Happy to see these companies making such good sounding mics at such an affordable price point vs the "big dogs". No longer does it cost a ton to sound great.
Managed to get both sets of microphones right, but to be honest, even as someone that uses and swears by the SM7B I have to admit that the PodMic sounded great and provides some serious competition at a fraction of the cost! Not a fan of the AT2040 at all though, unfortunately. Was curious to hear how that one sounded, but I can't say I was at all impressed.
unfortunatly in practical use the podmic often comes up as very nasil heavy and arsh sound mic compared to the sm7b i think there better choices then podmic i if u dont mind giving up looks
I've had a couple AT2020 for years. It's been a solid performer with several interfaces and field recorders. Glad to see it can still keep up with newer offerings.
I got everything wrong, but great information! Our Blue Snowball just broke, so I'm looking at other options now for the stream :) Looks like AT2020 and Elgato Wave XLR is in my future
I paused the video after you played the AT2020 and the Bottle Rocket to make this comment. I started streaming with a Yeti using Voicemeter, and after a lot of research and watching videos like yours purchased a PodMic and a GoXLR. What an awesome combo! Using your GoXLR video as a baseline and tweaking from there, you wouldn't believe how many people comment on how my voice sounds, whether on my stream or even while gaming using in game voice comms. Thank you so much for your content!
I literally just got my Rode Podmic and everyone i talk to says it actually sounds better than a SM7B, it might be bias but it sounds so good and i don't regret getting it at all
In my personal opinion owning neither of them, the PodMic sounds better than the SM7B because its not trying hard to be a "broadcast" mic, but rather just a good microphone overall. Thanks to that its much easier to listen to for a very long time with little fatigue, rather than with the SM7B which sounds like a subwoofer constantly going off the second anyone says anything.
I recently bought a Podmic after using an Ember for almost the last 2 years and I'm loving it more than I do the Ember. The Ember is a great mic, by no means do I dislike it, I just happen to live close to a major highway and the Ember picked up a ton of traffic while live.
I have an AT2020 and my AC is directly overhead. My solution, other than a gate, was to decrease gain, get the mic in your face, then boost the final signal. AC is almost impossible to hear and it's 5 ft away.
@@SlapMyBassDaddy I feel like you'd be better off getting a dynamic microphone. It's very easy to clip the signal on a condenser if you get it too close to your face
@@SlapMyBassDaddy that doesnt mean lot unfortunatly has u can clip on interface side usually wear people are cliping are either at interface or the digital side when generally talking about clipping but when talking streaming and or percifically about when having it close to your oface u often clip at the mic btw when u see dynamic raneg this in reference to loud u can be before the mic clips the lower the gain can be on the interface and get healthy loud sigle close to clipping the mic u get not nessarly bad thing
I am so happy I found this video. Been looking for ages for an actually good comparison on these mics. Honestly, I am really surprised how good the Rode sounds. I'll have to give this video another listen to finalise my choice of mic soon, but dor now the Podmic is a clear winner.
i sold my SM7B and GoXLR combo to downgrade to an Elgato Wave XLR and Rode Podmic combo. my biggest issue with the GoXLR was the compatibility with Mac since I switch between those 2 operating system for personal stuff and work stuff.. heck no one even noticed i downgraded. With the money i got back from these downgrades, I was able to buy myself a standing desk and a Elgato Wave Arm LP.
I have a pod mic and have been thinking of switching to the Elgato Wave XLR from the Audient Evo 4 I'm just a lil on the fence about that lol. I just think the software diff would be worth it but it does feel like money lost
@@REAPEROFTOES u honestly would notice quality difference between maybe comaptiability or stability different but not by degree that matter unless u doing professional work
So I have been using the Blue Yeti for over a year now and wanted to switch to a new style of microphone. After watching this I decided to upgrade to the Rhode Pod Cast Mic. I also just picked up the GO XLR, never using one it seems the easiest to learn on. Love the videos, your my go to on streaming now days since I found you. Thank you and congrats on the new Senpai Gaming.
As long time AT2020 user, was good to see it still stacks up. I didn't just buy it because it was cheap, it really is good. Oh and XLR condensers all the way for me. They are fulller and more pleasant to my ear but there is no wrong choice on that topic.
