Choosing the best microphone for recording video is crucial. If the audio in your video is poor quality, viewers will drop off very quickly.
Having the right microphone for recording video is a good place to start. But how do you know which microphone is going to serve your needs best with so many options to choose from? With this in mind, we wanted to know how different microphones stack up against each other.
So we tested 18 different microphones from brands like Blue, Rode, Shure, Sennheiser, and Audio Technica to see which are the best microphones for recording video.
The Recording Studio Set-Up
We wanted to test our microphones in a fair and consistent way. Below is a list of what we kept consistent for each recording:
The microphones were plugged into a 2015 Macbook Pro running MacOS Sierra 10.12.3 with the sound input level set to 67%. We did not adjust the level in order to keep the level consistent across microphones, and to mimic the plug-and-play experience a USB mic provides.
XLR microphones were plugged directly in a Zoom H4N digital recorder.
Recordings were taken directly from the SD card used in the device.
The same levels were used across all XLR microphones.
Microphones using an ⅛ inch jack were plugged into a Behringer Xenyx 302USB, which was plugged into the Macbook Pro.
Gain was set to the midpoint, with the EQ set even at zero for the Low and High. Mic level was just shy of the midpoint.
Same voice over talent for all recordings, which was Andrea Perry & Ryan Knott for the English voice overs, and Lars Grosspietsch for the German voice over. We also wanted to capture the difference between male and female voices.
Best Microphones for Recording Video – Our Top 5
We selected the following as our favorite microphones for recording video based on the test recordings we made. Check out our results below.
1. SE Electronics sE2200a II C Large Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone
This XLR mic isn’t a name that will roll off the tongue. However, this microphone has a great overall sound for both a male and female voice. Coming in at $280, it is well worth its value. The Microphone is an XLR microphone, and it needs to be powered.
This means you must have a mixer that provides power and accepts an XLR input. For Andrea’s recording, we felt like we needed to add a little bit of low end (bass). We tested adding bass in a different recording through a mixing board and felt it enhanced the quality of the mic even more.
2. Audio-Technica AT875R Line + Gradient Condenser Microphone
This XLR microphone was a surprise performer during our tests. This microphone has a small stature, but a great sound. As a shotgun mic, it has a line and gradient pick-up pattern.
This means it rejects a lot of noise from the side and is very directional.If you have someone controlling the placement of the mic, this is a positive. However, if you have an individual that tends to move as they talk, this can affect the recording.
3. Blue Yeti USB Microphone – Silver
The Blue Yeti is a USB microphone and has a price tag of $129. This microphone has a good sound and picked up minimal background noise in our quiet environment.
If looks matter and you want to impress your colleagues and boss, the Yeti is an impressive (and hefty microphone) and would be first on the list. The Yeti also offers a few different options not provided by the previously-mentioned microphones, including a switch for various polar patterns.
In addition to four polar patterns, there is also a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack that allows you to monitor the input of what you’re recording in real-time. Our only frustration was it wasn’t easy to mount to a mic stand. You can easily remove it from the provided base, but the size of the mount for the Yeti didn’t match our microphone stand.
4. Blue Snowball – USB
The next microphone on our list is the Blue Snowball. Overall, we did a lot of comparing of the Snowball to the Yeti, and the Snowball wasn’t too far behind. Coming in at around $69 dollars, it’s definitely a great microphone for anyone on a tight budget.
We really like that the Snowball had good volume to it. Given that we set the input and kept it consistent, some mics were pretty low and difficult to hear, but the Snowball had a lot of volume.
5. Zoom H4N Multitrack Recorder
The Zoom H4N is a very different type of microphone. It is both a microphone and a recorder. You can use it to record sounds, voice-overs, and interviews directly to an SD card, or you can plug in and record from up to 2 XLR microphones. Since we have a Zoom, we thought we’d give it a try as a standalone microphone.
The sound quality is pretty good, although it did pick up a lot of popping sounds during the voice-over. This problem could be remedied with a pop filter.
Overall, the Zoom is a versatile device that can go anywhere you go. On video shoots, we plug a wireless lapel mic directly into the camera, but set up the Zoom with another mic (usually a shotgun) to get a second audio source.
Also, there is a new version of the H4N available, which boasts of newer better microphones, among other features.
Honorable Mention:
Sennheiser EW 112P G3-A omni-directional EW System
If you’re looking for a wireless pack, and have a bit of a budget, we really like this Sennheiser.
Wireless microphones have two components: the transmitter and the receiver. The Sennheiser has a small battery-powered receiver that you can mount to a camera, or easily keep out of the way. Other wireless set-ups have a base station that needs to be plugged in and usually isn’t convenient if you’re out and about.
Final Thoughts
We talk a lot about audio being a critical part of your videos. And it’s true, bad audio will make bad videos. A good microphone will go a long way in helping you make better productions.
But it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. Remember to control the noise in the location (e.g.turn off overhead lights that buzz, turn off the HVAC.)
Finally, learn about your microphone and how to get the best sound out of it, and take the time to learn how to adjust it. It will be well worth it when your audience listens to your sweet audio as they watch your videos.