The 10 Best Microphones for Vocal of 2024

There are times one might need the best microphone for the vocal to record a podcast for the internet. One needs a responsive microphone that will serve the need and deliver excellent quality sound in such a case.

This is where the best microphones for vocal comes in. These microphones are specially designed to convert sound waves into electrical energy and transmit them over a long distance. Such microphones come in various sizes and shapes and are available for users.

With the vast array of vocal microphones available, it might be tedious to select the best one to serve your needs. As a result, our best microphone for vocal review will help shed light on various things you need to know before buying this.

Even before that, we have considered various top vocal mics in the market. We made our selection based on customer satisfaction, ease of use, and reviews. Therefore, users can be confident that whatever choice they are making from our best microphone for vocal review is a good one that will serve their needs.

In addition to choosing the best vocal microphones, we also have a section that explores important things users need to consider in selecting the best microphone for users. This also includes a buying guide section that dissects various questions users might have.

Best Overall: MXL V67G Large Capsule Condenser Microphone

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Everyone looking for a capsule microphone will find MXL V67G incredibly helpful. It is a condenser microphone that features a large capsule targeted majorly for vocals. It gives an open, clear, and distinct voice thanks to the Class A FET circuitry alongside the transformer.

Users will love the killer vocals available from this microphone that are aesthetically pleasing with a solid gold plate giving it a vintage body. This is a cleverly designed microphone that will give a clear sound.

The microphone features an isolation mount for users and a polar pattern of the cardioid. This is a lively mix that can bring warmth into your vocals with rich crystal clear sounds.

Best Value: Shure PGA58-XLR Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone

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Also on our list of high-quality professional mike for vocal is PGA58. This is a dynamic and high-quality vocal microphone with a highly durable design that delivers superb and crystal clear sound quality. We recommend it for use with the lead and backup vocals.

There is an on and off switch on the microphone, a carrying pouch, a swivel adapter alongside a choice of XLR cable. Users can trust the workmanship and professionalism of Shure microphones as it delivers unparallel sound quality with great durability.

The microphone is essential for stage performance and studio vocal recording. This set of wired microphones will meet various needs. Users can expect natural clarity in every available frequency range while having vocal performance. There are series of accessories that come with this microphone which will make it easy to use.

Best Pick: Rode Procaster Broadcast Dynamic Vocal Microphone

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Everyone in need of a broadcast-quality microphone that will offer a superb and dynamic performance should consider Rode pro caster. It is one of the top microphones in the broadcast world, with many top features that rival many contemporaries.

The microphone comes in a tight polar pattern and is designed for voice frequency response. There is also a pop filter located internally to reduce the plosive sound, which can affect the device’s smooth operation. With the internal pop filter, users are assured of minimal plosive sounds that might distort the output audio.

Everyone that wants a voice-over or broadcast microphone will find this product incredibly useful. There are more than one thousand reviews from satisfied customers attesting to the effectiveness of the microphone.

Best Versatile Microphone: Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone

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Available with more than two thousand customer reviews, Shure SM7B is one of the best microphones that can serve users for various purposes. The microphone comes with a wide-range frequency response that will serve speech and music in various professional audio settings.

This SM7B is an updated microphone, an improvement over old models. The bracket design is improved, which gives better stability. There is excellent shielding protection that keeps the device from electromagnetic hum that comes from surrounding electrical devices.

Besides the standard windscreen, users also get the A7WS Windscreen that helps with close-talk applications.

Best Priced Microphone: USB Microphone Kit 192KHZ/24BIT Plug & Play MAONO AU-A04 USB Computer Cardioid Mic

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This microphone from the Mano store has more than 4000 reviews, making it one of the best microphones for vocals. It features series of high qualified features that make it stand the test of time. The condenser features a high-quality sound chipset with which the mic can accommodate a high-resolution sampling rate.

A plug-and-play mic connects easily to a PC without extra software, driver, or sound card. The microphone enjoys double shielding that brings down interference. With this, users get a good sound output for the podcast, video call, and another form of recording.

Users who love a strong base response will enjoy this microphone as it comes with a 16 mm electric condenser transducer and magnetic ring. As a result, it gives out clear audio alongside a strong bass response. The extended frequency response makes it the appropriate choice for singing and all form of voice-over.

Best for Karaoke: Shure SM58-CN Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone

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One of the top vocal microphones available for users is Shure SM58. It is an incredibly helpful microphone for speaking and singing. With almost 6000 ratings, this mic has satisfied various users and served a series of generations. It is a pretty durable mic that will stand the test of time.

