Best Microphones for Voice Over (Ultimate Buying Guide)

Nowadays, due to tons of microphone brands, people get confused while picking a microphone for their jobs. Voice over is also a hot category that people are searching for. So today, Microphonesgeek is presenting some of the best microphones for a voice-over for all budgets.

We’ll try to keep this guide very comprehensive to help you choose the best microphone for voice over work. We’ll also focus on price tags and walk you through low, mid, and some expansive microphones as well. So, you can pick according to your budget.

Things to consider before you buy!

First, let’s see, what you should look at in the mic before buying it, and then we’ll review the best mics one by one. We’ve assembled an Ultimate list of the 10 best microphones for voice-over.

The best type of microphone?

This is a very crucial question when it comes to microphones. Every type of microphone has its own purpose of use. Now, here is the concept to understand which type of mic is best for voice-over. There are some main types such as the condenser, dynamic, and ribbon mics.

Dynamic mics capture closer sounds and reject all unwanted noise & peaks from outside. But, condenser microphones are apposite and capture sound from a distance. We’re not restricted to keeping the condenser mic closer to us. Even if you keep it at a distance, it will record properly. E.g is Blue Yeti. That’s why the condenser mic might be picking your room rumble.

We would recommend a dynamic microphone for voice-over. So, you’ll keep the mic closer to your mouth to get a proximity effect and you’ll get good and smooth results. And In voice-over, we usually get closer to the mic. So, it will be better if we use a dynamic mic for voice-overwork.

Disclaimer: It doesn’t mean you can’t use condenser microphones for voice-over. A dynamic mic is just our recommendation. We’ve included some condenser mics in our list as well that you can use for your voice-over projects.

Budget!

Budget is an obvious thing to focus on while making a purchase. Now if you’re buying the best mic for voiceover just for fun or your interests, you can go with a low-budget mic on our list.

But if you’re taking it as a career, and looking for a long-term, then saving tiny money wouldn’t be beneficial. You have to pick the product that has the ability to fulfill all your needs and help you on your long journey. So, pick a reliable and quality mic according to the results you want to get.

Voice-over equipment?

Although, a good microphone is enough for voice-over work. But there are some microphone packages available in today’s market that provide you with a complete necessary package for voice-over.

So, there are some other gears as well that you can pick to take your voice-over quality to the next level. We’ll also share with you some microphone packages in this guide later on. Okay, Let’s begin, to help you navigate fast to the products you can check out the table below:

Top 10 Picks: Best Microphones for voice-over

1. Blue Snowball iCE | Best & Compact Microphone

When it comes to durability, compactness, and affordability, Blue Snowball iCE is a trustworthy option. Now there are two variants of this microphone. One is Snowball and the other one is Snowball iCE. First, let me explain to you why we’re suggesting Snowball iCE as the best microphone for voice-over.

Snowball: Now, the Blue Snowball has two microphone capsules which means this mic provides two options for recording. 1. If you record in the cardioid polar pattern, the mic will pick up the audio just from the front. 2. If you record in an omnidirectional polar pattern, the mic will capture the audio from all around the mic 360°.

Snowball iCE: The iCE variant is our today’s product. This is specially designed for podcasters and voice-over artists. It is focusing on a single cardioid polar pattern that will capture the noise from the front. So, in voice-over, we record being closer and from the front only and we don’t need an omnidirectional polar pattern. So, that’s why this version will be the absolute best for voice-over work.

The size of this mic is compact, you can fold it, so it will be easy to carry. Snowball comes with a very decent and attractive design and provides great audio quality at an affordable budget. One thing that makes this mic trustworthy is its provided by Blue which is a respected microphones company.

Specifications:

Polar Patterns	Cardioid
Frequency Response	40 –18 kHz
Sample/word Rate	44.1 kHz/16 bit
Weight	460g
Dimensions	325mm (circumference)

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2. Rode NT-USB | Ideal for Voice over projects

This is premium quality and a popular microphone by RODE. NT-USB is specially designed for Laptops and PCs. You can directly plug it into your machine, and be ready to go.

In the box, you’ll get Pop Sheild and  6meters USB cable. It comes with a Microphone desktop stand, but if you don’t wanna use it, you can attach it with an external Boom Arm. It has all-metal construction. But the desktop stand is premium plastic. You’ll get really nice controls on the microphone. On the side of this mic, you’ll see two Dials.

From the top Dial, you can control the amount of sound source that you hear, and with the second Dial, you can increase or decrease the headphone volume level, which means you can connect your headphones to get real-time playback.

