Any microphone recommendations?

Any microphone recommendations?

First, I must acknowledge that I am not a microphone expert. There are plenty of people around who can get into the minutia of what makes a good microphone. I am not one of them.

Similar to buying wine, there are wine connoisseurs who can go into great detail explaining why a particular wine is excellent or terrible. A lot of people, though, just know a good wine when they taste it and they may not be able to elaborate on why. Same with microphones.

I also liken microphones to golf clubs. I am a very mediocre golfer. If someone gave me a set of $10,000 golf clubs, it is unlikely to improve how I play golf. With a microphone, unless we are working in a pristine space with extraordinary sound treatment and soundproofing, having a $3000 microphone (or even a $1000 microphone) just means that you will get a better sense of the pitch of the dog barking across the street. If your space is not well treated or you are working within a space that has some limitations, an expensive, highly sensitive microphone is just going to accentuate those limitations.

Having said all that, it's hard to buy a bad microphone these days. There are many good options under $500. I have listed a handful below that I have had good experience with. I will occasionally update this list as I become aware of other good options. I am unlikely to share recommendations of more expensive microphones. Not that they aren't good, but I'm just not qualified to do that and I am not interested in that level of responsibility.

Please note that the links are to vendor sites. I do not receive any compensation for linking to their sites. I provide the links for the sake of ease.

My Microphone: Superlux CM-H8C, $165

This is the microphone I currently use. It's here for the sake of comparison. I have used more expensive mics, and Superlux isn't well-known in the US. At the end of the day, though, it suits my voice very well which is what matters the most.

Entry Level: Monoprice LTM500 Large Tube Condenser Microphone, $165

Monoprice has a reputation for providing great value with solid components - even rivaling more expensive options. No one will complain about your audio quality - it produces audio that is much better than an entry-level microphone should. This is the only microphone I'd recommend for under $200. 

Entry Level: Rode NT1-A, $229, Audio-Technica AT4040, $249, and Sennheiser MK4 ($299)

These are very safe options. Audio-Technica, Rode, and Sennheiser make good products, and these microphones are popular amongst newcomers who can afford to spend a few extra dollars. I recently added the MK4 to the list on recommendation of my friend, Don Baarns. I trust him implicitly.

Mid Range: Baby Bottle SL, $400

Sean Pratt used this one for several years. It's very sensitive, which could be a deterrent if you're dealing with a lot of external noise in your recording space.

Mid Range: AKG C214, $400

This is a very popular mic amongst voiceover artists. I often see this as the second microphone when folks "graduate" beyond their entry level mic. 

Mid Range: Shure SM7B with Cloudlifter CL-1, $580

Jason Koons at Sweetwater has steered some of my folks this direction. It's an industry-standard microphone for podcasters - not so much for voiceover. In my opinion, you're better off with products that are mid-range or the top end of entry level.


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