When it comes to filming those beautiful YouTube videos, there’s more to just having some 1080p HD or even 4K video quality. Many of those who make YouTube videos semi-pro or even professionally at times may forget about an entire half of the equation — what about the sound? Fortunately for us in this day and age, microphones for YouTube videos come at a pretty affordable price (depending on what you’re after). Since we’re mic experts, we wanted to cover the base for all YouTubers when it comes to elevating that sound quality for your videos. Let’s get into the top 10 best.Selecting the best YouTube microphone
- What kind of YouTube videos?This is definitely one of the most important questions we’ll ask before you continue reading, being that the “best microphone for YouTube videos” may span to quite a few different directions. Do you need a vlogging mic? Perhaps a microphone on a DSLR if you fancy that method instead? The reason you’ll need to review what kind of videos you’ll be filming for YouTube is because it will entail you to look into what type of microphone you should buy. We cover most of the indoor uses in our list since we have some separate guides for the more rare types, which we explain below:
- USB microphones: Remaining one of the most popular solutions for most computer uses, such as gaming microphones, streaming and in our case today, more than half of the video types in the YouTube video world, we list this first and many in our top 10 due to the popularity. They’re great for anything you’ll be filming at or near a computer: podcasts, vlogging, gaming walk-through, interviews, and more.
- Camera microphones: Those filming outside with their camera or even indoors without a computer near may need an external microphone for their unit. Check out that guide as we have quite a few different solutions if you’re a YouTuber interested in the application.
- Lavalier microphones: These are the little clip-on mics we’ve seen more common in non-intrusive interviews, seminars and performances, and more. Although they aren’t as common, you may be interested in filming some videos outside where the mic can’t be seen (perhaps pranks as well).
- iOS microphone: Even though it’s definitely rare, we do know of quite a few YouTubers who make their videos on their phones! Check out that guide for some more in-depth info on smart device mics if that’s you.
- Your budget – Now that you’ve decided what type of microphone you need for your YouTube videos, now your budget will come into play. There is a pretty big range here since it really depends on what type of mic as well as the overall quality you’re looking to grab. We cover all price-points in here to give you a feel for what’s out there (in case you decide to go lower or even save up some more cash if you aren’t satisfied).
- Additional accessories – Do you have the rest of your gear? Microphone stands, shock mounts, pop filters, cases if you’re traveling, specific microphone patternsand more may come into play when you’re factoring in your budget since some of these come in microphone packages, while others sold separately. We’ll list if they do come with some extra gear to help your decision.
The best microphones for YouTube videos
Blue Yeti
If you are looking for an immediate answer to the best microphone for YouTube and need a USB mic for the types of videos you’ll be filming, you should definitely consider the Blue Yeti. The reputation this thing has alone gives us confidence to mention it time and time again in many of our guides. Although the price-point isn’t necessarily “cheap”, the quality it delivers for competitors in its price-range is unmatched. It comes with 16-Bit/48 kHz resolution and the option to choose between four different polar patterns (stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid or bi-directional) – elements that will give you versatility and excellent results if you intend on either using it in different applications or want to mess around with the feel of it. This microphone comes with a built-in headphone amp that has great gain, which will provide you the option to monitor results without latency. For easy and intuitive usage, right on the microphone you have controls for mute and gain control. The USB microphone comes with a little stand and the option for folding that will enable easy positioning and transport. Another convenient detail that makes it one of the best YouTube microphone choices is its compatibility with both Windows and Mac. It’s amazing for vlogging, commentary, and more — we even know some who record their songs with this thing. It also made it into our best computer microphoneguide.
Apogee MiC 96k
The Apogee MiC 96k is another one of the best microphones for YouTube if you’re at or near a desk and a USB mic is what you’re after. It will deliver excellent quality of sound very similar to what you expect in the studio (we’ve heard quite a few musicians use this for some vocals or acoustic recording). It connects to Windows and Mac devices as well as any smart device with a 3.5mm, which will enable easy recording of some high-quality external sound for those videos regardless of what you’re using (you can get away with using it with cameras as well, perhaps just not outdoors). For technical specs, it is equipped with cardioid polar pattern and an easy USB connection for great plug-n-play ease of us. You have up to 96 kHz/24-bit HD recording, ‘PureDIGITAL connection’, and combines a microphone, microphone preamp and an A/D converter into one device. What also qualifies this microphone as the best mic for YouTube is its versatility for different types of voices and uses. Engadget’s MiC 96k review has some more information on it.
