Choosing a microphone for your podcast can be a tricky task. We often hear podcasters struggling with optimizing and improving the quality of their recording, as well as which microphone to use. After all, there are multiple ways to enhance that process.
In this article you will find a carefully selected summary of your options, comparing several mics against one another. And more importantly, how to achieve the best result with the tools at hand. Many will think replacing their mics is their only way out. But, that doesn’t necessarily has to be your only option.

The best podcast microphone is the right acoustic environment
Why start with the space in which the recording takes place? Because that is the most important aspect for a podcast recording. A cheap microphone in perfectly acoustic space is better than an expensive microphone is a bad acoustic space .
Not long ago we had a client that had a beautiful big room at his disposal. He wanted to organize the room into a dedicated podcast recording studio. The only downsite of that room was that it was pretty reverberate. I asked him about which microphone they are going to be using for their podcast. He openend a closet and showed me four very nice condenser microphones. While these microphones are great for podcasting, they complicate room optimization in this case.
To help understand why these were not the best option in this case, there needs to be a clear differentiation between each type of microphone. There’re about three different podcast microphones on the market, of which we are only going to talk about two of those that are relevant for podcasting. Microphones are categorized in three groups: dynamic, condenser and ribbon. Ribbon microphones are the most expensive and the most fragile type. So for now, we’ll set them aside.
Condenser podcast microphone?
The condenser podcast microphone is predominantly used in recording studio’s because of their clarity and precise sound reproduction. Therefor, these microphones are also very popular for podcasting. To understand the difference in comparison to dynamic microphones, it is helpful to learn about the technology behind it.
On the inside of condenser microphone there is a thin diaphragm placed very close to a stationary backplate. Together, these form a condenser (or capacitor), which can store an electrical charge. When sound waves (which are essentially changes in air pressure) hit the diaphragm, it vibrates, causing the distance between the diaphragm and backplate to change. Those changes generate an electrical signal, which are than captured by additional audio equipment and converted into an audio signal.

Condenser microphone technology
The thin diaphragm ensures that a great amount of detail can be captured. Because all the components are small and fragile, they are often enclosed in a large metal casing to reduce the risk of damage.
A condenser microphone works like a capacitor, with the thin diaphragm and a backplate forming an electrical circuit. This capacitor needs a constant electrical charge to detect sound waves and convert them into an electrical signal. But, the electrical signal generated by the capacitor is very weak and needs to be boosted (or amplified) in order to be detected properly.
Therefore, condenser microphones have a built-in electronic circuit (preamp) that boosts the signal before sending it to the recording equipment. That preamp requires power. While this is usually in the form of 48V phantom power, it is not uncommon to use a 9V internal battery.
In conclusion, the condenser podcast microphone is great for use in podcasts, but also for recording acoustic guitars for instance. However, it is less suitable for loud, booming sounds. It can sound very spacious because it picks up a lot of the room’s ambiance. If you have a singer with a powerful voice or want to capture a loud, thumping sound like drums, a dynamic microphone is often the best option.
Dynamic podcast microphone, why it might not be ideal
In contrast to condenser microphones, a dynamic microphone utilizes a wire coil to amplify the signal received by the diaphragm. As a result the output of a dynamic microphone is lower than that of a condenser microphone. Because of the lower output level, loud sounds like snares, cymbal crashes, and brass instruments can be recorded without overloading and distorting the audio signal.
They mainly capture sound waves that are directed within approximately 30 to 50 cm of the podcast microphone. When there are many additional sounds, this helps to center the focal point in the recording without other sound sources weakening it.

In addition to podcasts, dynamic microphones are also great for live performances. The reason dynamic microphones are widely used for life performances is because they are incredibly strong. The combination of low output and their robust structure makes them the go-to microphone in almost every live performance setup. Although dropping a microphone it is never ideal, a dynamic microphone can withstand a lot of impact. Unlike condenser microphones, which are much more likely to be permanently damaged.
Based on personal experience, dynamic microphones like SM57 of SM58 won’t suffer from noticeable quality loss, even after multiple hits on the ground. Also, A dynamic microphone requires little to no maintenance, and with reasonable care, it will retain its quality and performance for a lifetime.
The right acoustic podcast space (continued)
To continue on the scenario with the client the other day, after he showed me his microphones, I explained him my concerns. The combination of these types of microphones and the acoustics in that room, made it that the room was not yet optimal for podcast recording.
As you might have noticed after reading the explanation above, condenser microphones pick up a lot of the rooms ambiance. For this particular situation, this client had:
- A room that has a very noticeable reverb
- A podcast microphone that picks up a lot of detail
In situations like this, it is good to figure out what can be changed that requires the least amount of effort, in order to improve the recording. In this case it would be wise to isolate the room with sound panels, carpets, thick cloth on the ground and walls, and such. Alternatively, instead of using condenser microphones, the better option here would be to use dynamic microphones. That doesn’t fully eliminate the reverb problem, but will instantly improve the recording.
Of course it is always possible to reduce the background noises in post-production, but as the saying goes “Prevention is better than cure”. The reason I am pointing all this out is because I see a lot of podcasters that will just immediately choose a condenser microphone, without considering any implications. The thing is, if the room has bad acoustics and you use condenser microphones, it will make post-production a nightmare.
The best podcast microphone: Shure SM7B
For that reason, I often recommend the Shure SM7B dynamic mic to my clients. In my opinion the best podcasting microphone that’s out there. The SM7B is a dynamic microphone that can sometimes give the character of a condenser microphone. The ideal thing about this microphone is that it only picks up sources directly in front of it and doesn’t pick up a lot of background noises. That makes it very usable in spaces with bad acoustics.
The only downsite is that these microphones are quiet expensive in comparison with other microphones that are used by podcasters. They’re about € 360 euro, but I am using my SM7B for years now, without any problem. I will guarantee that once you own a SM7B, you never have to look for other podcast microphones. Big names in the industry, like Joe Rogan, No Such Thing As A Fish and Phillip DeFranco have been using this podcast microphone, who all have substantial financial resources. The fact that they still choose this microphone, which is ‘only’ € 360 euro, says something about the quality this microphone has to offer.
If you do not have the resources to purchase a microphone like this, but you do have a podcast microphone? – Try to optimize your recording space. You’d be surprised how much of a differents a few pieces of furniture and some rugs can do to the acoustics. Also, pick a small room. A smaller room with plenty of upholstered furniture will help reduce sound reflection and optimize the acoustics.
Are you thinking about setting up your own podcast studio, but you need help? – Get in touch for any questions or try out our calculation tool to see how we can help transform your space into a beautiful podcast recording studio.
