Since its creation on the 15th of February 2005, YouTube has seen an exponential increase in popularity catapulting it to become one of the biggest online content sharing platforms in the past decade. Thanks to the fact that anyone with a camera and an internet signal can upload and distribute their own videos, we have seen a plethora of creators establish and build a career off of the site – becoming household names around the internet.
While you can spend your time uploading 420p videos if you so please, quality is a key factor in increasing your subscriber count and establishing a loyal fanbase. While we at The Seasoned Podcaster cover primarily podcast content, we’re also microphone nerds and will use any excuse to talk about them so today we will be taking the time to walk you through 6 of the microphones that YouTubers use and why they use them.
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Microphones that YouTubers Use
As with any major platform, YouTube has a multitude of sub-sections and cliques in which content creators thrive based on a specific form of content. From vlogs to gaming, to tutorial videos, each YouTuber is going to require different gear to help produce the best quality content according to their specialty.
In this list, we have picked our top microphones used by popular YouTubers in all corners of the platform. By casting the net wide, we hope to give you a good idea of the key pieces of equipment frequently used across the site.
AKG Pro Audio C414
Mic type: Condenser
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 23 mV/Pa
Polar Pattern: Multi-pattern
Connectivity: XLR
Description: Popular with some of the top YouTubers on the platform such as Pewdiepie, the AKG Pro Audio C414 is a high-end large-diaphragm microphone that doesn’t disappoint. It’s no wonder that the biggest content creators favor this microphone above others. The microphone is both sensitive and has a wide frequency range, with a response that gives vocals a warm and clear presence.
This microphone comes with a pop filter, windsock, and custom shock mount. The multiple polar patterns give you an array of different ways to record with this microphone. If you are looking for a high-end vocal microphone that is both incredible sounding and extremely versatile, you can’t go wrong with the C414.
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Blue Yeti
Mic type: Condenser
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 4.5mV/Pa
Polar Pattern: Multi-pattern
Connectivity: USB
Description: The Blue Yeti is incredibly popular as a beginner YouTuber microphone. That being said, its convenience (thanks to USB connectivity) along with smooth and natural vocal response is good enough for vocal production found on multi-million subscriber channels such as film and TV cooking show Binging with Babish.
Babish host Andrew Ray has proven beyond any doubt that the Blue Yeti is a viable piece of gear even in professional setups, with all of his close-miked voiceovers recorded through this multi-pattern condenser microphone.
This microphone sits on any flat surface with no need for a stand, making the Blue Yeti an affordable and convenient piece of kit for any level of creator.
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Rode Video Mic GO
Mic type: Shotgun
Frequency range: 100 Hz – 16 kHz
Sensitivity: -35.0dB
Polar Pattern: Supercardioid
Connectivity: 3.5mm Jack
Description: If you plan to take a more active approach to your videos, or simply want a setup that revolves around your camera, then look no further than the Rode Video Mic Go. This mic is a great choice for avid vloggers as it attaches directly to your camera and connects via a 3.5mm jack.
A notable user of this microphone is long-time content creator Jenna Marbles. This Shotgun microphone operates much like any mic you’d find at the end of a boom pole, with a highly directional polar pattern rejecting ambient noise creating a focus on the sounds coming from directly in front, a great choice for otherwise noisy vlogging environments.
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Blue Mouse
Mic type: Condenser
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 21.0mV/Pa
Polar Pattern: Cardioid
Connectivity: XLR
Description: Back with another product from Blue, our next pick is the small but mighty Mouse microphone. This is the mic of choice for long-time YouTube variety show and podcast hosts Rhett & Link, and for good reason. The large diaphragm and ultra-transparent circuitry provide users with natural and pleasing sound quality.
One unique feature of the Blue Mouse is its rotating head. With rotation on both axes, you can easily move the diaphragm off-axis, or pivot up or down to modulate the microphone’s frequency response to cater to your tone of voice. As top-end microphones for YouTubers go, the Blue Mouse is a solid pick.
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3Dio FS Pro II
Mic type: Condenser
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 20mV/Pa
Polar Pattern: Binaural
Connectivity: XLR
Description: While we have covered some of the more common microphones beloved by the most popular YouTubers, it would be wrong to omit a niche yet widely popular subsection of the website. ASMR is the art of close-up sound performance which much like taking a photo at ultra-macro distances, requires specialized gear.
For one of the most popular ASMR creators – Gibi ASMR – the 3Dio FS Pro II is the solution to this problem. The binaural microphone recreates the shape of an ear canal with two matched capsules and with an ultra-low noise floor, and ultra-high sensitivity, it captures even the most discreet nuances of the sound.
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ATLANTIS FC-387
Mic type: Condenser
Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 16mV/Pa
Polar Pattern: Multi-pattern
Connectivity: XLR
Description: For beloved music YouTubers such as Andrew Huang, microphones are serious business. For this reason, it’s no surprise that only the best is good enough for his work creating content and producing his own music.
His preferred microphone as of writing is the Lauten Audio ATLANTIS FC-387. This microphone is a combination of three FET microphones in one, allowing for the easy switching of different frequency responses on the fly. Offering a bright modern sound, a smooth natural configuration, and a dark and warm vintage tone, this product is a true feat of microphone engineering. No matter what your setup or tone of voice, the FC-387 will have a polar pattern and frequency response to suit you.
Click here to get the latest price and see more information at Amazon.
In Conclusion
This has been our 6 microphones that YouTubers use and why. No matter what content you are creating, there is always new gear that is going to take your production quality to new heights. Having an insight into some of the key pieces in creators that have already hit it big is a foolproof way to making smart and informed purchases in the future.
Another great way to build your audience is by branching out onto different platforms. Today more than ever the range and accessibility of your brand is a critical part of generating a buzz around your content. If you have YouTube under lock and key but are left lacking when it comes to the world of Instagram, check out our top tips on how to expand your show’s reach with ‘Podcast Hashtags for Instagram’.