Focusrite Scarlett Studio Pack
Coming in as the best YouTube video microphone combo package, the Focusrite Scarlett Studio Packis definitely one of our favorites not only because of the quality it brings but the money you’ll be able to save if you needed headphones and an audio interface as well. It is equipped with the famous Scarlett 2i2 audio interface, which works as not only some preamp and phantom power for the mic but also a unit to keep your numerous ins and outs handy (you can adjust gain on there, too). In terms of the microphone, it isn’t necessarily a fancy studio-quality beast, but is a viable condenser microphone that comes with everything you need for up to semi-pro quality recording that’ll up the ante for any type of YouTube video audio. You are lastly getting some monitor headphones which are arguably mandatory for a produced sound quality check — they’re comfortable and get the job done. The Focusrite Scarlett Studio Pack can be connected to either Windows or Mac for technical freedom, and in the package you will also get a helpful low-noise mic cable for interface and mic connecting. This may be the perfect solution for you, while for others a bit too excessive.
Rode NT1-A
Now we start to get into the studio recording microphone realm, so if you were first and foremost concerned with achieving the best sound quality available at the moment, here’s a start. The Rode NT1-A is one our favorite condenser microphones — a high-quality YouTube mic that will offer you excellent vocal recording and playback capabilities thanks to its advanced functionalities and stable build. It is equipped with a large one inch capsule and allows a cardioid polar pattern, which makes it an excellent choice for vocal usage in any type of video application (really out-duels any standard USB mic in this regard). What also could make it the best mic for YouTube is the fact that it is an extra low noise mic with just 5 dB of self-noise, which makes it a great choice for recording to prevent as fuzz or hiss. With this microphone you are getting lots of dynamic range and a true condenser capsule. Just keep in mind you’ll either need some extra phantom power or an audio interface to make it work (it comes with a little phantom power unit in the box). Grab it if you want near-professional sounding video quality.
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You are here: Home / Guides / The Top 10 Best Microphones for YouTube Videos
The Top 10 Best Microphones for YouTube Videos
LAST UPDATED: MAY 30, 2018 BY: SEAN
We review the best microphone for YouTubeWhen it comes to filming those beautiful YouTube videos, there’s more to just having some 1080p HD or even 4K video quality. Many of those who make YouTube videos semi-pro or even professionally at times may forget about an entire half of the equation — what about the sound? Fortunately for us in this day and age, microphones for YouTube videos come at a pretty affordable price (depending on what you’re after). Since we’re mic experts, we wanted to cover the base for all YouTubers when it comes to elevating that sound quality for your videos. Let’s get into the top 10 best.
Selecting the best YouTube microphone
What kind of YouTube videos? This is definitely one of the most important questions we’ll ask before you continue reading, being that the “best microphone for YouTube videos” may span to quite a few different directions. Do you need a vlogging mic? Perhaps a microphone on a DSLR if you fancy that method instead? The reason you’ll need to review what kind of videos you’ll be filming for YouTube is because it will entail you to look into what type of microphone you should buy. We cover most of the indoor uses in our list since we have some separate guides for the more rare types, which we explain below:
USB microphones: Remaining one of the most popular solutions for most computer uses, such as gaming microphones, streaming and in our case today, more than half of the video types in the YouTube video world, we list this first and many in our top 10 due to the popularity. They’re great for anything you’ll be filming at or near a computer: podcasts, vlogging, gaming walk-through, interviews, and more.
Camera microphones: Those filming outside with their camera or even indoors without a computer near may need an external microphone for their unit. Check out that guide as we have quite a few different solutions if you’re a YouTuber interested in the application.
Lavalier microphones: These are the little clip-on mics we’ve seen more common in non-intrusive interviews, seminars and performances, and more. Although they aren’t as common, you may be interested in filming some videos outside where the mic can’t be seen (perhaps pranks as well).
iOS microphone: Even though it’s definitely rare, we do know of quite a few YouTubers who make their videos on their phones! Check out that guide for some more in-depth info on smart device mics if that’s you.
Your budget – Now that you’ve decided what type of microphone you need for your YouTube videos, now your budget will come into play. There is a pretty big range here since it really depends on what type of mic as well as the overall quality you’re looking to grab. We cover all price-points in here to give you a feel for what’s out there (in case you decide to go lower or even save up some more cash if you aren’t satisfied).
