Dynamic Microphones for Podcasting That Sound Awesome

Clean audio is the key to a good podcast. Even if your content is amazing, people will tune out if your audio sucks.

Dynamic microphones solve most of your audio issues. They sound great with anyone’s voice, and they’ll reject most background noise — even in a room without sound treatment.

Top Picks: The Best Dynamic Microphones for Podcasting, Streaming, and YouTube

The market is flooded with microphones made for content creators. So we’ve narrowed down your options. You can also check out our favorite USB Microphones for Vocals if you want more options.

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1. Shure MV7 — Our All-Around Pick

• Design modeled after the Shure SM7B
• Delivers warm, broadcast-quality vocals
• Tight cardioid pattern resists room & background noise
• Multiple EQ settings for sound clarity
• USB and XLR connectivity for use with any setup

The Shure MV7 is everything you’d ever want in a podcast microphone. It sounds fantastic, and it’s incredibly versatile.

For starters, it’s a combo USB/XLR microphone. So you can use it in a variety of situations.

As a USB microphone, it’s very beginner friendly. You can just plug it into your phone or laptop, and you can start recording:

• No need for audio interfaces or mixers.
• No need for preamps or signal boosters.

That said, the MV7 is a killer long-term investment. Since it doubles as an XLR microphone, the MV7 stays useful as you grow your studio. 

No need to throw it out or replace it when you upgrade your audio interface, mixer, or other analog gear.

The MV7 sports the same overall design as Shure’s flagship SM7B — the “gold standard” for broadcast microphones — but in a slightly smaller package. 

With that in mind, it offers a similar broadcast-quality sound at almost half the cost. Your voice will sound lush and warm. And thanks to Shure’s companion software, you can quickly toggle EQ settings that fit you best.

2. Shure SM7B — Premium Option

• The microphone of choice for professional broadcasters
• Delivers thick, warm vocals
• EQ switches on the back for sound customization
• Tight cardioid pattern resists room & background noise

It’s a bit of a cliche to recommend the SM7B at this point. But it’s for good reason.

The Shure SM7B is a legendary microphone that’s been a staple of the broadcasting industry since it debuted in the ‘70s. Today, it’s more popular than ever thanks to podcasters and content creators.

The SM7B has an iconic design. You can get right up to the foam without distorting your audio. It also gives your voice a thick, warm sound thanks to the big round chamber in the back.

Word of advice: The SM7B is a naturally quiet microphone. Most normal audio interfaces won’t give you the best sound by themselves, even if you crank the gain all the way up. You’ll need to invest in extra gear like preamps or signal boosters to get the most out of your SM7B.

But once you have the right gear to support it, the SM7B is arguably the last microphone you’ll ever need.

But if you need some more options, you can check out these Shure SM7B alternatives.

3. Rode PodMic — Budget Pick

• Cardioid polar pattern
• Tight frequency response for vocals (20Hz-20kHz)
• Internal pop filter for reducing plosives
• Chunky metal construction for superb durability

If you need to elevate your audio presentation on a budget, the Rode PodMic will do the trick. It’s the perfect choice for someone’s first “real” studio microphone.

It’s small, chunky, and highly durable thanks to its metal body. So it’ll easily withstand drops and dings without taking any damage.

But more importantly, the microphone offers excellent sound quality for the price. Any voice can sound clean thanks to the PodMic’s narrower frequency range and built-in pop filter.

That said, a common complaint is that it sounds a bit harsh in the upper frequencies. So be prepared to do some EQ to tame those highs and bring out the lows.

Other than that, this mic is a fantastic choice for any podcaster, streamer, or YouTuber. Get one for yourself, or pack your studio with a bunch of these mics if you record with multiple people.

4. Samson Q2U — Best Budget USB Microphone

• Simple, portable handheld design
• Tight cardioid pattern resists room & background noise
• Includes tripod stand and windscreen
• USB and XLR connectivity for more flexibility

If you’re on a budget and you don’t have an audio interface, the Samson Q2U is a fantastic choice. 

For the price, it sounds way better than it has any right to sound. Your vocals will sound crisp and clean. And it does a great job of rejecting background noise.

Like the Shure MV7, the Q2U offers both USB and XLR output. It’s also small and travels really well, which makes it incredibly flexible for any setup:

• It plugs directly into your desktop or laptop computer.
• The small size also makes it a great companion for smartphones and tablets.
• The XLR port also lets you connect with traditional mixers and audio interfaces.

And for what it’s worth, the design makes it easy to use as a handheld mic.

All-in-all, the Q2U is a solid choice. I’d go so far as to say it could potentially be the last microphone you’d ever need.

Why We Picked These Dynamic Microphones for Podcasters

We live in a golden age where content creators are overtaking traditional forms of entertainment. Manufacturers know this, and so the market is flooded with hundreds of microphones made for people like you.

Not all of them are worth your time, though. Which is why we’ve narrowed the options down to these top picks.

After some testing and consulting with other creators, these specific microphones keep showing up. Time and again, they’ve proven themselves to be useful dynamic mics for podcasters, YouTubers, and other creators.

Which Dynamic Mic Is Right For You?

All of these microphones are built to last. Even with their shortcomings, they each have the potential to be the last microphone you’ll ever need.

That said, choosing a vocal microphone largely depends on what you value and how you plan to use it. Here are our general thoughts on each of these mics:

• Shure MV7: Get this if you want a high-quality microphone with a reasonable price tag. It sounds similar enough to the SM7B and other pro-level mics. And it offers more flexibility thanks to its USB and XLR connectivity.
• Shure SM7B: You’ve seen and heard this microphone countless times before. It’s the go-to broadcast mic for a reason. It’ll give you thick, warm vocals if you’re willing to make the investment.
• Rode PodMic: Get the PodMic if you just want a decent, affordable microphone. It sounds great, it’s super durable, and it looks great on camera. It’s also good if you need multiple mics to record several people at once.
• Samson Q2U: This USB mic works great if you’re on a budget and don’t have any other gear like interfaces or mixers. It’s also incredibly portable and can double as a handheld mic.

Our Top Pick: Shure MV7

All things being equal, I think the Shure MV7 is the overall best dynamic microphone for podcasting. Here’s why:

It delivers crystal-clear, isolated audio for any voice-over project, be it a podcast or YouTube video. Plus, it delivers a full, warm sound like the SM7B.

On top of that, the USB compatibility makes it incredibly beginner-friendly. And when you’ve outgrown your USB setup, you can still keep it around with all your XLR gear.

Learn How to Properly Use These Microphones

You’re bound to face some audio issues when producing your podcast. One of the more common ones is something called “proximity effect”. 

Basically, it’s a slight distortion of your audio that happens when you get too close to the microphone.Here are some tips for reducing the proximity effect to give your podcast cleaner-sounding vocals.