Best Podcast Microphone For Mac 2018

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  1. Best Podcast Microphone 2018
  2. Best Podcasting Microphone For Mac 2018
  3. Best Podcast Microphone For Mac 2018 Update
  4. Best Podcast Microphone For Cheap
  5. Best Podcasts 2018 For Women

BestUSB Microphone for MaciMore2019

The Best Microphone for Podcasting – Review 2018 Podcasts are all about talking and if you can’t clearly hear what is been said, then it totally beats the purpose. The secret to a great podcast is not just great content but an equally good microphone that will make your content sound professional. If you want a mic truly built for Mac, Apogee is the way to go. Besides recording as normal when connected to your MacBook, it also has the ability to connect to your iPad or iPhone and integrate with Garageband for optimal productivity. This is a cardioid condenser microphone. The Apple Podcast app comes built into every iOS device with syncing. It feels like a 2018 reimagining of what a podcast app should look like. Anyone with a microphone and a hosting plan. This is video 2 from my 2018 podcasting tutorial created to help you get a successful podcast launched so that you can grow your business and brand, spread your message, and ultimately make an.

When it comes to USB microphones for your Mac the best option when it comes to versatility and convenience is the Blue Yeti. Not only can it record in four different modes, but it's 16bit/48kHz recording sample rate always comes out sounding loud and clear.

Best Overall: Blue Yeti

The four different recording modes is where the Blue Yeti really shines because it there's practically nothing you can't record with the Blue Yeti if it's set on the right mode. I'm not the only one on the iMore team that loves the Blue Yeti, Rene Ritchie, star of Vector on YouTube has been using his for years and he loves how easy the Blue Yeti is to use.

'Blue Yeti is still my pick for best USB microphone — not just for the Mac but for anyone starting out doing anything, including podcasts, audiobooks, live streams, videos, and more. It plugs right into your device, no audio interface needed, sounds great out of the box, and has a few simple options if you need to adjust for particular circumstances, like two people sharing one mic. Of course, it can't beat a high-end XLR mic and interface, but at a tenth or less the price, it sounds so good you'll probably think twice, hard, before considering those higher-end purchases. It's the mic I used for years, still, travel with today, and always recommend to anyone who asks.' — Rene Ritchie, 10-year podcast veteran and host of iMore show, MacBreak Weekly, and VECTOR

Its basic cardioid mode is fantastic for capturing a single voice or instrument in front of the mic, making it perfect for game streaming, video calls, or vocals.

The omnidirectional mode allows the Blue Yeti to pick up sounds from all around it, meaning you can put it in the middle of a table and have multiple people speaking, and it won't miss a single word. This mode is great for podcasting with multiple hosts and guests, or for capturing the noise around you.

Bidirectional mode allows the Blue Yeti to be an interview microphone with minimal setup. Just put the microphone between you and the other person speaking and never touch it again.

Lastly, stereo recording mode allows the Blue Yeti to use the left and right channels to record in stereo and give your recordings a more realistic soundstage when there is more than one sound source in front of the microphone.

Pros:

  • Headphone jack for live monitoring
  • Manually gain adjustment
  • Four record modes
  • Great price

Best Overall

Blue Yeti

Most features for the best price

With four recording modes, plug-and-play functionality, live monitoring via the headphone jack, and manual gain control, the Blue Yeti offers the most versatile and convenient experience for the best price.

The Rode Podcaster is a fantastic microphone for anyone that wants to record their voice. Whether you're making Skype calls, podcasting, or recording yourself streaming, the Rode Podcaster has a tight cardioid pattern that rejects sound from the rear or too far away, making sure you have a clear recording with no unwanted noise coming from all around you.

The Rode Podcaster is a very simple, but elegant USB microphone that iMore managing editor Lory Gil has been using with great success for years.

