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TOP 10 Best Microphones for Vlogging and Streaming of 2023

For vloggers, generally the most exciting piece of equipment to talk about or buy is the camera. Considering it is directly responsible for the maximal quality of your footage, it only makes sense that it would often be the most interesting piece of equipment. However, it is only half of the input, and your vlogs would look awkward without the best microphone for vlogging to add the audio.

Of course, the type of vlogging you do will play a large part in determining what microphone will serve the best. If you shoot footage on the spot, you will likely prefer either a microphone that can be mounted directly to your camera or one that will record wirelessly.

Figuring out which is the microphone for vlogging can be a difficult and confusing task. That is why we have put together a list of the 10 best microphones for vlogging, highlighting what each one does best. Then we provide a helpful buyer’s guide, so you can find the best microphone for vlogging that is right for you.

Best Microphones for Vlogging

1. Best Smart Device Lapel Microphone

PowerDeWise Lavalier Microphone

PowerDeWise Microphone Review
PowerDeWise Microphone

The PowerDeWise is, more likely than not, not a product that you are familiar with, but this startup understands what a specific niche of the vlogging community requires. Specifically, this microphone seems as though it was custom made for vloggers that used social media outlets and other similar platforms to publish their work–even plenty of YouTube vloggers could find that this type of microphone better suits their needs.

Smart Features

One of the best qualities about the PowerDeWise is that it offers an excellent option for vlogging from your phone. First, this microphone features a 3.5 mm TRRS adapter to connect to pretty much any smart device that can record audio. On top of that, this is also a lavalier form microphone, so it can easily attach to your collar or elsewhere without any difficulty. The only downside to this arrangement is that the microphone must be plugged into your phone rather than being able to transmit the audio via Bluetooth.

Standards

In terms of the actual performance of the microphone, the PowerDeWise may surprise you. While it actually has the lowest sensitivity on our list, that should not matter all too much with an omnidirectional polar pattern and strong clip keeping close at hand. The frequency response of the PowerDeWise runs 50 Hz to 16 kHz which is well within a solid range for a more budget-minded lapel microphone. The PowerDeWise does come with a modest wind muff and does feature some mild noise cancellation features, but it is not spectacular in this regard.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Features Omnidirectional polar pattern
  • Has a frequency response of 50 Hz to 16 kHz
  • Has a lapel form
  • Is 3.5 mm TRRS compatible
  • Includes long extension cable
  • Come with a wind muff
  • Has noise cancellation
  • Lapel clip is strong
Cons
  • Has a low sensitivity
  • Must be connected to a device

2. Most Versatile Microphone

Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone

Movo Microphone Review
Movo VXR10 Universal Video Microphone

Movo is a fairly recent company founded in California, but the enterprise focuses on both video and audio equipment. While this could otherwise make those looking for the best wonder, Movo somehow manages to make a product that could likely please every type of vlogger, regardless their setting or style, is some way–even if there might be a microphone available that is better for that specific task. In this way, the Movo may be seen as a jack of all trades, but better than a master of only one.

Qualities

Easily one of the best qualities about the Movo is its ability to seamlessly transition from one recording format to another. This is because the Movo VXR10 comes with both a TRRS and TRS cable, so you can record with either a camera or a smart device. While it is not the most sensitive microphone it does provide a solid frequency response of 35 Hz to 18 kHz–which is one of the widest ranges on our list. Though, it actually seems as though this microphone was intended far more to be mounted on a camera.

Features

This is because the Movo VXR10 has a fair number of features that are only meaningful if used in an uncontrolled recording environment. For instance, this microphone comes with a “deadcat” type of wind muffler as well as a mount that also serves as a shock mount. While the actual mounting point is not that durable, the connector is standard for virtually all recording devices. On top of that, this microphone also features an aluminum body which will allow it to hold up better to the potential jostling it might see on location.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Includes a 3.5 mm TRRS and 3.5 mm TRS cable
  • Comes with furry “Deadcat” windscreen
  • Is made of aluminum
  • Features cardioid polar pattern
  • Incredibly compact and lightweight
  • Comes with a shock mount
  • Can be mounted on most cameras
  • Has a frequency response of 35 Hz to 18 kHz
Cons
  • Has a low sensitivity
  • The shock mount is not durable

3. Best Professional Shotgun Microphone

Rode VideoMic with Fuzzy Windjammer Kit

Rode VideoMic Reviews
Rode VideoMic with Fuzzy Windjammer Kit

Rode may not necessarily be a household name, but since 2000, they have been quietly building a stellar reputation for making some of the best audio recording equipment around. Like some of the other companies on our list, Rode does not simply specialize in microphones, but they also specialize in microphones used for vlogging more acutely. This allows them to offer a significantly better product than most–though you will certainly pay for it.

