20 Best Microphones For Recording Electric Guitar (Feb 2023 Update)

I looked up and down everywhere to see what's the best mic for all around, Like the hidden gem in the cornfield. People told me the rodemic, Razer and snow xlr mic, But from looking past the "Normal" I seen the sm57. A famous hidden mic no one really knew about, Basically has the same tone sm7b just a little different. $100ish instead of $400 count me in, I been using it for zoom calls, Twitch, Discord and everyone i talked to said i went from a very noisy and outland voice to a solid nice tone. I personally use mine with a boom arm, the a81ws, focusrite. No issues with it and i had it for about 3 months, I'm not the gentlest on it either so I feel comfortable using it on a day to day basis. Who would i recommend this to? To be totally honest everyone, You want it to do something? Trust me it will. 10/10Bradleigh, K

I've only had chance to do a quick sound check miking my Bugera V22 and recording the sound using my new Tascam DP-008 EX 8-track recorder. Sound quality was very good, especially for a basic home office recording setup. I can see why this mic is so popular in the industry. For perspective, I am a hobbyist and don't perform, but like to have the best sound for my limited budget to make recordings for myself and maybe friends and family. This mic lives up to its rep for being a great value for what you pay, punching above its class, no doubt.Steve

Overall: Seeing the pictures online made me think one thing. But then seeing in my hand made me think another. This is a rather small microphone in comparison to what I've used in the past. Transitioning from a monsterous Sterling Audio ST-79 to the TLM-102 made a HUGE difference. The depth of the vocal is outstanding. The frequency range is great and the Higher SPL makes it able to withstand some of the loudmouth vocalist rappers it will be used on. I myself have a deeper raspier voice and this mic works wonders on the clarity of it. In the mix there is much more control on dialing in to get the sound you want. This little Big Dog is now my Go to mic for Vocals out of my collection which includes: a. (1) ST-79 -Sterling Audio – Condenser b. (1) ST-55 – Sterling Audio – Condenser c. (1) MXL 990 and (1) 991 – MXL – Condensers d. (2) Fathead I – Cascade – Ribbon e. (1) TLM-102 – Neumann – Condenser (these are just my Vocal specific mics) All in all I love the mic and the mixing flexablity, its smaller size, and its versatility in use. Sure there is not a bass roll-off, or pad switch so it may not be best for SOME RANDOM VERY SPECIFIC NEED. But for the typical use of a microphone this thing has become my best friend.Chris

I play acoustic fingerstyle guitar and I was looking at some mics options to do some recordings… this mic is absolutely brilliant ! It captures amazingly the sounds of an acoustic guitar, very detailed and all nuances can be heard. Very rich and natural sound and exactly what I was looking for acoustic guitar recordings. Furthermore the look is stunning and the quality amazing. Love it! I am now considering getting another one so I could pair it nicely with the one I owe. Highly recommended!! Here is a recoding I've made with this mic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIThVYPlJ5MReviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: Finally bought a couple of these for use primarily on drums, guitar cabs, & horns. I'm a former music performance major and audio engineering school grad, & have been building my studio for over 15 years. Got the 421's in the mail and immediately used them on a drum session with rack & floor tom, running through API preamps. The sound was excellent! I was very impressed with the tonal quality, the ambient pickup (or lack thereof), and will probably order at least two more. Different people have different opinions of this mic, but it's a workhorse for a reason. Every mic has its own 'thing', and this mic does what it does amazingly well. Dynamic mics are not condenser mics, and they have a different sound / vibe. The roll-off switch will come in handy for mic'ing guitar cabs, bass cabs, low toms & kick drum, and anything in close proximity. These mics handle louder sources very well. Of course, the only downside to this mic is the notoriously bad clip. It's okay if you don't have to move it, such as placing on drums or guitar cabs in a session. Obviously not meant to be moved once set in place. However, a very, very good dynamic mic that will get used a ton in my studio.Chuck

For podcasters wanting to upgrade their mic, you may have lost a deal of the century. This proven microphone was nearly half off earlier this year. It sold out, but BH honored the sale price when it was back ordered a month (other places didn't). All Sennheiser dynamic mics are time-tested over the years, and you'll see this model in use decades ago on live television. It is no frills, but great for voice. Almost nobody likes the mount, but it hasn't been an issue for me as I leave it in place all of the time. It is a good mic for the price it usually commands, but was an insane price earlier this year. And it wasn't a typo!Jeffery

My first Tom mics Where the Sennheiser 604’s they last over 10 years 1 died and I slowly lost the rest. So I picked 6 more mics but I stepped up to the Sennheiser 904s. These are an improvement and I still use them but I felt compelled to give the Sennheiser 421 a shot ,so I up six of those. And wow such a massive improvement. . They are so rich and full , capturing the true tone of my drums. Where they really shine is in the lower notes I really wish I would’ve bought 10 of these instead of 6 I want to try one out tonight on my snare drum and see how I like that as well. This is one of my best purchases if you can afford it I suggest you go for it and get you a set of these as well. Good luck and happy recording.Death Metal Jim