'I use the Rode Podcaster bundle. It's easy to set up, sounds great, and the boom stand mounts to my desktop so I can swivel it into range when I need it. The Rode is specially designed for voice, so it has warm tones with even bass and the cardioid pattern isolates my voice so there isn't too much background noise being picked up.'* — Lory Gil, Managing Editor of iMore

Pros:

  • Comes with stand
  • Some with shock mount
  • Excellent sound isolation

Excellent Sound Isolation

Rode Podcaster

Boom arm and shock mount included

The Rode Podcaster is a solid choice for anyone who wants to ensure that background noise is no issue when recording. It's included boom stand and shock mount make the microphone easy to use and reduce any accidental noises caused by the microphone moving.

Blue's newest USB microphone takes a lot of what people love about the Blue Yeti and shrinks it down (both in size and price) into a pretty compelling product. Both its cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns support sample rates up to 24-bit at 48Khz and it's included stand keeps it stable while recording so you don't get any noise from the microphone moving around.

Cons:

  • No manual gain control
  • Only two recording patterns

Smaller Yet

Blue Yeti Nano

A compact microphone that still offers a lot.

Both the cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns support sample rates up to 24-bit at 48Khz (which is slightly better than its larger cousin) and just like it's size, the price has also been cut down into a more affordable price range.

Great for Singer/Songwriter: Audio-Technica AT2020 USB

Functioning much like a traditional XLR microphone, the Audio-Technica AT2020USB is ideal for the singer/songwriter in you who loves to record digitally. Being a cardioid microphone, the AT2020 USB performs best when recording sound from a single source located in front of the microphone. What makes the AT2020 USB so great for musicians is its ability to easily fit into shock mounts and mic booms, allowing you to position the microphone perfectly in your space.

Pros:

  • Shock mount compatible
  • Live monitoring with headphone jack
  • Plug-and-play

Great for Singer/Songwriter

Audio-Technica AT2020USB

Perfect for instruments and vocals

Being a cardioid microphone, the AT2020USB performs best when recording sound from a single source located in front of the microphone. 16bit/48kHz recording sample rate and ability to fit in most shock mounts and mic stands makes it perfect to record all sorts of instruments and vocals.

Although the Meteor is only meant to capture a single sound source, it does record all of its audio at a 16 bit, 48kHz sample rate, which means you're getting great sounding audio every time you sit in front of it. It's lightweight and quite compact, allowing you to transport the Meteor anywhere you need to go, so you never have to worry about sounding bad when you're on the road.

Pros:

  • Super compact and portable
  • Plug-and-play
  • Inexpensive

Cons:

  • Poor sound isolation
  • Only one recording pattern

Budget Option

Samson Meteor

Perfectly portable to take anywhere

If you're just looking for a microphone that can help you sound clear on video calls, or on occasion record the odd conversation, the Samson Meteor is perfect. It's small and easy to carry around meaning you can always bring it anywhere with your MacBook, and its price can't be beaten.

Bottom line

Much like Rene has said the Blue Yeti is the best all-around microphone for most Mac users. It's four recording modes offer an incredible amount of versatility, meaning regardless of what you're trying to record, you should be able to get a high-quality recording. I have personally used my Blue Yeti to record podcasts with multiple guests, record guitar and vocals on a musical track, and every day for multiple Skype and Google Hangouts over the past couple years and I have never been disappointed.

Best Podcast Microphone 2018

Best Overall

Blue Yeti

Most features for the best price

With four recording modes, plug-and-play functionality, live monitoring via the headphone jack, and manual gain control, the Blue Yeti just offers the most versatile and conveinent experience for the best price.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Luke Filipowicz is an iMore staff writer who has been using microphones to record podcasts and even his band on his Mac.

Lory Gil is the Managing Editor of iMore and knows her way around a microphone, as she records multiple podcasts every week.

Rene Ritchie is the foremost authority on all things Apple and has insider knowledge about the goings on at the biggest tech company in the world. He uses microphones with his Mac everyday to record video, interviews, podcasts, and much more!

