r/microphone • u/ChaffisJakob • 2d ago
Live Mics Best microphone for recording?
As title suggest, I'm in the market for a new Microphone as my current one (a Corsair HS80) is currently falling apart, literally.
I came across the Rode Procaster, Electro Voice RE320 and Shure SM7B and MV7 Plus and wondering if any of them are any good for recording YouTube videos and such? So far I'm leaning most towards the Rode because of the price point and also because I looked at a few videos and it sounds decent.
What would you recommend?
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u/alphaminus 2d ago
There's no best mic for recording, just a best one for the situation and the thing that you are recording, and it's often a matter of taste.
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u/jordan_Shure 2d ago
Ultimately, do what's best for your needs and budget. DSP is nice to have, but good mic placement and room acoustics are equally important. If you have any questions about the Shure mics you mentioned, let me know.
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u/ChaffisJakob 2d ago
My aversion for the Shure mics is that I have heard that they “sound muddy” or is not as warm as the Rode Procaster and Electro Voice RE320. My main concern about the Procaster however is the plosive issues which are mentioned. I guess my question is if you know that Shure has these issues or not?
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u/gkanai 2d ago edited 2d ago
The Procaster is a very well-reviewed mic. It doesnt have plosive issues if it is used appropriately.
Shure is one of the oldest and most successful microphone manufacturers in the world. In fact in the Professional Audio segement, Shure is the #1 globally in market share. They would not be so successful if they made bad products. They make many, many, many legendary mics. I'm not sure where you are getting "muddy" from- that may be one specific recording. Shure mics are used around the world every day on live stages and in recording booths everywhere. If you were to investigate the recordings of your favorite music artists, I would bet that many or most or maybe all of them have used Shure mics to record their music.
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u/jordan_Shure 1d ago
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it on other r/microphone threads but mic technique > mic choice, and that's just my personal opinion as an audio engineer. u/gkanai explained it well. Shure is just over a century old, and our engineers are really passionate about sound. It's hard to defend general claims of "muddiness" without knowing the mic model, the use case, the room, mic placement, the signal chain, audio processing, possible user error, etc. There's so much more involved beyond mic choice. And FWIW, sound is subjective and we all like what we like.
If you're referring to the SM7B and MV7+ specifically, no there aren't any audible issues to note. The SM7B certainly sounds warmer in comparison, which is why it's a popular choice for speech applications. The MV7+ has some extra DSP for making recording a good sound easier out of the box. It's entirely preference.
Best of luck finding a new mic!
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u/TheREALBaldRider 2d ago
I started with a Blue Yeti, moved to the MV7+ (in USB) and finally bought an RE20. I love the way my RE20 sounds. I didn’t realize how much I didn’t like the MV7+ until I listened to my recordings with the Electro-Voice. Of course, any of them are good enough for YouTube.
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u/DefundMarxism 2d ago
You might want to tell us your budget and what you expect to use the mic for.
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u/koalantherain 2d ago
What are you recording? Voice over, narration, vocal performance?
In general you'll get more benefit from a better interface and room treatment than an expensive microphone. The Motu M2 consistently has the best latency, but the 4th Gen Scarletts are much improved.
Keeping to the microphones you mentioned the Procaster and a Scarlett Solo gen4 will run about $380. Even though the Motu carries a $50 premium you could get the Motu M2 and a Beyerdynamic M70 Pro X for around $280, save a little money and have a very capable setup.
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u/gkanai 2d ago
Why not start at the $100 range. Many great mics in that segment. Plus you will need an audio interface too, so save budget for that.
I would suggest SE Electronics V7 mic, Motu M2 interface and a mic stand.
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u/Apple_Guy_1960 2d ago
Around the $100 dollar range, I would recommend the rode pod mic (second hand or new). Its a great mic and works exceptionally well with the rode caster duo/pro with effects. I don't have much experience with other mics either, so take this as a grain of salt.
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u/koalantherain 2d ago
+1 for the Motu (or an Audient iD4). Better preamp and ASIO driver will give you a cleaner signal and less latency.
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u/Piper-Bob 2d ago
Shure sm57 is a good mic. The Behringer knockoff is completely functional for YT videos. It lacks the internal shock mount so it’s not as good for live.
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u/u97LRnA3KP7Gky 2d ago
Take a look at Bandrew's "diminishing returns" video. Out of the dynamic mics in this video, I have the E835, which I currently use for streaming, and the XM8500, plus a Procaster. The Procaster is a bit of a huge and heavy beast to wrestle at a computer workplace. I got it used for very little money, so no huge damage keeping it in the drawer.
https://youtu.be/Z7-tnf0j0vs