"Arturo Sandoval's Mic of choice! The Mic used most for High Quality Trumpet Recording! With a Life-Like realism to the sound as if you were hearing it played live. A warm outstanding Ribbon Professional Microphone.thevintagehorn

This R-121 is incredibly versatile for a ribbon microphone – I never fear putting it in front of guitar cabs, raucous horn players, even drums. The sound is incredibly clear and true to what my ears are hearing (a little less abrasive top end). Without a doubt worth having in my microphone closet… or out of it which usually the case. A great microphone investment!Excellent microphone – I will be purchasing more. Worth every penny I paid for this – it is a go to microphone in most every session I do these days… which is to say it is paying for itself. My clients dig the sounds = my gear pays for itself.Fester Spunk

Great mic. works magic on guitars. however you do need a good mic and pre and a decent compressor to place in front of mic! If you can get this mic for a good price (less than $1300) I would buy it! make sure you read the manual before use! If you don't you can damage the ribbon and make the mic sound bad!!!surfgreen101

Overall: For an extra $10 you also get a cable and boom stand?!? It would be foolish to pass on this mic if you are currently in the market for one!! I didn't purchase mine through zZounds, so I did not get the extras, which is a Great offer!! I will review it here anyway, since I Love this company and want people to know about this microphone. This mic is AMAZING!! Yes, it is wonderful on guitar cabs, but it sounds just Insanely GREAT on Any and All Acoustic instruments. Besides being a musician, I am also a serious, professionally-trained audio engineer…so, I am not a novice with no perspective. I mostly record (and play) Rock, Metal, Punk, Acoustic, etc etc types of music. However, I recently recorded a group I usually do not record…which was a Bluegrass group who also played a little bit of Country and Gospel. In fact, I had never recorded or played this type of music before this. They played Mostly Very Traditional songs (some very old) and wanted a VERY Natural sound and the way they put it was that they Only used instruments that would have existed and been available to mountain musicians back in the 1800s. Sadly (for me), this meant there were no drums. Regardless of the genre, I Always try to get the sound the client truly wants. I already knew the e906 sounds Great on guitar amps/cabs, whether distorted or not. But I decided to try it on some of the acoustic instruments in this situation. Among other mics used, I recorded some Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, and Mandolin using the e906. And……WOW did these instruments come out sounding nothing less than Spectacular!!! I did not try it on Bass or Vocals so I cannot comment on the e906's performance with them. But I have NEVER been disappointed with this mic on Anything…EVER!! If you are thinking of getting an e609 (a Great mic) and have the extra money….upgrade and get THIS MIC!!! Especially with the current offer of an extra $10 for a cable and boom standDavid

I was expecting the mic to be good but is much better than I expected. Extremely clear lead vocals with plenty of punch! I have been using an Electro-voice for as long as I can remember. They are great mics with excellent anti feedback circuits. However, they tend to be a little flat at times presumably as part of the anti feedback circuit. The Sennheiser has much more punch and also does not feed back even with the mic in front of my Bose PA system. If youre looking for a great vocal mic that wont the bank, I highly recommend considering this one!halowe

I spent a long time going through reviews and videos trying to decide between this microphone and a C414. Honestly, after buying this microphone I'm really glad I chose this one. Not only it is better on the wallet but the sound quality is insane for the price. Using the spirit I found no frequency gaps in my voice and acoustic guitars that I sometimes notice when using cheaper microphones. When I'm singing and have a live feed into my headphones. I can hear every single detail of my voice, it's actually crazy and as a result, it's helped me improve my singing performances whilst recording. This microphone really does show you what you put in and adds a little high-frequency sparkle to get that modern pop vocal sound. On the acoustic guitar, the spirit is natural and picks up a lot of the wood sound of the body, again no frequency gaps. It picks up my room beautifully as well even in cardioid mode. The microphone looks great and is very robust too. Personally, I cannot recommend trying the Aston brand and these microphones enough, and will definitely purchase more in the future. Watch the videos, do the research, and happy microphone hunting 🙂Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

I might be slightly premature giving this mic such a high rating since I have only had it a relatively short time, but as of right now…this is a solid add to my studio. I have owned a mid sized studio for around 30+ years. I mainly record Acoustic based music up to about Medium Hard Rock styles. I have a decent Mic Locker that includes about 40 or so mics including some higher end Name Brands all the way down to the simplest of anything that works solid for my needs. I buy and only keep what works for me. I have Dynamics, Ribbons, Small and Large Diaphragm transformerless and transformered Condensers, as well as tubed versions. I had seen and heard many You-Tube reviews reviewing the Spirit and liked what I heard, but the quality of those reviews were all over the place, so I was a little skeptical. So far I have only did some preliminary vocal tracks and some Upright Bass tracks for a good friend of mine that is a Texas Singer Songwriter. On Voice the mic was clean, clear and weighty. The louder the singing the more weighty it got while staying clear and in control… no issues with overload or distorting. It also handled my soft Baritone Vocals with equal aplomb. I am predicting this is going to be a really good all-rounder in the studio and the Multi-Pattern option really are useful. I hope to write additionally once I get more time under my belt. the only nit I have… lol… is the shockmount. Looks great, the design is solid… but… the spring loaded pads,while extremely convenient, need to be slightly tighter while holding the Spirit as it allows it to lean a bit and not hold it upright solidly. If there is a way to tension up the springs a bit, it would be super excellent. Oh… and the Black finish is major cool!t_mix