Features

First, the entire structure of this shotgun microphone is by far the best that we saw. For a power source, the Rode uses a 9V battery which will provide by far the longest runtime out of any externally powered microphones on our list. The microphone also comes with a Rycote Lyre shock mount so not only do you not have to worry about movement being picked up on the audio signal, not your microphone and mount will be secure and safe.

Best Experience

From a recording perspective, this microphone may not be the absolute best, but it will provide a better experience than all of the other non-studio microphones that we reviewed. This microphone sports a great frequency response between 40 Hz to 20 kHz–one of the widest on our list. This powered shotgun mic is also able to boost its volume reception levels by up to 20 dB. This microphone also comes with a two-step high-pass filter at 80 Hz, so you can isolate the vocal audio on your recording. This microphone also includes 2 separate windshields: a standard cone model and a “deadcat” style wind muffler. The ⅜” cold-shoe mount and supercardioid polar pattern also serve to reinforce the professional feel of this microphone.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Features supercardioid polar pattern
  • Self-powered with a 9V battery
  • Uses Rycote Lyre shock mount
  • Comes with two windshields
  • Has a frequency response of 40 Hz to 20 kHz
  • Can boost the volume levels
  • Features a two-step high-pass filter
Cons
  • Is exceptionally expensive
  • The microphone is bulky

4. Best Budget Microphone

Xiaokoa Professional Condenser Microphone

Xiaokoa Professional Condenser Microphone Reviews
Xiaokoa Professional Condenser Microphone

Not everyone is at a stage in their vlogging career when they feel confident about investing hundreds – maybe even thousands of dollars into equipment which they know will improve their product and further boost their career. Pretty much everybody has to start somewhere, and often that means investing in equipment you are not even sure will continue to be used 6 months from now. In this instance, you need a decent microphone that can give you an idea and chance to experiment but will not break the bank in the process.

The Cheapest

That is the purpose of the lesser-known XIAOKOA, a brand that specializes in audio recording equipment but maintains a light online footprint to reduce overhead costs and be able to sell equipment well below the market value. This does not necessarily mean the XIAOKOA suffers in quality, though it is definitely a bit more limited than some of the other microphones that we reviewed. Still, it does come with pretty much all of the accessories necessary to begin experimenting with vlogging without having to purchase an entire suite of products.

Features

This microphone can be both held or positioned on its stand which serves well for home studio applications. Of course, if you want to take it on the go, you can always use the included 3.5 mm TRRS adapter and connect to virtually any smart device. The adapter itself is designed to function as a splitter allowing you to connect a set of headphones or earbuds to the recording smart device as well. Finally, the dual coil pickup features noise-canceling qualities and a cardioid polar pattern for good measure.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Comes with a stand
  • Comes with a windscreen
  • Comes with a 3.5 mm TRRS adapter
  • Features a cardioid polar pattern
  • Can be used with headphones
  • Features noise cancellation
  • Has dual coil pickup
Cons
  • Some specs are not disclosed
  • Compatibility is limited

5. Best Digital Recorder Microphone

Zoom ZH1 H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder

Zoom ZH1 H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder Reviews
Zoom ZH1 H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder

One quick look at the Zoom H1 and you quickly realize that this microphone is not like the rest. Rather than simply being a receiver that sends an audio signal to be recorded, the Zoom H1 records the audio onto its onboard memory. This can be an especially good microphone is your vlog focuses on a candid style that requires quick reactions and realizations as well as the ability to move quickly at a moment’s notice.

Features

That is why the Zoom H1, weighing in at just under ¼ pounds, is ideal. There is no need to worry about large receivers, as this microphone is its own package. Making this further an excellent microphone for engaged recording, it is surprisingly easy to use with buttons clearly marked and intuitively labeled. This does work a bit against the Zoom H1 as well with a simplicity that failed to include a track splitting function stands out as a glaring oversight–though this may not be as important if you are used to editing large batch audio.

