Audio is integral to your podcast. It is the primary channel through which you reach your audience and the main method in which they will consume your content. Therefore, it is paramount that you carry out your research and acquire the right microphone for your needs. Below we have broken down three options; a budget option and two slightly more expensive options – all, however, come in at under £200.
USB Lapel Microphone
Decent USB Lapel microphones are available to purchase for around £20, so this is a great option if you’re looking for something basic and are on a tight budget. You’ll be able to ensure that your guests sound great without having to invest a load of cash into something more pricey. We use them for Zoom calls to give us that slightly crisper, more professional sound quality whilst being lightweight and unobtrusive. They are a fail-safe option when recording – your guest will always be on mic and they often come with USB and USBC connectors meaning whatever set-up your guest is recording onto – Mac or PC, you won’t have any problem.
Samson Q2U
The Samson Q2U is a slightly more expensive option, coming in at around the £70 to £80 mark, however, this mic produces a much richer, warmer sound. Due to it being more directional than a lapel mic, and being able to pick up more bass, it will reduce the noise and echo on your audio and will create a sound which feels much more intimate. The ability to connect through both USB and XLR, depending on the situation you find yourself recording in, makes it adaptable for different uses and qualities. One thing we have found we have to be careful of is that when talking straight into the mic the voice may pop so ensure you and your guests are talking over it to capture the best sound quality. There is also a model made by Audio Technica which we would recommend for a similar quality and style.
Rode Microphone
The microphone we have used for the longest is the Rode. It produces a lovely warm sound, comes with a great stand and pop-shield and tends to give us the most professional sounding records. Just like the previous two options, it comes with USB connectivity meaning it can plug straight into your laptop or PC. Out of all the Rode products, this is our favourite however there are several others that all do a decent job and would be worth checking out.
There is no one right answer to the question of what microphone you should use, but the options we have talked about in this blog are a great place for you to start. It is important that you understand the environment and style you will be recording your audio. Once you’ve got those details figured out, you can refer back to this blog to decide which microphone will best suit your requirements.