
When we researched the best USB microphones, the Blue Yeti was one of our top choices. Aside from that, the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB will have you podcasting effortlessly. The only slight annoyance is you'll probably need to toss the included tripod stand and invest in a better one. Whether you're the solo speaker and just want to plug in via USB and record, or need multiple of these mics to plug into a mixer, you're covered with an XLR option. The bottom line is that this is a fantastic podcasting microphone for the price. It comes with a tripod desk stand, but be warned - its build quality is flimsy, and it's rather short which requires you to hunch over to speak into it. It even has a built-in 3.5mm headphone jack (with volume dial) so you can hear yourself directly from the microphone. As a solo podcaster you can plug in and record directly via USB (USB-C to USB-C and USB-C to USB-A cables both included), or XLR if you want to plug into a mixer as a multi-mic setup. One minor knock against it is that it looks more like a stage vocal mic and not very "broadcast/podcast"-y, but it looks good regardless and feels like a quality piece of gear with solid metal construction. This is a dynamic mic with a cardioid polar pattern, so it's great for speaking directly into, making your voice sound nice and punchy while minimizing background noise from your environment. It's on the lower end of what most podcasting microphones cost, delivers audio quality that's more than adequate for podcasting needs, and is one of the only mics out there with both a USB and XLR connection option! The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB is quite easy to name as the top choice for most podcasters' needs. Requires a little more pro-audio knowledge.A mixer or audio interface is needed to plug into.For multiple speakers, you can hook up multiple XLR mics into a mixer or interface.

This "all in one" approach can mean the sound quality isn't as good.

Direct connection to computer/smartphone/tablet.A USB mic is the easiest option, while an XLR mic requires some more gear to get going. You'll then need some kind of mixer or audio interface with as many XLR inputs and mic preamps as you need to accomodate. If your podcast requires two or more people to each have their own mic, you'll need microphones with XLR connections. It's a circular connector with three pins.
#RODE PODCASTER VS BLUE YETI PRO#
XLR is an industry standard for mics in the pro audio world. So if you're the lone speaker, it'll work perfectly. Its biggest limitation is that only one USB mic can be plugged into a computer at once without causing headaches. Most people are familiar with USB, and when it comes to ease of use it's by far the simpler option - you plug the mic into your computer's USB port, and you're pretty much good to go. So, aside from how much money you are able to spend, what's the most important choice to make?Ī microphone will connect to your computer, tablet, or phone one of two ways: USB or XLR. While some might sound "warmer" or emphasize different frequencies or capture more nuance, these days mic technology is so good that a mic that costs $400 does not necessarily sound 4 times better than a $100 mic, at least for podcasting purposes. And yes, while that's supremely important, rest assured every microphone we recommend here sounds great and will allow you to get your podcast up and running. You might be thinking that sound quality is the most important thing. (Not sure what XLR means? Don't worry, we'll get to that in a sec.) If you're recording multiple speakers and thus need multiple XLR mics, our top recommendation is the Rode PodMic. So, after testing 20 microphones (and counting), we’ve found the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB is the best podcast microphone for most people. Affordable - Different person to person, but the budget shouldn't put your podcasting dreams on hold.Next to actually having an entertaining podcast, getting good quality sound from your mic is key. Easy to use - This means going with a USB mic, whose "plug and play" nature makes it super easy to get going.To be considered the best podcasting mic, it needs to meet this criteria:

(Yes, you can always edit your voice after you've recorded, but the old saying rings true - trash in, trash out). Of all the gear needed for a podcasting setup, the microphone you choose is THE most important one, for the simple reason that it's responsible for how your voice sounds.