This is a unidirectional and dynamic vocal mic employed in the studio recording. Users will not have to deal with a pop noise as there is a pretty effective spherical filter built into it that takes care of this distortion. Also, there is a cardioid pickup pattern that reduces unwanted sound and magnifies the main sound source.

The rugged construction of the microphone makes it strong and durable to stand the test of time. There is a good shock mount system that helps the device perform better even with rough handling. It is good for indoor and outdoor use and will serve all your needs.

Best for Streaming: USB Microphone, Fifine Metal Condenser Recording Microphone

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This top microphone from the Fifine store is one of the best vocal microphones users can buy. It is pretty easy to use as one simply needs to plug and play and is compatible with Mac and PC. It is compatible with various recording software, which removes the need to download any driver.

The microphone comes with a cardioid pickup pattern. With this, background and interference noise will not affect your sound production. Users can control and adjust their voice input thanks to the volume control. This is a good mic suited for home studio recording, voice-over, and field recording.

It is made of metal and helps improve durability so that the microphone will stand the test of time. There is a Tripod desk stand that allows easy use on the table. Everyone that wants to record, podcast, etc., will find this mic incredibly helpful.

Best Microphone for Podcasting: Shure MV7 USB Podcast Microphone for Podcasting,

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Also on our list of best quality microphones for podcasting is Shure MVV7. Everyone that wants a balanced tone on their recording alongside vocal intelligence will find Shure MV7 incredibly helpful. There is a touch panel on the interface with which you can control the headphone level, mute, and monitor mix.

It features a metal design that adds to the aesthetic and also improves durability. It comes with a yoke that one can mount on a different type of microphone stand. With this, users get flexible placement options.

There is a Motiv desktop application that enables audio processing. Also, the auto-level mode adjusts automatically to compensate for gains and compression. This is an incredibly useful microphone that will serve all your needs.

Best for low noise recording: Electro-Voice RE320 Large Diaphragm Dynamic Vocal Microphone

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Electro-Voice microphone is one of the top products we recommend to take care of all your recording needs. The design is for recording and enforcement of sound application. This high-quality microphone will perform extremely well for low noise recording, and it features a transient response.

It is recommended for recording a series of electrical and acoustic sources of sound. Users will love the natural tonal performance with the dynamic content that it produces. With a switch position, it will deliver a lively and natural response.

The microphone is good and recommended for a podcast, sports concert, pro music, worship, etc. It delivers a dynamic and unparallel tone that will be pleasant to the ears.

Most Quiet Studio Microphone: Rode NT1-A Anniversary Vocal Cardioid Condenser

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Rode NT1A has set the definition for high-quality microphones. It is an upgraded version of the NT1 classic series. This mike is available at an affordable price with good sound quality production. The mike delivers warmth, clarity alongside an extended dynamic range.

The microphone has a noise level of 5dBA, making it one of the quietest studio microphones. With this low noise, the microphone will handle various recordings with musical instruments like guitars.

The microphone comes with everything users need to have an optimum recording solution. It works well for recording at home and in the studio. RODE uses the latest technology to keep the product at world-class standards.

Buyer’s Guide for Best Vocal Microphones

This section sheds light on everything users need to know before buying a reliable vocal microphone.

What is a Microphone?

A microphone works on the principle of a reversed loudspeaker. They are devices used to convert the vibration of sound into electrical signals. They provide the necessary medium to record various sound types be it music or vocal.

Working Principle of a Microphone

A microphone is a device that converts sound energy into electrical energy. The words from the mouth enter into the microphone, taking the form of sound waves. The hitting of the sound energy on the diaphragm causes the back and forth movement.

The coil travels through the magnetic field caused by the magnet located in the device that triggers the flow of electrical current in the coil. The electric energy is sent to an amplifier, and you have the sound. With a microphone, one can record and send one’s voice all around the globe.

Types of Microphones

There are two different forms of microphones: the condenser and dynamic microphones. Their uses and application are pretty different.

Dynamic Microphones

Conversion of sound energy to electrical energy takes place in a dynamic microphone via the process of electromagnetism. Also, it can happen in two ways: the ribbon mics and moving coil mics.

Moving coil mics require no external source of power. They are strong, explaining why they are the choice of many live artists when performing on stage. This is the most common type of microphone.

On the other hand, the working principle of a ribbon mic is similar to moving coil microphones, meaning that they work on electromagnetic induction.

Condenser Microphone

The presence of flat frequency response, alongside the sensitivity response in a condenser microphone, is the condenser microphone’s main feature. These mics are used in audio recording as they have diaphragms that vibrate on sensing sound waves, which causes a change of the distance between the front and back of the plate, which is carried about via electrical energy.

