#BEST PODCAST MICROPHONE PRO#

Studio Recording – Bi Mode Condenser MicrophonesĬondenser microphones are found in all the big radio studios and music production recording studios because they sound great. The XLR connection on the Blue Yeti Pro, however, makes it a winner in my book. If you’re podcasting you’ll only really need 48 kHz/24-bit as an higher is overkill and best for music recording.

#BEST PODCAST MICROPHONE PRO#

There are other minor engineering differences but overall the Blue Yeti Pro is a slightly improved Blue Yeti. In addition to the XLR connectivity the Blue Yeti Pro can record up to 192 kHz/24-bit vs. It’s one of the best podcasting microphones under $200 and you can pick it up almost anywhere. The Blue Yeti microphone is so popular in the YouTube, Gaming, webinar and podcasting world and for good reason. It’s a condenser microphone and has multiple pick up patterns including stereo, omnidirectional (all around), cardioid (best for podcasting) and bidirectional (two guests sitting either side of the mic). This connects via traditional XLR cable (included with the mic) to your audio interface. The Blue Yeti Pro does have a USB connection but I have chosen it as you can also use the 5-pin XLR connection on the back of the mic. Here’s the USB mic I tested: Blue Yeti Pro I tested one USB mic but, fortunately, it had an XLR connection too. If you must buy a USB microphone make sure it at least has dual USB and XLR options so you can compare. Just grab a quality audio interface (like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2) and plug an XLR mic in. Yes, you can plug the microphone direct into your computer but it’s doing two jobs – being a microphone and doing the A-D conversion. Ugh! Please try and avoid a USB microphone at all costs they simply don’t sound as good as there XLR counterparts. This makes it a no brainer for podcasts planning on more than one host or multiple guests. An audio interface also gives you expansion opportunities as you can connect more than one microphone and record onto different tracks in your audio editing software. Get an audio interface and save the heartache of discovering your USB microphone just doesn’t sound as good as XLR. You can only connect XLR using an audio interface like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. Do you need a microphone preamp for podcasting? Yes! As you’ll see, when I start talking about USB microphones below, XLR connection is my recommended microphone connection method. They’re also good for isolating musical instruments in a performance.ĭo I Need an Audio Interface for Podcasting?īefore diving into the microphone sound checks let me answer this question I get asked often. – Shotgun Microphones for Podcasting – Shotgun mics have a very small pick up area that’s why close mic promo voiceovers like to use them. I would not recommend these types for podcasting as they have been created with an entirely different usage in mind: – Ribbon Microphones for Podcasting – Ribbon microphones are extremely sensitive and delicate so not decent for home use or carrying around to podcasting conferences.

Other Microphones for Podcasting – Two types I didn’t include in my podcasting microphone tests are ribbon microphones and shotgun microphones.

You can get USB dynamic or USB condenser mics but as I’ve only featured one USB microphone in this list I’ve given it a whole category title.

USB Microphones for Podcasting – USB is not a type of microphone but the connector you use to plug it into your computer.

You’ll also need to supply 48V phantom power to a condenser microphone which can be done via an audio interface.

Condenser Microphones for Podcasting – Condenser microphones sound fantastic but you need a good recording space otherwise they are going to sound echoey and awful.

Dynamic Microphones for Podcasting – Generally dynamic microphones need more gain and are lower quality than condenser microphones but they reject echo and background noise really well.

Below is the list of all available options for you to look at and find your circumstances. This will depend on your recording space and your own personal taste in sound. What Kind of Microphone is Best for Podcasting?

Best podcast microphone