V7 has a supercardioid polar pattern, meaning the main area of sensitivity in front of the microphone is tighter than a cardioid pattern. However there is a small area of sensitivity directly behind it, so avoid placing any sources of noise (like your computer) behind it.
$100 – $200 Microphones
Elgato Wave 3
- *For quiet spaces with some sound treatment*
- MSRP: $119
- Type: USB – Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 70Hz – 20kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: We’ve arrived at our first condenser mic on this list. As I stated at the top of the list, dynamic microphones are a good choice for most at-home podcasters. But that’s mainly because most podcasters are not recording in very quiet, sound-treated spaces. If you have a quiet space with some sound absorbing material, it’s worth trying a condenser because they can provide a more clear and natural sound than many dynamic mics. The Elgato Wave 3 is a terrific value because in addition to having a pleasing, natural sound, it includes software features including a low cut filter and limiter (“clip guard”) in Elgato’s Wave Link mixing software free of charge. It also features simple USB connectivity, easy to use controls on the front of the mic, and a clean headphone output. The only real downside is the plastic-y build.
Rode NT-USB+
- *For quiet spaces with some sound treatment*
- MSRP: $169
- Type: USB – Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: Two condensers in a row? I had to include the NT-USB+ because if you can stretch to this price point, in my opinion this is one of the best USB condenser mics you can buy right now. Again, this is going to be best for recording in quiet spaces with minimal reflections/echo, not an empty room with bare hardwood floors or lots of ambient noise. It sounds incredibly natural and includes access to the Rode Connect desktop app so you can enable the internal DSP (high pass and basic compression/processing) and record your podcast – Rode Connect in itself is actually a powerful tool with routing, sound effects and loudness normalization features and it is included for free use. This is a great condenser mic, USB or not.
Shure MV7X
- MSRP: $179
- Type: XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 50Hz – 16kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: Shure’s MV7 USB/XLR microphone became so popular, they released an XLR-only version at a lower price point to make it more accessible if you have an audio interface or recorder with XLR inputs. It sounds just a good as its USB-enabled sibling and makes a terrific podcast mic in a compact form factor. The only downside I can think of is that it is more prone to plosives than its bigger and older sibling the SM7B. Of course, because it is XLR-only it does not have any of the touch-input features or software DSP that the MV7 has, but if the sound fits you and you already have an interface, this is a good buy.
Rode PodMic USB
Top Pick: Best with USB/XLR
- MSRP: $199
- Type: USB/XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: New in 2023, the PodMic USB undercuts its main competitor, the Shure MV7 Plus, by $70 in price but delivers excellent performance. The provided windscreen is very effective at eliminating plosives and looks good at the same time (Rode will be selling the WS14 windscreen separately in 2024). It provides USB-C output, built-in DSP including high-pass filter, noise gate, compression, and Aphex Big Bottom and Aural Exciter. USB conversion is 24-bit / 48kHZ and the sound profile seems to be a tad more full than the original PodMic. The one downside I’ve discovered is that when connected to mobile devices, the PodMic USB’s output seems to be lower than when connected to a computer. You can control the gain level with the Rode Central mobile app, the Rode Reporter app and with some third party recording apps, but even at 100% it is a low signal on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPad Pro. Rode should be able to address this with a firmware update (I hope). The build quality is marginally better than the MV7 Plus, and for all these reasons the PodMic USB shares my top recommendation for a USB/XLR microphone with the MV7 Plus.
$200 – $300 Microphones
Rode Procaster
- MSRP: $229
- Type: XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 75Hz – 18kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: Not to be confused with the Rodecaster Pro, the Rode Procaster is a radio-ready XLR dynamic mic. It actually can be had for under $200 during sales or in “like new” used condition, and right around the $200 mark it is a good value. The Procaster is very good at minimizing background noise (only topped by the RE20), and has a bit of a richer tone than its smaller sibling, the PodMic.
Shure MV7 Plus
Top Pick: Best with USB/XLR
- MSRP: $279
- Type: USB/XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 50Hz – 16kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: Released in April 2024, the MV7 Plus is an update to the original Shure MV7 and offers both XLR and USB-C connectivity as well as built-in DSP. This makes the MV7 Plus a great choice for smartphone or iPad podcasters who prefer to keep things simple (but professional). It’s also a darn fine WFH mic for video calls due to the USB connectivity and DSP that is retained in the microphone across all devices. The new real-time denoiser is effective at reducing background noise from things like computer fans, and the plosive performance is improved from the original. It’s a crowed market in 2024, but the MV7 Plus still shares my top-pick for a USB/XLR microphone (with the Rode PodMic USB) because with the sound quality and flexibility it provides, you shouldn’t feel that urge to upgrade any time soon. Conversion is 48kHz, 24-bit.
