Ready for a list of the best recording microphones to use in studio? Sound input and output, whether vocals or recording an instrument, are so crucial to a musician. After all, this is the bread and butter of your business, so it’s essential to get it right.
Let’s get you on the right path to recording for success with these top ten best recording microphones.
What Is A Microphone?
Seems obvious, right? Ashley, it’s that thing that I record with, duh. But, do you know what a microphone actually is? The mic is a device that converts sound waves into an electrical signal. For musicians, it’s used to capture and convert sounds that can be converted into a format that is recorded or transmitted.
Types Of Mics
There are so many different pics that all work under the same umbrella. They come in many different shapes and sizes and can be designed for different purposes. Some of the best recording microphones are more sensitive than others and can capture little sound nuances, while others are more rigid and can withstand higher pressurized recording environments. It’s essential to pick a microphone that works best for you.
Dynamic Microphones
These are ideal for your instruments! Not only are they durable, but they’re versatile in the way that they can handle high sound pressure levels! Not to mention, these are the best recording microphones that would fit into a smaller budget and require no additional power source.
Condenser Microphones
There are sensitive mics just like they’re sensitive people. These are amazing for recording vocals or acoustic guitars for a more nuanced sound. Unlike dynamic microphones, they do require an external power source.
Ribbon Microphones
Consider this ultra-sensitive, but the kind that’s worth the sensitivity. These mics provide such a warm and irresistible natural sound. They are slightly more delicate than the other mics mentioned above and can be damaged by ultra-high sound pressure levels. These are highly sensitive and provide a warm, natural sound for recording stringed instruments and vocals.
USB Microphones
This is a type of condenser microphone that, you guessed it, can be plugged in via a USB port. They are simply a good starter mic, convenient and affordable.
Shotgun Microphones
A lot of the time, these are used for something like film or video production. Can you say perfect music video material? These are those bad boys you see people hanging on to and just about right over people. They are amazing in a live setting where unwanted noise needs to be minimized.
Best Recording Microphones: Top 10
It’s about time we got to it! So, choosing a recording microphone can be a bit overwhelming. Why? There are so many options out there. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack. Depending on what you’re using the microphone to record, the type of sound quality you are looking for and your budget, we’ll give you the low-down on the top microphones musicians are using right now.
Shure SM7B
I see many people recommending the SM7B, and yes, it is a great mic, but it requires a ton of clean gain, so, like many others, I would consider buying a cloudlifter.
My oh my, the Shure SM7B is one of the most popular microphones you’ll find on the market. Many podcasters and voiceover artists put this mic at the top of their list, while singers and songwriters brag that it’s excellent for recording vocals or instruments like an electric guitar.
One reviewer, Doug LeBow comments on Sweetwater.com, “For many years, I was the Music Director at “General Hospital” on ABC-TV. Every vocal isolation booth at ABC has an SM7 or SM7B mic hard mounted in the room. It’s the ONLY mic ABC uses for pre-recording spoken word, but it’s also a killer vocal mic. Michael Jackson recorded all his vocals on “Thriller” using an SM7B.”
What We Love:
- Awesome quality
- Provides warm & rich tone
- Low noise floor [doesn’t pick up a lot of background noise]
- Captures all nuances of the voice without pft’s and sss’s [yikes!]
- Noise rejection is unheard of
- Flawlessly smooths out the rough edges
- Well bodied
What We’re Not Feeling:
- Physically, this mic is heavy. Invest in a good mic stand!
- You’re going to need a lot of gain and yes, even if you are using a Cloudlifter
Purchase Shure SM7B
AKG C414 XLII
AKG’s C414 microphones are industry-leading fixtures in the world’s biggest recording studios. These particular mics are highly respected by independent artists, broadcasting and onstage performances.
What We Love:
- Picks up everything in the room clearly
- Numerous polar patterns
- Top-notch frequency response curve
- Bass cut really helps eliminate unwanted noises in your tracking
- Amazing attenuation
- Transient response and frequency accuracy
What We’re Not Feeling:
- Sound can tend to be a bit boxy
Purchase AKG C414 XLII
Neumann U 87 Ai
The Neumann U 87 Ai is most likely the best-known studio microphone, The U 87 Ai is the standard microphone for speech and vocals. With its numerous polar patterns plus pad and low-cut options, it adapts to a wide range of applications.
What We Love:
- Smooth and refined sound
- Very fast and clean transients
- Boasted as one of the most well-designed and documented microphone kits
- Unbeatable noise floor
- Mic sounds very warm on low frequency
What We’re Not Feeling:
- Ultra-sensitive. This mic will pick up everything in the room and then some!
