Author: Chance Bulger
If you are recording videos for Youtube or other projects you will want to have a proper sound setup. If you are just recording from your phone or computer microphone, it is likely hard for your audience to listen to. Investing in a professional sound should reflect positively on growing your audience.
Step up your sound game with these top microphones that we suggest you use for video, podcast or multimedia creation and our reasons why. Before talking about the microphones, I suggest that you get a mounted boom arm for the microphone for easy use with any of these mics.
Something similar to the InnoGear Microphone Suspension Mic Clip.
There are basically 3 Types of microphones that we suggest to use for Youtube. They are USB, XLR or Lavalier Mics. Below are our picks for each category of microphone.
USB Microphones are easy to use, as you can simply plug them into your computer and you are good to go. These are recommended for beginners. Coming in at under $200, the Rode NT-USB microphone is excellent value for your money.
The sound quality is excellent and easily one of the best USB Mics for Youtube. The Rode NT-USB is a studio cardioid condenser microphone with a USB connection and the included tripod works well to keep noise levels down. As you can see in the picture, there is a mix control dial so you can blend computer audio with your voice. There is also a headphone jack with volume control. However, it is lacking onboard gain control, so you’ll have to set the input volume on your computer.
Generally, XLR Microphones generally have a better sound than USB Microphones, because the analog-to-digital converters in the USB mic affect the quality of the recording.
Audio-Technica has been a trusted brand in audio for a while now, and their AT2035 does not disappoint, especially at a price of around $220. You’ll need a boom arm to mount this microphone/ However, it does come with a shock mount so your audio quality will be greatly improved and you won’t have to purchase the mount separately.
This is a condenser microphone, which means you’ll need to provide it Phantom power. Simply explained, Phantom power sends the correct power (+48V) to a condenser microphone via an XLR socket and cable. Plug in your condenser microphone, and switch on phantom power on the correct channel, and bingo- your microphone will spring to life.The mic also has an 80Hz high-pass filter that will help eliminate low sounds and background noise.
Lavalier Microphones are basically wireless microphones that can be hands free. These are generally small and can be attached to your shirt, so you can make it undetectable to the camera. This can be a good way to have professional audio in a video but not have any microphone in the way.
Some Lavalier microphones can plug directly into your phone, but we recommend you look for wireless portable devices as you can use it in more situations. For example you can wirelessly connect to digital cameras, computers, phones etc.
We recommend the Rode RodeLink FM Digital Wireless Filmmaker System. It is a little more expensive than the other microphones that we have recommended, but it has much more mobility. This Kit is a wireless lavalier kit that is designed to be connected to a DSLR camera or digital recorder. The wireless connection works well from very far away unless you’re in a crowded event like a trade show with tons of other wireless devices nearby.
Conclusion
Overall it is best to pick what you would like to do with your microphones. If you are coming to be actively walking around and vlogging, a wireless Lavalier microphone is your best option. If you are going to be recording videos or doing voice overs from a fixed location, you might want to try a USB or XLR Microphone.
You will find most of the time, that you get what you pay for with microphones. If you are thinking about buying a sub $50 microphones, the sound is likely not going to be much better than your phone. I suggest saving up a bit more and making a purchase that gives you a professional sound. Think of it as an investment in your personal brand, audiences are much more likely to enjoy your content if you have crisp audio.