Whether you are an amateur, a want-a-be, or a professional, the Blue Yeti X Professional Condenser USB Microphone is a fun, exceptional piece of equipment that you should consider adding to your workspace studio. This mic has everything you could need or want from a mic for podcasting, recording, long distance instruction, gaming, or creating YouTube productions. For starters, the design of this ultimate in microphones is pseudo-retro and reminiscent of earlier microphones in broadcasting like the one history records Walter Cronkite of CBS sitting behind to deliver historical events of the 50s, 60s, and 70s. It’s a solid design constructed of quality materials and one that is timeless where form truly follows function of what is necessary to make an exceptional microphone, and one uncluttered by applied plastic ornamentation surely to disintegrate upon use after it has caught your eye and purchase. It's simply beautiful and its recording possibilities are pretty much unlimited. Packaged well and easy to install, I first removed it from the box along with the USB plug and play cord, positioned it vertically and tightened the screws on either side, and selected it as my favorite recording mic in my recording software. I then plugged my headset into the mic. Next, I downloaded Logitech G HUB software from the LogitechG.com website and installed it onto my desktop computer. When installed, the G HUB software allows customization of the mic’s vocal effects, lighting, EQ and provides detailed advanced options. This software allows you to test the mic and to adjust the volume, gain and blend. After this initial setup the real fun began. Features of this microphone are numerous. In addition to the four capsule condenser arrays built into the microphone, the Yeti X provides four pickup patterns. Selecting the proper one for your recording is the initial step to laying the foundation for success. The four pickup patterns are: 1. Cardioid – a setting for one-person podcasts and game streaming, 2. Omnidirectional – a 360-degree pickup for recording live performances and group podcasts, 3. Bidirectional – a perfect selection for one on one interviews because it provides front and rear pickup on the mic, and 4. Stereo – a pickup pattern which projects a wide, realistic sound that is ideal for recording acoustic guitar, etc. Any one of these four pickup patterns can be set by toggling through four clicks, each designated by a small LED light, on the rear button of the mic. The front control, through rotation of an 11-dot volume meter, allows the ability to set the mic gain, headphone volume, and blend the mic and computer sound in your headphones. Pushing this button instead of rotating mutes the microphone. There are only these two physical control buttons on the microphone itself. All other adjustments can be done to fine tune through your streaming or recording software and through the G HUB software. I used the G HUB to test my voice and vocals through several presets and heard a distinct difference. Some presets made my voice seem dull and other made it fuller and more professional sounding. I liked the “Classic Radio” preset best as it added clarity to my voice and made it stronger. When set as the default microphone, Yeti X is marketed to work with any streaming or recording software. I tried it with three different ones that are installed on my computer and it worked well with all three. It doesn’t matter which software you use, because the Logitech G HUB allows for fine tuning of the audio settings so that you can create your own ultimate, signature sound. System requirements for the Blue Yeti X are as follows: PC – Windows 7,8.1, 10 MAC – macOS 10.10 or higher USB 1.1/2.0/3.0 Internet access for Logitech G HUB software is optional, but through G HUB the firmware can be updated periodically as needed. The firmware can also be updated over the USB using Blue Sherpa found at bluedesigns.com/Sherpa. The Blue Yeti X Pro USB microphone is impressive and fun to use. It's very easy to install because of its plug-and-play capability. The four capsule condenser arrays, the four pickup pattern settings, the G HUB presets, and the numerous built-in mixer capabilities make this an exceptional buy. Its affordable, professional, built to last and has a variety of unlimited customization possibilities. I would highly recommend you look at this product if you are in the market for or considering the purchase of a good microphone. I expect to use it in a variety of capacities for many years to come. Simply put – I love my Blue Yeti X.SwigglesMilam

