Browse microphones for content creation that provide quality sound and are affordable.
Unlike lighting equipment, there can be a significant drop in quality depending on the microphone you use. When you’re on a professional set, microphones can really run up a tab, like this one.
It’s very true that good audio can really up your production value, while bad audio stands out and makes a viewer subconciously feel that something’s off (even if you try to fix it in post).
Luckily, there are a lot of audio options that you can choose from for content creation, that are a lot cheaper than that Sennheiser. Let’s break it down.
Note: as an Amazon and Rode associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra charge to you.
Lav Mics
Lavalier (lav) microphones are a very popular choice. They are traditionally a wired microphone; you wear a transmitter on your hip, and attached to it is a wired mic that goes under your shirt so people don’t see it. The transmitter transmits to a receiver that connects to your camera. What a hassle.
These days, the microphone can, by itself, transmit a signal to the receiver attached to the camera. The messy wire is gone, at the cost of the microphone being a bit bigger.
Luckily, nobody on TikTok cares if they can see a microphone clipped to your shirt collar, making lav mics the easy winner in the audio category when it comes to creating content. Let’s review some options.
Rode Wireless GO 3
The Rode Wireless Go series has easily been one of the most popular mics used by content creators over the past few years. It’s now on version 3 and, true to Rode standards, it comes with excellent sound quality and portability at a price point that’s hard to beat.
Pros
Cons
Clip the mic to your shirt, attach the transmitter to your camera, and you’re good to start shooting content with amazing audio quality.
You can also buy a mic holder from Rode that will give you a bit more reach with the mic. Or you can just clip the mic to a spatula.
For a cheaper option, the 2nd generation is excellent and on Amazon: Rode Wireless GO II
Rode Wireless PRO
The Wireless GO’s fancier sibling. This comes with a lot more accessories, including two tiny wired lavalier mics in case you want to be discreet. These two lavalier mics are individually $100, so not a bad deal.
DJI Mic 2
Get it on: Amazon
DJI is also a very popular brand among mics these days, and the Mic 2 is definitely rivals the Wireless GO/PRO. DJI prides itself on its noise cancellation technology that’s built into the mics.
However, while built-in noise cancellation is nice, you can always reduce background noise in post.
It’s basically a toss up. In my opinion, the Rode Wireless GO has slightly better audio quality.
Budget Friendly
DJI Mic Mini, Neewer Wireless Lav Mics
Shotgun Mics
You can’t go wrong with the classic shotgun mic. Just attach it to your camera, and you’re good to go. Simple.
The big difference between a shotgun mic and the lav mics I describe above is that a shotgun mic is a directional microphone. This means that it’s designed to focus more on sound in front of it than to its sides or rear. So, the closer and more in front of it you are, the better your sound will be picked up.
Directional mics are very useful if you need your audio to sound different based on where the subject is relative to the camera! Think about this. Usually, if you’re filming for social media, you don’t really care and just want yourself to be heard well at all times.
Pros
Cons
*What I mean by “oddly shaped” is that shotgun mics often sit on top of a semicircular plastic oscillator, which prevents sounds like moving or bumping the camera from registering to the mic.
Remember that the lav mics above can only attach to at most two subjects, so if you need to film large groups, a shotgun mic is probably the best option. Otherwise, I’d go with a lav mic.
With all that out of the way, here are some shotgun mic recommendations:
Deity V-Mic D4 Mini
Get it on: Amazon
A great budget option that packs a punch. Comes with a faux fur attachment (deadcat) to block wind.
Rode VideoMic PRO+
Get it on: Amazon
A mic stuffed with the kitchen sink. It can filter out certain frequencies for a cleaner sound, as well as boost nearby ones. Also has 3 levels of gain control.
I wouldn’t buy a shotgun mic more expensive than the Rode VideoMic PRO+, unless you’re building a professional team of videographers. Don’t overthink these things! Remember that and let’s move on.
Condenser Mics
You may have heard of “condenser” microphones. It’s a term thrown around a lot these days, but what does it mean?
A condenser microphone contains within itself two small plates used for recording sound. This is different from more traditional microphones (aka dynamic microphones). Condenser mics need a power source.
To save you some time, the point is that a condenser microphone is very good at picking up a wide range of frequencies, as well as softer sounds. This means more details of your voice will be picked up, but it also means more background noise will be heard. If you’re doing voiceovers in a studio environment, however, background noise shouldn’t be a problem.
These mics are great for things like ASMR or professional voiceover content.
