Within the last decade or so, there has been a surge in popularity amongst podcasts. In a way, they have replaced the radio shows and are now the “it” thing to listen to. What is it about the podcast that makes it a growing and popular trend? For some, podcasts have replaced their morning radio commute with downloaded or streamed podcasts. Their sudden rise in popularity has also led to the increase of everyday people taking a stab at turning their hobbies and interest into podcast topics.
Though practically anyone and everyone could create a podcast, one of the most important things that should be considered before breaking into the airwaves is microphones. Just with pretty much anything, podcast microphones are not created equally. If anything, the different ranges of microphones are going to depend on the speaker’s existing equipment and how far they think they can go with their podcast.
If you are one of the lucky few to have a winning podcast, your podcast has the ability to be endorsed by major brands and labels. According to Forbes, nearly 70% of podcast listeners have shown that they have made purchases based on podcasts they listen to. One way of seeing what the bests are using is checking out what your favorite podcast hosts are using. In a way, many of the successful podcasts currently on-air and thriving are ones that have become endorsed by microphone brands. If you are not one of the lucky ones, there is still a chance for you to create that next big hit with the following popular podcast microphones:
What is the Best Podcast Microphone?
HEiL Sound PR-40 Dynamic Studio Microphone
- One Mic for Every Application - Professional podcasters, studio...
- Podcast - The PR 40 naturally captures the human voice and...
- Streaming - Delivering professional-quality sound and featuring a...
- Studio Voice and Live Sound - Whether you’re in the studio or...
- XLR Connection and Cardioid Pattern - The PR 40’s 3-pin XLR...
On the higher end of podcast microphones, there is the Heil Sound PR-40 Dynamic Studio Microphone. If you are looking to invest in an authentic-looking studio microphone, the Heil is the one to go with. This particular microphone is one that was designed with the help of radio host legend, Bob Heil.
Providing a frequency range between 28Hz to 18HZ, you can rest assured that the quality and authenticity of the sound is going to be maintained. Keeping to the sound of every voice and instrument, it is going to feel as though you are there in a professional studio.
The Heil Sound PR-40 is designed with a steel body featuring an internal hum bucking coil shield on the mic. This means that you don’t have to worry about using it close to other monitors, microphones, or lighting features and having that ear-wrenching feedback. Not only does the design and the material ensure minimal feedback, but it also allows for minimal need for bass-boosting.
With investing in the Heil Sound PR-40 Dynamic Studio Microphone, you receive a champagne steel body with a swivel stand adaptor. The stand has its own personal case, which means you can take it on the go for those on-location interviews or performances.
If you are looking for a high-end microphone and don’t mind investing up to $400, the Heil Sound PR-40 is one that is highly recommended. The Heil Sound PR-40 is going to provide a far superior sound quality compared to other microphones. The Heil Sound PR-40 is one that can be used not only for typical interview podcasts. The Heil Sound can be used for musicians as well, requiring minimal add-ons such as capacitors or condensers. The fact that it can be used for both one-on-one interviews, but also musical performances means that the Heil PR-40 can be used in noisy or sound-treated rooms. This means if you are running your podcast at home or your garage, the Heil podcast microphone focuses on the immediate sound and not the background noise.
What makes the Heil Sound podcast microphone a contender for podcast use is that for the price tag, you receive the best of the best – at least when you are starting off in the world of podcasts and streaming. If you have been making waves already and are looking to update your equipment, the Heil PR-40 would be a recommended upgrade to any ordinary podcast system. Packing a punch with its frequency range, the Heil Sound PR-40 can be a worthy investment as you enter the world of podcasts.
Pros
- ✓ Steel housing
- ✓ Internal Sorbothane Shock Mount included
- ✓ Vocal and instrument use
- ✓ Natural articulation and sound
- ✓ Can regulate high-frequency and stabilize
- ✓ Minimal post-production editing
- ✓ Top-down microphone minimizing background sound pick-up
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- ✗ Expensive
- ✗ Popping and heavy breathing can be picked up if too close to the speaker
Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone
- Professional USB microphone with 1" Studio-quality Capsule.
- Fold-back legs provide optimal mic positioning and folds up for...
- Cardioid pickup pattern captures the Audio in front of the...
- Smooth, flat frequency response of 20hz–20khz captures the...
- 1/8" Stereo headphone output with level control for zero-latency...
- Zinc die-cast construction with chrome-plated finish.
- Large, 25mm diaphragm USB studio condenser microphone.