When I was offered the opportunity to test, and review, the new Yeti X Professional USB Microphone from Blue, I jumped at the chance, and for a few reasons. First, I have been considering getting a mic for my computer for several months now, and Blue was the primary (ok, “only”) brand on my list. Second, knowing that Logitech now owns Blue, there are bound to be people praising, and condemning, this acquisition, as well as those who believe Blue’s quality would go down because of it. So, wanting to have first-hand experience, and be able to report the “results”, this opportunity was, as Spock would put it, “logical”. UNBOXING AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: Packaging is fairly high-end, with a box-within-a-box design…the outer box is your typical thin, but sturdy, box, covered with information. The info is minimal, but is also presented in 6 languages. The inner box, however, is constructed of plain black corrugated cardboard…QUITE sturdy…and, it needs to be, considering the weight of the mic…this thing is HEAVY. Open the box, and you’re presented with a quick-start guide. Unfortunately, this isn’t your typical quick-start guide, which would have walked you through the steps of getting the mic set up & operational. Instead, it’s a quick guide walking you through the operation of the mic, itself…and it’s NOT very clear. While the images and named function are large enough, there are NO words to inform you as to what you’re actually doing. So, where is the actual manual. In-short…and this is VERY disappointing…there isn’t one. You can go to Blue’s website, and download the real quick-start guide, but it’s not really that informative – page 2 provides the “installation” info, page 3 provides some very brief info on software control options, pages 4-5 cover the buttons & meter info, pages 6-7 cover the “smart knob” & LED metering info, and page 8 covers “pickup patterns”. The remaining pages provide no operational info. SETUP: Setup was both simple, and difficult. Starting with the ‘difficult’, this is because there was no manual, nor quick-start guide included. Not even the aforementioned included sheet contained any info. It was only on a whim that I Googled ‘blue yeti x’, found my way to the product page, clucked “downloads”, and found the (so-called) “manual”…which, again, is actually nothing more than a ‘quick-start guide’. If you don’t already have it installed on your computer, you will also need to download/install the Logitech G-Hub software. After installing G-Hub, you’ll need to restart your computer, then plug the mic in…and wait…and, once the mic’s drivers (which are stored on a chip inside the mic) have been installed, you’ll need to restart your computer again. Think you’re done? Not quite. Once the computer reboots (and you’ve logged in, if your computer requires a password), you’ll need to go to your audio settings, and set the Yeti X as the ‘Default’ recording device. Only then is everything set up, and ready to go…well, once again, not quite. Next, you’ll need to start up the G-Hub software, wait for it to recognize the Yeti X mic (future occurrences of opening G Hub, it will instantly recognize the mic, as long as it’s already plugged into a USB port), and then go through the process of properly setting your gain, EQ, and (if you choose) “Advanced Controls”. Alternately, instead of playing around with the EQ & Advanced Controls, you can play around with the “Blue Voice” presets (of which there are 11). You can also download more presets, through the “BROWSE MORE PRESETS” option. NOW, you’re finally set. G-Hub: This is where all of the mic’s “magic” comes from. It’s also what Logitech uses for accessing all information & settings pertaining to Logitech G-series products, and products from other Logitech-owned brands. If you already have a G-series keyboard and/or mouse, then you’re already familiar with G-Hub, and how it functions. Not only does G-Hub update itself whenever a new version is available, but it also monitors the “attached” device’s firmware, and will inform you when new firmware is available. Having owned Corsair gaming products, and having had to deal with Corsair’s iCue software, G-Hub is much more user-friendly. While iCue is more powerful, G-hub is MUCH easier to use. CLOSING THOUGHTS: To be completely honest, I haven’t yet had time to test out all of the Yeti X’s functionality (that could take several weeks, if not longer, especially with my job), but, from what I’ve experienced so far, this thing is absolutely fantastic. several years ago, I was a DJ for an online radio station, ands, instead of using an actual mic, I used the built-in mic on my gaming headset. While it performed great for what I was using it for, in real-world usage, I would have barely considered it “adequate”. On a scale of 1-10, I would have given that Logitech headset’s mic a 3..maybe 4. The Yeti X, for now, deserves at least a 9 (the only reason I can’t (yet) give it a ‘10’ is that I hPanther68

Pros: -If you tweak the settings (especially the gain level) via G Hub, this mic captures voice/sound amazingly -sturdy build quality -futuristic yet classy look to it -for a USB mic, the sound quality comes very close to the quality of an XLR mic Cons: -Doesn't come with a pop filter, I suggest you get one for this mic -This is just my experience but this mic did NOT sound great out of the box. You need to customize the settings to cater to YOUR voice -The EQ settings take patience w/experimentation and tinkering till you get that "sweet spot" -For some reason, this mic has the presets in G Hub with the gain level set way too high -pricey, this should be around the $129.99 range, not $169.99 -lastly, if you intend to use a boom arm with a shock mount, the two mounting holes on the sides are exposed. Very awful looking but you eventually get used to it. Bottom Line: This is an intermediate level mic. It takes some tinkering and patience with the EQ settings via G Hub (you have to download this) to make it shine. In my experience, this mic sounded really flat and awful out of the box. Thank goodness the EQ via G Hub gives you the power to customize the mic to cater to YOUR voice 🙂VESPA5

I looked up and down everywhere to see what's the best mic for all around, Like the hidden gem in the cornfield. People told me the rodemic, Razer and snow xlr mic, But from looking past the "Normal" I seen the sm57. A famous hidden mic no one really knew about, Basically has the same tone sm7b just a little different. $100ish instead of $400 count me in, I been using it for zoom calls, Twitch, Discord and everyone i talked to said i went from a very noisy and outland voice to a solid nice tone. I personally use mine with a boom arm, the a81ws, focusrite. No issues with it and i had it for about 3 months, I'm not the gentlest on it either so I feel comfortable using it on a day to day basis. Who would i recommend this to? To be totally honest everyone, You want it to do something? Trust me it will. 10/10Bradleigh, K

I've only had chance to do a quick sound check miking my Bugera V22 and recording the sound using my new Tascam DP-008 EX 8-track recorder. Sound quality was very good, especially for a basic home office recording setup. I can see why this mic is so popular in the industry. For perspective, I am a hobbyist and don't perform, but like to have the best sound for my limited budget to make recordings for myself and maybe friends and family. This mic lives up to its rep for being a great value for what you pay, punching above its class, no doubt.Steve

