Top 10 Best Microphones For YouTube To Buy In 2023 Reviews

The developments in certain technologies have given rise to phenomena previously not available and in some cases, unimaginable.

One of these is Youtube.

We can now all make our own short movies, music videos and do just about anything we wish within the confines of the law and publish it to the world.

In context, it must be said that it’s an incredible thing to be able to do, but as with all these things, it is often misused. Twenty years ago it was unthinkable to be able to do this, but since 2005 it has been possible, and it has spawned many other similar sites.

With some, of course, it operates as a business, and therefore good video recordings are required. There are plenty of great cameras, but so many come with inadequate sound. Therefore, to do it properly and make it sound professional, you will need a quality microphone.

There are specialized microphones for Youtube videos. But which one to buy? Don’t worry, we’ll bring you in-depth reviews of what’s available, including their Pros and Cons to make the choice far easier.

So, let’s have a look at the best microphones for Youtube…

Top 10 Best Microphones For YouTube To Get In 2023 Reviews

1 Rode NT1-A Anniversary Vocal Cardioid Condenser Microphone Package

The Rode NT-1A is a versatile microphone that is designed to operate and produce great results in a number of environments. Whether you are miking up your guitar, playing your acoustic or singing it performs to a very high level to give you great sound quality.

It is a cardioid condenser mic with a gold plated membrane with a frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz and a dynamic range up to 132dB. It also has gold plated output connectors.

Low self-noise, high SPL…

The low self-noise functions, as low as 5dBA, will catch the quietest of sounds and capture them with clarity and the 137dB SPL ensures you don’t overload. It is an ideal studio mic and is capable of recording guitars and drums, and its low-noise makes it perfect for recording vocals.

The internal shock mount system is onboard to prevent any unwanted noise. But, being a condenser, it will require +48-volt phantom power. It’s extremely well made and look impressive with its heavy duty nickel plated body and satin finish.

But, what do you get with this microphone?

It is supplied as a package that also includes a pop shield, a 20-foot cable for the mic, a dust cover and a useful instructional video to make sure you get the best from it.

It is moving towards the higher end of the price range, but it still represents good value for money. But, for that you get sounds that are very high quality, it also has a rugged build in case of accidents and its onboard features are good.

Added on the extras provided in the package and this Rode mic is certainly worth a close look.

Pros

• Produces quality sound.
• Good onboard low-noise facilities.

Cons

• Will require phantom power.

2 Blue Yeti USB Microphone

Interesting name for a microphone and it’s more than an interesting mic. The Blue Yeti has been designed to be as flexible as it is possible to be. It is a tri-capsule array with three condenser elements.

Providing a selection of polar patterns, it allows you to switch between omnidirectional or bi-directional patterns as well as cardioid and stereo. And, it will record your audio 16-bit/48kHz. To ensure that you have latency-free monitoring, it has an independent gain control and a headphone amp.

Puts you in control…

The mic also has a mute and gain control. This puts you in control of what is going on. If you are getting feedback or distortion while recording, you can just adjust the mic’s gain control to reduce sensitivity. And it comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack which will let you listen to what is going on latency free.

The stand is designed to allow positioning in a variety of angles, so you get the perfect placement you need. You simply position the mic and tighten the controls to secure the position. If you wish to take it off its own stand that is simple, and you can use it with a mic stand if you prefer.

Windows and Mac compatible…

For connection, the Blue Yeti is compatible with Windows and Mac and comes with a USB cable. Just plug it in. No drivers are required.

Packed full of features, it is an outstanding mic in every respect. Well-built, great sounds, good features, and a price that says come and get me now. You will go a long way before you find a mic as good as this for this price. It’s not perfect, of course, but for the price it is exceptional.

Pros

• Packed with great features.
• Fantastic price.

Cons

• The build may not be as strong as it looks at first.

3 Apogee MIC PLUS

This is a great little microphone. We say small because it is small enough to carry around in your pocket and weighs just eight ounces. But, despite its size, it is a powerful microphone with great features that allow you to use it in a variety of ways.

The Apogee uses a cardioid capsule to filter out off-axis sounds, and it will give you 46dB of preamp gain which is plenty to work with. Being a cardioid, it gives you excellent unwanted sound rejection and studio level quality.

Take control…

It has a number of interesting and valuable features including a 3 color LED indicator and a headphone blend control that allows monitoring without latency. Also present are a mute control and input gain.

The controls for monitor signal blending and input control are on the front of the mic whilst the USB port, and headphone output are on the bottom out of the way.