It has a Cardioid polar pattern which means it will pick the audio from the front and reject all the sounds that come from the side and rear of the mic. So, it is also a perfect choice for gaming because it does a pretty good job in noise rejection. RODE is a Mega microphones brand that provides every type of microphone, and this is a special product from their USB variants.

It gives natural and smooth sounds. Professionals also use this mic for Studio projects, Podcasting, and voice-over work. So, if you’re searching for a professional & durable audio device for your next voice-over project, I think this is a versatile option.

I would recommend you to use an external Boom Arm because if you use the desktop stand, it might be picking some bumps from your table. So, it’s better to use Boom arm to get rid of these noisy peaks. Let’s go and see some specifications of Rode NT-USB.

Specifications:

Polar Patterns	Cardioid
Frequency Response	20Hz – 20kHz
Resolution	16-Bit
Maximum SPL	110dBSPL
Power Options	USB

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3. Rode NT1-A Anniversary | Quietest microphone package

NT1-A Aniversary is an Ultimate Condenser microphone package. It has been used in almost every professional studio. It has an all-metal body with a reliable weight. This microphone has all the features that you need to record professionally. It was a bit expensive but we assure you, it’s worth its price. It is trusted by 1000s of Pro musicians and studios.

It has an all-metal shock mount with a pop filter attached. As we mentioned in the title, it is a full studio recording kit. It comes with a cardioid polar pattern.

According to the pro users, it works amazingly in Electric and acoustic guitar and other musical instruments as well. You can use it for almost any purpose. If you’re a beginner, you don’t need to go with this mic because specifically for voice-over, there are tons of other options available on a low budget.

But if you’re upgrading your microphone or want a full-fledged professional mic for Voice over and studio projects, then this thing is absolutely recommended. Unfortunately, it has just a Cardioid polar pattern, so you can’t take it in use for Home recording or meetings.

But in voice-over work and studios, we usually work on cardioid patter, that’s why we’ve included it in our list. Overall it is one of the best microphones for voice-over.

Specifications:

Polar Patterns	Cardioid
Frequency Response	20Hz – 20kHz
Output impedance	100Ω
Maximum SPL	137dBSPL
Sensitivity	-31.9dB re 1 Volt/Pascal (25.00mV @ 94 dB SPL) +/- 2 dB @ 1kHz

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4. Shure SM7B | All in one microphone

SM7B is a well-known mic in the audio industry. People prefer it used as a vocal and instruments recorder. This is the supremely amazing quality mic for almost everything. It comes with a simple and minimal design.

This is an XLR microphone so you can’t connect it directly to your computer. It has a pre-attached mounting system, so you can easily mount it on your Boom arm.

A good thing about this mic is, you’ll get a built-in air suspension system, that will help you reduce bumps noises, and air rumble from your audio. So, you don’t need to purchase a pop filter separately. It has a Cardioid polar pattern and a good frequency range.

You’ll get two filters on the back of the microphone. Low cut & Mid boost filter. You can set the tone of your choice. If you don’t want to use one of these filters, you can switch back to the Flat mode.

As I told you before, this is an All-in-one microphone and it can fulfill your need in any scenario. It’s a powerful option for voice-over. It produces smooth and natural sounds with an amazing noise rejection capability. It can take your audio to the next level if you use it for voice-over.

Because it’s a multi-purpose microphone. You might be thinking, why should we choose a multipurpose microphone just for voice-over. If you invest in this mic, your money won’t be wasted, it can be beneficial in the future for your other projects. So overall it’s a good option for voice-over.

Specifications:

Polar Patterns	Cardioid
Frequency Response	50Hz-20kHz
Impedance	150 ohms
Maximum SPL	180 dB
Sensitivity	-59dBV/Pa (1.12 mV)

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5. Electro-Voice RE-20 | Best microphones for voice acting

This is a top competitor of Shure SM7B. Both of these are very popular and come with similar specifications. Let’s discuss some interesting things about Voice RE-20. No dought this microphone is an industry-standard and respected microphone in the music industry.

It’s also on the most popular dynamic mic list. In terms of design, it comes with a unique and stylish design. Including price tag, it has really nice build quality and contains good weight to it, and it should because it’s an expansive microphone. RE-20 provides a coil capsule with a large diaphragm.

It has an internal pop filter, so you don’t need to put another in front of it. You’ll see a standard XLR system at the bottom of the mic. On the mic, you’ll get a high pass and low cut filter navigating switch. It has a cardioid polar pattern and variable D technology that will be used to decrease the Proximity effect.

