You need to start a podcast, but how do you choose the right microphone?

Whatever you do, don't overpay for a mic you don't need. Kudos to Matty Staudt for pointing out a critical factor that many beginning podcasters overlook: not paying attention to the sound of the room you will use to record in. Once you properly treat a room with as many sound-dampening materials as possible, you will improve the sound of your microphone significantly. As far as microphone recommendations, you can't go wrong with these choices at three different levels: Under $80.00: SamsonQ2U(* amazing sound for around $70 and it is USB and XLR compatible) $100-$300: Shure SM58; RODE Podmic; AudioTechnica AT2020 $250+$450: Shure SMV7; Shure SM7B;Electrovoice RE 20.

First thing I tell clients is to think about the end goal of the show. If your show is a "passion" project, don't invest $400 in a mic. If the show is for your business, you want to invest in quality. Mics range in price, but you can get started with an ATR-2100 for less than $80.

The most important thing is to get a "dynamic" mic. These mics ensure you are not getting background noise and can make a bad room sound good. Many people don't know this!

Think about where and how you plan to record your content. For example, if you want to incorporate short clips from interviews with people at conferences and events, it's a good idea to invest in a portable recorder that you can travel with, and have a different stationary set up in your recording studio. When I'm on the road, I use the Zoom Hn1 portable recorder which is small and light.

Usually dynamic microphones are better for starting a podcast than condenser ones, specially if you haven't a professional studio for recording (as usual). But I give more importance to having gain regulation than the type of the microphone. Gain regulation makes more sense in condenser microphones because it helps reducing bacground noise while recording; dynamyc mics are good for that themselves. If your microphone doesn't allow you regulate de gain, then choose a dynamyc mic.

If you're on a tight budget, getting a decent USB mic like say the Samson Q2U is highly recommended. Good thing is, it also has an XLR feature for when you're able to get an audio interface. Good mic technique, a fairly treated room and basic audio editing should help you get off to a good start.

In my experience I’d say when choosing a starter microphone for podcasting, consider USB options for simplicity, like the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica ATR2100x. Look for features such as cardioid pickup pattern and a pop filter to reduce background noise and plosives. It's crucial to balance your budget with audio quality to meet your podcasting needs.

Ahead of any of these purchases, it's important to find the best recording space! Small, quiet, no reflections (echo). Our best voice recordings came from closets full of clothes, under a comforter on the bed, even in cars parked out in the countryside! Too often we see podcasters focus on how their space looks, and not how it sounds. A $10 mic can sound brilliant in the right room. A $3000 mic can sound like garbage in the wrong room. Then, get an Audio-Technica ATR2100x with a windscreen. :)

On the topic of cables, some microphones have both USB and XLR options, so you can adjust your set-up as needed. An example is the Shure MV7, which has both XLR and USB outputs. This information should be readily available in the microphone product description so you can check.

One thing is that technically speaking it can be true that XLR is better and other thing is if that is important for your podcast or not. XLR provides a more power to your microphone, and that is good specially if your mic has a lot of self-noise. But for most cases USB is good enough for podcasting, and you can use you mic direct to your PC or even to your smartphone with only a cable. Some mics as Samson Q2U or Blue Yeti are USB and their quality is perfectly good for podcasting.

You can get good-quality sound from inexpensive microphones ($60-$100). Sure, more expensive microphones sound better, but the difference may not be worth the additional investment. You may be better off by preparing your recording environment, whether a studio or a clothes closet. The better the environment, the better the recorded audio will be. And learn good mic techniques. A dynamic microphone sounds best when you are 2-3 inches away from the mic. The most expensive microphone won't help you if you don't use the proper mic technique.

In addition to investing in a microphone that best suits your budget, spend time setting up a recording space. You don't need access to a recording studio to capture high-quality audio. A small, quiet room with soft furnishings can provide a great space that absorbs sound. Moreover, sound-absorbing panels and curtains are more readily available on the market, with companies like IKEA offering noise-absorbing furnishings.

Price can be because of a lot of things, and you have to decide if those things are important for you or not. For example, one thing is the brand: some very prestigious brands such as Shure, Sennheiser, Neumann, Telefunken... have high prices and big quality products. Usually a brand offers you the possibility to repair your mic even a long time after you buy it: that's a part of the price. But, for example, if you buy a Neumann or a Telefunken (sereral thousands dollars priced) and you haven't a professional studio it is a waste of money (it can be even worst than other mics in that case). If you are on a budget, you can get a good mic too like Audio Technica 2020, Samson Q2U, Blue Yeti, AKG Lyra, etc.

Speak across, not directly into the mic, and maintain a 3-6 inch distance. This helps avoid plosives - those 'pop' sounds from words like 'pizza'. Speaking across the mic lets extra air move away, ensuring clear audio. Proper mic handling is crucial; it's impossible to fix audio clipped by wind blasts. Your voice is your asset, make it shine with good technique.

Depending on the type of microphone chosen, there are some that have in-built pop filters which means an additional filter is not required. Get the microphone off the desk at all costs because this causes vibration, bumps and impacts audio quality - use a stand, boom or shock mount. Headphones and using a audio mixer like a Rodecaster can also help monitor your levels and sound quality. Your face should always be directed at the microphone when talking, close enough to maintain volume and quality.

Alongside a range of resources and courses to support your podcasting journey, you'll also learn a lot from simply starting, reflecting on your content, and gathering feedback from your listeners. I recommend new podcasters to start by planning and recording a mini-series first, which can consist of 6-10 episodes. This helps to set a realistic goal and create a series that could stand alone as a finished project if needed. What's more, you'll learn so much from creating 6-10 episodes about podcasting, your style and how you want to use podcasting going forward.

Consider how many people you intend to capture, as a USB microphone may not be suitable for multiple individuals due to most computers' limitations in recording multiple USB audio inputs. Additionally, take into account the speakers' experience, particularly with dynamic microphones, where the speaking position significantly influences sound quality. Movement around the microphone can lead to questionable audio quality. Conversely, if condenser microphones are selected and the recording environment lacks insulation, capturing extraneous noise becomes likely, impacting the overall recording quality.