Choosing the Best Microphone

Microphones come in various types and are recommended for different use. Your use of the microphone is what will help you make a choice. In other words, where will you be recording? A studio? Live to play? Will the mic be used for vocals or instrument recordings?

After knowing what you will use the card for, you need a budget and decide the range of options.

What you need to Record Vocals

There are other essential gears one will need to have for recording vocals at home:

• Mic stand
• A PC
• Pop filter
• Headphones
• Audio Interface

These gears will come in pretty handy in making a quality recording for home. For professional recording, one might need way more instruments.

Comparing Dynamic and Condenser Diaphragm Type

The most widely used instrument for recording vocals is the condenser mic, even though one might still be able to use the dynamic mics as they are applicable for some scenarios.

However, many people believe that condenser microphones capture a couple of sonic detail with limited sound pressure. At the same time, dynamic mics can deal with loud sources of noise with a better ability to reject noise.

Condenser microphones, however, stand out as the safest, which is also pretty versatile compared to dynamic mics. Dynamic mics are recommended for band performance as they do not need any external power supply, compared to condenser mike that uses phantom power to work

Polar Pattern

The pattern is a measure of the reaction of the microphone to various sounds coming from different angles. For a microphone, there are various types of the pattern, but this article will explore the main patterns used in vocal microphone:

The most common pattern that people use in a vocal recording is cardioid with a front capture and rear rejection system. Here are other patterns commonly used in microphones:

Omnidirectional Pattern

The response to this pattern is a perfect sphere that has three dimensions. The microphone’s body obstructs the sound path from the rear, which triggers a slight flattening of the polar response. This flattening increases when the diameter gets to the frequency’s wavelength. A small dimension mic will give an ideal omnidirectional pattern at high frequencies.

Unidirectional Pattern

In contrast to the omnidirectional pattern, microphones with unidirectional patterns are only receptive and sensitive to sound from a single direction. There are various types of unidirectional patterns:

Cardioid Patterns

The form a heart shape assumes is what gave rise to this pattern. These patterns are applicable in microphones to record speech or vocals since they do not accommodate sound from other directions. The pickup from the side and rear is minimal, which repels feedback emanating from the PC’s screen.

The patterns are created via the sensing of pressure which triggers a boost in the bass if they are located near the sound source. Cardioid patterns override the sound waves generated from the back by releasing a negative signal that neutralizes the positive signals coming from the element.

Hyper-Cardioid Patterns

This pattern has a large similarity to cardioids even though with a huge figure 8 that helps create a tight area of front sensitivity and small lobe rear sensitivity.

Super-Cardioid Patterns

While these resemble hyper-cardioids, their front pickup is larger with small rear pickup. According to specifications, hyper-cardioids make nulls available at 109.5 using a combining ratio of 3:1 compared to super cardioids that give out its null ar 126.9, using a combining ratio of 5:3

Sub-Cardioid Patterns

The absence of null points characterizes these patterns. It also has a combining ratio of 7:3 and 3-10 dB level between the back and front pickup.

Unidirectional patterns and Omni-directional patterns find application in vocal mics.

Frequency Response

This is the measure of the strength of the mic and its sensitivity to different frequencies. This will typically be available in a chart form, which will reveal the main frequencies that are de-emphasized and emphasized. Users will get a flat and neutral sound even though some people might prefer extra features like warmth. Singers who have a low-pitch will find a strong frequency mic incredibly helpful since it is possible to adjust the highs if the voice is naturally high-pitched.

If you are familiar with the voice being recorded, it will be pretty easy to use the frequency charts. This explains why there are a wide array of various mics available in professional studios to serve various type of voice. We recommend starting using a flat EQ and adjust accordingly before you switch mics.

Pop Filter

The pop filter is like a barrier to prevent excessive air movement but allows sound to pass through. The sudden movement of air from the pronunciation of some letters like b and p (called plosives) might trigger unwanted volume or cause signal clipping which does not make sense when recording vocals. There are bundled pop filters with a lot of microphones, even though their quality varies.

Condenser microphones on the high-end side do come with a built-in pop filter, which allows for noise protection and comfortable pop.

Sound Pressure Level with Attenuation Pads

This is the maximum volume available in decibels that the mic will be exposed to before a signal distortion occurs. This does not give any issue with vocal recording. For people, however, that want a versatile mic that will be used with loud instruments like amplifiers and noise, it is essential to consider mics with high sound pressure.

Many of the mics present in our review come with switchable attenuation pads, which makes it pretty easy to handle loud sound noise without affecting the output. This makes it important to have a good SPL meter even for home use. It is available as an app for use on the smartphone or hardware to buy for pretty accurate measurement.

