For most people who record interviews for podcasts, video blogs, or even just voice notes, buying a microphone is often the first step in the recording process. The relatively low cost of microphones makes them an attractive option, but it’s important to know what to look for when shopping for one.
There are dozens of microphone types to choose from, but only a few will be helpful for your interviewing needs. For example, a Condenser Microphone (which typically comes with a small stand and is used with a USB adapter to record directly to your computer) is best for situations in which you’re interviewing someone in the same room as yourself.
In this post, I have shared the top 5 best microphones for interviews that you can try. Check them out and get the best one for you.
Top 5 Best Microphones for Interviews
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Top Pick
|
Sennheiser MD 46
| Best Microphone for Interviews | Check On Amazon |
Most Popular
|
Rode VideoMic Pro
| Most Popular Microphone for Interviews | Check On Amazon |
Budget-Friendly
|
Rode Reporter
| Pocket-Friendly Microphone for Interviews | Check On Amazon |
Most Authentic
 |
Electro-Voice RE50/B | Most Authentic Microphone for Interviews | Check On Amazon |
Best Recommendations
|
Sennheiser MKE 400
| Best Recommended Microphone for Interviews | Check On Amazon |
Sennheiser MD 46
Sennheiser is a great brand to convey quality mics for recording. The beneficial thing about this brand is that it often thinks about its clients and gives additional services if any instrument from their brand gets broken by the client. They offer different high-quality microphones, one of which is the Sennheiser MD 46.
- Double layer grille basket
- Cardioid dynamic capsule
- Low handling noise
- Long handle with excellent balance
The Sennheiser MD 46 is a powerful and one of the best reporter mics that can be used for recording interviews. It is being used most widely all around the world for the quality features that it offers. It features an Omni-directional use making it the best microphone for interviews along with low handling noise capabilities.
While capturing background audio, the mic maintains its audio clarity, making the sound more realistic but at a certain distance. The dynamic capsule keeps out wind noise and gives room for low handling of any noise. This is the mic that I am also using.
The design of this mic is very decent, and you don’t feel weird while holding this mic or taking it along with you anywhere. The built quality is very much dependable, and it has a double-layer grille basket included with it.
It features a shallow polar pattern that helps to reduce the signal level when the recording user is standing at a distance of 2.5 inches from the mic. The frequency response of the MD 46 microphone is 40Hz–18,000Hz. The sound recorded from this mic almost completely fades off when the sound source moves 10 inches away.
The sound picked by this mic is very realistic and clear, and it does add some background audio inputs, which give a complete feeling of a surrounding while recording audio. The mic does a good job with its low noise and excellent balance of optimizing signals that ensure clarity for the audio recorded with it.
This mic can be used for almost any activity recording, but the primary purpose of this mic would be for recording interviews even in open space. This is a perfect quality microphone to capture a clear audio input that can even be used with cameras.
Rode VideoMic Pro
Rode is a microphone company with various categories of mics that have good quality and give great performance in terms of audio input and output. The mics from Rode are offered with different price tags for the features and built quality that they offer to tackle every type of customer, from cheap mics to expensive ones.
- A true shotgun microphone designed for camcorders, DSLR cameras and portable...
- The 1/2" condenser capsule provides broadcast-quality audio via a 3.5mm...
- The Rycote Lyre based shock mounting system provides isolation from external...
- English (Publication Language)
The Rode VideoMic Pro is an amazing piece of art by the Rode company. This mic is very much suitable for the video cameras like DSLR. You might have seen this mic being used by several YouTubers who record their vlogs along with DSLR recording to get a clear input of the audio from this mic.
It has a polar pattern that is specially designed to eliminate or minimize background noise as the recording gets more intense to a certain individual or audio source. It has a two-step high pass filter, a good battery, a shock mount, and a foam widescreen.
As far as the design and built quality is concerned, I found it a bit decent to look at. The quality is good and durable, though, and you can rely on Rode VideoMic Pro to take tough challenges. The finishing of this mic is beautifully done, and it would look great if you take it out anywhere with you.
This mic has a Supercardioid polar pattern with a frequency response of 40Hz to 20kHz, having a very lightweight body. Powered by a 9V battery, it has Low Noise and High Sensitivity, and three-position level control. There is also a 1/8″ (3.5 mm) Mini-Jack Output on this mic.
With decent specs, this mic does provide good audio and sound input. It is excellent for recording as you might have heard different YouTubers talking in their vlogs, and you are getting a perfect and audible quality output from it in your headsets.
I would recommend this for the person who is willing to take interviews from people or who wants to record lectures for students or a message for someone. Such use of this mic is perfect because of its super-cardioid polar pattern.
Rode Reporter
Rode microphone company releases best mics under a decent price tag with great features. The brand is famous for its quality condenser microphones to record input. Rode Reporter is also one of the great products by this brand.
- Broadcast recording presentation and interview microphone
- ‘Tailored for voice’ frequency response
- Omnidirectional polar pattern
- English (Publication Language)
Rode Reporter is the ideal omnidirectional microphone for recording and reporting on interviews. It is constructed from metal and is weather-resistant.
The device has a capsule mounted in a shock-mount internal to the microphone. Because of its internal shock mount, the noise is also reduced. This device is ideal for canceling background noise while preserving the quality of the audio input.
Despite its large cable, the design of this mic is very simple to look at, and users can rely on it as it can last a long time, even in tough weather conditions. You can take this mic for recording interviews.
It has a frequency response at 70Hz to 15kHz, and it records decent audio with it. The omnidirectional polar pattern is also a plus point on this mic.