Pros
Cons
Condenser vs Dynamic mics
I’ve mentioned both condenser and dynamic mics. What’s the difference?
Dynamic microphones are much more common. They are the typical mic used in live settings. They’re resistant to background noise can handle loud sounds without distorting.
Condenser mics, like I mentioned above, are much more sensitive and can pick up more frequencies, giving you a fuller range of sound.
So, is a condenser microphone right for you? Well, unless you’re in a very specific niche (like ASMR), a good dynamic mic will do just as well for podcasts or live streaming. Before we go into recommendations, let’s cover one more topic:
USB vs XLR
The mics I’m about to suggest below will connect to your computer via a USB or XLR connection. These are some differences between the two. Let’s break it down.
USB microphones are simple - just connect the mic to your computer with a USB cable, and start recording! No extra equipment needed. The tradeoff is that these mics must rely on their internal tooling, meaning that the sound is less customizable and could be lesser in quality.
XLR microphones are the ones with long, thick cables. They connect to an external device, such as an audio interface, which allow you to adjust your sound according to your liking. These audio interfaces can connect to a computer, and turn the sound from the mic into a digital signal your computer can understand.
This means XLR microphones come with the extra cost of the audio interface, but they’re designed to offer the best sound quality. These mics are used in professional settings.
Which one you choose is up to you - when it comes to content creation and streaming, both kinds of mics are very popular options. Without further ado, here are some recommendations:
Blue Yeti
USB | Condenser | Get it on: Amazon
One of the most popular mics on the market. Different sound recording options built-in, a mute button, and a headphone jack make this great for all purposes.
FIFINE Microphone Set
Dual | Dynamic | Get it on: Amazon
A great budget option. This one has both USB and XLR ports, and comes with a boom arm! More on boom arms below.
Rode NT-USB Mini
USB | Condenser | Get it on: Amazon
Yet another great product from Rode. Internal pop filter. Cheaper than the Blue Yeti but still great.
HyperX QuadCast S
USB | Condenser | Get it on: Amazon
It’s colorful, and a great product. Built-in pop filter.
Rode NT-USB+
USB | Condenser | Get it on: Amazon
A step up from the NT-USB Mini. Comes with an external pop filter and a stand.
Rode PodMic
XLR | Dynamic | Get it on: Amazon
Internal pop filter and internal shock mount to reduce vibrations.
Shure MV7X
XLR | Dynamic | Get it on: Amazon
A solid product from another audio industry standout, the folks at Shure always deliver.
Shure SM7B
XLR | Dynamic | Get it on: Amazon
Let’s be real. You probably don’t need to spend $400 on a mic for your podcast or streaming endeavors. But, this one is an amazing product and I’ll leave it in.
Rode NT1 Signature Series
XLR | Condenser | Get it on: Rode | Amazon
The successor to the popular NT1-A mic, the NT1 is branded “the world’s quietest studio condenser microphone”. Can’t go wrong with this insanely popular choice.
I just gave you a long list of microphones you can buy to start your podcast, streaming, voiceover, or ASMR content. Don’t know which one to buy? Just close your eyes and pick one. Again, let’s not spend too much time worrying over small changes in quality or build.
If you’re doing voiceovers for vlogs, I’d highly recommend a lav mic - you can obviously still record voiceovers with a lav, but more importantly, you can take it outside with you.
Let’s move on.
Audio Interfaces and Boom Arms
Remember that XLR mics need an audio interface which will connect to your computer! If you’re just starting out, you should just buy the Scarlett Solo. No discussion needed.
A boom arm is a stand that attaches to your desk and suspends your microphone for you. It’s better than the small desk stand a lot of mics come with, because a boom arm puts the microphone in the air, away from your hands and arms.
Using a desk stand also carries a risk of vibrations being picked up by your mic. I would highly recommend buying a boom arm for your content.
What can I say? I love Rode. A solid, hefty boom arm. There are cheaper options, but I don’t like the low elevation boom arms (feels like they defeat the purpose) and you’ll only need to buy the Rode once.
Phone Mics
These are the cheap, bottom-of-the-bin microphones that can plug into your phone and still provide better sound than your phone’s built in mic (especially if you’re far away from your phone).
There’s not much to say with these. Just plug the receiver into your phone, and you’re good to go. Here’s one you can buy that I feel is solid (for this category):
We’re finally done with this guide! I hope this article helped you gain a basic understanding of the different kinds of microphones. If you’re just starting your content journey, don’t overthink the options - pick one and roll with it!
Check out our other articles for more content creation tips.
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