I looked up and down everywhere to see what's the best mic for all around, Like the hidden gem in the cornfield. People told me the rodemic, Razer and snow xlr mic, But from looking past the "Normal" I seen the sm57. A famous hidden mic no one really knew about, Basically has the same tone sm7b just a little different. $100ish instead of $400 count me in, I been using it for zoom calls, Twitch, Discord and everyone i talked to said i went from a very noisy and outland voice to a solid nice tone. I personally use mine with a boom arm, the a81ws, focusrite. No issues with it and i had it for about 3 months, I'm not the gentlest on it either so I feel comfortable using it on a day to day basis. Who would i recommend this to? To be totally honest everyone, You want it to do something? Trust me it will. 10/10Bradleigh, K

I've only had chance to do a quick sound check miking my Bugera V22 and recording the sound using my new Tascam DP-008 EX 8-track recorder. Sound quality was very good, especially for a basic home office recording setup. I can see why this mic is so popular in the industry. For perspective, I am a hobbyist and don't perform, but like to have the best sound for my limited budget to make recordings for myself and maybe friends and family. This mic lives up to its rep for being a great value for what you pay, punching above its class, no doubt.Steve

It has a reputation, because it is that good. Takes any vocal and places it at a higher level. Clarity, warmth, presence, yep. If you could only buy 1 piece of gear and youre doing vocals, forget everything else and get this microphone. Run through any interface with a daw, and youll see the difference. Its expensive, yep, but its an investment. Been doing more serious recording over the past 2 years, now I want to go back and re-record all the prior vocals.wdalgabbar_0

An ultimate aspirational mic for me. I have compared this with a vintage u87. For vocals, the vintage U 87 has a slightly more noticeable presence. By presence, I mean that you feel like the microphone is a noctilux-level macro lens focusing in on the singer's articulation and bringing them up close to your ear. All that, but it doesn't sound like it's trying. The new U 87 Ai is almost the same as the old U 87, but a bit more neutral. Less emphasis of sounds like ch (as in, chess), and the specs say less noise. That's my two cents, at least! The U 87 Ai is an amazing sounding mic and lives up to its name. I'd agree with so many reviewers who say that it's just plain good on anything.Peter

This microphone is made of the highest quality. The sound is absolutely unbeatable for voiceovers. Very natural, neutral, and clear in the midrange. It has a reputation for being the best for a reason. Yes, you can buy wonderful microphones for cheaper, but none of them are a Neumann U87. Neumann uses the best materials and craftsmanship out there. If you are looking to record primarily vocals and like the magic of tubes I would also recommended the Neumann M149 and if you are on a budget the Miktek CV4 is quite good. The Neumann U87ai will do anything however. It's great on any instrument and is probably the accurate microphone for realistic voiceover work. It just sounds polished and EQ's nicely. I use a Neumann Pop Screen and a Neumann Wind Cap on it usually to reduce noise as it is very sensitive. Must have for a quality home or professional studio.king11.11

This microphone is fantastic for recording vocals. It picks up everything in the room clearly including the air conditioner. This is no problem as the mic has a built in filter that can get rid of the noise from the air conditioner. The included manual has a description for all of the different pickup patterns and their uses. The manual also says the C414 XLII is recommended for vocals, whereas the C414 XLS is recommended for overheads.Jared

I have the AKG 414 xls. use it in my home studio ,and bring it to other studios. we have done many shoot outs against everything you could imagine either vintage or recent, even those costing ten time more, and the 414 constantly is the last choice.ruhtra

I prefer this over the XLII, Modern Sounding and great detail. Pair with a good mic pre and you will not be disappointed. But this is not a vintage voiced mic. I use on everything with 1290 Neve, 610, and stock ensamble pres.david001002

Nah, that's probably a bit of false bravado– also not alot of Irish traditions in my family, and to say that my admiration for this mic will extend to my dying day, that I will breathe my last breath holding onto it and capturing some musical performance– a nice picture, but how realistic, really? I guess I just metaphorically, in a Clint Eastwood kinda way, want to impress on you that, if we were all cowboys, this mic would be the six-shooter that everyone longed to have– lawman, outlaw, everyone in between. There's a reason it's a standard of the industry and you've heard its coolly accurate wondrous alive-sounding exceptional capture on a gabazillion records. It gets and gives you what's really there. The self noise is so low, 6 decibels, that there is no self noise. Everything comes through crisply and clearly. I will confess to you– I've cobbled together a subsistence farming kind of audio life, recording singers and ensembles, and I've always made do with gear that checked in much lower on the food chain than this. So when the house tech at a classical quartet concert had a pair of these and set them up just basically at the front edge of the stage, and offered to feed them into my tape deck, I swooned. Back in the studio mixing that performance, the 414's were smooth and airy and cast a lovely perspective on the players. Okay, that's it, I am getting myself a pair! What did I hear when I set up a pair of these for the first time in front of a guitar player? Within the ringing density of the guitar sound, a whole rainbow of colors, a detailed picture down to the granular level. The dual capsule will give you any and every polar pattern, from omni to hypercardioid, with halfway settings in between each setting! Also, four versions of low-cut roll-off, and also three levels of volume pads. A finely crafted German-engineered shockmount, and double sided (the best kind!) pop filter to affix to a mic stand. And a windsock. There are going with me everywhere from now on. Although– this overblown elaborate packaging with all this cut-out foam– no, give me all-put-together-and-ready-to-go in the smallest space, please. (I attach a picture of the pair suited up and ready for the showdown.)Joel

