Best vocal microphones

The human voice is a complex instrument; whether you’re singing an original song for a crowd and need your voice amplified, or you’re recording a bedtime story and need the subtleties of your voice to be noticed, choosing the right microphone is important. Some mics are designed to highlight the frequencies of the human voice, and this list of the top five best mics for vocals will ensure your voice is heard.

Editor’s note: this list of the best vocal microphones was updated on January 18, 2023, to update formatting and address FAQs.

For our top five picks, you can find the frequency response charts at the end of each image gallery. You can learn more about how to read our charts here.

Why is the Shure SM58 the best vocal microphone?

The Shure SM58 is an XLR mic designed to highlight the vocal frequencies and limit the proximity effect. Its patented pneumatic shock mount serves to limit handling noise, and, because it is dynamic with a cardioid pickup pattern, it withstands loud inputs and rejects unwanted room noise. These features make the SM58 great for live performances, but it can be used for studio vocal music and spoken word alike if you’re looking for a low-cost, do-it-all mic.

The SM58 is the best vocal microphone because it is both inexpensive and versatile. It is all-metal, durable, and portable and doesn’t require any phantom power to operate. You’ll only need to buy a pop filter if you want to use the mic in a studio setting, as its internal pop filter works well in a live scenario. However, if you’re looking for a mic to use exclusively for recordings, it’s recommended that you consider a condenser microphone instead.

The Shure SM58 is the most widely used dynamic microphone out there and for good reason. Take a listen for yourself:

Shure SM58 speaking samples (Non-standardized):

Shure SM58 singing sample (Non-standardized):

How does the microphone sound to you?

1522 votes

Shure SM58

Shure SM58

Durable construction • Cardioid pickup pattern • Midrange recording emphasis

Tried and true, rugged and reliable.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re a recording veteran, the Shure SM58 microphone will suit your needs. The removable grille and metal construction exude quality and durability. Additionally, the frequency response bodes well for vocalists and podcasters alike. For less than $100, this the mic to get.

Amazon

The best mic for recording singing is the Rode NT1

When recording vocal music in a studio, it’s usually best to use a condenser microphone such as the Rode NT1 because they are more sensitive to subtleties than are dynamic microphones. The Rode NT1 is known for having an extremely low self-noise, allowing for pristine sound quality. In comparison to the Rode NT1-A, a similar model, the NT1 produces a more natural sound because of its extremely neutral-leaning frequency response.

Rode NT1

8.8

Rode NT1

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This XLR mic requires phantom power between +24V and +48V which can be provided by a preamp or audio interface. It has a cardioid pickup pattern that records sound from the side of the mic’s capsule. The NT1 comes with an attachable shock mount and metal pop-filter.

The Rode NT1 does a great job of reproducing your voice just how it sounds live.

Rode NT1 speaking sample (Non-standard):

Rode NT1 singing sample (Non-standard):

How does the microphone sound to you?

1338 votes

Rode NT1

Rode NT1

Accurate sound quality • Condenser microphone • Cardioid polar pattern

This condenser microphone is perfect for recording vocals and acoustic instruments.

The Rode NT1 is a condenser microphone with very low self-noise and a very accurate sound signature. It comes at a decent price and includes a shock mount and pop filter.

$269.00 at Amazon

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$126.00

$269.00 at Sweetwater

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$126.00

Like the NT1, the Rode NT1-A is considered an industry standard mic. This may be the mic to choose if you want a slightly less neutral frequency response that deemphasizes sub-bass frequencies and boosts high frequencies.

Jack-of-all-trades vocalists should get the Shure SM7B

If you’re looking for a heavy-duty, high-quality vocal mic with many features, the Shure SM7B is a great option. It is an industry-standard for broadcasting but has also been used among singers, particularly for rock music.

It has three switchable frequency settings: bass roll-off, flat, and high-frequency presence boost. Depending on the purpose you have for the mic or the singer on a particular day, you can adjust the settings accordingly, but the flat response is the most accurate for vocal reproduction.