Special Mention – Shure MV7 Original
With the release of the MV7 Plus there are sure to be many of the original MV7’s available on the used market. The original is still a capable microphone in 2024 and shares the same dynamic capsule of the new model. If you don’t need the realtime noise reduction and don’t mind the micro-USB port, you can get a used MV7 for considerably less than the price of the newer model. But be aware – one weakness of the original MV7 is with plosives. The puff of air that comes with “P” and “B” sounds very easily make it into the MV7’s capsule, but you can greatly reduce that by replacing the original windscreen with one made for the SM7B, as many creators have discovered.
$350+ Microphones
Shure SM7B
- MSRP: $399
- Type: XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 50Hz – 20kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: The SM7B isn’t on this list because lots of people say it’s good for podcasts. It’s on this list because it’s good at minimizing background noise and it has a warm, neutral tone that takes well to some EQ, which to me means it’s great for podcasts. Of course, it’s just so darn quiet. You may have heard some opinions out there that because the SM7B is so quiet, it requires additional gear like a Cloudlifter and it’s not even worthy buying. At -59dBV it’s definitely lower sensitivity than many other mics including its broadcast brethren the EV RE20 (-56 dBV). I use an SM7B daily and have my Rodecaster Pro 2 set at 58db of gain which gives me a consistent level around -15 to -12db, a safe recording level. It is true that you can (and pretty much always will) boost your levels in post, if for no other reason than to normalize the level to a broadcast standard for podcast platforms. However boosting the level of a very quiet recording in post won’t yield a great result (unless you recorded in 32-bit float, but that’s a whole other topic). At the end of the day, I still believe the SM7B is a great choice for podcasting and if you feel it’s a good fit for you and your budget, I recommend pairing it with a quality interface or recorder that provides 60+ db of gain (which is becoming more common), or add a Cloudlifter or Fethead if your interface preamps offers less than 60db. If the tone of the SM7B isn’t to your liking, you may prefer the sound of another industry-standard broadcast microphone.
Earthworks Ethos
- MSRP: $399
- Type: XLR – Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Supercardioid
- Freq. Response: 20Hz – 30kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: When Earthworks dropped the price of the Ethos in 2022, they made a terrific podcast microphone a lot more accessible (though $400 is still a pretty penny). While it is a condenser, it’s very different than a large diaphragm condenser. The Ethos is a small diaphragm condenser engineered for broadcast use, so it does not pick up as much ambient sound as its cousins with larger, exposed capsules. It has a very natural tone and a smooth top end in my experience, reducing the need for de-essing in post. Personally I hear bit of a veil over the mids when I’ve recorded with it, but cutting about -2db around 450-500Hz seems to clear that up. If you do video podcasting, the Ethos also happens to look terrific on camera, and it’s even compact enough to travel with.
Electro-Voice RE20
Top Pick: Best Pro-Level
- MSRP: $449
- Type: XLR – Dynamic
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 45Hz – 18kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: While the SM7B gets a lot of the spotlight in the podcast space, the granddaddy of broadcast microphones might be the EV RE20. Since it was released in 1968, thousands of musicians and radio broadcasters have used this microphone and for good reason. It features a rich tone but is articulate in the high end, which is the main area where it differs from the SM7B. The construction and weight of this thing is bonkers. If you dropped one off a 100-foot building I think the ground would get hurt. It’s just a tad more sensitive than the SM7B, so your preamp will have a little bit easier time driving it. Downsides? Besides being quite expensive, it’s not exactly compact. In a home setting it’s pretty big, and the special shock mount for it is even bigger. If you’re a travel podcaster who travels light, the RE20 will likely be staying home. Luckily the Heil PRSM shock mount works perfectly with it and takes up a little less space.
Lauten Audio LS-208
- MSRP: $598
- Type: XLR – Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Freq. Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
- SemiPro Opinion: I just had to include at least one lesser-known mic on this list. The LS-208 by Lauten Audio is an end-address condenser mic designed for use on vocals, drums, and guitar amps, but it’s also sneaky good as a podcast microphone. It does an excellent job of minimizing background noise while providing the clarity of a condenser. It also has a usable built-in HPF switch at 50Hz and comes with a shock mount and quality case. Of course, the price is a bit prohibitive, but if you’ve got to have something unique and have the budget, I really like the LS-208.
Check out the video for audio samples of many of the mics listed above!
There you have it, my favorite podcasting microphones for 2023! Do you have any favorite podcast mics that were not included above? Leave a comment below!