More Options

In terms of its recording abilities, there are plenty of options to choose from. First, this microphone can accept either microSD or MicroSDHC memory cards of up to 32GB in capacity. Even better, the Zoom H1 even provides a 2GB MicroSD memory card in for free. That memory card will also have an option of file format, as the Zoom H1 is able to record the audio file as either a WAV or an MP3–depending on the editing software you prefer to use. As an added bonus, this is one of the few microphones that we reviewed which is able to record in stereo as well.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Can record audio directly
  • Features a bi-directional polar pattern
  • Is easy to use
  • Comes with a 2 GB microSD card
  • Can record WAV and MP3 files
  • Can support 32GB microSD and MicroSDHC cards
  • Can be mounted on cameras
  • Can record in stereo
Cons
  • Is a more expensive microphone
  • Cannot divide tracks

6. Best Professional Studio Microphone for Vlogging

Blue Yeti USB Microphone

Blue Yeti USB Microphone Reviews
Blue Yeti USB Microphone

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last half-decade, there is a pretty good chance that you have already heard of Yeti. In the vlogging world, this is one of the top 3 products used by studio vloggers. Their “Blue” microphone is arguably the flagship product which paved the way for Yeti to release other popular vlogging microphones like the Snowball. Taking the top spot in numerous spec categories and offering features you cannot just find anywhere, this is by far the most professional studio microphone we reviewed.

Features

This all begins with the components under the hood, and the Yeti not only offers the best hardware on our list, it could go toe to toe with many microphones costing more than double its price. This has a fair amount to do with the condenser arrangement which uses a tri-capsule array to offer flexibility and precision to whatever kind of audio is being recorded and regardless the direction. In fact, this is the only microphone on our list that is capable of switching its polar pattern. Not only that, but the Yeti Blue microphone can actually switch between pretty much any primary polar pattern available including cardioid, omnidirectional, bi-directional, and even stereo.

Most Sensitive

Beyond the hardware specs themselves, this microphone also happens to be the most sensitive. Rather than measuring from the pickup, the Yeti Blue microphone measures its sensitivity in terms of volume to power and achieves an incredible 120 dB. This is more sensitive than plenty of professional microphones used for musical performances. This sensitivity is followed up with a frequency response that spans from 20 Hz to 20 hKz, giving this microphone the broadest frequency range as well.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Is the most sensitive microphone reviewed
  • Can use any polar pattern
  • Can record in stereo
  • Has a tri-capsule condenser array
  • Has a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz
  • Comes with a sturdy stand
  • Runs zero-latency headphones
  • Has gain control
Cons
  • Is an exceptionally expensive microphone
  • Only suitable for a controlled environment

7. Best Amateur Shotgun Microphone

Eachshot CoMica Electrit Super-Cardioid Directional Condenser Shotgun Video Microphone

Eachshot Microphone Reviews
Eachshot Microphone

AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with BagPerhaps more than any other type of shooting, on location will by far be the most challenging and have the steepest learning curve. Even worse, one of the loftier goals for on-location shooting is generally to get audio that is loud enough and clear enough to be understood without loud background noise interrupting the meaningful audio and generally just serving as a distraction. As such, you will likely figure out the basics of on-location shooting but still require a fair bit of experience to fully master the setting.

Not Expensive

This is where the EACHSHOT comes in handy as it is not nearly as expensive as a professional shotgun microphone but is still closer in quality and feature sets than some of the more budget-minded microphones–especially for a shotgun microphone. That said, this microphone is definitely making it a point to stay within a specific niche as it requires as 3.5 mm TRS jack. While it is nice that it also comes with the necessary jack, you will be forced to purchase an adapter should you want to film with a device that requires a 3.5 mm TRRS jack.

Features

Still, this is a solid shotgun microphone for an actual camera and is a supreme value at this price point. For instance, the ¼ shoe mount should fit virtually any serious camera on the market. The mount also serves as a decent shock mount as well and is not flimsy – though neither is it extremely durable. This shotgun microphone also comes with two windscreens – including a “deadcat” style wind muffler. This microphone provides an adequate frequency response of 80 Hz to 16 kHz but actually has a low-pass filter if you want to focus on other ambient noises.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Features a ¼ cold-shoe mount
  • Comes with 2 different windscreens
  • Comes with a 3.5 mm TRS Jack
  • Has a frequency response of 80 Hz to 16 kHz
  • Features a cardioid polar pattern
  • Has a low-pass filter
  • Comes with a shock mount
Cons
  • Is somewhat expensive
  • Has a low sensitivity

8. Best Budget Shotgun Microphone

TakStar SGC-598 Photography Interview Shotgun MIC Microphone

TAKSTAR SGC-598 Microphone Reviews
TAKSTAR SGC-598 Microphone

ZOMEI Light Weight Portable Carbon Fiber Travel Complete TripodTAKSTAR is likely not the first name you think of when you consider microphones for vlogging, but the company has been producing decent audio gear for recording purposes–which just so happens to apply to vloggers–at far more reasonable prices than many of their competitors. In fact, this the least expensive shotgun microphone that we reviewed. While it has some issues, this is still an excellent microphone for a vlogger who is beginning to leave the confines of the home studio.

