← Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach
Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach
264 The Best Podcast Microphones for Every Budget (2026 Update)
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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 Stop searching for the perfect podcast microphone. As a podcast coach who helps people start or improve their podcast, one of the questions I'm constantly answering is, what mic should they get? So every year, I revisit this question. I check out the latest reviews, see what audio engineers are recommending, and look to see if there's a new microphone that has completely changed the game for podcasters. And after all these years, my recommendations haven't changed very much because the reality is not much really changes. And more importantly, there isn't one perfect podcast microphone. There is, however, a microphone that's right for you. So if you've been down the rabbit hole trying to decide what microphone to buy, let me save you some time. First, for podcasting, I almost always recommend a dynamic microphone over a condenser microphone. Now, condenser microphones are fantastic. They're used in professional studios all the time. They're incredibly detailed. And that's part of the problem. They pick up everything. Your furnace, someone loading the dishwasher upstairs, the dog panting on your lap or scratching at your door, your computer fan, or the neighbor's lawnmower. Everything. But most podcasters aren't recording in professionally treated studios. They're recording in offices, bedrooms, spare rooms, or sometimes even closets. Dynamic microphones are much more forgiving. They focus on isolating your voice and do a better job of canceling the sounds around you. Which brings me to the blue Yeti. A condenser mic. I don't recommend it that now, before all the blue Yeti owners come after me, it's not that it's a terrible microphone. It's just not the right microphone for most podcasters. I actually own one. It currently sits on my shelf in my office as a very attractive bookend. So the first thing in choosing a microphone is deciding between a dynamic mic or a condenser mic. Dynamic mic wins 99% of the time. The second thing to consider is a USB versus XLR connection. You can USB microphones are simple. Plug them into your computer and you're ready to go. XLR microphones, those three pin connectors. They require an audio interface, additional cables, and a little more technical know how. Now, a lot of people assume XLR mics automatically means better sound. And it's mostly true, but not always. If you're recording interviews on Riverside using a laptop, a good USB microphone is going to sound fantastic. If you have a dedicated recording space because maybe you're a video podcaster and enjoying the technical side of podcasting, then an XLR mic makes a lot of sense and it's definitely worth exploring. But for most people, a simple USB mic wins. In fact, I really like the hybrid microphones that give you both XLR and USB connection because you can start simple and grow into a more advanced setup later if you choose. Now that the technical questions are out of the way, let's answer the big question. What microphone should you buy? If you're just getting started and you're on a budget, you want the best bang for your buck? Buy the Samsung Q2U for about a hundred bucks. Now I'm saying Samsun, not Samsung Samson S A M S O N. Seriously, stop researching. Buy the Q2U and move on with your life. For years, The Audio Technica ATR2100X and the Q2U have been the go tos. They have become my go to recommended mics because they're affordable, durable, they sound great and they give you both XLR and USB connections. If you've got a little more room in the budget, I Recommend the Shure MV7 Plus. This is the microphone I suggest to most of my clients if they can afford it. It's about 300 bucks. It sounds fantastic, it looks great, it's easy to use, and it gives you plenty of room to grow. Just make sure you buy the version with USB and XLR connections. That's the MV7. If you're ready to fully step into the XLR world, My personal favorite is the Electro Voice RE320. It's the microphone I use all the time, including right now. It sounds rich and warm, does an excellent job rejecting background noise, and makes me sound like I know what I'm talking about. And yes, the Shure SM7B is also a fantastic microphone. We're talking about the big brother of the Shure MV7 plus that I talked about earlier. It's the one made famous by Joe Rogan. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with 3 million listeners. You're going to have to earn those yourself. It's a little over $400. I prefer the RE320 because I feel it's a much brighter microphone and it's about $270. But remember, this is an XLR only microphone and you're going to have to need the audio, inter and some cables. I have links to all of this equipment and more on my Resources page at Podcastperformancecoach Com. But before we wrap up this episode, I want to leave you with five words from a radio producer I worked with decades ago that have stuck with me throughout my entire career. Shit in is shit out. I know. Not exactly inspirational poster material, but listen. This is so true. Do everything you can to create the best possible recording from the start. Choose a decent microphone. Record in a reasonably quiet space. Learn how to position your microphone properly. This is crucial because a $100 microphone used correctly will always outperform a $500 microphone used poorly. The best podcast microphone isn't necessarily the most expensive one. It's the one that matches your budget, your technical comfort level, and actually gets you recording consistently. Because your listener doesn't care what microphone you use. They care whether you show up, whether you serve them, and whether what you have to say makes a difference in their lives. And I hope that's just the tip you need. This episode probably just saved you three months of researching microphones. Imagine what could happen if we helped you with the rest of your podcast strategy. Book a free coaching call and let's talk about how to build a podcast that's aligned with your business goals from the very beginning. Because your microphone shouldn't be the most strategic part of your podcast, book your free private podcast coaching call by using the link in the show notes or the big orange button on podcastperformancecoach.com I'm Tim Wahlberg. Say ya get it.