In the past few years, technology has made incredible advances. Nowadays, everyone is able to get professional results using everyday devices. Smartphones are a great example of this. In fact, mainstream artists have recorded entire music videos on iPhones, and it’s not uncommon for photographers to fill their social profiles with pictures they took on their phones. Unfortunately, it isn’t the same for audio.

So, if you're interested in starting a podcast, you'll need a good microphone. And if you’re new to the audio world, you may be wondering what microphone suits you better based on your budget and needs.

In this post, you’ll find our 5 favorite podcasting microphones for beginners, plus pros, cons, and more. We’ve also included some tips that will help you make the right decision.

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

How to Choose the Best Microphone for Podcasting: Condenser vs. Dynamic mics

Before you can compare different options, you should understand what you’re looking for.

Each specific microphone has its own pros and cons. But in general, as a new podcaster, you’ll be looking for either a condenser microphone or a dynamic microphone.

Condenser microphones are great at:

• Filtering background noise
• Responding across a high-frequency range

However, it’s worth noting that condenser microphones may have unwanted results in outdoor settings or handling high volumes. Hence, they’re best for indoor recording.

On the other hand, high-quality condenser microphones are more expensive than dynamic mics of similar quality. So, if you invest in a dynamic mic, you’ll get exceptional sound at a very competitive price.

But, if you’re short on budget, a dynamic mic won’t be convenient. The reason is quite simple: Dynamic microphones always require an audio mixer.

When looking for a microphone, aside from dynamic vs. condensed, you’ll find two big categories:

• USB microphones
• Microphones that require an audio mixer to connect to your PC/Mac

If you choose a USB microphone, you’ll be able to directly connect it to your PC/Mac and record without an intermediary. Non-USB microphones, in contrast, will require an audio interface. You won’t be able to just plug them into your computer, open your software of choice and get going.

If your budget’s really tight or you’re unsure about your podcasting journey, we recommend you go the affordable route and get a USB condenser microphone.

With that out of the way, let’s take a look at specific options.

Our Shortlist of the 5 Best Podcast Microphones for Beginners

In this section, we’ll share our 5 favorite podcasting microphones for beginners. We’ll be covering:

• Pros
• Cons
• Pricing
• Best use case

Let 's dive in!

Shure MV7X

Shure is one of the most reliable brands out there when it comes to studio and live performance mics. Let’s take a look at their MV7X microphone, a budget option designed for crystal clear voice recording. 

Pros

• Easy to use and configure, it’s basically “plug-and-play”
• High-quality feeling, with a clean design and professional look
• It's sturdy, weighing 550 grams
• It comes with a two-year guarantee
• It has replaceable parts
• It’s designed to take in loud inputs without turning them into distortion

Cons

• It only has an XLR output
• It doesn’t have buttons, so you can only adjust its setting or mute it through your recording software
• It doesn’t come with an XLR cable
• You’ll need an audio interface to use it since it’s dynamic
• It doesn’t come with a desktop stand
• There are cheaper alternatives with more features

Pricing

The Shure MV7X retails at 179 USD.

M 70 PRO X by Beyerdynamic

Powered with speech optimization features, this dynamic microphone is designed to capture clear and articulate speech. But if your podcasting style includes speaking loudly into the mic, this option has you covered too, as it provides a frequency response of 25Hz-18Hz

Pros

• The mic’s essential components can be repaired or replaced (including its casing can, circuit boards, capsules, plugs, etcetera)
• It includes a carefully designed shock mount and a pop filter
• It has a premium aluminum housing with a "break-proof" steel mesh
• It’s great at preserving recording volume as the speaker moves
• It comes with a protective bag and it’s extremely lightweight, which you’ll be grateful for if you ever move your studio

Cons

• It doesn’t include features like attenuation and HPF pads, which could cause the microphone to capture hissing sounds, the humming of a CPU, or other types of background noise

Pricing

The M 70 PRO X retails at 299 USD.

RØDE Podmic

The Podmic is a dynamic podcast microphone from the Australian audio powerhouse RØDE.

Pros

• It was designed for podcasting, live streaming, and detailed speech recordings
• It includes an internal pop filter
• It includes a sturdy shock mount, which reduces vibrations 
• Its integrated swing mount allows you to position it to taste, so you can record comfortably for long periods
• Like the Shure MV7X, this microphone is extremely robust
• It captures a wide frequency range (20Hz ~ 20kHz)
• It comes with a 1-year guarantee, extendable to 2 years
• It has a highly durable all-metal body

Cons

• It weights 937 grams, which can make it difficult to manipulate and transport
• Although high quality, it only provides one pickup pattern: Cardioid, meaning that it doesn’t capture sound in a 360° range

Pricing 

You can get a Podmic for 99 USD online.

Blue Yeti X

The Blue Yeti X condenser microphone is a favorite among content creators. It offers great recording quality at a relatively low price. And, since it’s a USB microphone, it doesn’t require an audio interface.

Pros

• Thanks to its 11-segment LED meter, you can check your sound level at a glance and easily adjust it, which makes it ideal for live broadcasts
• It offers versatile pickup patterns, including bidirectional, so it can be shared by two speakers
• You won’t need an audio interface to use it
• It comes with a multi-function smart knob, which you can use to calibrate its key settings without opening your recording software

Cons

• It doesn’t include DSP presets. This could be inconvenient if you’re looking for EQ/compression baked into signal
• The mic doesn't come with a built-in pop filter or an adapter to fit a standard mic stand

Pricing 

The Blue Yeti X retails at 169.99 USD.

QuadCast USB Microphone by HyperX

The HyperX QuadCast is a versatile condenser mic praised by streamers. And it’s definitely worth taking a look at.

Pros

• It has a modern design, which made it a staple of some creators’ aesthetics
• You can control the gain level with a physical button, located on the bottom side of the mic
• It includes a mount adapter
• It has built-in anti-vibration shock mount and an internal pop filter, which muffles annoying percussive sounds and reduces rambles
• Since it’s a USB microphone, you can plug it directly into your PC/Mac, without the need for any audio interface
• You can easily mute the mic with its tap-to-mute sensor
• It offers multiple pickup patterns: stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid, and bidirectional

Cons

• You can’t adjust the headphones volume from the mic, you must do it from your recording software
• This microphone looks great, but it can be a little disruptive depending on your content’s topics and audience

Pricing 

The QuadCast retails at approximately 200 USD.

Key Takeaways

In this post, we shared our 5 favorite podcasting microphones for beginners. 

Starting a podcast may seem daunting. But, if you’re taking care of the specifics and putting together a solid plan, you’re on the right track. 

Wondering how to market your podcast? Our suggestion is to share highlights across social media. And with Audiotease, you can turn your podcast’s best moments into stunning videos, without expensive software or hours of heavy editing.

Discover Audiotease today and create your first video for free.