Let’s shift our focus to podcasting microphones, one of the equipment needed to start a podcast. Veteran and successful podcasters know that newbies underestimate is the importance of sound quality by investing in one of the best podcasting microphones available. Podcasting indeed has a low barrier of entry, and anyone can start up with little or no budget. However, if you were going to leap, you will need to invest in the best podcast microphone.
Today, the number of podcasts is growing, but the attention span of listeners isn’t. That’s why listeners lose interest quickly if they don’t get a crisp sound. In the words of Andrew Stapleton, bad audio is one of the easiest mistakes to commit, even though it’s the easiest to fix if you can just invest into the right equipment needed to start a podcast
We are saying that you cannot be successful as a podcaster with poor audio quality; your audience will tune you out. While there are scores of reasons why good podcasts fail, audio quality is one of the understated reasons.
To help you stay on the favorite side of your listeners, you need to invest in the best podcast microphone. It does not matter what your budget is; there’s the right one for that amount. Before then, let’s help identify the five types of microphones available;
USB Podcasting Microphone
Mostly preferred by beginners due to the ease of set-up and ability to move around with less equipment. It connects to any computer through a USB port.
XLR Podcasting Microphone
Ideal for high-quality recording, being a three-prong professional-grade microphone that connects to a mixer and a computer.
Condenser Podcasting Microphone
You’ll likely find this mostly in recording studios with acoustic treatments. They are quite sensitive to high frequencies and environmental noise.
Smartphone Podcasting Microphone
As the name suggests, this is a podcasting microphone meant for smartphones. All it takes is to plug into your smartphone, and you are ready to record your next podcast episode.
Dynamic Podcasting Microphone
This is quite popular among podcasters who embraced DIY studios. However, these microphones are less crispy and without layered sound.
With an understanding of the five types of podcasting microphones available; here are our recommendations for the best podcasting microphones on a budget;
1. Rode Smartlav+
This is a lavalier or tie-clip mic meant for a smartphone. Aside from being a tiny mic that goes with you everywhere, it sounds amazing for a tiny package.
It gets better with an SC6 adapter as you can plug two Rode Smartlav+ mics into a single smartphone. Imagine being able to conduct an interview right from the middle of a park or on the beach with the waves giving a background sound.
There’s no limitation to capturing great content, bring out your Smartlav+, and you are good to go.
2. Samson Q2U
Please think of this microphone as a versatile little beast, one you can find as both XLR and USB. Being a budget microphone, Samson Q2U is a big leap over any internal microphone or a headset mic.
The beauty of this podcasting microphone with the dual output of USB and XLR lies in being able to connect this to your computer via USB. Then, run the recording via Garageband or Audacity.
To be frank, this is the best entry-level podcasting microphone you can ever invest in as a newbie. One that will grow with you as your horn your skills. We recommend it as the best XLR podcasting microphone on a budget.
3. The Blue Yeti
There’s a reason why The Blue Yeti has walked its way up as one of the most popular podcast microphones. As a USB condenser podcast microphone, The Blue Yeti delivers excellent audio quality that leaves your listeners coming back for more.
Interestingly, The Blue Yeti is easy to use thanks to its plug-and-play USB connection. That’s not even its biggest strength, but the range of recording patterns for solo recording, two-person and group recording.
The Blue Yeti comes as a complete package with a stand, a shot at the pros. That’s why you should lay your hands on this as the best budget condenser podcasting microphone
4. Audio-Technica ATR2100
The strength of this podcasting microphone lies in the polar range that cuts out unwanted background noise. It’s a dynamic mic with little warmth but possesses all the audio clarity you need as a podcaster.
With a built-in headphone jack, you can immediately hear yourself. You will also find the analog to digital converter handy as you grow as a podcaster.
You are getting beyond a reputable name but a podcasting microphone that delivers when you need it to.
5. Maono AU-PM421
Never look down on this podcasting microphone considering the price; it punches above its weight and worth. Truly, it’s from a lesser-known manufacturer, but like anyone else, you’ll be blown away by the build and simplicity.
The Maono AU-PM421 gives you a glimpse of what it looks like to be able to record your podcast in a pro studio, this time from home or anywhere. You will need to test out the claim of Maono that it has an audio quality of 192kHz/24-bit.
Trust this podcast microphone to handle anything you throw at it with an all-metal construction.
Wrap Up on the Best Equipment Needed To Start a Podcast
Podcasting has truly become one of the most important channels of communication. Imagine being able to tell your story or that of others, conduct interviews, or teach the weirdest pieces of stuff.
To achieve this all, you need the right podcasting microphone and other equipment needed to start a podcast, and we’ve made the decision less difficult than 7 minutes ago. We’ll love to know which podcast microphone you settle for and your new sound.
