How to Select a Microphone to Create a Podcast

Before you can record a podcast, you need to select a suitable microphone. Some podcasts sound like professional radio talk shows. Others sound as if they were recorded using a $5 microphone, which is probably the case, as the microphone will make the biggest difference in how your podcast sounds. There is a confusingly huge selection of microphone brands to choose from. Here are a few steps to guide you in selecting a microphone to create a podcast.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Consider the style of microphone you want. Ideally, you should have the microphone mounted on a stand or a boom. The stand should be freestanding and positioned so that you are unlikely to knock into the microphone. It should hold the microphone firmly and safely. A boom style has the advantage of being overhead, thereby out of the way of feet and hands.

2. Choose the type of microphone carefully. There are two basic types: dynamic microphones and condenser microphones. Dynamic microphones are more common and less expensive. A quality dynamic microphone can produce excellent recordings. The condenser microphone can capture more detail, however, giving a richness and clarity that the dynamic type lacks. Condenser microphones are more expensive and may need an external audio interface box to supply power.

3. Choose the polar pattern of the microphone. There are two basic types: omnidirectional and unidirectional. The omnidirectional will pick up sounds from every direction more or less equally. These are more common and often the least expensive. The unidirectional usually has a specific pattern—cardioid or supercardioid. These microphones are more “focused” in that they pick up sounds that are directly in front of the microphone better than sounds coming from the sides. The unidirectional microphone will pick up fewer background noises and create less of an echoing sound. They also tend to be more expensive.

Tips & Warnings

• Try out a microphone before buying it, or listen to a recording made by it. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and even a fairly cheap microphone can sound quite acceptable at times, while an expensive one may disappoint you.
• Test your chosen microphone thoroughly. You may find a setting that sounds good, but if you don't test all kinds of settings, you may not be aware of how much better it could sound.
• Do not hold the microphone while recording. You are more likely to introduce extraneous movement sounds if you hold it.
• Do not mount the microphone on the same desktop as the recording device. The microphone is more likely to pick up motor or fan noises in this way.
• While many laptops have built-in microphones that will record, they generally are not good quality. Built-in microphones are likely to record fan noises and other internal working sounds. You are far better off spending a little money for vastly superior results.