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Podcasting has been experiencing a renaissance lately, and for good reason. Podcasts can be about a wide variety of topics, from Apple to sports, comedy, storytelling and so much more. It’s a great time to get into podcasting because the barrier to entry is so low and you don’t have to break the bank to buy a totally workable setup.

Some of the greatest podcasts in the iTunes Top Charts are regularly recorded using sub-$100 to $300 mics. Whether you want to gain influence in a community or nerd out about the latest iPhone, a podcast is a great place to do it.

That’s why I want to show you how to set up a podcasting rig for under $300, and include some great insights along the way.

Microphones: condenser versus dynamic

Your audio is only going to be as good as your weakest link, so it’s important to start with good mic technique and a good microphone. You may have heard about all sorts of different mics, but for our purposes we’re going to focus on condenser and dynamic microphones.

Condenser mics

A condenser microphone is very sensitive due to the way it’s built. This type of microphone usually has an incredibly even frequency response and picks up detail nicely. It can handle loud noises very well.

Just remember that extra sensitivity comes at a price. Condenser mics usually pick up a ton of background noise, including people outside or in other rooms, low-end rumble from air conditioning, and a lot more. If you’re in a perfect situation (such as a studio or really quiet room), a condenser is worth buying because of its crisp sound. Otherwise, you might want to consider a dynamic mic.

Dynamic mics

A dynamic microphone is typically a live mic. You’ll usually see these at live shows because of their durability and their ability to accept loud sounds. A dynamic mic is great for a podcaster because you have to be close to it for it to pick up your voice. The great part about that is that it doesn’t pick up background noise nearly as much as a condenser would. You have to be careful with dynamic mics, because they certainly don’t always sound as even as a condenser. But in a lot of instances, they are good enough for recording voices. They also work in many other situations, such as recording guitar, drums and even recording the president. For these reasons, dynamic mics have become staples in the studio.

For our budget, I’m going to recommend one good condenser mic and one good dynamic mic. Also, these will be USB mics, so you won’t have to worry about buying an audio interface, XLR cables or a mixer.

For a condenser, I recommend the Blue Yeti. I’ve had such good experiences with Blue Microphones in the past, this was a no-brainer. The company makes beautiful microphones. Not only are they constructed well and great-sounding, but they look good too. You can find the Yeti for around $120, and sometimes even sub-$100. The great thing about the Yeti is that it has selectable polar patterns, which means the mic can record in front of you, in the front and the back of the mic (if you have a person on either side of it), or in 360-degree omnidirectional mode, which records all around the mic (in case you have a large group of people you need to record). It also has a mute button, and more importantly a headphone jack. The headphone jack lets you hear yourself coming through the microphone, which really helps determine if you’ve got a good recording early on.

For a dynamic microphone, I’d recommend the Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB. I’d love to recommend the Røde Podcaster because I really love Røde Microphones as a brand, but the Podcaster line has taken a dip in quality recently. The Audio-Technica can be used as a live mic or a USB podcasting mic. As I stated before, because it’s a dynamic microphone, it’s great for rejecting outside noise. It has a pretty even frequency response, a headphone jack for monitoring yourself, and doesn’t break the bank at just $40!

Remember to focus on your situation when it comes to selecting a mic, and choose the one that’s best-suited to your recording location!

Best Podcasting Microphone For Mac 2018

Headphones and accessories

If you’re using a condenser mic, there are two accessories that are crucial for use: a pop filter and a shockmount.

A pop filter screens out the plosives in your voice. A plosive is a P or a B sound that makes a short burst of air and can really ruin a great recording. The pop filter I recommend is the Samson PS01. It’s only $25, and it does the job perfectly. You can attach this to any microphone stand, place the pop filter in front of the mic, and you’re ready to go.

For a microphone stand, I’d recommend the On-Stage MS7701B. This boom stand is perfect because it can get out of the way, and has a little bit more flexibility than a desktop stand. You could invest in a fancy desk-mounted boom arm, but it’d be a little too pricey for our budget.