Construction

One of the best things about the TAKSTAR is that it was clearly designed with the intention that the user would use it while in motion. First, it comes with a shock mount, and while it may not necessarily provide quite as gentle a ride as some of the other mounts we have seen, it is more durable than many of them as well. Beyond the shock mount, the body of the microphone is made of aluminum to help prevent any damage that may incur during its use. Finally, this is one of the few powered microphones we reviewed that both uses batteries and gets legitimately good battery life out of their microphone – as opposed to merely decent or even substandard.

Some Problems

The big problem with this microphone is that it is not the most fine-crafted microphone for actually recording audio. While you can easily get this microphone to sound pretty decent, it is just as easy to end up with completely unusable audio. A big part of this dilemma stems from the significant amount of background noise that bleeds into the audio – even though the microphone uses a cardioid polar pattern. On top of that, this microphone is also less sensitive – making the best frequency range for this microphone narrower than most.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Is a less expensive microphone
  • Has a solid battery life
  • Comes with a shock mount
  • Features a cardioid polar pattern
  • Housing is made of aluminum
  • Has a low-pass filter
  • Can boost the volume 10 dB
Cons
  • Has a low sensitivity
  • Struggles with background noise

9. Best VHF Lapel Microphone

Saramonic SR-WM4C DSLR Bundle Wireless Lavalier Microphone System

Saramonic SR-WM4C Microphone Reviews
Saramonic SR-WM4C Microphone

Ravelli Light Weight TripodSaramonic may not be the most well-known manufacturer of microphones, but they do have a particular affinity for fairly high-end microphones at far more reasonable rates than other competitors within the same market. It should be noted that Saramonic actually does not simply manufacture microphones and microphone accessories exclusively. Instead, this company actually specializes in the types of microphones that are the most useful to vloggers.

Niche Microphone

Though it may seem a bit niche, there are plenty of circumstances where a vlogger could benefit from a lavalier style microphone but also require the freedom to move around. Perhaps the vlogger needs their hands available to participate in some way with the subject of the vlog. Regardless the reason, this microphone offers an elegant and effective means of overcoming this tricky situation. Specifically, this microphone uses a lapel design but sends its audio signals wirelessly.

Features

Instead of being tethered to the camera or a handheld microphone, the Saramonic SR-WM4C provides the ease and convenience of a lapel with the wireless transmission along superior VHF wavelengths for crystal clear audio at some of the highest fidelity. Even better, this kit comes with 2 sets of both lavalier microphones as well as 2 receivers. On top of that, it also comes with an external audio mixer to connect to DSLR cameras. As a complete package, this set offers so much versatility that virtually anyone can use it.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Comes with two lapel microphones
  • Is a wireless system
  • Uses VHF channels
  • Includes DSLR mixer
  • Has an omnidirectional polar pattern
  • Has a frequency response of 10 Hz to 100 kHz
  • Is a fairly sensitive microphone
Cons
  • Is the most expensive microphone reviewed
  • Not as easy to use

10. Best VHF Microphone for Vlogging

Saramonic WM4CA Professional Portable Wireless VHF Handheld Microphone System

Saramonic WM4CA Microphone Reviews
Saramonic WM4CA Microphone

Depending on the circumstance and style of vlogging you do, you might need the luxury and convenience of a wireless arrangement but do not necessarily have the time to set up your different subjects. In this instance, you will need either handheld microphone or a boom microphone. Since the latter is often reserved for more controlled productions, chances are you will opt for the handheld microphone. That is where the Saramonic WM4CA comes in handy.

Features

This wireless, handheld microphone is still able to record audio even when out to a 60-meter distance from the receiver. The receiver itself is also fairly impressive in that it can operate along 4 different channels that range from 203 MHz to 216 MHz. This reception range is important because it is often not used and more likely to be an open channel. This is actually part of the VHF, or very high frequency, bandwidth which is able to transmit an incredibly precise audio signal.

