This decade is undoubtedly being dominated by content creation. YouTube is one of the biggest generators of income. Over the years many subscribers changed to creators and are now managing their own channels. This shows how good the YouTube business is. But it is a competition too and every aspect of your video has to undergo a thorough judgement. It takes a lot of effort to make your video stand out. You would have discovered that the input microphone of your laptop or phone or camera is not good enough. Sometimes, mediocre video quality is still accepted by the audience, but the sound quality is not something you should take a chance with. You know that your videos deserve the best mic for Youtube. If you are a beginner at YouTube, you should focus on bettering each aspect of your video to help your channel grow.
What is a microphone and why is it needed?
A microphone is a device that helps convert sound energy to electrical energy. Every microphone is provided with a diaphragm. On speaking into a microphone, the sound waves hit the diaphragm and vibrate. These vibrations are converted into signals and a mic works. Mics are of different qualities and can be used for different purposes. You might have seen Pros’ microphones in the studio or on Tv. When you compare the mics present on your mobile phone or your computer, the studio microphones are bigger. It goes without saying that the bigger the microphone, the better is the sound quality. The content of your YouTube can be hampered if the sound quality is not good enough. In the era of content creation, it takes a lot for your videos to stand out and getting a good sound quality increases the chances. To make sure you add great quality of voice, given below is a list of things you should focus on before investing in a microphone.
Different types of microphones
The 2 major types of microphones are-
- Dynamic Microphones
- Condenser microphones
Dynamic microphones
These are straightforward and work opposite to how speakers work. They consist of a diaphragm connected to a voice coil. The voice coil vibrates freely in a magnetic field. When it vibrates, it generates an EMF corresponding to the sound. It is then amplified to be heard.
Condenser microphones
These work based on capacitance and usually need the power to work. A 48V power (known as Phantom) is fed in from the sound card or the USB of the computer. It also has a diaphragm and thin plate at the back, The sound waves hitting the diaphragm cause vibrations, changing the distance between two plates and therefore cause capacitance.
Mics are of different qualities and can be used for a variety of purposes. Sometimes, due to your content, you may require more than just one type of mic. Usually because of this reason YouTubers prefer having 2-3 different types of mics. Let us dive into the different types of mics that you can use for your videos.
Based on the purpose, mics can be classified into three categories-
- Lavalier microphone
- Shotgun
- Studio microphone
Lavalier microphone
These are a small grade of microphones often hooked to your shirt pocket, collar, or tie. They are a small variety of condenser microphones. Their small size makes it easy to hide them in the outfit. The quality is good but not nearly as good as a bigger condenser microphone. It can either be connected to a wireless receiver or can directly be connected to the phone. These are some of the best microphones for YouTube because of their simple design and is a great option for beginners.
Shotgun microphones
These microphones are named so as they resemble a shotgun barrel. The reason is that it captures sound only in front of the microphone, unlike other omnidirectional microphones. Microphones have holes in them which are responsible for cancelling the sound that is not from the front. Any sound coming from the side of the microphone will be cancelled out. The benefit of this microphone is that one can attach it to the camera or separately on a stand and it will still pick up the sound, even from a distance. Hence, while recording YouTube videos you can place the mic away from the camera range and it will still pick up your sound. These are usually condenser microphones.
Studio microphones
These microphones as the name suggests are used in studios. They can work well for recording YouTube videos. Since these are studio microphones, they are of high quality. Since quality comes at a price, these are usually costly. These are mostly near field microphones, and they must be near the speaker. Due to this, it can be seen through the frame of the video. They usually have a bigger diaphragm for high-quality sound. The non-USB version would require a compatible sound card that can supply dc 48V to the condenser microphone.
Classification based on Directionality
- Omnidirectional- Omnidirectional means the microphone is sensitive to sound from 360 degrees. That means, it can pick up the sound from any direction. Lavalier microphones and some dynamic microphones are omnidirectional.
