Choosing a Microphone for Podcasting

Listeners often judge a podcast by its sound quality. No matter the format or topic of your podcast, your listeners are comparing your sound to what they hear on the radio and other podcasts produced by major broadcast outlets. Ironically, your goal is to make your podcast sound so good that no one notices how it sounds. If people notice the sound, there's probably something wrong with it.

Fortunately, the equipment and techniques needed to produce a professional-sounding podcast are affordable and available. You don't need a big budget to get professional sound, but you do need a good room and a good microphone.

Optimizing Your Space for Recording

The room is a sonic hurdle for most DIY podcasters who record in their living space or workspace and don't have access to a professional recording studio. In these spaces, there is usually some background noise from air vents, appliances, computer fans, and other sources that will be audible in a recording. Our ears normally tune out these sounds when we're in the room, but they are noticeable on a recording. Even in a quiet room, reflections from the walls, ceiling, and floor (if it's not carpeted) can cause your voice to sound hollow. You sound like you're in a box because you are in a box. Moving the mic closer to you (within two to 12 inches) helps because it makes your voice louder in relation to the noise and reflections.

Choosing Between a Dynamic and Condenser Microphone

When it comes to microphones, you often hear debate over which type is better: dynamic or condenser. This comes down to two technical characteristics: output level and frequency response. Condenser microphones usually are more sensitive and provide a higher output level. A higher output level can be useful because the signal doesn't need to be amplified as much by the mixer. Amplification adds hiss, and less-expensive mixers generate more of it.

Condenser mics have better response to high frequencies than dynamic mics. This gives condensers a crisp, detailed sound; however, it can be a problem for podcasters who record at home. When you use a condenser mic, you risk picking up too much of the shhh sound from air vents or extra noises from the lips and tongue. Dynamic mics naturally mask these irritants just like a soft-focus filter on a camera hides blemishes.

The Four Characteristics of a Good Podcasting Mic

The microphone is the first link in the connection between you and your audience. But what makes one mic more appropriate for podcasting than another? It really comes down to four things:

• A cardioid pickup pattern to reduce noise. Cardioid mics are less sensitive to sound from the sides and back, which reduces pickup of room noise and reflections. Tighter pickup patterns like supercardioid or shotgun mics may reject even more noise, but they require your mouth to stay focused on a much smaller area to avoid noticeable variations in level. This is difficult for most people.
• A pop filter to prevent popping Ps. This can be a layer of acoustically transparent foam inside the mic or an external Popper Stopper™ between you and the microphone. Nothing makes you sound like an amateur more than a pop when you say professional.

• A shock mount that can filter out low-frequency vibrations. These vibrations can come from touching the table or typing on the keyboard while the mic is live. Some mics have internal rubber isolation mounts around the element, while others rely on an external suspension mount that cradles the mic in elastic straps or bands. A high-pass filter switch on the mic or the mixer adds a second layer of protection from unwanted thumps and bumps, and reduces low-frequency room noise as well.
• The ability to customize the sound of the mic. Let's face it: some people have a good radio voice, and some don't. Some of us record podcasts in a dedicated studio space, while others have to do it at the dining room table. If your voice or your recording location leaves something to be desired, being able to adjust the mic to enhance your voice and de-emphasize room noise can be a real advantage. Some microphones have switches that reduce low-frequency bass pickup, which is good for reducing room rumble or a boomy sound when you work the mic really close, or boost the upper midrange to enhance the clarity of duller voices. Digital microphones can go even further, with an internal equalizer that lets you shape the frequency response of the mic to reduce room noise and a compressor that smoothes out variations in speech level so that your listeners aren't constantly reaching for the volume control.

Four Shure Podcasting Products by Budget

Here are four Shure tools that make great podcasting partners. Three are microphones ordered by price, and one is an audio interface that can expand your options with your existing mic if you have one you like.

MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone (from $99)

Best For: People who want a simple, cost-effective solution and who record directly to a laptop, tablet or smartphone

The MV5 is an all-in-one mic for plug-and-play podcasting that connects directly to your Mac, PC, iOS or Android device. It has a high-quality condenser mic element with a cardioid pattern for great sound quality and noise rejection. The built-in foam windscreen reduces popping, and an internal shock mount filters out vibrations. The onboard Vocals preset adds a little EQ for clarity and fullness, a little compression to keep your level more consistent, and a de-esser to reduce harsh sibilance on words with an S. The companion ShurePlus™ MOTIV™ App for iOS gives you access to an equalizer so you can reduce room noise, and the settings stay in the mic even when it's not connected to the app. There's also a built-in headphone jack with volume control that allows you to hear yourself and audio playback from the computer at the same time. The MV5 comes with a short desk stand and USB and Lightning cables.
 

PGA27 Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone (from $199)

Best For: People who want a mic that can do double-duty for podcasting and recording music, and who have (or plan to buy) an audio mixer

The PGA27 gives you the crisp, detailed sound of a studio condenser microphone with a balanced XLR output that connects to your mixer through a standard mic cable. It's very sensitive, so even inexpensive mixers or preamps with less-than-ideal specs will work fine as long as they provide phantom power. An included external shock mount dampens vibrations; a foam windscreen or Popper Stopper are available separately. A switchable high-pass filter reduces pickup of low-frequency room noise, which is ideal for recording at home. A -15 dB attenuator reduces the sensitivity so you can record loud instruments without distortion.
 

SM7B Dynamic Vocal Microphone (from $399)

Best For: People who want the same mic that professional announcers and big-name podcasters use, and have pro gear to go with it

The SM7B has been a legend in radio stations around the world for decades and was even used to record tracks for Michael Jackson's Thriller album. It has the warm, mellow sound that large dynamic mics are known for, and it's designed for working up close and personal: you need to be within two or three inches. This means that it has a fairly low output level, however, so you'll need a good mixer or mic preamp to get the best out of it without hearing hiss. Not one but two foam windscreens are included to keep P-popping under control, and low-cut and high-boost switches on the back of the mic let you tailor the sound to your voice and room.

 

MVi Digital Audio Interface (from $129)

Best For: People who already have a mic or want the flexibility of using an XLR mic for other purposes

Already have a mic that you want to use? Wondering how to connect a microphone to your laptop or tablet? The MVi connects any standard XLR microphone (or even an electric guitar, bass or keyboard) to your Mac, PC, iOS or Android device. It has 5 preset modes to optimize performance with speech, singing or instruments, and a convenient input level adjustment right on the front panel. A built-in headphone jack with its own volume control lets you record yourself doing a podcast interview or singing/playing along with a pre-recorded track. It even provides phantom power for condenser microphones.