The RODE NT1 has long been a mainstay for any recording studio. This was my chance to get one and I have to say it's reputation has not been overstated. I have and have worked with many microphones in the last 50 years and the RODE NT1 has just become my all around "go to" mic. From it's almost noiseless "floor" (4.5) to it's crystal clear warm overtones, this microphone is pure joy to work with and at an affordable price. Top that off with RODE's 10 year manufacturer's warranty and you'll be hard pressed to find a better deal. I couldn't. Thank you Sam Ash for being close by and having my order in record time. KUDOS, Navy House Studio, Richmond, VA.Budmoe

Note the pop filter is no longer the same steel one pictured in the product photos, RODE uses a more standard circular mesh filter compared to the steel mesh. Nonetheless, still works amazingly and for the price/bundle + quality for a starting XLR set, it’s fantastic. Sounds clear, professional, there’s a reason the NT1 has been popular for so long now. Only gripe I have is the USB power – using my M1 iMac (which has only USB-C), even using a dongle in the thunderbolt port didn’t seem to power the mic enough which resulted in a LOT of crackling. Had to buy a USB-C cable capable of 100W and plugged in directly to my iMac, solved the issue. If you’re a Mac user, I recommend swapping the cable unless you have a USB type-A port capable of properly powering this mic. However, that’s just my experience, your experience may differ especially if you’re using PC, which I can’t vouch for. Overall though, highly satisfied.WhoelsebutCoop

If you are considering the purchase of your first condenser microphone, then I highly recommend the Rode NT1 Kit. – High build Quality – Everything you need comes in the kit – Strong signal – Low noise – Perfect on vocals and acoustic guitar When broadcasting on JamKazam and micing my acoustic with the NT1: someone that I play with frequently on JamKazam asked me; "What guitar are you using?", before answering I asked why do you ask? They said it sounds amazing. Then I told them its my Ovation elite that I always play, it is just that I am micing it with my new Rode NT1. To which they replied…Wow it sounded like you had a different guitar…it sounds so full and rich. I have had this microphone for a couple of weeks now and it has met and surpassed my expectations. Before buying I did my research into all condenser mics in the $300 range; compared specs, product reviews like this one. If you are on the fence about which condenser mic to buy to get started with, get off the fence and get yourself the Rode NT1 Kit. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.David

As a home recording artist, this mic definitely met my needs. For the longest time, I've owned the AKG Perception 120 (the old model), and I've never had a problem with this mic. The main reason to why I bought the P220 was so I can change my setup to have one mic for recording vocals (the P220) and the other mic for recording YouTube videos (Perception 120). The shock mount for the P220 is being used for the Perception 120, and it fits the mic perfectly. Both mics are basically the same size, so I figured that it would work. The build quality on the P220 is rugged and tough, and the functions are very simple. You have 2 main settings: the bass roll off, which is great if you want to record without having to deal with any unnecessary low end frequency that the mic picks up. The other setting cuts off the signal by 20db. From my experience, it's best use is if you have a noisy background, and you don't want that to bleed into the mic. It basically isolates the signal to only be heard right in front of the mic as opposed to everything in the environment. I would be lying if I said that were some things I don't like about it (because I simply LOVE AKG products) but for other people, this might be too simple of a mic compared to other more expensive mics. The sound of this mic is warmer and more direct than the AKG Perception 120, so I felt that it was better for recording vocals. However, the Perception 120 still crushes it in the studio. Some people might consider a different taste in sound compared to other mics, but for me, this mic suits my needs perfectly. The AKG Perception 120: AKG Perception P120 Professional Studio Microphone, Sliver So, here are my pros and cons: PROS: – inexpensive – simple settings – versatile (vocals, guitar, etc.) – rugged CONS (possible opinions of others): – too cheap – too simple (not enough settings) – not preferred taste of sound – too heavyA.D.W.

For the past couple of years, I had been using a Nady SCM-800, as circa 50 had been the most I could spare for a vocal mic – but in the more affluent interim, I had not bothered to wonder if I could do better. Recently, I started to notice that that mic was prone to sibiliance of the "crispy" variety, though it did serve the low end of a baritone voice rarther well. I also came to realize that it was not, in fact, a "large-"diaphragm mic, but rather a "medium," and that a larger diaphragm would surely capture more nuance and presence of a voice. This time, I my budget permitted spending up to 150 on a mic. One reviewer compared the P220 to the AKG C214 as being identical in sound and performace, so I gravitated toward this one, though all the reviews of the P220 were nothing but positive. Once I got the P220 set up with my preamp/interface and my DAW, I recorded a vocal track. My suspicions about a larger diaphragm and my expectations about an AKG-brand mic were affirmed: I could hear my own voice in so much greater detail that it MADE ME A BETTER SINGER. That's how it felt, and sounded, anyway. I kept the first take, with a couple of small re-take parts. I was elated. Now I wish that I had bought the AKG P220 a LOT sooner (if it's not a new production model; I don't know). I regret not having recorded so many songs with a much better microphone for vocals. At the time, the SCM-800 had been a big "step up" from the USB mic I'd been using. Not to denigrate the Nady brand – fine manufacturer. The SCM-800 was so inexpensive because it's not exactly their best. The bass-rolloff switch on the body of the P220 reduces the "proximity effect," whereby sounds get louder as they approach the mic. For a baritone voice, this is an important detail, to avoid boominess. Sibilance with this mic is easy to tame. Home-recording vocalists: BUY AS GOOD A MIC AS YOU CAN AFFORD; EVEN GO INTO DEBT FOR AN EVEN BETTER ONE! You'll sound better now and have far fewer regrets later.Guy Dudeman