- Works with iPad using Apple's Lightning USB Camera Adapter or...
- 16-bit, 44.1/48kHz resolution.
- Smooth, flat frequency response of 20Hz?20kHz.
- Stereo 1/8" headphone jack for no latency monitoring.
- Samson Audio (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
For the budget-friendly or thrifty podcaster, the Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone is the mic for you. If you are a frequent traveler, the Samson Go Mic is an easy to use microphone that makes shooting on-site easy. Featuring two switch patterns, you can go from recording a podcast to live concerts.
The versatility of the Samson Go Mic means that you can also use it for personal use. For example, if your laptop or desktop microphone is broken, you can use it for your Skype or Zoom chats as well. Simply plug in the USB and off you go. Featuring a frequency of 20 Hz to 18kHz, it just goes to show that size doesn’t always matter. Not only does it have the specs of a standard podcast microphone like the pricier Heil Sound PR, but the Samson Go Mic can pick up sound from two directions – cardioid and omnidirectional.
If you are a budding YouTube star or a gamer who wants to host a live-stream podcast, the Samson Go Mic is ideal for you as it is a great starter and portable microphone. Requiring minimal space, simply take it out of its case, plug, and play.
Pros
- ✓ Plug and play portable microphone
- ✓ Ideal for on-location recording
- ✓ Sleek and compact
- ✓ Good value for the quality
- ✓ Zipper case included
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- ✗ Picks up background noise easily
- ✗ Can break if dropped
Razer Seiren Elite USB Streaming Microphone
No stranger to computer accessories, Razer enters the world of podcast microphones with their Razer Seiren Elite USB Streaming Microphone. Featuring a cardioid pattern with a frequency of 20Hz to 50kHz, this is a great introductory podcast microphone. Budget-friendly, the Razer Seiren was designed to have an easily discoverable volume and gain control, as well as a mute button, which prevents feedback when not in use.
It’s sleek all-black design, the Razer Seiren, has a digital and analog vocal limiter, which helps minimize any vocal distortion. The design of the Razer features an inbuilt high-pass filter that reduces any low-frequency feedback. It also is designed with a hyper-cardioid and cardioid condenser, which mitigates against background noises.
Similar to the Samson Go Mic, the Razer Seiren is another portable plug and play podcast microphone. Featuring an 8-bit emoticon led display, why not have fun while interviewing your guests? Not only can you customize the led display, but the microphone itself also has a built-in mount that prevents any sound vibrations. As well as featuring an interchangeable extendable neck to suit your speaker’s height.
Not sure if the Razer Seiren is the mic for you? Computer accessory brand Razer has designed this podcast microphone with the gamer in mind. It makes sense, given it is one of the only microphones that features an 8-bit led display for emojis. If you are thinking of going to live concerts, this, unfortunately, isn’t the portable microphone for you as it does have a hissing sound once it gets to a high pitch. Even with this limitation, the Razer Seiren Elite USB Streaming Microphone makes a great entry-level microphone into the world of podcasts.
Pros
- ✓ Ideal for first-time podcasters
- ✓ Cheap
- ✓ Adjustable microphone height
- ✓ Clear and crisp audio
- ✓ Zero-latency
- ✓ Sleek and compact
- ✓ Plug and play
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- ✗ Hissing sound at high levels
Conclusion
If you are thinking of becoming one of the 800,00 active podcast hosts right now, consider investing in a podcast microphone that is going to help you thrive and succeed. Be equipped with the right tools in this ever quickly changing industry. Still unsure about taking that leap into investing into a podcast microphone. Remember to reflect on what it is you are looking to do with your podcast, but also where you are hosting your show.
Maybe you are thinking of being more on-location for your interviews, or perhaps you are looking to do a mix of interviews and concerts. Not all microphones are created equally; therefore, before you take the financial plunge, you consider what your show and focus are going to be on.
Once you have thought about your show, consider sound quality. Some brands may compromise quality for convenience or other perks such as editing software or soundboard to manage the balance and treble. If you are willing to take the time to edit after an interview or performance, then having software included can be an added bonus. However, some microphones may be able to minimize editing solely by being a far superior quality. It may cost more, but consider what your time is worth or rather, how much time do you have to edit? If you have the time, then paying a bit less may be best.
Regardless of your topic, or where you plan to host your podcast, remember that there is a podcast microphone to suit not only your needs but your budget as well. The recommendations above demonstrate just that – so if you have been waiting to start that podcast, don’t wait any longer with our best podcast microphone recommendations.
