← Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach
Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach
224 Podcast Coach's Top 3 Podcast Microphone Review (Mics for Every Budget)
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Make Your Mic Matter: My Top Podcast Microphone Picks Your microphone is the most critical piece of podcasting equipment, yet too many podcasters are using the wrong one—or using it the wrong way. In this episode, I’ll help you choose the best...
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Hey, podcaster. I'm Tim Wahlberg, your podcast performance coach, with another actionable tip so you can grow your podcast authority, generate leads, and convert with ease. Today's tip is make your mic matter. We're diving into a crucial topic for all podcasters, the best microphone for podcasting. If you are a tech nerd, I hate to disappoint you because I'm not going to be getting into the frequencies or the levels or the polar patterns of any of these microphones. I've done all that for you. You don't need to go down that rabbit hole. And don't waste your time. We're talking about the one piece of equipment that can make or break your podcast audio quality, the microphone. Whether you're just starting out or you're looking to upgrade, choosing the right microphone is essential. And today I'm recommending three microphones at three different price points. Your microphone is the gateway to your listener's earballs. A good microphone can make your voice sou professional and engaging, while a poor microphone or incorrectly used microphone will create a sound that will leave your listeners struggling to hear. Because you sound distant, hollow, or there's too much background noise or even some distortion. Our goal as a podcaster is to be heard. We're going for clean, clear audio that makes you sound like you know what you're doing. I have a visceral reaction to poor audio. As soon as I hear it. It makes me think subpar. It makes me think low rent. It makes me think mediocre. It makes me think someone thought to themselves, that's good enough. It's a crying shame. And I automatically think the same about their authority and any offers that they make. Subpar, mediocre. I don't want anything to do with them. And I'm on to the next show. So investing in a good microphone is investing in your podcast and business success. So first, let's talk about two famous microphones, the Blue Yeti and the Shure SM7B, the microphone that Joe Rogan uses. I still see and hear people recommending the Blue Yeti as a microphone for podcasters. It's not a good podcast mic, and here's why. It is a condenser mic, which means it picks up a lot of background noise. Podcasters should use dynamic mics for better sound quality. In less than perfect recording environments, mics are more forgiving. Seriously, unless you want your podcast to feature every creak, squeak, and distant dog bark, steer clear of the Yeti. And frankly, all condenser microphones don't get me wrong, it is a fine microphone. Condenser mics are incredible microphones, but they work best when they are in a studio setting. So if you're using a blue Yeti microphone or any other type of condenser microphone, make sure that you're using it in the properly acoustically treated room. Basically a studio to get the most from those condenser microphones. Most people use it wrong and if you want to see how to use it right, watch my video. I'll leave a link in the show notes on how to use your Yeti properly. Now I'm going to talk about the Joe Rogan microphone in just one second. But now I'm going to give you my three best podcast microphone recommendations by price point. And by the way, I have all three of these microphones I reg well and I actually have a whole bunch of other microphones that sit on the shelf as paperweights, but these are the three I use all the time and travel with. Starting with the low budget, then medium budget, then upper budget, I'm on The Audio Technica ATR 2100 USB mic. This mic is versatile with both XLR and USB connections making it perfect for beginners. Simple setup here, you plug it into your Mac or your PC and you're good to go. It's affordable and delivers great sound quality. This is the raw USB feed right into my computer. And this is the ATR 2100 with a little EQ and some compression. Many podcasters, including my clients, use this mic with great results. It's the best mic at this price point, hands down. Again, the Audio Technica ATR 2100. It'll cost you around 80 bucks US okay, and here is the medium budget option. This is the Shure MV7. This dynamic mic offers excellent noise cancellation, has both USB and XLR connections. It's a step up in quality and features, making it ideal for podcasters looking to upgrade. This is the RAW USB feed right into my computer. And this is the Shure MV7 with a little bit of EQ and compression. It offers a few more bells and whistles like gain control right on the mic itself. Careful of the mute button, you might accidentally hit it. Plus it has enhancement software to make you sound even better. This will run you around 250 bucks US this is the Shure MV7. Now this is the upper budget microphone. This is the Electro Voice RE320. This mic is a professional grade dynamic microphone that offers rich full sound and excellent background noise rejection. This is the RAW feed. Easy into my Vocaster 2, because this does not have a USB connection. This is the XLR connection, which is that larger cable that's got three pins in the middle of it. So this is going into my Vocaster 2. And now this is the Electro Voice RE320. With a little EQ and compression. It's an investment, but it will make you sound more like a pro. It's rich and full and does a great job at eliminating the background sound. And by the way, this thing is built like a tank. Seriously, it'll run you about $350. So that's the upper budget microphone. There are two more top level mics that I will put in this category and they are the best for podcasting. You don't need to go any higher than these. The Electro Voice RE20, it's the big sister of the RE320, the one that I'm talking on right now. My third choice for mics. It's $100 more than the Rev3 RE320. So that's the RE20 at 450 bucks. The other top level mic is the one that Joe Rogan uses. It is the Shure SM7B and it's around $400. So these two top level microphones are found in most of the radio stations all over the world. It's one or the other, and it's been like that for many, many years, decades in fact. And I feel that these two mics almost sound identical. Normally, ears can't really tell them apart. If you put them side by side, you probably hear a slight difference. But I almost find both of these to be a little on the muddy side. Like muddy is a stretch of a word here, but they're big and full and have a lot of bottom end to them. Now there are ways for radio stations to fine tune their sound before they go out on the airwaves. They can dial it into a very specific sound. Little bottom end for classic rock and a little more higher end and tinsel for hit radio, for example. But for raw audio, just the way it comes in, I prefer the cheaper RE320, the one that I'm using right now, because to me it sounds a little brighter and happier. So those top tier mics I mentioned today all have only the XLR connection. So you'll need more equipment like an audio interface and cables that will run you at least around $200 more. I link to all of these mics on my resources page on my website@podcastperformancecoach.com the link is in the show notes, but the decision is yours. Consider your budget, your voice and your recording environment. If you need help with this, book a free coaching call and I'll walk you through it. But my three no brainer choices for podcast microphones are the Audio Technica ATR2100, the Shure MV7, and the Electro Voice RE320. But buying the right mic isn't the end of the story. Like I said, your recording space is really important. Think soft. Carpet, couches and curtains, acoustic panels. Anything soft to absorb the ambient sound will make your mic sound better no matter which one you bought. And of course, your mic technique. Massively important. You can make a great mic sound like shit with poor technique. It's like golf clubs. It's not the clubs, it's how you use them. Give Tiger Woods a set from 1976 and you can use the best pings or tailor mades on the planet and you know he's still gonna kick your ass. It's how you use the equipment that makes the difference. I keep my eyes and ears peeled for better sounding and easier to use microphones, but for me nothing is better than these three options at these three budgets. Don't let a poor mic or poor audio rob you of your podcast success. It's the easiest thing you can do to increase your authority without even saying a word, and I hope that's just the tip you need. I'd love to hear about the mics that you use or love. Reach out. Or if you want help picking one of these and getting the most from from it, then book a free podcast coaching call and let's get you sounding like a pro. Book your free podcast coaching call by using the link in the show notes or@podcastperformancecoach.com I'm Tim Wahlberg. See ya.