The Best Studio Vocal Microphones

Which are the top microphones for recording vocals and how do they benefit you as an artist?

On this page, from River Recording Studios in Southampton

The best studio vocal microphones are mounted on a stand, designed to capture all the intricacies of your sound. Condensers are a standard choice, but dynamic varieties may be used too. Quality tech is key. So be sure to choose a studio that’s well equipped.

In this article, we’ll be going into more detail on the specifications for many different models, to help you decide which to use when recording, or singing live. We’ll also reveal the stars’ favourite brands.

Finding the most suitable microphone is important if you’re thinking about a career as a singer, or are already a professional artist. Experienced singers will use a variety of microphones for different purposes. They will often have a go-to microphone in the studio and a set of live microphones that they’ll use.

If you want to put in a great singing performance then you’ll need to use the right microphone for the situation. Microphones can be distinguished by their type: dynamic, condenser and ribbon. The differences are found in their capsules, which is the part you sing into that picks up the sound.

Studio microphones can seem like the opposite of a live microphone. They aren’t handheld and are made to be mounted on a mic stand. As a result, they are bigger and can capture more frequencies of your voice. They are usually condensers (we’ll be explaining more on the way condensers work shortly). But here are some dynamic microphones that can get good results.

Rode NT1A Condenser Microphone
Neumann TLM 102 Condenser Microphone
AKG C214 Condenser Microphone
Audio-Technica AT4050 Condenser Microphone
Shure SM7B Dynamic Microphone
Sennheiser MD421-II Dynamic Microphone
Rode NTK Valve Condenser Microphone
Neumann U87 Tube Condenser Microphone

Microphones for recording vocals

Proper microphone technique is very important. But you need the right microphone too and this comes at a cost. However, there are some more affordable options to consider.

Rode manufacture some superb budget models. They are positioned as providing great value for a great price and offer many entry point microphones, such as the NT1A. They offer quality microphones that are cheaper than their competitors. Rode NTK and NTR microphones are cheaper than many other tube and ribbon microphones on the market and have been reviewed well for their sound quality.

Shure, Sennheiser and SE Electronics are other brands that can provide great value. The Shure SM58 is regarded as one of the best value microphones that you can get for live performance. Every venue you go to will have one and there isn’t much competition for a live vocal mic.

These work out to be much cheaper than the likes of premium brands Neumann and Telefunken, which tend to be well over £1000 and are regarded as the top end of microphones. However, even Neumann does a cheaper option in the TLM series that are under £1000.

What makes a microphone good for vocals?

Ribbon microphones differ from condensers and dynamic microphones because of the ribbon capsule inside the microphone. They usually provide a richer sound quality than dynamic microphones but, compared to a condenser, they roll off their frequencies at a higher range. They also tend to have a figure of 8 patterns, but this isn’t always the case.

This leads to ribbon microphones having a warmer sound as brightness, and even harshness, are results of a larger proportion of higher frequencies. The ribbons inside ribbon microphones are very sensitive. It is wise to stay clear of using phantom power with a ribbon mic. They don’t need it and the ribbon can even be damaged by the incoming power supply.

But Ribbon microphones can also be quite expensive. There are cheaper options for around £500 or less but most will be around £1000 or even double that. If you do have the finances though, check out some of these models.

Royer R-121 Ribbon Microphone
Cloud Microphones JRS-34 Active Ribbon Microphone
Blue Woodpecker Ribbon Microphone
Shure KSM313 Dual Voice Ribbon Microphone
Coles 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone
Rode NTR Ribbon Mic
SE Electronics VR2 Voodoo Active Ribbon Microphone

Which microphone is best for singing?

Microphones are definitely an important part of making something sound good but there are limitations. A microphone can’t make you sing in tune or improve your vocal tone.

In fact, more expensive microphones may even reveal your flaws. It’s often best to go into a recording studio and try out different microphones to see which one sounds best for you. Every singer is different and some microphones will work better for you than others.

Another way to distinguish microphones is by their polar pattern, which is the direction it picks up sound. You can get omnidirectional microphones that pick up sound from all angles and bidirectional, or figure of 8, that picks up front and back. Any microphone with a focused direction is a cardioid microphone, which can be slightly directional or highly focused, known as super or hyper-cardioid.

