From one perspective, the best microphone is the one that is affordable and gets the job done which is why many of these criteria could be considered “nice to haves,” and not “need to haves.” The best microphone for your voice won’t necessarily be the most expensive one on the market. When it Comes to Microphone Price – More Expensive isn’t Always Better If you’re looking at a high end microphone, you might consider renting a few mics for a couple hundred dollars overnight to test a few pieces of equipment before investing a couple of thousand dollars on the right microphone for your voice. Testing a Microphone with Your Voice is KeyĮxperiment with a friend’s microphone or borrow a handful of microphones from the music store and test them out. For instance, if there is a low rumbling under foot, the shock mount can absorb it. One of the benefits of a shock mount is that the microphone is isolated from stand vibrations. I have one of the USB microphone that we use at the office for podcasting. Don’t Forget a Shock MountĪ shock mount is a mechanical fastener that holds your microphone in place, suspending them by elastics. If you’re curious about pop filters or want to learn more about whether or not you should use them (some people prefer not to), take a look at this article discussing the benefits of using a pop filter. The pop filter acts as a screen that helps to reduce the impact of the air from your mouth onto the microphone capsule which results in the minimization of sibilance, plosives and other mouth noises. Choose a Pop FilterĪ pop filter is considered a standard accessory for voice over artists. This type of polar pattern will minimize room tone and ambient noise as it’s designed to pick up sounds within close proximity of the front of the microphone. The polar pattern you should be looking for is a cardioid or a hypercardioid. For voice overs, a more focused directional microphone is likely best. Test the Vocal Mic’s Directionalityĭecide which type of directional pattern, also known as a microphone’s polar pattern, best suits your needs. As an orchestra prepares to tune, the principal violinist will play this pitch to help others in the ensemble tune their instruments. To give you an example, you might be familiar with A440, also known as Concert Pitch. The higher the vibrations per second, the brighter the sound.