Additional accessories – Do you have the rest of your gear? Microphone stands, shock mounts, pop filters, cases if you’re traveling, specific microphone patterns and more may come into play when you’re factoring in your budget since some of these come in microphone packages, while others sold separately. We’ll list if they do come with some extra gear to help your decision.
The best microphones for YouTube videos
Blue Yeti
Our pick for the best microphone for YouTube videos
If you are looking for an immediate answer to the best microphone for YouTube and need a USB mic for the types of videos you’ll be filming, you should definitely consider the Blue Yeti. The reputation this thing has alone gives us confidence to mention it time and time again in many of our guides. Although the price-point isn’t necessarily “cheap”, the quality it delivers for competitors in its price-range is unmatched. It comes with 16-Bit/48 kHz resolution and the option to choose between four different polar patterns (stereo, omnidirectional, cardioid or bi-directional) – elements that will give you versatility and excellent results if you intend on either using it in different applications or want to mess around with the feel of it. This microphone comes with a built-in headphone amp that has great gain, which will provide you the option to monitor results without latency. For easy and intuitive usage, right on the microphone you have controls for mute and gain control. The USB microphone comes with a little stand and the option for folding that will enable easy positioning and transport. Another convenient detail that makes it one of the best YouTube microphone choices is its compatibility with both Windows and Mac. It’s amazing for vlogging, commentary, and more — we even know some who record their songs with this thing. It also made it into our best computer microphone guide.
Check pricing\reviews of the Yeti: US | UK
Apogee MiC 96k
Another one of the best microphones for YouTube videos
The Apogee MiC 96k is another one of the best microphones for YouTube if you’re at or near a desk and a USB mic is what you’re after. It will deliver excellent quality of sound very similar to what you expect in the studio (we’ve heard quite a few musicians use this for some vocals or acoustic recording). It connects to Windows and Mac devices as well as any smart device with a 3.5mm, which will enable easy recording of some high-quality external sound for those videos regardless of what you’re using (you can get away with using it with cameras as well, perhaps just not outdoors). For technical specs, it is equipped with cardioid polar pattern and an easy USB connection for great plug-n-play ease of us. You have up to 96 kHz/24-bit HD recording, ‘PureDIGITAL connection’, and combines a microphone, microphone preamp and an A/D converter into one device. What also qualifies this microphone as the best mic for YouTube is its versatility for different types of voices and uses. Engadget’s MiC 96k review has some more information on it.
Check reviews\price of the MiC 96k: US | UK
Focusrite Scarlett Studio Pack
An amazing microphone package for YouTube videos
Coming in as the best YouTube video microphone combo package, the Focusrite Scarlett Studio Pack is definitely one of our favorites not only because of the quality it brings but the money you’ll be able to save if you needed headphones and an audio interface as well. It is equipped with the famous Scarlett 2i2 audio interface, which works as not only some preamp and phantom power for the mic but also a unit to keep your numerous ins and outs handy (you can adjust gain on there, too). In terms of the microphone, it isn’t necessarily a fancy studio-quality beast, but is a viable condenser microphone that comes with everything you need for up to semi-pro quality recording that’ll up the ante for any type of YouTube video audio. You are lastly getting some monitor headphones which are arguably mandatory for a produced sound quality check — they’re comfortable and get the job done. The Focusrite Scarlett Studio Pack can be connected to either Windows or Mac for technical freedom, and in the package you will also get a helpful low-noise mic cable for interface and mic connecting. This may be the perfect solution for you, while for others a bit too excessive.
View pricing\reviews of the Studio Pack: US | UK
Rode NT1-A
A pro-quality condenser microphone for filming YouTube videos
Now we start to get into the studio recording microphone realm, so if you were first and foremost concerned with achieving the best sound quality available at the moment, here’s a start. The Rode NT1-A is one our favorite condenser microphones — a high-quality YouTube mic that will offer you excellent vocal recording and playback capabilities thanks to its advanced functionalities and stable build. It is equipped with a large one inch capsule and allows a cardioid polar pattern, which makes it an excellent choice for vocal usage in any type of video application (really out-duels any standard USB mic in this regard). What also could make it the best mic for YouTube is the fact that it is an extra low noise mic with just 5 dB of self-noise, which makes it a great choice for recording to prevent as fuzz or hiss. With this microphone you are getting lots of dynamic range and a true condenser capsule. Just keep in mind you’ll either need some extra phantom power or an audio interface to make it work (it comes with a little phantom power unit in the box). Grab it if you want near-professional sounding video quality.
Check pricing\reviews of the NT1-A: US | UK
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