The 8 Best Cheap Microphones | Musician Nerd

Finding a quality condenser microphone on a budget typically proves to be more challenging than finding a good dynamic. The complexity of condenser microphones requires fine craftsmanship, which is why many people think the best cheap microphones are dynamic, but that’s not always the case. As you may know, the accuracy of these microphones depends on capacitance recorded by the sensitivity of the inner components.

USB Condenser Microphone Suspended In Front Of Computer

Finding a condenser microphone under 200 high enough quality to impress can be challenging but not impossible. As we’ve seen on the list above, a few good choices are the AKG P120 or the Audio-Technica AT2020. Both of these microphones have the potential to bring studio quality to your home setup, and with extra equipment, you can further enhance the experience.

A misconception people make is that sensitivity is bad. I often get asked how to lower mic sensitivity, and I stop dead in my tracks because that is the opposite of what you want. If you want to know how to make your mic sound better, you should first look at your environment before anything else.

Microphone sensitivity captures the depth of your audio with extreme accuracy, which is why studio mics are famously sensitive. If your microphone picks up echoes or other unwarranted noises from your environment, it will corrupt the audio, making it useless. But this is not the microphone’s fault.

While a preamp can help, the best solution is noise-proofing. After you take a look at this article on How To Reduce Echo In A Room, you may realize it isn’t the hardest DIY project. Touring artists have used their hotel beds and pillows to make soundproofing.

So popular to contrary belief, it’s not all that hard to find the best condenser mic under 200, you just have to consider the other factors of recording audio.