Best Microphone for YouTube Under $1000
Feb 9, 2021
It's no secret that microphones can get quite expensive. With so many to choose from, how can you ensure that your money is well-spent? Luckily enough, many content creators have tested out different types of microphones over the years to determine what the best microphone for YouTube under $1000 is.
The top YouTube microphones under $1000 tend to fall within a price range of $200 to $400. Quality, brand, and features are a few of the things that affect how much microphones cost. Microphones that have minimal features will often cost less than microphones with a long list of features.
Read on to find out which microphone with a price tag under $1000 is the best option for content creators looking to produce high-quality YouTube videos.
| Shure SM7B | Rode Procaster | Shure MV7 | Blue Yeti X | Samson Q2U | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Buy Now |  | | | | |
Best Mic for YouTube Under $1000
Over the years, many different microphones have been used to create YouTube videos. Since this is the case, finding the best mic for YouTube under $1000 has become a difficult task. However, there are a few microphones that have been used in recent years that stand out as a few of the best options.
Shure SM7B
The Shure SM7B is the preferred microphone among many massive YouTube content creators. Originally made popular by podcasters, this microphone has started to be used to create non-podcast videos. If you're looking to record audio that sounds clear and crisp, you'll have a difficult time beating this microphone.
What's the Price
Currently, the Shure SM7B costs $399.00 on Amazon as a new product. Unfortunately, finding used versions of this product is quite difficult, as they rarely appear on Amazon.
What Are the Features
For a microphone with this price tag, you'd expect there to be a lot of features, right? Well, while there are some nice features present on the SM7B, what you're paying for is a microphone capable of producing world-class audio recordings. Finding a mic capable of recording better quality audio in the $400 price range is nearly impossible.
Features of this microphone include:
- Cardioid polar pattern
- Flat, wide-range frequency response
- Improved rejection of electromagnetic hum
- XLR output
How's the Audio Quality
As you can probably imagine based on its price, the Shure SM7B produces extremely high-quality audio. Viewers can listen to voice-overs capture with this microphone for hours on end without having to listen to annoying noises. You'll struggle to find a microphone that sounds better than this one.
Rode Procaster
A microphone that has remained relevant for years now is the Rode Procaster, and there's a good reason for this. Not only can this microphone record clean, smooth vocals, but it's also quite affordable for the quality of the product. You can never go wrong by selecting this microphone as your go-to for capturing voice recordings.
What's the Price
At this time, the Rode Procaster has a price tag of $229.00 on Amazon. However, this microphone can sometimes be purchased used for a lower price.
What Are the Features
Much like with the SM7B, the Rode Procaster comes equipped with a few great features, but what you're mostly paying for with this mic are the brand and quality. It's nearly impossible to find a microphone with a price tag of $250 or less that can produce such high-quality audio recordings.
Some features of this microphone include:
- Tailored-for-voice frequency response
- Internal pop-filter to reduce plosives
- High output dynamic capsule
- XLR output
How's the Audio Quality
You can't go wrong with the Rode Procaster. This microphone captures audio that is clear and crisp. Whether you'd like your voice to sound warm and deep or more natural, this mic is more than able to accommodate your needs. Odds are, you'll never have a viewer complain about the audio captured with this microphone.
Shure MV7
While the SM7B is the most well-known microphone from Shure, the Shure MV7 should not be ignored. In many ways, the MV7 is the more cost-effective and flexible version of the SM7B. As time goes on, there's a good chance you'll see more content creators using this microphone to record their voice-overs.
What's the Price
The Shure MV7 currently costs $249.00 on Amazon brand new. Like the other Shure microphone on this list, finding a used version of the MV7 on Amazon is rare.
What Are the Features
Shure's MV7 was designed to be a microphone that non-experienced individuals could use. Since this is the case, this microphone comes equipped with several features that are designed to make the recording process an easier experience. No matter what your skill level is, the MV7 has features that will help you capture audio for your videos quickly and easily.
