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How to find a high-quality podcasting mic

If you plan to launch a successful podcast, it is essential to use high-quality equipment. And everything begins with a great microphone, which is able to capture your voice the way it sounds in real life. Unfortunately, there are thousands of different microphones on the market, and a higher price doesn't always lead to a better audio quality. So, here are some of the key things that you should keep in mind when you're shopping for a podcasting mic.

Begin by studying the specifications of the products that you may be interested in. One of the most important, and yet often overlooked specification is the mike's pattern. Some microphones are omnidirectional, which means that they do a great job picking sounds that come from any direction. While this may be a good thing if you're interested in recording an entire orchestra, you don't want to use an omnidirectional mike for your podcast, because it will capture unwanted noises as well.

Most broadcasters choose microphones that have cardioid patterns; the name comes from the shape of the heart and shows that the device will be mostly sensitive to sound sources that are placed in front of it.

Frequency response is also important. You want to purchase a mic that can reproduce a wide range of frequencies. Most microphones do a great job, having frequency ranges of 50 Hz to 15 kHz, which is more than enough for human voices. However, if you also plan to record musical instruments using the same mike, especially drums and/or bass guitars, you should weigh your options carefully.

Some broadcasters utilize wireless microphones, which can transmit the captured audio by making use of radio frequencies - often, the UHF band. Wireless mikes allow you to move around as you record your podcast, and this option may be useful for people who find their inspiration while on the go.

Modern microphones will typically fall into one of these two categories: dynamic and condenser. Dynamic mics are often used on stage, because they aren't very sensitive to unwanted noise sources and can successfully withstand minor accidents. However, condenser mics are much more sensitive and provide a better audio quality, so they are often used for podcasting.

Please be aware that if you go this route, you will have to plug your condenser microphone into a mixer that is able to supply 48V; otherwise, the mike won't work at all. It's true that there are some condenser mics that can be plugged into a standard USB port, but they incorporate tiny inverters which produce the needed 48V.

USB microphones are popular amongst broadcasters who use computers and/or laptops for their recording sessions. While I wouldn't recommend a $5 microphone to people who want to create high-quality podcasts, there are several USB-powered mics that offer huge value for the money. I use an AT2020USB+ mike for all my recordings, and I strongly believe that this piece of equipment is one of the best USB-based solutions that your money can buy. People who prefer to use standard equipment, plugging their microphones into a regular mixer, can choose from a much broader set of products, of course. In the end, it helps to use other people's experience as well. Join a dedicated forum, and then ask its members what equipment they are using to produce their podcasts.

Don't forget that you will have to purchase a few microphone accessories as well. You'll probably need a small stand, a few cables, one or two pop filters and various mounts.