As I mentioned before, I personally love dynamic microphones because they pick near audio and reject all the noise that comes from outside or the rear of the mic. It also has good noise rejection capability. So overall if you’re really serious about podcasting and voice-over, you can pick this up, it won’t disappoint you. It’s durable and can be a long-lasting option for voice-over.

Specifications:

Polar Patterns	Cardioid
Frequency Response	45 Hz – 18,000 Hz
Impedance	1.5 mV/pascal
Sensitivity	1.5 mV/Pa

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6. Neumann TLM 103 | Superior Condenser Microphone

This is a compact and superior quality microphone in today’s market. Although it’s an expansive microphone, this is a go-to resource for professional voice-over artists. It comes with a vintage-type wooden storage box. It has all-metal construction that it should. You won’t see any button or switch on the microphone, and it’s so simple and straightforward mic.

You can get really nice proximity effect to your audio. In my opinion, it’s a professional Studio-quality microphone. It’s not for basic purposes such as Gaming chats etc…

If you’re looking for a top-notch microphone for voice-over and taking as a career, this thing is highly recommended.

Because it’s a condenser microphone, in order to get smooth and clear sound, it picks up the audio from all around the microphone and mixes them to produce final results. So, doesn’t suits gaming or something like that. It might be picking some keyword noise from the rear. Overall it is absolutely amazing for podcast or voice-over.

This is an all-in-one recording solution. But for beginners, I would recommend the mic which is awesome in one specific category, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on the expansive mics.

People think that its Cardioid polar pattern is a con of this mic. But I don’t think like that. I like the product that is good in one specific category. Not those who are a jack of everything. It is specially designed for Pro Studio recordings, and for studios, we only need a Cardioid polar pattern. So, it’s good with its all features.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Cardioid
Frequency range	20Hz-20kHz
Sensitivity	11 mV/Pa at 1 kHz into 1 Kilohm
Output Impedance	50 ohms
Maximum SPL	144 dB
Power Source:	48V phantom power

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7. Blue Yeti USB | Top-level USB microphone for voice over

This is the most popular and well-known mic in the USB microphones world. If anyone searches for the best USB microphone, Blue Yeti comes on top of the list. Blue Yeti provides plug and play facility, you can just connect it to your Laptop or PC, and it is good to go. It brings a lot of interesting features & flexibilities.

It also comes with a desktop stand, that you can use for podcasts, chats, meetings, or YouTube videos. But if you’re using it professionally, I would suggest you a separate Boom Arm with this mic. It will help you reduce desk noise. It has an all-metal body and stands. Let’s take a look at some features of this mic.

In the front of Blue Yeti, you’ll Mute button and Headphone volume controller. The back of this mic is interesting where you will find the microphone gain and Polar pattern navigation switch. There are four polar patterns available in Blue Yeti. Stereo, Cardioid, Omnidirectional, & Bidirectional.

These all polar patterns give you pretty much the flexibility to record in any situation. If you’re doing podcast or Voiceover, you can set your polar pattern to Cardioid. If you’re recording meetings, you can use Omnidirectional, and if you’re interviewing someone who is sitting in front of you, then in this situation, you’ll use bidirectional polar patterns.

So, having all of these features, and price tag, this is a versatile option. Because it comes at a really good and affordable price, it’s absolutely recommended for beginners. In the market, there is nothing with all these features in this price range. So, overall it’s packed with all the amazing features on a very low budget. If you want a Quality, Easy use, and durable mic on a budget, it will be an incredible choice.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Stereo, Cardioid, Omni & Bidirectional.
Frequency range	20Hz-20kHz
Sample Rate	48 kHz
Bit Rate	16-Bit
Maximum SPL	120dB (THD: 0.5% 1kHz)
Power Required	5V 150mA

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8. Audio-Technica AT2020 | Midrange best microphone for voice over

This is an earlier version of Audio-Technica AT 2035. It comes with really impressive built/audio quality and is also a reliable option for voice-over. There are two options available for this microphone. Single microphone with a Shock mount or you can pick the complete Streaming/ Podcasting package. Where you’ll get an Adjustable boom arm and Monitor headphones.

It has a high SPL and wide dynamic range. Because it’s a condenser microphone so it requires 48v Phantom power to work. It’s an excellent microphone with a cardioid pickup pattern. We’ve included this microphone because it provides great audio quality at an affordable price. But this is not a plug-and-play mic, there are a few steps to get good results out of it. You’ll use this mic for voice-overs, podcasting, or streaming, So, it’s perfect for all of these things.

