The purpose of a YouTube video is to combine visual images with intriguing audio. In other words, sound is half the battle! If your YouTube videos have poor sound, then no one will want to watch them. If you want your YouTube channel to succeed, then you need to record quality audio.
The best microphones for YouTubers are the Shure SM7B Microphone, PowerDewise .5mm Lavalier Lapel Microphone, Kailas Accessories Wireless Microphone System, Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone, Sennheiser Professional MKE 400 Directional Shotgun Microphone, and the HyperX QuadCast S Microphone.
Good audio starts with the microphone. In this article, you will learn the best microphones to use for your YouTube channel as well as ways to improve the quality of your video’s audio.
1. Shure SM7B Microphone
If you want your YouTube videos to feel like a radio station or a recording studio, then a high-mounted microphone is what you’ll need. The Shure SM7B Microphone provides both the right look and high-quality sound. This microphone can attach to a high mount, table stand, or even a full-height mic stand. Remember, it all depends on the look you want for your videos.
Different mic stands require different-sized attachments. The Shur SM7B Microphone includes an adapter piece to help it fit more stands. It uses an XLR cable to connect with your recording device. If you’re looking for a microphone to connect directly to your laptop, you’ll need an adapter cable.
This microphone has received incredible customer reviews. The Shure SM7B Microphone received a nearly perfect rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars from customer reviews. According to customer reviews, this microphone is made from durable materials.
The Shure SM7B Microphone features a windscreen to reduce any unwanted noise from your recording environment. This is especially helpful if you’re recording outside or in a noisy home.
Since the Shure SM7B Microphone is such high-quality, you will be paying a higher price. This microphone costs approximately $400.
2. PowerDewise .5mm Lavalier Lapel Microphone
Lavalier microphones attach to your shirt to capture the clearest audio. The PowerDewise .5mm Lavalier Lapel microphone is best for YouTubers who want clear audio without the hassle of holding a microphone to their mouth. Since the PowerDewise Lavalier Lapel Microphone connects directly to the recording device, the YouTuber’s ability to move away from the device is limited. However, the cord is approximately 10 feet long, giving the YouTuber quite a bit of room to move around.
The PowerDewise Lavalier Lapel Microphone is compatible with smartphones, computers, and DSLR cameras.
This mic received 4.3 out of 5 stars from customer reviews. Customers rave about this microphone’s ability to pick up soft sounds while muffling unwanted noise with its windscreen.
Adding the PowerDewise .5mm Lavalier Lapel Microphone to your YouTube set-up will cost less than $40.
3. Kailas Accessories Wireless Microphone System
The Kailas Accessories Wireless Microphone System is the perfect solution to the cord problem.
This microphone connects to your phone or computer using a USB-C connector. If you want to connect to an iPhone, then you’re in luck. The Kailas Accessories Wireless Microphone System includes a lightweight adapter. Since the microphone wirelessly connects, you can walk anywhere without your video’s sound suffering. Keep in mind that the microphone uses a battery that will require charging occasionally.
The Kailas Accessories Wireless Microphone is still a fairly new product, however, so far it has only received 5-star reviews. This recording device costs $40.
4. Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone
If you’re using a DSLR camera to film your YouTube videos, a microphone that mounts on the camera could be helpful.
Now wait a second, don’t most cameras have an internal microphone? Yes, they do. However, these microphones pick up all the sound going on around them, not just your voice. In other words, if you’re filming a video in public or near a street, your voice will be muffled by the sounds of cars driving past and people milling about.
To prevent this from happening, add a shotgun microphone to your camera setup. These microphones collect (mostly) the sound in front of them. This makes them a better option than internal cameras, but not quite as effective as lavalier microphones. That said, if you’re filming indoors and don’t plan on moving very much, a shotgun microphone will work excellently.
The Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone includes a shock mount and a windscreen. This camera’s windscreen is removable in case you want to record with the bare mic, however, if you’re outdoors or have other people in the building where you’re filming, take advantage of the windscreen.
This microphone has received excellent customer reviews, averaging 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon. The Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone, which is small enough to fit in your pocket, is fairly affordable. Adding this microphone to your set-up will only cost $40.
