What Is The Best Podcast Microphone On A Budget? (1236 Words)

Podcasts have exploded in popularity, but with millions of offerings to choose from, it can be challenging to make your voice heard in the crowd. Many podcasters build a community around their content, which in turn grows their listenership. However, the first step in getting your podcast off the ground is to have the right equipment and for that, a good microphone is a must. Some podcasters thave have been in the game for years and boast microphones that could rival those of broadcast studios. However, newcomers don’t have to go into debt to get a professional sound, as there are budget-friendly options available. Not all microphones are created equally, though, so this guide will look at what the options are and which ones stand out as offering exceptional value for money.

What Polar Pattern To Choose?

Before looking at specific microphones, it is important to know which polar pattern to look for when selecting a podcasting microphone. The polar pattern refers to the space around the microphone where it is most sensitive to picking up sound. In general, the options are cardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional. Each of these has its uses, but for podcasting, you’ll want to pick a microphone with a cardioid polar pattern. These pick up sound in a heart-shaped pattern in front of the microphone while ignoring sounds from behind the microphone. This is ideal if you have a solo or two-person podcast setup and want to minimize background noise.

What Is The Best Podcast Microphone For Less Than $120?

MAONO PD300X

The number one pick for a podcast microphone on a budget is the MAONO PD300X, which retails for $119.99, but can often be grabbed at a discount that brings the price down to $99.99. This microphone has everything you want and need for podcasting and easily competes with microphones in much higher price brackets. The standout feature is the 192kHz/24bit sampling rate, which is five times CD quality and gives it the edge over a lot of budget microphones that max out at 48kHz. When podcasting, you want your voice to be clear, vibrant, and engaging, which is easy with this microphone.

In addition to the superior frequency response, the MAONO PD300X offers dual-mode microphone USB and XLR connectors, which make it future-proof if you ever decide to upgrade your setup with an audio interface or mixer. However, even without the additional hardware, you can easily adjust aspects such as limiters, compressors, and high-pass filters along with the EQ using the MAONO Link software. Or, simply use the intuitive software to select one of the four preset modes, one of which is tailor-made for podcasting. Last, but not least, the MAONO PD300X has a 5-level noise reduction system that includes a shock absorbing diaphragm, one button noise reduction, and high porosity foam filter as well as built-in circuits and filters, for professional audio quality

Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB

The ATR2100x-USB is a content creation microphone that typically retails for $80 to $100. It is a handheld microphone, which, like the MAONO PD300X, features both a USB and XLR analog output connector. Since it is handheld and has a durable metal construction, it can be used if your podcast involves going out in public and interacting with people on the street. However, it also comes with a tripod for home or studio use and has a threaded stand clamp to connect to conventional microphone stands.

The ATR2100x-USB also has a high-quality A/D converter with 24-bit, up to 192kHz sampling rate, although to our ears the quality is not quite as good as the PD300X, but it does come close. The frequency response is helped by the low-mass diaphragm of the microphone and it has a cardioid polar pattern, which is what you want for a podcast microphone. While it doesn’t have the excellent software support that the PD300X has for making adjustments, the ATR2100x-USB is still a solid budget option for podcasting.

Samson Q2U

The Samson Q2U typically sells for $60 to $80 and is an appealing choice for beginner podcasters because it comes with all the necessary accessories to get started. It is one of the most affordable podcasting microphones that offers both USB and XLR connectivity and ships with a mic clip, desktop tripod stand, windscreen, and all of the necessary cables. While it is great to have everything in one convenient package, this is less useful if you already have everything you need and just want a microphone.

As expected from a microphone in this price range, the sample rate is only 44.1kHz/48kHz, but the sound quality is still adequate for most beginner podcasters. It has a ⅛” stereo headphone output with level control for zero-latency monitoring and the cardioid polar pattern rejects sounds from the rear and sides of the microphone to keep recordings clean. It is a plug-and-play microphone, so no driver installation is required, but it lacks the software support of the PD300X for making EQ tweaks and more. The gain control is also slightly lower in comparison to more premium microphones, but overall, it is a solid contender in its price range.

RØDE NT-USB Mini

RØDE is known for studio mics, but the NT-USB Mini promises to deliver the same professional-quality audio in a compact, USB microphone. The lack of XLR connectivity is a little disappointing at this price point, but it makes up for it with a few other notable features. It’s a 24-bit 48kHz cardioid microphone that has a studio-grade headphone amplifier and high-quality 3.5mm headphone output. The NT-USB Mini also has a switchable zero-latency monitoring mode and a built-in pop filter.

The NT-USB Mini doesn’t skimp on extras as it ships with a unique detachable magnetic desk stand and a 360-degree swing mount to position it exactly where you need it. Finally, the microphone is compatible with RØDE Connect, giving users access to the built-in compressor, noise gate, and more.

FIFINE K669

While the FIFINE K669 shouldn’t be your first choice as a budget podcast microphone, it is an option if your price range is limited to less than $40. This USB-only microphone is one of the most affordable ones on the market that is suitable for podcasting and chips with the microphone, a pivot mount and a tripod. It features a sturdy metal construction and cardioid polar pattern, but controls are limited to a volume control that can be turned all the way down to mute the microphone. This is a step down from microphones like the MAONO PD300X, which has a custom mute button

The bit rate and sample rate of the K669 is 16bit and 48KhZ, so it’s never going to be able to compete with 192kHz/24bit microphones like the PD300X. Nevertheless, for the low price point, it offers a decent ratio of compression and amplification. It can also not offer the level of noise isolation of more expensive microphones, but has an integrated circuit for less hissing. If your budget can stretch a little further, then one of the other microphones in this round-up would be a better choice, but for the price, this one has proven itself worthy of a look.

Conclusion

Picking the best microphone for your budget is an important choice, but our money is on the MAONO PD300X for the best all-in-one solution in its price class.