What is the best microphone to record my voice?
We asked our sound engineer and producer, Alex, to share his top tips on selecting the best mic for voice over work.
He dives deep into the critical questions to help you find the perfect microphone for your needs and budget. As a heads-up, we’re an Amazon Associate, so if you click a link and make a purchase, we might earn a small commission – thanks for your support!
Now, let’s hand it over to Alex to get you started on your voice over journey!
Do I need a USB or XLR microphone?
Choosing between USB and XLR mics can be daunting for voice actors.
USB mics are convenient and easy to set up, ideal for beginners or those with simple recording needs while XLR mics offer superior sound quality and versatility, but require additional equipment like an audio interface or mixer.
Alex breaks down the pros and cons of each to help you make an informed decision that best suits your voice-over projects and budget. Let’s dive in!
USB Mics
A USB microphone will often be cheaper and easier to set up than any other type of microphone – all you need to do is plug it into your computer and install the drivers, easy!
However, to get good enough quality for professional voice over work, you will need to spend more than you may like.
The highest quality USB microphone is the Blue Yeti Pro Studio, although there is naturally much debate in the voice over and pro-audio communities as to whether the Sennheiser MK 4 digital or the Apogee MiC Plus are actually better, we generally recommend it.
Getting a USB microphone will usually be a compromise on quality leading to an increase in background noise on your recordings and less sensitivity in picking up quiet sounds.
XLR Mics
XLR microphones are plugged in using a traditional analogue cable to a separate device called an audio interface, which itself is usually plugged into your computer via USB.
Whilst it is possible to spend thousands on an extremely high-quality studio microphone, such as the type used in a professional recording studio, it is not necessary to spend this much to achieve a professional, quality sound.
For example, this Focusrite Scarlett Solo Studio Bundle includes a microphone, headphones and an external audio interface, for less than the average cost of the Blue Yeti Pro Studio.
The versatility of XLR microphones over USB microphones, along with their generally higher price-to-sound-quality ratio, will make them the better choice most of the time.
Do I need an external audio interface?
Assuming you have gone with our suggestion and bought an XLR microphone, you’ll need an audio interface or mixer that gives you more control over sound quality.
Phantom power is essential for condenser mics, the most common type for voice overs. It’s a +48V charge sent from your audio interface through the XLR cable to power the mic.
Most USB interfaces, like the Behringer U-PHORIA or M-Audio Air, supply phantom power and allow precise control of gain and output volume.
Gain control adjusts the input level from the mic, crucial for managing volume variations, while output volume control manages the sound level coming out of your computer. A good preamp in your interface, like those in Focusrite Scarlett or Tascam models, ensures a clean signal with minimal noise.
For a budget-friendly setup, consider the Behringer U-PHORIA UMC202HD or the M-Audio Air 192|4. For higher quality, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 offers professional-grade preamps. Understanding these elements helps you choose the best mic for your voice-over needs.
Condenser or dynamic microphone?
As mentioned above, condenser microphones differ from dynamic microphones in their technical requirements, primarily that condensers require phantom power, but they also differ in their sound quality.
Dynamic microphones are generally more robust, with the Shure SM58 being the most immediately recognisable example. The SM58 is often used by singers on stage, and for live MC’ing, due to its hardy nature. It also has a narrower frequency response, which is the range of sound it can pick up.
Dynamic mics are less sensitive than condensers, so will pick up less background noise. However, this can mean they pick up less of the specific sound of your voice, whether that is low, bass-y frequencies or high, ringing frequencies. A dynamic microphone will still pick up the words you speak clearly, but the sound quality will not be the same.
Condenser microphones are the more sensitive option and are a better choice for studio-based voice acting work. A condenser mic is more likely to pick up everything at near its full frequency range, whether it is a soft plosive ‘p’ sound or a nice chesty rumble on low pitched words.
There are two types of condenser mics – large diaphragm and small diaphragm. You will want to go for a large-diaphragm condenser for these purposes, as small-diaphragm condensers are focused more on the high frequencies, and are generally only used for recording music.
What is the best cheap microphone for voice over?
So, if you’ve decided to stick around this far – congratulations! There is no prize, but if you’ve gone with our recommendations you’ve decided to get:
- An XLR microphone
- An audio interface capable of running phantom power
- A large-diaphragm condenser mic
So which Microphone model should you buy?
There are an extraordinarily wide variety of microphones within the category of “large-diaphragm condenser microphones”, so we’ll provide some options within various price ranges below.
Low budget (<$100)
Generally the cheapest option – and best value for money – is to get a bundle like the aforementioned Focusrite Studio Bundle or the M-Audio AIR 192|4 Vocal Studio Pro.
These bundles come with headphones and an interface as well as a microphone, for around the £150 mark. While this is more mid-budget overall, it represents excellent value for the microphone – worth considering.
- sE Electronics X1 A – priced around the £79 ($125/€99) mark, which is about as cheaply as you are likely to be able to get a decent large diaphragm condenser. This microphone is very simple, but it does the job perfectly well and gives a nice clear sound.