It will provide a high level of sound quality at up to 24-bit/96kHz bit depth/sample rate. This and the fact that is a purely digital connection make sure your recordings will always have a full and clear sound.

The mic does not need any configuration. Just plug in and play…

It comes with a Lightning iOS cable, USB cable type A, USB cable type B a tripod stand and a microphone stand adapter. It doesn’t come with a pop filter. And it would be a good idea to acquire one as they are cheap enough to get.

This mic is not cheap, but it offers great performance and onboard features even though there are some items that could have been included. As there are no inclusive features for noise or wind canceling, then we can only assume it was made strictly for indoor use.

It can, of course, be used outdoors for roving Youtube features or on-site interviews, if you were to acquire maybe a wind muff or filter.

Pros

• Good onboard features.
• Digital sound reproduction.

Cons

• No pop filter or wind reduction facility included.
• Some may think it’s rather expensive.

4 Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio USB Audio Interface And Recording Bundle

If you are new to this and it is the first time you are trying to buy the tools to have the best microphone for recording Youtube videos, then you may be looking at it all and thinking what are they talking about?

You need a mic, of course. What kind of mic? Should it have a USB connector? Do I need a preamp? Do I need phantom power or an audio interface? What should I be looking for the mic to be able to do? Will it all work with Youtube? Etc. etc.

Help! We hear you call…

Well if it’s any consolation, most of us have been there, and some still are there. That’s what makes this package from Focusrite so good. Everything you need is in one box. Easy – Job done.

Focusrite is very well-known in recording circles. And have been producing some of the best audio equipment at all levels, from world-class recording studios to home use for a very long time.

They built one of the best recording consoles ever, the ISA, but they also build exceptional equipment at the right price for home and Youtube recording using their legendary experience to make the best quality equipment for as low a cost as possible.

So what do you get in the package?

Included is a Scarlett solo USB interface, condenser mic., headphones, and XLR cable. Everything you need (apart from maybe a mic stand) and you’re ready to go.

The preamp, with plenty of gain, will handle instruments, especially the guitar. One big plus point for all Focusrite kit is that it is easy to use and produces good results quickly. The microphone is not the best around, but it will produce good results. And for the package price, it’s incredible.

It is compatible with Windows 7 and higher and Mac OS 10.10 and higher.

If you are looking for a one-stop solution, then this is worth looking at, and for the price, it is worth every penny.

Pros

• All inclusive package.
• Great price point.

Cons

• Some may prefer a higher level mic.

5 Rode NT-USB Versatile Studio-Quality USB Cardioid Condenser Microphone

The one thing you can usually rely on with a Rode mic is the quality of the build, and the NT-USB is no exception. One look tells you who the manufacturer is and its tough and sturdy frame is built to last. This mic though has some plastic fitments that may cause problems.

It is a connect straight into your computer via USB cardioid microphone side-address microphone. And, no drivers are required to download for operation, which is a blessed relief.

Being a Shotgun condenser microphone, it is very sensitive. So you will need to set this up carefully as it will pick up any background noise.

The quality of what it produces though is really very good…

It has a smooth sound, but it is also quite bright and reminds you of a top of the range studio mic with its clarity and response.

Of course, it will be slightly out of place in a formal studio environment due to its USB connection. It is capable of working to 16-bit/48kHz, which is more than enough for Youtube recordings, but studio recordings are normally made at the higher 24-bit sampling rate.

Mix it to taste…

Monitoring is through an onboard headphone amplifier, and there is a 1⁄8” stereo headphone jack socket. And there is a Mix control located on the mic that will allow you to choose between source or mic input for monitoring.

If required, there is an optional camera kit for the microphone, which can be ordered separately.

Included with the microphone is a twenty foot long USB cable and a storage pouch, along with a pop shield and a tripod stand.

A quality microphone from a renowned manufacturer at a very competitive price.

Pros

• Good onboard control facilities.
• Good quality sound.

Cons

• Some of the fittings are plastic, which makes means they may break over time.

6 Audio-Technica AT2035 Cardioid Condenser Microphone Bundle

Audio-Technica is well-known for manufacturing good quality equipment at a cost-effective price. The kit they produce is always worth considering because of its performance and reliability. The AT2035 is one of these and is a cardioid pattern condenser mic that has a great variety of options for its use.

The cardioid, of course, is designed to concentrate the sound from a defined point and to cut down unwanted sounds from the sides and the rear of the microphone. In doing so, it improves the quality and isolation of the target sound.