- Unidirectional- This means, the microphone can receive the sound only from one direction and highly likely, it is from the front direction. Shotgun microphones are the best example of it. They are sensitive to the sounds only from in front and not from the sides.
- Bi-directional– In this case, the microphones are sensitive to sound in two directions. Usually front and back. Condenser microphones used in talk shows or studios are the example of bi-directional microphones. They have a figure of 8 patterns. Hence, they can be adjusted to receive the sound from the front and back.
When should you choose a Lavalier microphone?
You should choose this microphone only if you cannot use a shotgun microphone or studio microphone. The reason being the others can perform significantly better than the two; not only because of the diaphragm size but also because those are the direct line of sight towards the diaphragm, unlike the lavaliere mics that are on the colour or tie.
When should you opt for a Shotgun microphone?
Of all the types of microphones, shotgun is considered the best mic for youtube. They are extremely convenient to use. Mostly, they are ‘set it and forget it’ type. They reject ambient noise and focus on audio clarity. Like a telescope, even if it is installed way away from you, it can still capture the sound crystal clear. Also, the sound from this microphone is natural sounding. Moreover, you can keep it at a place, the camera does not cover it and yet your audio quality will be good. This is best if you want to record podcasts too.
When should one opt for studio microphones?
Studio microphones give the best sound quality. This is because studio microphones are designed and developed with one thing in mind: the sound quality for the price. They have big diaphragms which are very efficient in capturing sound. Also, they cancel some of the noises where the microphones are not sensitive. Generally, these are seen in the frame as these microphones expect the person to be as close as possible. These can be used for recording podcasts as well as live streaming. It can also be used to capture an interview between 2 people. Its wide soundstage allows you to use it for singing as well as recording instruments.
Note
The microphone that will be best for YouTube depends on the type or style of videos one shoots. For example, if you do not want to trouble yourself with how close you are to the mic, then Lavalier microphones would work the best. If you are into vlogging, interview shots or run-and-gun types of videos then the shotgun mic is the best choice.
Since we have spoken about the factors to keep in mind while buying a microphone, we now will give you a few options to choose from. Are you looking for a cheap yet decent mic without compromising quality for recording vocals, making educational videos, or recording video from mobile for YouTube in India? These mics also work well on your laptop or PC for recording amazing Audio-Video content for making videos for YouTube or Instagram TV or even creating your podcast. You can also use one of these mics in gaming, these are the best cheap microphones for gaming and the best USB mic for gamers.
List of the Best Mic for Youtube
Rode compact microphone
This is a lightweight and compact-sized microphone that can be plugged into your camera or phone. It can also be used with a high-quality DSLR. This compact-sized mic comes in at an affordable rate and does an amazing job of recording a YouTube video. It requires no battery and is powered when plugged into a phone or camera. It has a frequency response of 20KHz and weighs around 42g. The dimensions of this mic are 21mmH x 21mmH x 80mmD. This microphone comes with a 1-year warranty, with a free extension to 2 years following registration. This is a directional microphone. It is efficient at minimising unwanted vibrations, handling, and cable-borne noise than traditional elastic suspensions. You can buy it here.
Blue Yeti
Blue Yeti is one of the most popular choices amongst YouTubers. This mic offers a great quality sound that can be recorded under four different patterns- stereo mode, cardioid mode, omnidirectional mode, bidirectional mode. These four modes offer different features which you can customize. With this mic, you get much control over your recording since you can instantly customize the sound in real-time. This product makes the professional difference for recording, streaming, and building your audience. It has studio controls for headphone volume, pattern selection, instant mute, and microphone gain. You can monitor your voice in real tie mixed with the sound from your computer to make sure your streams sound great. However, It does not have a standard size and its controls and buttons are complex.