Sound quality is definitely the basic option to look at with this mic. It records clear audio even in rough conditions, and it can be used to record audio from all directions.
A person who wants to do reporting and podcasting can make the best use of this mic. It has possibly everything that any microphone should have for recording quality audio.
Electro-Voice RE50/B
Electro-Voice is a company that offers pro audio equipment and devices that include any type of electronics in a household to be used. They make all types of equipment start from the use of drivers, enclosures, waveguides, etc. The mic produced by this brand gives excellent quality input for the audio, and one of their top models is the RE50B.
- Ultimate news gathering microphone
- Extremely effective and unique handling-noise isolation system
- Unsurpassed ruggedness and reliability in every environment
- Self generating, no battery or phantom power required
- Consistent response with distance
The Electro-Voice RE50/B is a great mic developed by Electro-Voice to record interviews. If you are looking to get the best microphone for interviews, this is a recommended option for you. Several news reporters and celebrities have used this mic to withstand any weather and natural conditions, even at extreme temperatures.
RE50/B is an omnidirectional dynamic mic capable of supporting different polar patterns, making it one of the great and unique mic to be used for recording interviews. Using this mic, users get the best quality with the help of a background cancellation effect to provide a better and more audible sound.
The design and build quality of this mic is found to be very simple. You will find a decent dark black-looking microphone that can be held in hand quickly, but the plus point is its built quality that lasts longer. Depending on its built quality, the features offered by this mic are also one to consider when you search for the best microphones for interviews.
The mic has omnidirectional polar patterns with a frequency response of 80Hz to 13kHz, which is amazing to record quality audio at different frequencies. The impedance level on this mic is 150 Ohms, and the audio sensitivity is 1.6mV/Pa.
I heard the sound recorded with this microphone, and it was one of the best quality sounds in case you want to listen to news recording. The microphone did a great job in canceling out the background noises, and I heard everything.
The RE50/B doesn’t require a battery or phantom power to get it going, and it is best to use for recording interviews and podcasts. Streamers can also use it to stream their content by delivering good quality audio.
Sennheiser MKE 400
Sennheiser is a great brand to deliver quality microphones for recording. The good thing about this brand is that it cares about its customers and provides spare parts that are replaceable if any instrument from their brand gets broken by the user. They provide good services along with the quality microphones in the market.
- Rugged all-metal housing
- Integral shock mount for rejection of handling noise
- Switchable sensitivity for long and short distances.
- More than 300 hrs operationg time from 1 AAA battery.
- Fits all camers with a standard hot shoe mount and an external microphone input
One of the quality microphones from Sennheiser is the Sennheiser MKE 400. It is a compact shotgun microphone option to consider recording quality audio input for the interviews. The initial use of this fantastic mic is with cameras that connect an external microphone input along with a reliable shoe mount.
Having a small body in this microphone doesn’t make it soft or weak instead, it is a pretty durable and robust microphone made up of a metal body. During video recordings, the mic performs well with maximum noise rejection from its side due to the super-cardioid polar pattern. The mic can also be adjusted to record long and short-distance voices.
This shotgun mic has a built-in shoe mount, and the design is also very attractive. It is a relatively cheaper microphone compared to other options, but it offers a sturdy and durable body with great quality. I liked the design of this compact microphone as the metal constructed body gives it a sleek look and makes it more attractive.
The mic has Supercardioid/Lobar polar pattern with a frequency response of 40Hz to 20kHz. It includes an integrated shock mount and single AAA Battery that runs 300 Hours, and it also consists of a coiled 1/8″ (3.5mm) Mini-Jack.
When you hear the sound quality recorded with this mic, you get amazed as the input is so precise with its frequency response range and the ability to catch clear audio by eliminating noise with the help of a windscreen. I love the input recorded with this microphone as the sound is clear and audible with it.
This is a recommended option in the case of those who want to shoot mobile or camera videos but want a better microphone that can record good audio input. It is a good choice, and I would recommend it for the firms or organizations that want to record interviews with different people to use this mic.
Microphones come in different sizes and shapes from different brands, and each of them has to offer various features to the users. Some are best for recording vocals, whereas some are good for recording instrumental music. Users often search for the best microphones for interviews, and several options are available in the market.
The microphones for interviews can be considered from two categories based upon their quality and audio input. One is shotgun microphones, and the other is lavalier microphones. Both of these types are great microphones that have a slight difference in performance for recording different types of interviews.
Both lavalier and shotgun mics give great features, and they have their own pros and cons. It doesn’t matter whether you are conducting an interview or recording for a podcast; these mics perform really well. The advantage of using a lavalier microphone over a shotgun mic is that you can place it much closer to the other person with whom you’re recording.
The shotgun mic has a more precise pick-up pattern. Having a super-cardioid or hyper-cardioid pattern provides great audio quality. Let’s take a deeper look at the best microphones for interviews that include lavalier and shotgun mics.
Best Microphones for Interviews: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which microphones are best to use for indoor interviews?
Condenser microphones are better for the studio environments which gives you proper sound capturing with very low noise. Shotgun mics are also good option as they are very sharp.
What is the best wireless microphones for live streaming interviews?
There are many best wireless microphones for live streaming such as Countryman E6 or Shure BLX14R. You can check out the Top 5 Best Wireless Headset Microphone
Conclusion
This was a discussion about the best microphones for interviews. I shared details of each mic in detail, along with their features and specs and the frequency response, including polar patterns. They all are great mics for recording quality audio.
If you are still confused and want my recommendation, I suggest you go with Rode VideoMic Pro to be one of the most popular and best microphones for an interview.
Do you still have anything else to ask? Do let me know in the comments below. Till then, check out some of my other best articles.
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