So, you’ve got a great podcast idea.
You’ve done your research, prepared your script and lined up a killer interviewee.
You’re about to unleash your brilliance on the podcasting universe. But, how are they going to receive your message?
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For Podcast/Streaming Microphones
Unless you’re speaking into a top of the line microphone, your audience is going to hear a muffled, unclear shadow of the message you’re trying to convey.
And, believe me, they won’t stick around. That’s why your choice of podcasting/ streaming microphone is so important – after all, you only get one chance to make a first impression, right?
In this article, we go in-depth to discover the 5 best podcast/streaming microphones for the everyday budget.
We’ll also provide you with an invaluable podcast sound guide along with the answers to your most pressing podcast sound questions. In short, we’ve got the definitive guide to podcast sound!
The Studio Genie is dedicated to helping streamers and YouTubers or anyone looking to have their own home studio. The author, Felicity Martinez, have been helping out streamers and YouTubers for years.
The goal is to provide a free resource for anyone looking to build a quality home studio. The reviews below are a result of hours of research and analysis. We provided the pros and cons and ranked each product to help you make a quick decision.
QUICK OVERVIEW: Our Top Picks for Podcast/Streaming Microphones
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
BEST OVERALL  | BLUE YETI USB MICROPHONE
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
 | MAONO AUA04TC
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
 | MARANTZ PROFESSIONAL MPM1000
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
 | AUDIO-TECHNICA ATR2500-USB
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
 | HYPERX QUADCAST
| VIEW ON AMAZON → |
Podcast Microphone Reviews & Recommendations For 2021
Blue Yeti USB Microphone - Blackout Edition
Benefits
The Blue Yeti USB Microphone is a premium quality mic that delivers excellent sound reproduction.
It makes use of Blue’s proprietary tri-capsule technology to deliver studio-quality sound. You bet four different patterns settings – cardioid, stereo, omnidirectional & bidirectional.
Drawbacks
The Blue Yeti USB Microphone has physical buttons. Pressing these buttons may create some noise that may be picked up by the microphone.
Extra features
The Blue Yeti USB Microphone provides you with controls for headphone volume, pattern selection, instant mute and microphone gain, to give you total control of your in-studio experience.
The Gain Control setting allows you to adjust the microphone’s sensitivity. There is also an instant mute button if you want to take a break midway through your podcast.
The Blue Yeti USB Microphone hs a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the front of the microphone is a headphone adjustment.
Once the microphone is set to the ideal angle, you can quickly secure it in place.
The Blue Yeti microphone can also be taken off the stand and mounted to the Radius III shockmount and/or the Compass desktop boom arm.
Buying advice
The Blue Yeti USB Microphone provides you with a sleek, classic look and a very high level of performance.
It has an excellent build quality and is available at a pretty sharp price point. It has a simple plug and play design, four varying audio patterns, and user-friendly control settings. This is our favorite because it delivers pristine sound for a great price.
Technical specifications
- Frequency Response: 20Hz - 20kHz
- Power output: 130 mW
- Sample rate: 48kHz
- System requirements: Windows 7, 8.1, or 10, macOS (10.10 or higher), USB 1.1/2.0/3.0
- Output: USB
MAONO AUA04TC USB Microphone Kit
Benefits
The MAONO AUA04TC USB Microphone Kit provides you with a complete system that arrives in an aluminum case.
This is a nice touch as it allows you to safely carry your gear around. Contained in the case are an adjustable desk stand, a shock mount, foam windscreen, gooseneck pop filter, and the USB cable.
Drawbacks
The MAONO AUA04TC USB Microphone Kit only has a single sound pattern – cardiid. That means that you only speak into it from one side. You will not be able to use this microphone to conduct cross the table interviews.
The padding of the stand on the MAONO AUA04TC USB Microphone Kit is not thick enough. It may, therefore, scratch the surface of your desk.
Extra features
The MAONO AUA04TC USB Microphone Kit provides you with an all-metal microphone that is robust but relatively simple.
A woven metal grill protects the capsule. Unlike the Blue Yeti microphone which provides four options, this mic only allows for cardioid pattern recording.
The stand that comes with the MAONO AUA04TC USB Microphone Kit is of high quality. It is able to be extended further six inches in order to bring it right up to your mouth if that is what you want.
Buying advice
The MAONO AUA04TC USB Microphone Kit is a very good package deal that arrives in a heavy-duty aluminum case.
The microphone is quite basic but still delivers aa very good sound. It is not as versatile and functional as the Blue Yeti but considering everything that you get, this is still n exceptional package.
Technical specifications
- Frequency Response: 30Hz - 16kHz