The 5 Best Mid-Range Microphones | How to Become an Audiobook Narrator

This article is for folks who are exploring their microphone options, and is more of a general guide. If you're interested in a face to face consult or need a voice actor for your project, contact us here.

A Mid-Range Microphone for You

The next step on our path to becoming audiobook narrators is figuring out what kind of microphone you need.

If you already have a microphone but are having trouble getting it to sound the way you'd like, take a look here. You probably need to address issues in your recording room. If you've finished your recording room and are in the market for a microphone, look no further!

And by that I mean, do. Look in as many places as you can to get good information. Anyone who tells you they have all the answers is either lying to you or being rather foolish.

In this article, we're going to look at 5 mics in what I would call the mid-range, as well as give you an idea of what to look for when you look elsewhere. If you hit any terms you don't understand, refer to the Glossary for classification (I'll add to it as we encounter more industry lingo).

The Middle of the Pack

These microphones are for someone who has a total tech budget in the 300-500 range. While you may see a few mics that are priced around where the budget options were, keep in mind that these mics will need to be coupled with audio interfaces (Which we'll talk about in future articles), so try to take that into account.

1. Rode PodMic ($100)

   

   The Rode PodMic, with integrated Shock Mount and Pop Filter

   Pros - Price tag - All-metal build Cons

   - Really more of a podcaster's mic than a voice actor's - Dynamic mic rather than condenser This is a really clean, high quality mic. While I can't recommend it (I think spending $50 more for the Synco is the best deal on this list), if you find it fits your needs, try it out! I don't have a lot more to say about this one other than, "Your mileage may vary."
   

   
   

2. SYNCO D-2 XLR Shotgun ($150)

   

   The Synco D2 (The D stands for Don't use that pop filter!)

   Pros - Pricetag is incredibly low for the quality - Designed to compete with the Sennheiser MKH 416 ($1000) - All-metal construction - Seriously, pricetag. Cons - Included pop-filter (sock) is useless - Little to no customer support - Ethical concerns?

   
   

   This mic is nuts. It was designed to compete with a thousand-dollar mic, and while the discerning ear can tell the difference, the fact that they're in the same conversation is mind-boggling. The number of comparison videos on YouTube alone that boil down to, "Yeah, there's a difference, but not an $850 dollar difference," is astonishing. That being said, when you have a discount this significant, it comes at a few costs. Depending on how you feel about Chinese manufacturers, you may not want to give them your money and undercut companies that are held to higher ethical-practice standards. On top of which, you're not likely to receive much in the way of customer support if something goes wrong (People regularly talk about how hard it is to get in contact with Synco if you need them). Last point of note, don't use the included pop filter. It takes a beautiful sounding mic and turns it into a cloudy, muddy mess.

3. Rode Procaster ($230)

   

   The Rode Procaster

   Pros - Designed specifically with human speech in mind - Doesn't require phantom power - Has a switchable high-pass filter Cons - Dynamic diaphragm isn't as crisp as a condenser Rode is an incredibly reliable company with a ton of offerings to the market. Where typical mics we use are also for other use cases (filming, instrument recording, etc.), the procaster was designed with people who speak into the mic full time in mind. It has an integrated high-pass filter for cutting out those low hums trucks and air-conditioners make, which you can turn on and off as needed. The only downside is the dynamic diaphragm, which won't be quite as detailed or crisp as a condenser (earlier in your journey this may be less noticible, but as your ear develops you will definitely be able to tell the difference).
   

4. Rode NT1 ($250)

   

   The Rode NT1, an industry standard (Don't confuse with the NT1-A)

   Pros - Extremely low self-noise - Vintage sound - Flat frequency response for natural sound Cons - Not the most affordable for beginners When I got started, I had trouble finding a list like this that broke down the best priced mics for the quality. If I had, I'd probably have something like the Synco, though with how much the industry has boomed since I joined, these options just may not have been available. This mic has served me well, landing me hundreds of jobs across multiple niches, and I wouldn't give it up for the world. With its incredibly low self-noise, classic sound, and incredibly natural sounding frequency response, I have nothing but good things to say about this mic. Don't get this mic confused with the NT1-A. The NT1-A is a totally different mic that is notably worse than the NT1, in that it has a much less natural frequency-response and a cloudier overall sound.

5. Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun ($300)

   

   The Sennheiser MKE 600

   Pros - Incredibly clear, natural tone - Fantastic build quality - Useable for studio work or filming Cons - Hard to recommend when the Synco is on the same list. Sennheisers are a fantastic mic with the backing of an incredibly reputable company. The frequency response results in a wonderfully natural, full tone, while keeping the audio bright and clear. It's also built with Sennheiser's typical, robust build quality, and a hypercardioid polar pattern that ensures you are only picking up sound in the direction you point it. The only downside is, when compared to the Synco D-2, it's hard to recommend you spend 150 extra dollars for a mic that doesn't punch with the same weight. That being said, if post-purchase support is something you feel is worth prioritising, Sennheiser has a long history of high-quality customer service and customer support, and will definitely take care of you if things go wrong.
   

Beep-eep-beep, that's all folx!

That's a pretty solid start to what I would call mid-range mics. In general, audio equipment can get pricey quickly, but these are an excellent place to start if you want to be able to get in to the industry with professional equipment that you can actively advertise when speaking to clients. I hope the article helped you get an idea of what to look for in a mic, as well as give you some options to alleviate the stress that is the infinite mic choices on the internet.