The Shure SM58 is a great microphone but it may not be the best option for recording. First of all, it is dynamic so it won’t have the same recording quality as a condenser. There are plenty of other microphones that are made for recording vocals that will deliver better results.

Is a condenser mic good for singing?

Condenser microphones are great for vocals because there are a lot of vocal frequencies that a dynamic mic may not pick up. They are very rarely suited for live performance but are perfect for the studio.

So which is better, a condenser or dynamic mic?

It completely depends on the situation but condensers will typically give you better sound quality. They are far less practical as they can be pretty big. A dynamic mic like an SM58 can fit in a small bag whereas some condensers come in large cases. Condensers tend to be more expensive than dynamics. Over £100 is to be expected and good value condensers can be found between £250 to £500. It is common for condensers to be close to £1000 and vintage condensers can even go for close to £10,000, maybe even more.

Also, many condensers require phantom power, which is 48V power from an external source. Many audio interfaces will include a phantom power button but most condensers will be redundant if you don’t have access to it. Almost all dynamic microphones will work without phantom power. It’s only really a requirement for condenser microphones that don’t come with their own power source.

Phantom power won’t damage dynamic microphones. You will find that turning on phantom power with a dynamic microphone won’t make a difference in its ability to function. However, phantom power has been known to damage ribbon microphones.

Best mic for singing online

YouTubers can use a wide variety of microphones. If you’re singing on YouTube then you could get a condenser to try and record the best quality that you can. However, this can be expensive and a cheaper dynamic microphone might be a better shout. Those that just want something to plug in and speak into shouldn’t be looking to make a large investment and USB microphones could be the way to go.

USB microphones are great for YouTubers that want a quick and easy mic for their computer. USB microphones can offer good value but won’t have the same level of sound quality and studio microphones. However, most YouTubers aren’t obsessed with getting high-end studio-quality sound for their videos. Here’s a rundown of some of the best USB microphones for singing online.

Blue Microphones Snowball Ice USB Microphone
Rode NT USB Microphone
Audio-Technica AT2020 USB Plus
Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone
AKG Perception 120 USB Condenser Microphone
Shure MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone
Audiotechnica ATR 2100 USB/XLR Microphone

Microphones for singing at home

Recording vocals at home can be difficult. There are a lot of external sounds that are out of your control, such as neighbours and traffic. Furthermore, the sound of some microphones can be seriously affected by the acoustics of your room. Therefore, it is best to record with a microphone that is better suited for home recording.

It is a good idea to record vocals with a condenser. However, a dynamic microphone such as an SM7B may be better for home use. Either way, you want to make sure that your microphone is highly directional so that it won’t pick up external sound sources.

You should also look at investing in a vocal shield or reflexion filter. This provides an acoustic barrier around the microphone that will help block out external sounds. It will also help prevent any room reflections that can have a negative effect on the sound.

Best beginners microphone for singing live

Performing live requires a robust and durable microphone that can withstand touring. These are almost always dynamic microphones but there are also some high-end condensers that can be used live. They should also be highly directional so that they are only focused on the singer and no other instrument or monitor. Check out these microphones for live vocals.

Shure SM58 Dynamic Microphone
Sennheiser e 935 Dynamic Microphone
AKG D5 Dynamic Microphone
Shure Super 55 Dynamic Microphone
Blue Microphones en-CORE 100 Dynamic Microphone
Beyerdynamic M 88 TG Dynamic Microphone
Neumann KSM 105 Condenser Microphone
Shure KSM 9 Condenser Microphone

Some singers like to roam around the stage and may even be looking at choreographing some dance routines. Choosing to use wireless vocal systems can limit your options but there are still some great mics that you can use, such as…

Shure BLX24UK/SM58 Wireless Vocal System
Trantec S4.04-HD-EB-GD5 Wireless System
AKG WM40 Mini Wireless Vocal Set
Sennheiser EW100 G4-835–S-GB Wireless Vocal Set
Audio-Technica ATW 1102 Wireless Microphone System
Sennheiser XSW 1 E ME3 Wireless Headset System
Shure BLX14E/P31-T11 Wireless Headset System

So in summary, the best microphone for singing will depend on you as an artist and the setting. Choose studio microphones that focus on clarity and sound quality. And for a live microphone, buy one that’s durable. If you’re planning a recording session in a professional studio, chat with the team there. They’ll already have a wealth of expertise and knowledge, and will be able to match you to just the right mics.