I went into B&H on a recommendation from a friend who lives in the area, didn't know what to expect. It's like Santa's Workshop in there. Super busy, packages going around above your head on like a chute/train track vibe. I was still easily able to get the attention of an associate who talked to me for a while about different condenser mic options. Actually had decided on a different mic but it wasn't in stock at the store and I couldn't wait for shipping because I needed a mic that week, so went with the AKG and honestly don't even notice that it wasn't my "first choice" because it does everything I want it to. I use it for singing and I'm really pleased with the quality of sound I get. I also use a Rode NT USB mic that I love too but I needed a mic that connected through XLR and this one is definitely at least as good as the Rode, probably better but I haven't done a comparison test.Paula

If you go to certain sites that shall remain nameless, you would think this is the worst microphone of all time. I don’t get it and I never will. Was my first nice mic in 1999 and this mic continues to amaze me. The lowest noise you will ever hear. Super dynamic. Sounds amazing. It needs the correct preamp (Rupert Neve Designs 511 or any of the portico line is a great place to start- they sell those here). It has a huge proximity effect so mic placement is paramount to good results. I think that’s why a lot of people don’t like this mic. It requires a little effort to find optimal placement. If you hate this mic, you’re just a lazy engineer and that’s all there is to it. Find the sweet spot and it’s golden on more than it isn’t. U87ish sounds at a fraction of the price. Fantastic on vocals of all flavors (hint- give the capsule some room!). Unbelievable as drum overheads and room on drums. Not my fav on acoustic guitars but certainly acceptable. One thing I don’t hear mentioned enough about this mic is how it stacks! Among the best I have ever heard stacking guitar amps or backing or lead vocals. Takes EQ phenomenally well.Steve

This is obviously a good vocal mic as it is highly regarded and a modern classic. However, it's not a one size fits all as most all mics are not. This is not overall bright as others have mentioned. With eq you can give it a more modern sound, but if you want something bright with a nice top end from the start you may need to look elsewhere. Overall a good mic though for the price.Anthony

I’ve used the TLM 102 for a long time for home recording. I made the decision to upgrade to the TLM 103, and I won’t look back! The detail this microphone gets is stunning! I’ve used this on both male and female vocals, as well as acoustic guitar, and sax. WOW!!! This purchase has taken my home recordings to a new level. It must be said though that B &H was fantastic to deal with. Their customer service is second to none! Thank you B & H!!!Christopher

I've been recording my music and vocals with my phone for a while now, and I bought an SM7B last summer to replace my basic earbud mic I've always used. I wasn't aware at the time that I'd need an interface to get it working with my phone. Looking for interface suggestions online turned into a ton of mixed results no matter which brand or product I read about. Scarlett, Presonus, Focusrite, etc. Pros of those products were all met with users commenting plenty of cons involving all sorts of different issues. So, I emailed Shure and asked if their MVi would for sure work my iPhone. They responded quickly and told me that it's exactly what I needed to get the mic working. It came in the mail three days later and it's perfect for what I do here at home. Simple to set up and use with my phone. It works with my recording app as well as with recording videos or voice notes. I know very little about recording music beyond the very basics, but the MVi has made it possible for me to finally get to use my actual studio mic to start recording and learning with.David K.

I bought Shure MVi thinking it would be 'ready to use out of the box' to use with an iPhone. Was I ever wrong! The older ones came with a 'micro usb to a lighting cable'. The newer ones do not. The cables are hard to find and in the $30 to $40 range. Shure don't tell you this. (The tech. support person at Shure said he didn't know this.) There is a work around to this. Get a 'usb C to a lighting adapter and a 2 input adapter for a second power input. This will supplement the power loss at the adapters. I know it sounds crazy, but it works! Come on, Shure, get with the program and send the correct cable!Joe S