If you’re using a condenser, you’re also going to want to buy a shockmount. Shockmounts range from $20 to $50 on the low end, and are important for keeping noise and rumble out of your recordings. They absorb any shocks to the stand, and help the mic produce a great recording. I won’t recommend a specific one here because they’re typically pretty unique for each mic, so make sure to find the right one for your mic before buying!

Mac

Having good headphones is important to your overall podcast rig, because it’s helpful to be able to hear everything you’ve recorded accurately. Sennheiser has been making great headphones and other products for a long time, and I’m going to recommend the HD202 II model. At just $23, these headphones are a steal. They have a decent frequency response, and are comfortable if you’re going to be wearing them for extended periods of time. I’ve loved the HD 280 Pro headphones for some time, but these 202’s at under $25 make perfect sense for this budget.

GarageBand and Pro Tools First

We have our microphone, accessories and headphones — so now what? The last thing we need is a place to record it all. For this I’m going to recommend two programs that are perfect when it comes to recording, editing and mixing podcasts.

The first is GarageBand, which is made by Apple. GarageBand is great for dealing with a few tracks of audio, and it will also help anyone looking to get a head start on learning Apple’s pro product, Logic. GarageBand is easy to record into, and has some great features when it comes to mixing voices. It comes with a number of built-in audio plugins for EQ, compression and more. It also supports the Audio Units plugin format, so you can get some heavy-hitting processing if you’re looking to spend a little more money.

The other program I recommend is Pro Tools First. Avid’s Pro Tools recording software has long been the industry standard. Pro Tools First is a stripped-down version of the company’s flagship program that allows you to record (16 tracks), edit and mix all your audio. They even include more than 20 plugins to process your tracks (including EQ, compression and more). I find editing and mixing audio is easier in Pro Tools, but I think the most important thing to do is learn one program very well (keyboard shortcuts, what each knob is, etc.) and be proficient in that program.

I’d recommend trying out both, and seeing which program fits your needs best.

The ins and outs

Rogue Amoeba also makes some fantastic software. For a long time, I’ve used their Piezo app, which is perfect for recording Skype calls with two people. Since we have a good amount of money left in our budget, I’m actually going to recommend Rogue Amoeba’s higher-end and more fully featured software, Audio Hijack. You’re sure to get a ton of use out of this program.

What Audio Hijack does is allow you to route audio from pretty much anywhere into a host of other locations, including recording right within the program. You can take audio from Skype, iTunes, the web and a number of other places and route it wherever you need it to go. Think of it as a virtual patch bay for your audio.

After you’ve plugged your mic in via USB, recorded your audio and dropped it into your editing and mixing program of choice, you’re all set to ship your podcast to the world!

Breakdown of pricing

Best Podcast Microphone For Mac 2018 Update

So where did we end up with all the components I’ve recommended? Let’s take a look at both the condenser and dynamic mic packages:

Condenser mic podcast setup

  • Blue Yeti condenser microphone – $120
  • Stand (built in to the Yeti) – Free
  • Pop filter – $25
  • Shockmount (Not needed with the Yeti, because of the built-in stand) – Typically $30 and up
  • Sennheiser HD 202 II headphones – $23
    GarageBand or Pro Tools – Free ($4.99 for GarageBand on 2012 and older Macs)
  • Audio Hijack – $49

Total = $247

Dynamic mic podcast setup

Best Podcast Microphone For Cheap

  • Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB – $40
  • Microphone stand – $25
  • Sennheiser HD 202 II headphones – $23
  • GarageBand or Pro Tools – Free ($4.99 for GarageBand on 2012 and older Macs)
  • Audio Hijack – $49

Total = $137

As you can see, the barrier to entry for podcasting has gotten incredibly low. This is great news for anyone wanting to start a podcast or participate in an existing one.

Best Podcasts 2018 For Women

This post was syndicated via The App Factor.