The versatility of the Mic

Even though the center of the mics in this review is for recording vocals, many products work effectively with other instruments. For instance, dynamic mics with high max SPL are best suited for loud instruments like an amplifier, drums, etc.

On the other hand, a condenser mic is good for acoustic guitars alongside other acoustic instruments. One needs to be aware of the instrument that will be used for recording and get the vocal mics that will be a perfect blend.

Power Source (Phantom Power)

A lot of audio interfaces and other studio mixing equipment give phantom power. People that, however, have old equipment might need a separate mike preamp that will provide power to the condenser mics.

A couple of condenser mics are powered with phantom power, as they feature dedicated power to supply the needed power as common in tube-driven mics. People buying dynamic mics might not worry about a power supply; hence they need not worry if this is the choice.

FAQ for Vocal Microphones for Live Recording

Q: What is a Vocal Microphone?
A: We define a vocal microphone as one that is specifically designed for use with vocals or singing. There is no dedicated input or output like a speaker mic, but it comes with a USB port.

It is connected to a PC using the USB, and the mic is plugged into the USB input. It functions the same way a regular mic does even though there is the added function of the ability to record.

Q: Is there any difference between a Dynamic and a Condenser Mic used for singing?
A: Condenser mics stand out due to their ability to pick up sounds with low frequency, like the humming of a bee is important to acoustic guitars and vocals.

On the other hand, dynamic microphones are pretty versatile due to their ability to pick sounds with higher frequency. This makes them ideal for acoustic instruments with vocal recordings. Also, they are often expensive compared to concise mics.

Q: An external Microphone will be good for what sound quality?
A: With an external mic, it is pretty easy to capture high-quality recordings since it removes the need for using an internal microphone. If you have a mic that has an input with every channel available, you will have more control over the recording since the mic will not pick up any interference that is irrelevant to the recording.

Q: What is the best mic for vocal recording?
A: There are various microphones one can use for vocal recording. A few of these are explained below.

• A dynamic mic is a good idea for pretty aggressive genres and singers like metal and rock
• Condenser mics are good for gentle and more controlled music like pop
• Ribbon mics are recommended for genres with vibes like blues and jazz.

Q: Are Condenser mics better for Vocals?

A: The idea behind condenser mics is to record high frequencies and vocals. These mics find application in many studios. Many studios use them for their accuracy and detail, explaining why it is called capacitor microphones.

Q: How can one Chose a Microphone for Singing?
A: Here is a summarized checklist for choosing a vocal microphone for singing:

• Check the frequency response
• Access the polar pattern
• Check how sensitive it is
• Check the noise level and dynamic range

Q: Why do some people hold the mic close to their mouth?
A: the reason some singers have their mic so close to their mouth is to enable them to hear their voice effectively and clearly. If the microphone is far from their mouth, it will not give them a better idea of the sound they produce. Also, the singer will be able to push their voice very loud to compensate for the channels set on their PA.

Q: Will a mic improve one’s sound quality?
A: if you have a good microphone with the right microphone placement, it can make one’s voice better. As a result, one should consider microphones that have fairly flat frequency responses. We recommend a mic with a sensitivity rating and polar pattern that blends with the voice and recording environment.

Q: Why do you need a condenser mic?
A: A condenser mic does need phantom power to operate. This power is usually supplied to the mic from the mixing board – usually a 48-volt power through the XLR cable.

It might not work with XLR to Stereo mini-plug, but we recommend a USB audio interface.

Q: Will a Condenser mic require phantom power?
A: A condenser mic does come with active electronics that require an external source of power, unlike dynamic mics that are passive and need no phantom power. Due to the working principle of condenser mice, they give a pretty high output impedance that necessitates a powered circuit to bring down the impendence.

Q: Will a Condenser mic work on stage?
A: Using instruments with a higher frequency like a cymbal, for instance, will require a condenser mic since a dynamic mic will not pick it up. When using acoustic pianos as well, a condenser will make the output amazing.

However, we recommend having a condenser mic fixed on the higher end and a dynamic mic on the lower string end for a fantastic setup.

Conclusion

This is a comprehensive exploration of the best vocal mics available in 2021. The article has everything users need to make the best choice of a good and worthwhile vocal microphone.

If you are not decided on the best choice of a vocal microphone to make, we recommend going with MXL V67G Large Capsule Condenser Microphone. It is a large capsule mic targeted at vocals with series of top qualities that will make it stand the test of time.

We also have a detailed buying guide that will help interested buyers make a good choice of the best vocal microphone. Finally, our FAQ section explores possible questions users might have.