Choosing the Right Microphone: Use Case Over Price (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: A good microphone has almost nothing to do with how expensive it is. Here's what I typically look for when buying a good microphone. First, what's the use case? Are you recording a podcast at a guest? Are you making video content on the go? Are you live streaming or using it at live events? Because each of those situations is probably going to need a different type of microphone. Second, is durability a concern? If your mic is just sitting in a studio, probably not. But if it's packed in a bag or being used on stage or thrown into weird situations like our Shure SM58 torture tests, durability actually makes a pretty big difference. Third is USB or XLR microphones, or I guess wireless microphones. USB microphones are usually easier because you can just plug them directly into your laptop or computer. XLR microphones usually give you some more flexibility and room to grow in the future, but they are going to require an audio interface recorder or mixer. And like USB, wireless microphones are probably the most versatile and plug and play. And finally, how does the microphone actually sound? Some, including me, would probably argue that this is the most important factor when picking a microphone. A good microphone should make your voice sound clear, natural, and easy to listen to. And the reason I say the sound of the microphone probably matters the most is because if you hate how that microphone sounds, you're probably never going to use it. So before you buy a microphone, don't just look at how much it costs. Figure out how you're actually going to use that thing, and that'll make your decision a whole lot easier. Or you can just get yourself a wooden spatula microphone. This is also a wireless microphone.