Here are some features of this microphone:
- Voice isolation technology
- Mic position presets
- Intuitive touch panel controls
- XLR/USB outputs
How's the Audio Quality
Even though it's the more beginner-friendly version of the SM7B, the Shure MV7 doesn't suffer in regards to the quality of the audio it can produce. Both USB and XLR recordings sound great and give more expensive microphones a run for their money. Regardless of your needs, the MV7 is a great choice.
Blue Yeti X
Chances are, you've heard of the Blue Yeti microphone before. Well, now there's a new version- the Blue Yeti X. The Yeti X is just as dependable as the original Yeti microphone. With a variety of great features and the ability to record high-quality audio, this microphone is a great option.
What's the Price
Currently, the Blue Yeti X costs $169.99 on Amazon. With this said, the price of this microphone fluctuates quite regularly depending on the time of year.
What Are the Features
It's hard to find a microphone that is more flexible than the Blue Yeti X. No matter what your needs are, chances are you'd be able to make the Yeti X work for you. Whether you record gaming videos or podcasts, the features of this microphone will make it possible for you to capture audio that sounds clean and crisp.
A few features of this microphone include:
- Four-capsule array
- High-res LED metering
- Multi-function smart knob
- USB output
How's the Audio Quality
Blue's original Yeti produced great sounding audio, and the Yeti X is no different. With a variety of different modes, the Yeti X can help you capture audio that sounds great in many different scenarios. Just remember, the Yeti X is a condenser microphone, so the captured audio will be more "heavy" for the high and mid-frequency tones.
Samson Q2U
What can you do if you'd like to capture high-quality audio on a budget? You can purchase the Samson Q2U! This microphone was a well-kept secret for a very long time. However, in recent years, more content creators have started to learn about the fantastic budget mic that is the Samson Q2U.
What's the Price
Right now, the Samson Q2U can be purchased for the low price of $69.99. Something important to note, however, is that the price does fluctuate based on stock.
What Are the Features
Sometimes, less is more, and this is perfectly illustrated by the Samson Q2U. It might not have multiple recording modes or fancy dials, but it gets the job done while offering a level of flexibility that many microphones do not provide. At the end of the day, the job of a mic is to record audio, and the features of this mic allow this to be done quickly and easily.
Features of this microphone include:
- Cardioid pickup pattern
- 50Hz-15kHz frequency response
- Zero-latency monitoring
- XLR/USB outputs
How's the Audio Quality
For its price, the Samson Q2U produces incredible audio. Many microphones that cost over double the price of the Q2U produce audio that is of lower quality. So, don't let the low price tag of the Q2U scare you- this microphone is more than capable of helping you produce high-quality audio for your videos.
Which Microphone Should You Choose
At this point, you're probably wondering- which microphone should you choose? Should you choose the most expensive option or should you settle for a mid-tier option? Well, the answer to this question depends on your needs. Your needs will determine which microphone is the ideal choice for you.
Overall, the best microphone on this list is the Shure SM7B. If you purchase the SM7B, you'll never have to purchase another mic every again. However, this microphone is the most expensive option on this list, and it requires a soundboard to operate, as it is strictly an XLR microphone.
If you are on a tight budget, you might want to consider the Shure MV7 or even the Samson Q2U. Both of these microphones produce high-quality audio and come with the bonus of having XLR and USB inputs. So, both of these microphones make it possible to upgrade your set up with a soundboard down the road.
Just know that every microphone on this list is capable of capturing extremely high-quality audio. No matter which mic you choose, whether it's the Blue Yeti X or Rode Procaster, you'll have no problems capturing audio that sounds clear and crisp. All in all, every mic on this list is a great choice.
Conclusion
Part of creating high-quality YouTube videos is capturing high-quality audio. But how can you capture high-quality audio for your videos? Well, you'll need a microphone capable of doing so. There might not be a single best microphone for YouTube under $1000, but there are plenty of fantastic options available.