Ok the mic makes GREAT reproductions. Especially for a usb mic! And the connectivity to iphones, and androids, and computers & tablets whooo buddy. I don't know of anything else on the market that can accomplish this laundry list. It's visually beautiful and a work horse to boot! This device solves so many problems for me! But there is one big draw back here… A draw back I can cope with due to this mics other strengths, but one wold really like to see redesigned on the next release of this mic. You can't adjust the mix between mic monitor signal – and audio that is being played back over USB. Nor can you adjust the monitor levels independently. You can accomplish this by altering settings in whatever app you're using, but the onboard controls leave something to be desired. I'd much rather have control over the monitor mix rather than all the DSP, compression & EQ features that they offer on board. MORE DETAILS BELOW ON WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE IN PRACTICE: V So let's say you're on a zoom call and you want to monitor your own voice in your headphones while you talk to a friend… The MV51's functionality allows you to monitor your self with no latency, fantastic!…. but to adjust the volume of your friend on the other end you have to do this via the output settings within the zoom app… and if your chosen app doesn't have out put settings, well you're out of luck because the MV51 is an audio interface – so you can't adjust the output volume via your system settings… at least on a mac, because the mv51 overrides these controls.Dan P

It's not as full as my sm58 but for half the price, it's worth getting a few more. I use it for live streaming and karaoke. All 3 works great. You might need to get the pop shield to prevent the extra pops from some singers though. My friends are loving my set up with these and they're asking to get them set up with these mics as well. It's worth mentioning that you should get the switch version for these applications.Duan

I bought three for my rehearsal studio for Vocals. My opinion is for the price they can't be beat. Yes a 58 sounds a bit better with a little more mid range punch and a little smoother quality sound. But the deal I got for three brand new ones was excellent and can't beat the value. One of the gigs my band plays regularly the soundman absolutely loves my Mike's. I personally use a 58 and our lead singer uses a sure wireless mic but the other three guys are on my 48's and the sound man compliments them every time!!Dev the drummer

I read the reviews and recommendations on the legendary Sure SM58, but didn't really need to buy another mic. I have an AKG, an MXL and a Samson at home, and I work with the Sennheiser 421, EV RE-20 and Heil mics at work. But I saw the B & H price on this, and decided to give it a whirl. WOW.. seriously? Less than $35 for a mic of this quality? Unbelievably good deal! This little Sure SM48 sounds so good, crisp, clean.. blows the Heil and the EV RE-20 out of the water, even sounds better than the Sennheiser! I do a slight EQ contour to shift the bass energy a little lower, with a -1.5db dip @ 378Hz, and a 2db bump around 90 Hz, a little bump at 900 for presence.. and this sounds perfect every time! I don't have to wrestle with that bass tip-up that you always get with the condensers like the AKG and the MXL. For pure voice stuff, this one is a gem. I'll grab it first now before messing with the other mics.. this is a more direct line to getting a great result without the intermediate adjustment stops the other mics need. The RE-20 is retired now. I won't even use it with the SM48 to choose from. I use this for VO work, mostly with commercial spots at a major market radio station. Totally recommend this mic. At this price? A no brainer! Bargain of the century.L. A. Radio Guy

I got this as my first "real" microphone on eBay. Sounds reeeeeeeally good for such a cheap no brand microphone. There's a nice review video on YT by Landon27 comparing it to the AT2020. It sounded really good when recording his Vox AC10. I've used it to record vocals, percussion, acoustic guitars (6 & 12 string), drums and guitar amps. Very little EQ needed, from what I could tell. I also use it for my radio show, with pop filters.

Note: you WILL need phantom power to use this. I use a Behringer UM2 USB audio interface that works really well for solo recording (one track/instrument at a time, since both inputs – one XLR and one 1/4" – are summed into mono). Sure, you could buy better mics, but why when these are just as good?CJ Costa Rica

The microphone itself work like a charm on a 48v hantom power professionnal console, I compared with my newmann and the difference is not big enough as the price is,$ 2Knewmann compared to a 20$ microphone, the result ia finally VERY VERY good, not to low or high pitch in frequency, perfect for voice over, or other applications, not tested for signing, coz I don't want to destroy the microphone hehh!. The boom coming with that microphone is not really good, the suspension to hold the mic is cheap, but do the job perfectly, the li'l grip for the boom to a table for an example, is loose ans very not good for heavy application, the op up filter screen is good, the attachment is a bit fragilem but good enough for that purpose. So, in general this purchase is very very good, price/performance 100/100 Perfect, good purchase 😉ve2cnl1-0

When my mic came in the mail I was super excited, I opened it up and took everything out. when I opened the instructions it was just a bunch of blurry pictures, and nothing to explain them. after a good hour and a half I finally got the stand set up. I plugged the mic in and placed it in the stand and had to read the instructions again, this time there actual words. I plugged the usb in that was connected to the mic wires and I selected it. I couldn't hear myself so I went on a call and nobody could hear me either. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone except my enemies. Don't buy this for the life of it.leigko70

It records my voice rather well, and I'm told I'm a soft speaker, so that having it pick up my voice is great. Otherwise no one would be able to hear me, lol. My only concern is that, since it feels kinda heavy, that I'm afraid of dropping it on something. That, and it just feels a little top-heavy. But I got it for the recording quality, which it delivers on.amandpizzolatt0

Decent mic, but not great. The sound isn't the best, but it works for my purposes. Get a higher quality mic if you're doing voice recording.Milosh D

Just can't beat the value. Steel construction at a cheap plastic price. Plug and play, Windows 10 automatically installed it with no user input. Volume on the mic itself is crazy handy for making quick adjustment without changing programs or opening settings.usthom.e5meyykkv