Blue Snowball
Blue Snowball mic is very useful if you want to create podcasts or add narration to your YouTube video. You can even record the instruments voice with the help of this mic. It comes with an adjustable stand and easy to the plug-in cord. The frequency range of this mic is 20 kHz. It captures your voice with clear, focussed sound for streaming and Skype calls. It delivers crystal clear audio quality that is light years ahead of your computers built-in microphone. However, No complete control over the recording process. It also sounds more like commercial than professional. It is one of the best mic for Youtube.
Rode Procaster
Rode Procaster gives a low yet balanced impedance output of your recording. It has an internal pop filter that reduces the plosives in any sounds recorded. To maintain smooth recording, it comes with an internal shock mount that reduces handling noises. It has a frequency range of 20 kHz and weighs 745g. Procaster is perfect for every application where a great sounding, rugged microphone with superior ambient noise rejection is demanded. It includes a stand mount,3/8-inch adaptor and zip pouch. You can also use Clouldlifter CL-1, or you can without any issue use straight into Zoom H5. It has a decade-long warranty. However, It doesn’t sound that good with instruments. It also experiences some issues with plosives.
Rode SmartLav+
Rode SmartLav+ is the easiest to go microphone. All you need to do is plug it in your phone or camera and you are good to go. It is compatible with both Android and IOS products. It offers great quality broadcast sound. If you are a beginner to YouTube, this mic is highly recommended. It has a 3.5 mm jack and has a frequency response of 20 kHz. It is also compatible with Rode Wireless Go, you can use it with most 3.5 mm TRS microphone input like DSLR, Recorders etc.
The dimensions of this product are 10.16 x 10.16 x 2.54 cm, and it weighs around 30 grams. You will get a nice 4.5 mm wide diaphragm inside the microphone that captures crystal clear audio. It is included with a windshield that can reduce the ‘P’s, ’T’s, and ’S’ sounds while talking. This microphone has got a kevlar reinforced cable for maximum durability. You can get Rode SC3 adapter if you want to combine it with a recorder or camera. However, it is compatible with selected devices. You may also need an extension as it usually has a short cable.
Samson Go
Samson Go is the cheapest microphone on this list. But don’t judge it for its price and size. You’ll discover that it offers quite a lot more than what you can expect at this price range. This microphone is the cutest and smallest microphone that I’ve used so far. Surprisingly, it is made of a metal body, and measures around 70.5 X 43.5 X 23mm. The microphone employs two back to back, cardioid capsules. What this means is, it offers two recording modes – cardioid and Omni pattern. You also get a mic storage clip, which has an awesome swivel joint that lets you set your microphone at whatever angle you require.
AKG Lyra Ultra- HD
This is coming from the AKG, one of the finest players in the microphone department. AKG Lyra Ultra HD is their value for money offering in a similar form factor of legendary AKG C414. This is a USB type C microphone. You can forget about the sound card entirely. This is a capsule microphone that uses multiple condenser mics to get the directionality. The cool thing is it has a gain control and a mode selector. Gain control can be used to adjust the gain so that we get the needed loudness out of the microphone. The mode selector is another thing that sets this microphone apart from others. It has 4 modes.
- Front only – useful for talking on YouTube and doing podcasts.
- Front and back – used to capture two people on an interview from either side of the microphone
- Tight stereo – you can use it for singing. The output will be stereo. The centre image is the primary point of focus.
- Wide stereo – used for recording instruments. This gives a wide soundstage.
There is an additional mute switch that can be handy during a variety of situations. There is a headphone output with which you can listen to it with zero latency. This is a boon for live performance. As a bonus, it comes with a removable desktop stand. It is quite easy to recommend AKG Lyra microphones. If showing the mic on the frame is no issue, It is simply the best microphone for YouTube in India.
Conclusion
We hope that you are now clear about which is the best mic for youtube to opt for. So, what are you waiting for? Purchase any of these mics and take your YouTube channel to new heights of success. Each of the mics has some of the special features that make it unique. It can not only enhance your channel but also get recognition to a great extent. You can also read about some of the best home theatre systems in India here.