This XLR mic is dynamic, so it’s not only effective for handling loud noises without distorting, but it also functions without any phantom power. Its cardioid pickup pattern does a good job of rejecting off-axis sound. In addition to its built-in pop filter, this mic comes with a detachable windscreen for reducing plosives and breath noise. Additionally, this mic’s capsule is suspended and internally shock-mounted, reducing its handling noise.

The Shure SM7b has a couple of different settings that all sound slightly different. Check them out here:

Shure SM7b flat response speaking sample (Non-standardized):

Shure SM7b bass rolloff speaking sample (Non-standardized):

Shure SM7b presence boost speaking sample (Non-standardized):

Which frequency response do you prefer?

1495 votes

Shure SM7B

Shure SM7B

Effective on-board frequency response filters • Excellent vocal reproduction • Off-axis and internal noise rejection

A legendary mic used by legendary performers.

The Shure SM7B is beloved by professional musicians for its reliable performance, top-grade construction, and noise attenuating technology that lends itself to clear recordings. This isn’t a mic for those making their first foray into recording, rather it’s for aspiring professionals and industry veterans. The uniform frequency response is excellent for all ranges of recording, and the alternative responses are fitting for other studio needs.

$649.99 at Amazon

The Electrovoice RE20 is the best mic for spoken word

There’s a reason the Electrovoice RE20 is used in radio stations all across the world. This durable mic has Variable-D technology, which effectively eliminates the proximity effect, so there’s no need to worry about speech intelligibility. The RE20 is a dynamic microphone, so it can withstand loud speech, and you won’t be needing any external power. Its frequency response is tailored to human speech and includes a bass attenuation switch to offer extra protection against low-frequency rumble.

Electrovoice RE20

9.6

Electrovoice RE20

Buy now

This XLR mic has a cardioid polar pattern, so it rejects off-axis sound for crystal-clear voice-overs. The internal shock mount and humbucking coil reduce both handling noise and interference. It does have an internal pop filter, but you’ll likely want to add an external one if you’re doing up-close recordings.

Electro-Voice RE20

Electro-Voice RE20

Broadcast quality • Internal shock mount and pop filter

A great microphone to enhance the quality of your audio projects.

This broadcast microphone is designed to make the voice sound great, whether it’s speaking or singing.

$449.00 at Amazon

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$160.00

You’ll get the best bang for your buck with the Movo UM700

If there was ever a Blue Yeti X killer, it’s the Movo UM700. This USB microphone has four selectable polar patterns—cardioid, stereo, omnidirectional, and bidirectional—and they all sound great. While USB microphones don’t have the same quality as XLR microphones, the Movo UM700 comes pretty darn close. It comes with a preinstalled and removable windscreen that helps reduce plosive sounds. The UM700 is only $99 and because it’s a USB mic you won’t have to invest additional money into an audio interface to use it.

Onboard the mic are a gain control knob, volume control knob, quick mute button, and polar pattern adjustment knob. Conveniently, you can adjust the mic’s gain, which is its input volume, separately from its output volume. The quick mute button illuminates in red when the mic is muted, so you can have that extra reassurance that your microphone is off when you’re sitting through a Zoom meeting. The mic also has an auxiliary port on the bottom that can be used for direct monitoring.

For a USB mic, the UM700 sounds pretty darn good.

Movo UM700 cardioid pattern speaking sample (non-standardized):

Movo UM700 stereo pattern speaking sample (non-standardized):

Movo UM700 omnidirectional pattern speaking sample (non-standardized):

Movo UM700 bidirectional pattern speaking sample (non-standardized):

Movo UM700 cardioid pattern singing sample (non-standardized):

How does the microphone sound to you?

325 votes

Movo UM700 USB microphone

Movo UM700 USB microphone

Sound quality • Build quality • Multiple polar patterns

Movo adds an excellent budget pick.

No matter what you need a desktop USB microphone for, the Movo UM700 has your back. With its four adjustable polar patterns, removable windscreen, volume and gain knobs, and mute button, there’s hardly a feature you’re missing. The mic also has a crystal clear sound and, what’s more, it’s only $100.