A warm and smooth sound…

It is a large diaphragm microphone that will deliver a high level of performance, reduce unwanted noise, and produce a warm and smooth sound that is very natural sounding. And the mic is designed to handle a high sound pressure level which makes it suitable for a variety of applications.

Included onboard are some good features. A custom shock mount system helps to reduce handling or other noise, and it has an 80hZ highpass filter.

Keep the noise down…

It must be said though that this mic is very sensitive. If you are using it for vocals or any other application where you really do not need the slightest background sound, then you will need a quiet room. It will pick up the slightest noise within its range.

This, of course, can be viewed in a positive light, but it is a problem if you have a room not geared up for vocal recording. Being a condenser, it will require 48V phantom power to operate, but most mixers and audio interface facilities have that as standard.

Well made and sturdy…

It comes with a pop filter and a ten-foot XLR cable to connect the mic to your interface or mixer. And is well made and quite sturdy.

At the price, it is a very good option and well worth consideration as the best microphone for youtube recording.

Pros

• Good onboard features.
• Value for money.

Cons

• Needs phantom power.

7 AKG Pro Audio C214 Professional

We all know what AKG means. Quality microphones that are outstanding. When it was established in Austria in 1949, it very quickly became a market leader. It is now owned by Samsung Electronics

If you were to list some of the best mics ever, then AKG would have at least one in there somewhere.

One of those mics that might be included is the AKG C12 or AKG C414, both legendary condenser microphones.

Now it’s time to meet their cousin. Say Hi to the C214…

This is very similar to the 414. And is manufactured at a price that places it in the range of a lot more users than it’s much more expensive cousin. One of the elements that made the 414 so good was its one-inch dual capsule. This has been included with the 214, and the result is a similar legendary sound.

That sound is now available, and the overall performance of the 214 is excellent. What will also impress you is that it delivers great results with instruments as well as vocals.

The 214 will handle it…

It has a switchable 20dB attenuation pad and a low cut filter which makes it suitable for a variety of loud applications. This could be miking up on stage for guitars, drums or anything else that is packing a punch. The 214 will handle it.

It is well built with a gold plated XLR output and is constructed mostly from metal with a steel grille. Fully roadworthy. It comes with a metal carrying case, windscreen, and shock mount.

The price. Expensive, yes, but if you want real quality, then it will cost.

Pros

• Great performance at all levels.
• Well built and rugged construction.

Cons

• The price might scare some people, but not as much as a 414 would!

8 Blue Snowball iCE Condenser Microphone

Another interesting name but more importantly, an interesting design. There is certainly something that catches your eye about this mic. Looks like something from the 1930s. Great idea.

The Snowball’s ‘ball’ design is a cardioid mic that produces a very specific sound in that it will record whatever it is pointed at. The customized condenser produces high-quality clear audio for recordings for social media.

Not only for Youtube…

It also will greatly improve sound quality not only for Youtube, but also for other applications including Skype, Google Talk, Messenger, etc. It’s clearly by design suitable for vocal and/or spoken applications as in narration but is also capable of producing great results when miking guitars and drums.

It is therefore ideal for creating podcasts or adding spoken word to home or other movies. This easily makes it a contender for one of the best microphones for Youtube recording.

Just plug in and record…

It has a USB output that connects directly to your PC or Mac without the need for preamps or other hardware and no downloaded drivers are required. Just plug in and record. And it produces a good quality rate of 16-bit/44.1 kHz.

And has a red LED to let you know it’s on and working and it certainly does that. It is rather obtrusive. It’s quite heavy for its size, but that only adds to the feeling that it’s going to survive most things. It comes with a desktop stand.

Just something about the design…

This is not only a good mic; it is a load of fun to use. I suppose it’s just something about the design.

Good sound, interesting design, fantastic price. What’s not to like?

Pros

• Fun design and well built.
• Great price.

Cons

• LED on-light is rather obtrusive.

9 Audio-Technica AT4053B Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone

We have often mentioned how Audio-Technica produce quality at a cost-effective price. Well, they can also produce ‘super’-quality, and this is one of those products. The AT4053B is a professional shotgun condenser microphone that delivers quality at a very high level.

It fulfills all the working criteria and acoustic requirements that are needed to ensure you will make professional recordings or broadcasts.

Reduce noise and isolate the sound source…

The capsule utilizes a hypercardioid pattern to reduce noise and isolate the sound source. A clean signal produced under high output conditions is achieved by a direct-couple balanced output.

