Best Studio Microphones For Vocal Recording (All Budgets)
You are looking for the best microphone for recording vocals in 2025. The best vocal recording microphones cost over $1500, plus you need other expensive equipment to power them. I guess that’s not what you are looking for.
If you are still interested in the best vocal mic for studio recording, check out my dedicated list post for the condenser microphone.
Dynamic microphones VS Condenser microphones
Dynamic mics are widely used in a situation where the handling of loud sounds is required. They require no additional power(phantom power) source to operate correctly. The rough-and-ready qualities of dynamic mics make them popular among podcasters and live streamers. Along with that, they have plenty of other uses for vocal recording. They tend to be cheaper than condenser mics.
Condenser mics are more sensitive to quiet sounds and more fragile.They run on Phantom Power, meaning you have to buy an additional phantom power source, like Cloud Lifter Cl-1, to provide power to the mic.Most condenser mics are Expensive to buy.
What is the Best Studio Microphones?
Here are my top picks for the best studio microphones for podcasting and videos in 2025.
Neumann TLM 102
The Neumann TLM 102 is a studio microphone best suited for vocal and instrumental recordings for under $1000.This brand is recognized as the best vocal microphone maker globally. Most of their microphones cost over $1000.The TLM 102 is one of the most popular mics for recording vocals.
This mic captures the authentic character of any voice or instrument. The large-diaphragm cardioid capsule controls the proximity effect exceptionally well.To get the best results for vocal recording, pair this mic with the Neumann EA 4 Elastic Suspension Shockmount.
Shure SM58
Shure SM58 is crowned as the most popular vocal mics in the world. If you check out your favorite singers on YouTube/Google, you will find 90% of the time, they are holding a Shure SM58 microphone.A particular style of music requires a large-diaphragm dynamic mic to capture the best performance. The Shure mic is an obvious choice for the vocal recording studio. Check out my separate Shure SM58 review here.
Rode NT1
I highlighted this mic on the best condenser microphone post for under $300.This mic uses a Cardioid pickup pattern to pick up sounds, which is excellent for recording vocals. Along with that, the extremely low self-noise of only 4.5dB makes this mic an awesome choice for vocal recording studio mics. This microphone is offered as a single part of the Rode NT1KIT complete Package, which gets you a high-quality shock mount and a windscreen.
Shure SM7B
You will see that podcasters like Gary Vaynerchuk and Joe Rogan Use this Shure SM7B to record the podcast in their studio. The Shure SM7B is a cardioid capsule dynamic microphone priced under $500.This mic is trusted by the world’s leading podcasters, vocalists, and live streamers.
The built-in shock mount and pop filter make this unique in all angles. With this microphone, you should get a Cloud Lifter CL-1 Mic Activator or DBX 286s Microphone Preamp & Channel Strip Processor because it requires a lot of gain to get maximum sound quality.
Rode NTK
The Rode NTK is a cardioid condenser microphone for vocal recordings. This mic provides its own phantom power to operate, so you won’t need to buy any extra equipment like the Cloud Lifter CL-1. Pair this mic with the Rode SM2 Suspension Shock Mount or the Rode SM6 Microphone Shock Mount. This mic is an excellent value for the money, and the sound quality is pretty high.
Rode NTR
The Rode NTR is a Ribbon Microphone with its 8 Polar patterns. This mic is susceptible to its 1.8-micron-thick ribbon element. The design of this mic is unique with an internal shock mount, and you can quickly secure the ribbon while traveling around the world. You also get a free ribbon replacement as it comes with its 10-year warranty timeline.
Mojave Audio MA-201
The Mojave Audio MA-201 is a large-diaphragm condenser mic perfect for studio recording. This MA-201 comes with a carrying case and shock mount. This mic captures sound very well from drum overheads, piano, or any number of other stereo applications.
Audio-Technica AT2035
The Audio-Technica AT2035 is just an upgraded version of the AT2020 studio microphone. Along with the XLR Output, this mic is built for studio, podcast recording & and live-streaming. It has a -10dB pad and an 80Hz high-pass filter. Don’t forget to get a mic stand and XLR cables.
Wrapping Up
There are lots of microphone options available for recording vocals in the studio. You need to choose a microphone according to your personal preference, Your budget, and where you are recording. I think you cannot go wrong by choosing any of these microphones. Let me know in the comments below: What’s your favorite vocal microphone?