Best Podcasting Microphones for 2021

6/19/2021

Podcasting isn't new—but it's never been bigger. As of this year, it's a billion dollar industry. If you're starting a podcast (or just want to level up your audio equipment), here is my list of recommendations for podcast mics for this year.

Overall Best: Shure SM7B

This is the holy grail of podcasting mics. The biggest names in the world use it, and it has become the podcasting industry standard! Its original version, the SM7, has been around since the 70s (and for good reason).

If you're wanting an industry-quality sound, competing with the big dogs, this is the mic to get (if you can afford it, that is).

$399 on Amazon

Pros:

Warm, smooth audio
Durable construction
Industry standard look and feel

Cons:

Definitely not a beginner's price point!
You'll need an audio interface
You may need to consider a preamp (which makes it all the more expensive!)

For the Budget Pro:
Presonus PD-70

While not as flashy or as widely used as the SM7B, the Presonus PD-70 is a nice alternative! It's much cheaper than the SM7B, and while the sound isn't quite as warm, it's a decent competitor especially at less than half the price.

I recommend this mic to all my clients. It sounds great, it's a solid middle price point, and it looks good, too!

$130 on Amazon

Pros:

Great value for money
Looks great on camera

Cons:

Needs an audio interface

For the Budget Beginner:
Audio Technica ATR-2100XUSB

At this price point, you're just getting something that works. However, it comes with literally everything you need—no cables, no audio interfaces to buy. If you're a beginner podcaster, this just might be the mic for you—plug and play.

The downside is that you'll have a noticeable dip in sound quality at this point. Is that okay? Yes! You're still getting decent quality sound.

$99 on Amazon

Pros:

Doesn't need an audio interface
Very portable
Couldn't be easier to set up—plug + play

Cons:

Noticeable dip in audio quality (though still passable)
Doesn't look great on camera

Accessories: What else do I need?

Although this blog post is about microphones specifically, you'll need some other equipment just to make them work! I'll be writing a blog post about each of these things individually, but here's a quick recommendation for each item until those are ready.