BEST MICROPHONE FOR VOICE OVER (2024)

FREE courses coming out on my channel in 2025. Lessons will be released each week (within their own playlist) for each course. (See playlists below)

ALL RECOMENDED EQUIPMENT

AUIDO INTERFACE SETUP GUIDE

DON'T Use The SM7B for Voice Over

POLAR PATTERN VIDEO

Foam DOESN'T work

RODE NT1 5th Gen Review

-- LINKS --
(When available, I use affiliate links and may earn a commission at no extra cost to you )

EQUIPMENT USED IN VIDEO:

-- AUDIO --

-- CAMERA/LENSES --

-- LIGHTING --

00:00 - INTRO
1:08 - USB VS XLR Microphone
5:35 - Large Diaphragm Condenser/Dynamic/Shotgun
10:59 - Shotgun Mics Are BAD for Voice Over?
13:09 - EQ Curve/Frequency Response
15:10 - The Most Important Part
18:30 - YKWTS

[banyanstudio]

LOVE my Rode NT-1 5th gen— that YOU recommended!

[foursite]

Your audio sounds amazing on YouTube bro! The presence is incredible and comes out well on our end. Thanks!

[Cotictimmy]

I’m a newbie hobbyist with a low budget. I chose a Rode Podmic & a Zoom H4n Pro (both used from eBay). Initially I had just the Zoom, but I thought a condenser mic would sound better in my untreated home space. I’m pleased with the result so far. I got the mic with 6m cable for $75 and the Zoom for $120.

[shingAMarie]

I like you're stuff because not many channels cover the AT875r, which sounds good esp for the price. Also adding the NT1 is good because it is popular along with the common (though in my opinion plain, borderline muddy) sm7b.

[TrueNorf]

As usual James! Great video! Yes, because of YOU, I'm now rockin' an NT1 5th Gen. and LOVE IT!!! I'm still a fan of my vintage AT2020 USB though.

[churchhymnsandpsalms]

I bought the Rode NT1 5th gen because of you :)

[JamesSchmittVO]

James: I heard every word you said. Excellent review and very helpful with starting out!

[DayOneVoiceover]

I appreciate the content and glad I stumbled on your chance today. As someone that’s just getting started, this is really valuable. I just received my NT1 yesterday and am finally graduating from my Blue Yeti USB. Really excited to get started with a proper mic.

[pattibullock]

Such great information!! TY so much. I am returning to voice-over work after being off for a few years and considering upgrading my mic soon. I began recording with a Blue Yeti condenser mic in 2019 with a pop screen and propped-up pillows surrounding my desk work area to muffle out white noise. Would like to eventually build a desk-height whisper area. My Yeti served me quite well with continual work for nearly 3 years!! This time I plan to work P/T and just considering my options. TY for any advice on upgrading. Patti :)

[andriibudim]

absolutely love all your content, mate! I consider myself hobbyist and fell this rabbit hole of microphones during covid to sound better on wfh meetings :) I have sm7b with dbx286s and love this radio compressed sound of it. I wanted some shotgun mic which would have very similar sound to sm7b but without mic in my face - and after investigation bought mkh50, and its like 90% the same - this low-end rich thick dark sound. Just amazing. However, if the space is partly treated (like mine) echo on mkh50 is way more pronounced. So at this point my 400$ mic sounds waay better than 1400$ one haha

[EricMakingWaves]

I’m a little surprised you didn’t include super/hyper cardioid small diaphragm condenser. Pretty common for soundstage productions.

[Brandon-wb]

I love your transparency - not blindly asking for subscribers - before the video even starts - not knowing if it's something you want to -add to your list -

Good - you should be compensated - for your affiliation - your viewers respect your honesty 👊

[UlrichEckardt]

My daughter and I use a Sennheiser MKH 416 for VO and my client love my recordings

[Maximuuus]

Only question you're not answering is what the main question seems to be when I read your title. This video has nothing to do with best microphones in 2024.

[Isaywatson]

I have a RODE NT1 5th generation - about 6 months old. It was working fine until last week stopped working. I checked the XLR interface and cable and they are working fine. If I slightly wiggle the XLR connector to the microphone the signal jumps all over the place. I will never buy another RODE microphone again!

[bogdanlyba]

I use my vintage Rode NT-1 Creamy grey and Audio-Technica AT875R for many years. Both are great for me with my DBX 286S.

[AtHomewithHope]

Do you recommend out of the xlr cables which pick up the least mouth noises?

[Underhills]

James, great informative video. I'm surprised shotgun mics can deliver depth like that, I guess I've been putting too much emphasis on the form factor. Chunky condensers being the only option for "full sound" etc. I'm actually considering the AT-875R as a replacement for my extremely sensitive and MUCH more expensive tube condenser as I doubt I'll ever be able to provide the room it deserves and demands. I don't care if the AT-875R is intended as a boom mic in video production, if it sounds good on voice and isolates voice it's a winner to me🏆

[theoutsiderjess]

I got a podmic usb right now the original podmic broke and i replaced it, i also got a sm48 i trust shure and rode mics the most

[kareng]

Thank you for the valuable information you share with us. Total newbie here, and wanting to get some much needed advise from you, and experienced voice artists. Being on the pre- Pre-K level of voiceover, I am afraid I will mess up gain when setting it up on the mic, so I was considering getting the Rode N1 5th generation and use it as USB, with the 32-bit float option, to have more room for error on that part, and getting an audio interface to use it as XLR later on.
Now, for about the same price, I can get the AT-2020 XLR (or other XLR you can recommend), with an audio interface, but I believe there is no going back if I mess up the gain, right? I'm torn, all advice is appreciated.
(As a side note, I considered starting off with the AT2020USB-X, originally).
Thank you so much in advance!