- AKG P120 – is around £74 ($99/€99), and will be equally as reliable as the SE electronics mic. AKG are a brand whose more expensive microphones will feature in just about every music studio in the world, so you are also getting a very well regarded brand for a decent price.
- MXL 990 Condenser Microphone– from personal experience with these microphones, they sound a lot better than you’d expect for their price range (£77/$127/€108).
It is possible to get cheaper large-diaphragm condenser microphones, such as this MC1 that Gear4Music produce themselves, which costs £29.99 (not available in the US or Europe), but that is not advised.
These cheap microphones will be made with low-quality parts and wiring, leading to interference from nearby electrical equipment and a poor signal-to-noise ratio, and will ultimately need replacing after a short time.
Spending a little bit more on the microphone future proofs your investment, and means you can keep using it as your voice over career develops.
Mid budget ($100- $500)
Spending a little more on the microphone can greatly increase the quality of your recordings to a greater extent than any other individual component of your home studio set-up.
These mid-range options can be a great choice if you are looking to pursue voice acting as a full-time career:
- Rode Microphones RØDE NT1-A Vocal Pack – at the cheaper end of these mid-priced microphones, at £145 ($229/€210). This is a very common starter mic for people recording their own voices and their own music. It sounds good, lasts, and is relatively inexpensive.
- Sontronics STC-3X – at around £260 ($350/€299), the Sontronics STC-3X offers crisp, clear sound with a broad frequency response and excellent signal-to-noise ratio. Its changeable polar patterns add versatility, making it suitable for recording vocals, sound effects, and music.
- Sennheiser MK4 Large-Diaphragm Studio Microphone – another professional-quality condenser that is not too expensive, at around the £342 ($400/€400) mark. The brand has a good reputation in professional audio studios.
- AKG C214 – the cousin of the aforementioned 414. The only real difference is that the polar pattern is fixed to cardioid on the C214, whereas it is changeable on the 414.
If you are really serious and confident, about voice acting as a long term career choice, then investing in a long-lasting, high-quality microphone is a must.
High budget ($500+)
When you talk about the highest-end studio microphones, there is one name that will come up: Neumann.
Neumann is a German manufacturer owned by Sennheiser, and you will be certain to find at least one of their microphones, or a historical variant such as the U47, in every high-end professional audio or music studio – the Beatles recorded much of their work using Neumann microphones at Abbey Road.
The price tag, inevitably, reflects this quality and prestige.
The most affordable Neumann microphone is the Neumann TLM 102 Condenser Microphone, Cardioid. This microphone can be found for less than £500 ($700/€850) if you buy it secondhand, but it will very likely be more than that (between £500-£600). For this price, you are getting the highest quality you could realistically expect in a home studio as a voice artist.
There is a marked difference between the sound of a Neumann and a Sennheiser microphone (despite the fact they’re all owned by the same people). If you want your voice to sound silky smooth and generally delicious, a Neumann is a go-to option for many voice actors.
However, there are other Neumann microphones that are even fancier, most famously the Neumann U87, which comes in around a whopping £2,000 ($3,000/€2,500).
Chances are though, if you’re reading this blog looking for which microphone to buy, we don’t recommend dumping $2,000 on your first mic.
If you are just starting out as a casual voice artist, then going for a cheaper microphone will be plenty good enough, and won’t have a detrimental impact on your career.
What Microphone accessories do I need?
There are a few obvious things you will need, and a few not so obvious things, so here’s a nice and easy list to reference:
- Microphone stand – this doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just a standard boom mic stand, which will usually cost around £20. It is always better to have a floor-mounted mic stand, rather than a desk-mounted one that sits in front of your computer, as there will inevitably be computer noise and movement that travels through your desk to the microphone as you are recording.
- Headphones – this seems obvious, but you will need headphones to check you are getting decent quality sound through your headphones and to monitor yourself while recording if you are doing it alone. Getting decent quality closed-back headphones such as Sennheiser or AKG ones is a worthwhile investment.
- Shock mount – a shock mount is something that will help to prevent most vibrations from travelling through your microphone stand and being picked up by the microphone – this greatly cuts back on background noise. A lot of the microphones listed above come with shock mounts as standard, but if you get one of the less expensive mics you will need to buy one separately.
- Pop shield – this is something you will definitely need to record voice overs. You’ll likely be recording very close to your microphone so having a pop shield to negate any unwanted mouth sounds is definitely worth getting.
Conclusion
- Most affordable mic: sE Electronics X1 A
- Best value mic: RØDE NT1-A
- My personal favourite mic: AKG 414
- Money is no object mic (reassuringly expensive): Neumann U87
This is far from an exhaustive list of all the microphones you could consider as a voice-over artist, and no doubt someone will think I have missed off their personal favourite.
However, this round-up aims to be an introduction to setting up a home studio, as well as explaining the merits of choosing certain types of microphones and set-ups over others.
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