It has a switchable high-pass filter to minimize low-frequency noise, and a -10dB pad will pick up the louder sources of sound. And, its circuitry, without any transformers, will reduce low-frequency distortion.

Built like a truck…

So many working positives about this microphone. It is small and compact and lightweight, but it’s built like a truck and is obviously built to last. Like most quality mics, it is very sensitive, but when aimed at the target source, it omits the vast majority of external sound.

It is sure to be a favorite amongst those who take their social media and other broadcasts audio seriously because of its quality. But, it does require 48v phantom power, so it will not plug straight into most camera’s audio in unless it has phantom power that is?

Quality for a realistic price…

Price is expensive by most standards, but it is comparable in many ways to a mic costing three or four times more. So when you consider the quality of the reproduction, then Audio-Technica has done it again.

They have produced quality for a realistic price.

It is supplied with a stand clamp and windscreen and carrying case.

Pros

• Professional quality sound.
• Well built and strong despite being small and compact.

Cons

• The price will make some people think twice.

10 Shure VP83F LensHopper Camera-Mounted Condenser Microphone

This is a shotgun microphone that also has a camera mounted condenser that will give quality audio recordings. It is designed to work with DSLR cameras but will also operate with camcorders.

The design, which is a super-cardioid polar pattern, is highly directional and will eliminate the amount of unwanted noise. The audio is recorded to MicroSDHC cards that support up to 32GB. These are WAV files at 24-bit/48kHz.

A Rycote Lyre shock system is used to reduce any camera vibrations or operative noises.

Absolute control…

The 60 Db gain range allows the recording of the sound source in different environments, and the gain is adjustable in 1dB settings to give you absolute control. Audio input is via a 3.5mm detachable cable, and there is a stereo headphone output for monitoring the audio.

Shure make their products built to last, and this is true of the VP83F. It has a metal construction but is still lightweight.

May need a wind muff…

A foam windscreen will reduce wind and other noises. In windy conditions, it may need a wind muff.

It has an easy to use one-button recording process, and a great feature of this camera is the backlit LCD screen for the operations menu, which is clear and fully inclusive. It uses two AA alkaline batteries, which will give approximately ten hours of recording life.

With its onboard facilities, it is set at a reasonable price though towards the higher end.

Pros

• Solid, rugged construction.
• Easy to use.

Cons

• Not the cheapest.

It’s Time To Give Social Media Some Quality Audio…

We listen to our fair share of social media channels, and Youtube is probably our first port of call. It is therefore interesting to listen and watch the efforts of some contributors.

It’s not so important if it’s just a bit of fun, but even then a poorly recorded dialogue is rather irritating and makes viewers skip to another video. If you can’t hear what’s being said there’s little point in putting anything on there.

Some though use it for more serious purposes…

Business, product reviews, selling services, etc. It is an important part of their business marketing mix. So why is it they have produced in most cases a decent video, but you can’t hear what’s being said to you?

We would have thought that was at least as important as the visuals.

For those that fall into this category, get yourself some decent audio, and you might find that business picks up.

What To Consider Before Buying The Best Microphone For Youtube?

Quite a few to choose from, all of them very good. It depends on what level of audio quality you are aiming for. It will also depend somewhat on whether the audio track is recorded indoors or in the great outdoors?

Here are some considerations:

Do you want a single sound source or maybe some background noises to create an ambiance?

If it’s a live band or music venue, then you will need a mic that handles high input.

Will you be undertaking interview type sound recording? If so, you will need a mic that not only has a great sound but also looks professional.

Set Your Budget

It’s easy to go crazy with these things. Decide before you go too far how much you want to spend and then evaluate the performance of those that fit.

We have reviewed mics that are very cost effective but do the job, through to some quite expensive ones that are pro audio quality.

What level of results do you need? And how much will that cost? Bearing in mind, you want to get the best you can afford.

So, What Are The Best Microphones For Youtube?

We are new to recording just the soundtrack for Youtube separately, so we are going to assume some of you will also be. Therefore, we need something that gives us what we need in one package. We really do not want to buy a mic and find out it won’t work because we need some extra kit.

Therefore, we have picked a bundle of equipment which includes the mic, audio interface, and all the bits and pieces we are likely to need to start you on your road to Youtube dominance.

We have therefore chosen the…

Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface And Recording Bundle

A trusted name in sound and home studio recording who provide everything you need with this package at an amazing price. If after a while, you want a better microphone, just upgrade that and keep using the rest of the package as normal – the best of both worlds!

5/5 – (93 votes)

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