$67.95 at Amazon

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$12.00

Are the Beyerdynamic M90 PRO X and M70 PRO X good for singing?

Yes, the Beyerdynamic M90 PRO X is a great XLR microphone for vocalists and general recording. This condenser mic has a cardioid recording pattern and faithfully preserves faint vocal detail, allowing you to affect it however you want during post-production. There aren’t any gimmicks to this microphone, making it a great pick for professionals and serious enthusiasts. You get an elastic shock mount and pop filter, but other than that, you’re on your own for phantom power and/or an audio interface that supports XLR inputs.

Beyerdynamic M90 PRO X

Beyerdynamic M90 PRO X

High-quality sound • Connects via XLR cable

A condenser mic for high-quality recordings

The Beyerdynamic M90 PRO X condenser microphone provides high-quality vocal music and instrument recordings. It connects easily to the audio interface via XLR output.

$239.00 at Amazon

The Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X is similar to the M90 PRO X, except that it is a dynamic broadcast microphone. It is also great for vocal applications, whether you’re hosting a radio show or singing. Its frequency response is tailored to the human voice and it comes with a useful elastic shock mount and pop filter.

Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X

Beyerdynamic M70 PRO X

Sturdily built • Clear sound • Cardioid polar pattern

A robust broadcast microphone excellent with voice recording.

This dynamic broadcast microphone has excellent sound quality for recording the voice. Due to its dynamic nature, it’s also great for recording things like guitar amps because it can handle loud inputs of sound without distorting.

$179.00 at Amazon

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$20.00

Who should get the Shure MV7 USB/XLR microphone?

Make sure to tighten the yoke once the mic is mounted, otherwise, it could fall to the ground.

If you believe in the importance of redundancy, the Shure MV7 is another powerful mic from Shure. Unusually, it provides both an XLR and USB output that can be used simultaneously. This way, you can record a high-res file from the XLR output alongside a low-res file for tracking and reference. It has a durable build quality just like the Shure SM7b and can easily be used as a gaming or studio mic. Its companion app is very helpful and lets you adjust the mic’s settings based on your recording environment and preferences. The MV7 captures vocals very clearly and accurately, whether singing or speaking.

The Shure MV7 has quite a few different settings for various applications. Listen to them here:

Shure MV7 (flat) microphone demo (non-standardized):

Shure MV7 (high pass) microphone demo (non-standardized):

Shure MV7 (presence boost) microphone demo (non-standardized):

Shure MV7 (high pass and presence boost) microphone demo (non-standardized):

Shure MV7 (Dark) microphone demo (non-standardized):

Shure MV7 (Natural) microphone demo (non-standardized):

Shure MV7 (Bright) microphone demo (non-standardized):

How does the microphone sound to you?

1806 votes

Shure MV7

Shure MV7

Simultaneous XLR-USB outputs • Excellent vocal • Build quality

A little mic that can do just about anything.

The Shure MV7 is a versatile microphone for every application. It can be connected through USB, XLR, or both simultaneously and produces a clear recording.

$224.00 at Amazon

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$25.00

The Shure MV7X is a budget, no-frills alternative to the Shure MV7. This XLR mic doesn’t have any of the special features that the MV7 provides, but its sound quality is top-tier.

The best vocal microphones: Notable mentions

The Blue Yeti Nano is a great microphone for podcasting alone or with others using either the cardioid or omnidirectional polar patterns.

• Audio-Technica AT2020: This cardioid condenser mic is a great budget option for vocalists. Just keep in mind that it isn’t great at mitigating plosives and fricatives, so you’ll definitely want to attach the included pop filter to it.
• Blue Yeti Nano: This is another convenient USB microphone. It has two adjustable pickup patterns and solid sound quality.
• Razer Seiren Mini: While we wouldn’t recommend this mic for recording professional vocal tracks, it sounds surprisingly passable for a budget gaming microphone.
• sE Electronics sE2300: This condenser mic has three switchable pickup patterns and a neutral-leaning frequency response with a treble boost, allowing for vocal clarity. It also comes with a pop filter and shock mount. You can find it for $399 at Amazon.
• Shure 55SH Series II: Not only will this microphone make you feel like Elvis, it sounds fantastic on the vocal frequencies. It doesn’t require any phantom power and is very durable, and its cardioid polar pattern makes it great at rejecting off-axis sound.