Your purchase of the Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone includes a one-year warranty. This is an especially desirable feature if your YouTube channel requires action filming.
The Movo VXR10 Microphone works with smartphones and computers in addition to DSLR cameras. If you plan on filming YouTube videos with your phone, then you need the complete beginner’s set. The Movo Smartphone Kit includes a phone tripod, the VXR10 Microphone with windscreen, and an LED light. This kit purchase provides you with everything you need to start a successful YouTube channel.
The Movo Smartphone Kit costs $130.
5. Sennheiser Professional MKE 400 Directional Shotgun Microphone
Sennheiser is one of the leading companies when it comes to capturing and producing high-quality sound. For this reason, there’s no need to worry if a product such as the Professional MKE 400 Directional Shotgun Microphone will work for your YouTube set-up.
Rather than selling separate accessories, Sennheiser built them directing into the microphone. That’s right, the Sennheiser Professional MKE 400 includes a built-in windscreen and shock absorption. This microphone also includes three stages of sensitivity to ensure only the most important sounds are recorded.
Do you film with someone behind the camera? Do they want to listen to the sound as it’s captured? No problem. The Sennheiser Professional MKE 400 has a headphone jack. Once the headphones are plugged in, your technical professional can monitor and adjust sound intake.
The Sennheiser Professional MKE 400 is compatible with both DSLR cameras and smartphones. In other words, it’s the perfect long-term investment for beginner YouTubers! Simply plug the camera in and watch it—or rather listen to—it start recording.
Not convinced that this is the microphone for you? On the Sennheiser website, they explain that this microphone was designed with Vloggers and content creators in mind. In other words, this camera was designed for you!
So far, the Sennheiser Professional MKE 400 has received 4.6 out of 5 stars from customer reviews on Amazon.
Since this microphone is more professional-grade than others, it will cost a bit more. However, this high-quality microphone will last the entirety of your career. Investing in the Sennheiser Professional MKE 400 microphone costs $200.
As mentioned earlier, the Sennheiser Professional MKE 400 was designed with Vloggers and content creators in mind. For this reason, they also sell an MKE 400 Mobile Kit.
This kit includes a smartphone clamp, the Manfrotto PIXI tripod, connector cords, a carrying pouch, and an additional windscreen. If you film your YouTube videos outside or on the go, then the Sennheiser MKE 400 Mobile Kit is a smart choice. Better yet, it only costs $30 more than the microphone alone. That’s right, this recording/filming kit can be yours for just $230.
6. HyperX QuadCast S
While filming on the go makes for some great videos, many YouTubers want a microphone that not only sounds good but looks good too. This is especially desirable for those running gaming or talk-show-style channels.
The HyperX QuadCast S is by far the best microphone a YouTuber could have. Why? The main reason is the flexibility it offers. While most microphones have one sound capturing system, the HyperX QuadCast S has four. You can adjust between the settings to ensure you’re collecting sound how each video needs it.
When in stereo mode, the HyperX collects sound from the sides. This setting will collect a majority of the sound in the room and is best for group chats where people are spread out. Another setting that would work well for this style of video is the omnidirectional mode. When in this setting, the HyperX collects sound from every direction. Don’t use this setting in a noisy building or outdoors.
If you want to be the only one heard, put the microphone in cardioid mode. This setting only captures and records sounds from in front of the microphone.
Last but not least, the bidirectional mode allows you to capture and record sound from in front of and behind the microphone. This setting works well for interview-style videos. Since the microphone captures sound in both directions, there’s no need to purchase a second microphone.
While the audio recording systems are unique, YouTubers will also enjoy the RGB lights that shine through the HyperX QuadCast S. You can set them to random or adjust the lights from an app to get the perfect hues.
Need to mute yourself quickly? No worries. Simply tap the top of the microphone for instantaneous silence. The HyperX QuadCast S costs $160 and has received 4.8 out of 5 stars from customer reviews on Amazon.
Now that you know about the best microphones for YouTubers, you need to know how to set up the room for better audio. While the microphone you use matters, so does the environment you’re recording in. Watch the following video to learn how to set your room and microphone up to capture the clearest sound.