AT2020 is manufactured by Audio-Technica which is a well-known microphones company. It has an all-metal body with a good amount of weight to it. It requires an XLR cable, but unfortunately, that is not included in the unit.

If you wanna pick and use this microphone for a long period, I would suggest you go with a complete package that contains professional monitor headphones and a Boom arm. The frequency response is standard that is 20Hz-20kHz. It’s also durable and great for instruments and studio work.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Stereo, Cardioid, Omni & Bidirectional.
Frequency range	20Hz-20kHz
Open Circut Sensitivity	–37 dB (14.1 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
Impedance	100 ohms
Dynamic Range	124 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
Phantom Power Requirements	48V DC, 2 mA typical

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9. Shure SM58S | Strongest microphone for voice over

This is a very special and strongest microphone on our list. It is designed by Shure for stage performances and vocals. The one main thing that I’ve considered it for, is the Build Quality of this microphone.

It’s like an absolute “Hamer”. This mic is extremely durable, you might have seen some videos of its durability on YouTube. So, you don’t have to be protective of this product.

This is a very popular microphone for vocals, live performances, and Voice over. The microphones like Blue Yeti and other mics pick a bit noisy if you aren’t in the quiet room.

But, Shure SM58 does a really good job in noise reduction, even if you’re recording in a noisy environment, it will give you better results. So, if you’re just starting out voice-over, or podcast and want to find a durable, and well-sounding microphone, this thing is ideal at a good budget.

We usually hate those mics that pick the holding noise while recording. This mic has the capability to remove those noisy peaks. You can hold it conveniently while recording and it won’t pick noise if you switch it from one hand to another.

Shure presents four packages of this mic, in the first one you’ll only get a microphone, Stage performance kit, without cable and with cable. So you can choose according to your need. In the stage performance kit, you’ll get XLR cable, Boom arm, and shock mount with the microphone. In my opinion, this is the best starter and best microphone for voice over.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Stereo, Cardioid, Omni & Bidirectional.
Frequency range	50Hz-15kHz
Maximum SPL	94dB
Output Impedance	150 ohms
Sensitivity	-54.5 dBV / Pa (1.88 mV)
Connector	XLR

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10. Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ | Best microphone for voice over

This is last but not the least. Previously we shared with you AT2020. This is the USB variant of that mic. This is dedicated to beginners who want a plug-and-play system for voice-over. It also comes in two packages, the first contains the mic only, and the second one contains a complete package.

You’ll get a decent desktop stand, but I prefer it using with Boom arm. It has a really nice and simple design and feels like a really expansive microphone. But the good thing is it is an affordable USB microphone. In our USB mics collection, this is one of the best microphones for voice over.

As compared to its XLR version, it also comes with an all-metal body and great sound quality. Because Audio Technica’s previous XLR version is loved by 1000s of people, that’s why they’ve decided to bring easier and USB variants of that.

At the front of this mic, you’ll see LED light that indicated that your mic is powered and working. You’ll see two Dials on the mic, one is to control the mic and your computer’s audio. And the second one of you increase or decrease Headphone volume. You’ll get a headphone port to attach your headphones to get real-time audio results.

Now here is the deal, if you purchase professional Headphones for your voice-over work, it will be expensive for you. But if you consider purchasing a package of Audio-Technical AT2020USB+, you’ll get an adjustable boom arm + High-quality Monitor Headphones and it will be extremely cheaper. So, if you have other stuff and just want this mic, it’s okay, but if you don’t, make sure to avail this deal.

Specifications:

Polar Pattern	Stereo, Cardioid, Omni & Bidirectional.
Frequency range	50Hz-15kHz
Bit Depth	16-Bit
Sample Rate	44.1/48 kHz
Headphone Output Power	130 mW (at 1 kHz, 10% T.H.D., 32 ohm load)
Connector	USB

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Summary | Best microphone for vocals

Pick a mic for a specific category is not that easy especially, the best microphones for voice over. All the mics we’ve shared with you are the best microphones for voice over and you can pick anyone that suites your budget. Now, you know which tone you want to get and how much you can afford. If you’re a beginner, you can go with Shure SM58 or Blue Yeti, or Snowball.

But if your budget is a bit higher, you can have Rode NTI-A Aniversary or SM7B like that. This is why we share multiple options and products in our guides to help you pick a good one for you. So, if this was helpful feel free to comment below if you have any suggestions you can follow us on social media to stay connected for the latest and unbiased reviews and guides.