What should you know before buying a microphone?

Lily Katz / SoundGuys

The SM58 grille is easy to remove and replace if it becomes damaged.

If you’re looking for a mic specifically for picking up the voice, it’s most important to look at the mic’s frequency response, the way the mic accounts for unwanted noise, and its polar pickup pattern.

If you’re recording into a good microphone but it sounds bad, there may be a few things you can do to remedy this. For one, when recording vocals, it’s necessary to have a pop filter to reduce the sound of plosives and fricatives (“P” or “F” sounds). Some performance microphones, such as the Shure SM58 have internal pop filters, whereas many studio microphones require one to be externally mounted.

An internal shock mount can protect against noise that comes from handling the microphone. These are more necessary in live mics or radio broadcast mics than in studio mics, simply due to how much they will be handled, but are always an asset nonetheless.

Self-noise refers to the amount of low-level hiss produced by the mic when there’s no sound entering it. It’s an unfortunate consequence of the internal electrical components creating random noise that is recorded as a low, but irritating static sound. You’ll want it to be as low as possible so your vocals sound crystal clear.

What is frequency response?

The bass roll-off is intentional as a means of combating the proximity effect.

Just like headphones, microphones have frequency responses and plots. A microphone with a neutral-leaning frequency response will most accurately reproduce the sound of your voice and won’t emphasize or under-emphasize a particular frequency range of your voice. You won’t get a perfectly “flat” frequency response from a microphone, or headphones for that matter, but some microphones get you pretty darn close. Many people tout a “flat” response as the best because it most accurately captures a sound source’s actual sound. It also makes it easier to edit audio when you have a microphone with a neutral response, but this typically comes at a steeper price point.

Some people don’t want or need an ideal response, which is why many microphones have certain filters like a high or low-pass filter to adjust the sound while recording.

What is a microphone polar pattern?

A cardioid pickup pattern can record sound from the front and sides of the unit.

Polar patterns refer to the direction from which a microphone picks up its sound. When recording or amplifying vocals, it’s usually best to go for a cardioid or hypercardioid pickup pattern, because these best reproduce sound from on-axis, and reject sound from the back, so the voice is heard above other noise. All of the best vocal mics on this list have cardioid pickup patterns.

What is the difference between condenser and dynamic mics?

Depending on if you’re looking to record vocals or to amplify them in a live setting, you’ll want to consider the differences between condenser and dynamic mics. As a rule of thumb, dynamic mics are great for live performances because of their ability to handle loud inputs without distorting, but some dynamic mics, such as the Electrovoice RE20, are used in radio stations due to their ability to shut out unwanted room noise.

Condenser mics are typically preferred for studio settings because they are more sensitive, produce a more natural frequency response, and are better at picking up subtleties that vocalists often want in their recordings. Condenser microphones often require phantom power which can be provided by an audio interface.

What is the proximity effect?

A pop filter can create distance between you and the mic, reducing your chance of encountering the proximity effect.

You’ll observe the proximity effect in action when you speak too close to a microphone. The proximity effect is an increase in low-frequency output when the distance between the sound source and microphone is so small that the two objects are nearly touching. The closer the microphone gets to a sound source, the greater the bass boost. Many mics for vocals have high pass filters, which attenuate low-frequency noises and can help counter bass emphasis due to proximity. You can also fix this with a software filter later on.

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Frequently asked questions about microphones

The best microphone for singing live is the Shure SM58, and the best microphone for recording singing is either the Rode NT1, Shure SM7b, or newer Shure MV7.

Yes! In fact, we have a whole article about wireless microphone systems, but our favorite is the Shure SLX124/85/SM58 because it’s a versatile setup that comes with everything you need, and the handheld mic has the sound quality of the Shure SM58.