Purchase Neumann U 87 Ai
Electro-Voice RE20
The RE20 dynamic cardioid microphone is one of the ultimate favs amongst sound engineers, broadcasters, and podcasters. Its popularity also extends into music production as a premium-grade instrument microphone. The microphone offers Variable-D design that produces a tight low-end.
What We Love:
- It’a fantastic for a wide variety of instrument choices
- Warm, rich and silky sonic character
- Internal pop filter
- Clear vocal sound without any additional coloration
- Internal element shock mount reduces vibration-induced noise
What We’re Not Feeling:
- It has very low output. If you don’t have an interface with a lot of extremely low noise gain, you’ll need something like a Cloudlifter or Fethead for a noise-free signal boost
- The stand mount could use an improvement; it loosens quickly and makes keeping the mic in position unreliable
Purchase Electro Voice RE20
Audio-Technica AT2020
The AT2020 is an affordable microphone for all types of content creators like musicians, podcasters and streamers. This side-address condenser microphone handles high SPLs effortlessly. With a cardioid polar pattern, this quality mic delivers unmatched sound and reliable performance without any unwanted background noise. It’s a great choice for a home recording studio!
What We Love:
- Super affordable
- Sound reproduction was phenomenal
- Clean sounding and harmony is fantastic
What We’re Not Feeling:
- I would not recommend for someone looking for the premium quality like they’d find in a professional studio or that a professional musician/broadcaster would use.
Audio-Technica AT2020
Rode NT1-A
Looking for super clean audio mic? The Rode NT1-A cardioid condenser microphone is one of the world’s quietest microphones. Its ultra-low self-noise means you’ll effortlessly capture clean, clear audio. The NT1-A can handle a good amount of dB, so you can be confident that even in front of loud guitar cabinets, your recording won’t distort due to overload.
What We Love:
- Can handle 137dB SPL
- Definitely gives a more open sound
- Doesn’t need to be as close to the acoustic guitar to get a good level
- Very sensitive, very low noise mic
- Budget friendly
- Little lo-mid bump which makes them warmer and more subdued
- Sound is refined and workable on any voice or instrument
- There is no background noise, no echo or reverb
What We’re Not Feeling:
- You will likely need wind protection for this microphone.
- It doesn’t come with low-profile ring mounts, you can buy them separately.
Purchase Rode NT1-A
Electro-Voice RE320
RE320 is also an RE20 alternative. The mic has a kick drum switch that can work well for vocals too. Compared to its counterpart, this mic is like a condenser offering clean, but some push, sound.
What We Love:
- Great sound for voiceover and broadcasting/podcasting work
- Less expensive than the RE20
- No pop-filter required
- Budget-friendly
- Awesome feedback rejection
What We’re Not Feeling:
- It needs better low end
- Very gain hungry so you’ll likely need to run it through a good preamp
Purchase Electro-Voice RE320
MXL 990
The 990 remains one of the industry’s best recording microphones for home studio recording. It offers genuinely professional sound quality in both digital and analog recordings. This revolutionary condenser microphone continues to astound artists with its silky, high-end and tight, solid low and midrange reproduction.
What We Love:
- Crisp clean upper frequency, with great low end,
- Has a FET preamp
- Warm midrange frequency
- No background hum and picks up the softest whisper
- Great on outside kick
What We’re Not Feeling:
- It isn’t great for a live recording with multiple people in the same room.
- Needs a pop filter to limit the sibilants
Purchase MXL 990
Neumann TLM 103
The Neumann TLM 103 large-diaphragm cardioid condenser mic offers transformerless circuitry — not to mention classic Neumann sound. This is the perfect mic for any pro or project studio use. Fun fact, this mic is also robust enough for the live stage, with it being coined as one of the mics the great Jack White uses while performing.
What We Love:
- Warm, smooth, clear sound
- Extremely sensitive mic
- Hot signal, great highs
- Full bodied
- Awesome quiet in self-noise and capable of handling loud SPL’s
What We’re Not Feeling:
- The mic is sometimes too harsh or bright
Purchase Neumann TLM 103
Warm Audio Wa-47JR
Compared to tube-based microphones, solid-state microphones like the Warm Audio WA-47jr are prized for their detailed sound and resistance to distortion. These mics are popular on kick drums and other percussion instruments, capturing their power and intensity with fantastic fidelity.
What We Love:
- Warmth and detailed without harshness
- Full natural sound
What We’re Not Feeling:
- This mic can pick up all of the ambient sounds if you crank it up, so we highly encourage good microphone technique
Purchase Warm Audio Wa-47JR
What Recording Mic Will You Choose?
At the end of the day, what matters is that you have the best recording microphone that works for you and your setup. Although opinions can be valuable, you must try things out to see what works best for you in the studio. Don’t be afraid to go to your local music store and rock out.