Incredible Frequency

In terms of the specs, this is a solid microphone. It does use AA batteries for power – which can be a literal and figurative drain  -but it has an incredible frequency range between 10 Hz to 100 kHz. This is well beyond the limits of human perception and means that the microphone technically has the ability to capture subsonic or supersonic sounds that are more felt rather than heard. The microphone does feature a cardioid polar pattern, so this microphone would actually be a great option if you have a dedicated camera person and you engage with your subjects spontaneously.

Pros | Cons

Pros
  • Is a wireless system
  • Uses VHF channels
  • Comes with a ¼ mount
  • Has a range of 60 meters
  • Provides 4 operating channels
  • Uses a mini-XLR cable
  • Features a cardioid polar pattern
Cons
  • Is a fairly expensive microphone
  • Does not feel substantial

Buyer’s Guide

Type

The type of microphone is important, but it generally has more to do with what you intend to use the microphone for than anything else. Specifically, this quality will be important if you expect the microphone to be moved quite often. In this case, you will need a larger, sturdier microphone to absorb all the shocks of transit. Of course, that comes with its own caveats.

Dynamic – It is incredibly unlikely that a vlogger will need a dynamic microphone. The closest equivalent to the intended use would be an on location vlogger who might find themselves seeking active settings in which to shoot their footage. That said, these microphones are exceptionally large and heavy to make sure that the components do not suffer any issues should the microphone endure severe jostling. To be fair, these are often also professional microphones used for grander productions than most vloggers produce.

Condenser – For vloggers, this is generally the choice of preference in regards to the type of microphone. Condenser microphones are much lighter while still being fairly solid and durable. This type of microphone also produces a more accurate representation of the sounds at a higher fidelity than dynamic microphones. The condenser microphone can also come in a couple different subtypes: solid-state and tube. Solid-state is by far the more reliable and durable of the two condenser microphones. In contrast, tube condenser microphones are more expensive in general, but they also have a more narrow frequency response.

Polar Pattern

Outside of type, the polar pattern will often be the next feature that you will want to consider. That said, this once again applies far more for an on-location vlogger than someone shooting in an office or studio. For the latter group, you will likely want a microphone that either records in cardioid or bi-directional. For on-location vloggers, it will largely depend on your subject and the situation.

Cardioid – This is the most common type of polar pattern for a vlogging microphone largely due to the somewhat inherent noise-cancellation quality that the pattern provides. Essentially, a cardioid polar pattern will pick up everything directly in front of it without capturing the sides or the rear at any significant volume. The cardioid pattern is also one of the easier to manufacture making them a bit cheaper as well. There is also a supercardioid polar pattern that allows recording of audio coming from right behind the microphone–for instance with gonzo shooting or one-man-band outfits.

Omnidirectional – Outside of the cardioid polar pattern, this is the other most common type of polar pattern used for vlogging microphones. However, this polar pattern basically takes the opposite approach: the omnidirectional polar pattern will record the sounds coming in from every direction equally. This means that you can record sounds in a 360-degree area–which can be either the perfect fit or a huge problem for on location vloggers. For studio vloggers, you likely do not want to pick up the potential background noise from this polar pattern.

Bi-Directional – This polar pattern seeks to alleviate some of the issues with the cardioid polar pattern as well as some problems arising with the omnidirectional polar pattern. The bi-directional polar pattern basically creates two mirrored cardioid polar patterns. This allows the microphone to record equally along a line, but it will still diminish the noise coming from the sides. This can be an ideal setting if two people are using a single microphone to record. That said, this is also generally one of the more expensive polar patterns to manufacture, and their prices reflect that.

Conclusion

As we can see, the best microphone for vlogging will depend heavily on the type of vlogging that you do. If you vlog from the comfort of your own home or even a studio, you will likely want a different microphone than the one that would be best for conducting an interview or for shooting your vlog on location outdoors.

For the office or studio vlogger, we recommend the Blue Yeti. With the highest sensitivity rating on the list, your viewers will get a rich, lifelike sound from the audio. On top of that, with the numerous polar pattern arrangements, this microphone can actually be used for a wide variety of different types of recording or arrangement of the different speakers.

Of course, for those of you who have to shoot your vlog on the spot, we recommend the Rode. While the Yeti might make the top of the list for every relevant category for a studio microphone, the Rode does pretty much the same thing when the group is shrunk to simply the on-location vlogging microphones. Beyond the specs, this microphone also comes with the best supplementary kit too.

Eva Smith
Eva Smith
Vlogger and photographer.
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