Condenser: Ember has a bit of a warmer tone, from what I hear. I prefer that sound personally for Harris’ voice. Dynamic: I have the Podmic myself, been using it for years, and have always like the sound. I think the AT2040 had a bit more hiss to it compared to the Podmic. I think a pop filter would make things sound a bit better. Mic guesses: Condenser - 1.) AT2020 - a sharper, more piercing sound 2.) Baby Bottle - Smoother, more pleasing to listen to Dynamic: 1.) Podmic - Pleasing to listen to, but not my favorite 2.) AT2040 - The worst of the 3, but not too bad. I’ll stick with my Podmic 3.) SM7B - So clear compared to the others, from what I heard HOLY. CRAP. Harris, I NEED to know what you did to the EQ on the Podmic, because I didn’t think that clarity could be achieved on it. I’ve heard you EQ it before, but something about this time makes it sound like you’re speaking in the same room as me, but with a better tone and timbre. Plz share your secret, thanks
Some tips: Give yourself about -16 dB in your input signal Check your high pass cutoff (shouldnt be lower than 100ish hz, but not higher than 200hz, MAYBE 250hz), cut mids first (mudiness is around 1.5k-8khz) then lows (establish level of pressence, usually 150hz-1khz), then highs (character of vocals - 8-18khz). Mids *should* have a healthy dip for most vocals with soft peaks in the highs and lows. DeEssin is next (usually in the 6-8khz range) Send it to compression (this is much harder to type - not gonna go super in depth, but 2:1 or 3:1 ratio with a softish knee, maybe some soft distortion on the outward side, of its an option on your comp, and recoup any loss of gain in the gain out setring on the comp) -------- This^ should give you a good base; they are mainly rules of thumb. Summary: Gainstaging is very important for end results (the -16dB of input gain), subtractive EQ is usually the safer bet for "clean", remove sibalance before compression is easier than after (as are most things), and try to avoid compressing until you refined the prior steps (it's like glue - pulls the prior fx together)
I have the AT2020+USB which I love, but bought the PodMic (both before I even watched your video) as I needed an XLR when I got a rodecaster. I love the podmic but I move around a little too much and it drops out. (our streams can get a bit rowdy lol). I was going to upgrade and get an 'expensive' XLR condenser mic but after seeing this I think I'm going to just try and pick up an AT2020 XLR as it's so reliable and sounds great. Plus doesn't drop out when I flail all around my desk. After watching this I am VERY happy I didn't spend more.
For someone who knows nothing of audio, and now my USB mic is starting to fade away unfortunately . I see myself picking up a xlr mixer and dynamic mic in the future. Thanks for the awesome content. Has helped a lot!
Before I watch the rest, my prediction is Condenser 1 is the AT2020, Condenser 2 is the Bottle Rocket, Dynamic 1 is the AT2040, Dynamic 2 is the SM7b, Dynamic 2 is the PodMic. I got the SM7b and AT2040 mixed up lol. Overall a great video showcasing some great $100 microphones, and I really appreciate that you compared the SM7b's sound to your camera not having a LUT, too many people think that having that microphone will give the best sound possible, not realizing it's a studio microphone that's meant to give detail over quality so the engineer can get the exact sound they want in post production. I would have liked to see the Neat Worker Bee in the Condenser bunch, it's by far the best Condenser I've heard under $400, and it's only $90, but it's not nearly as well known as the two you showed.
I really feel like I'm in sync with you and Nutty. Been getting great video content from you and with exactly the help I need! I LOVE the Blue Ember, I already have a Blue Yeti which has been my trusty sidekick, but been wanting to upgrade to the Elgato XLR! Thank you for your videos!!
As soon as I heard you talk into the Rode Podmic I put it in my amazon basket, and on the audio tests I guessed all correct, expensive vs cheap, thx for making this video.
I’ve had the rode pod mic and the blue ember for a while now and see no reason to get any others. Both do a fantastic job, can’t beat the price either!
I like how ember doesnt exhaust my hearing in minutes compared to many other condenser mics. Also, podmic sounds just like muffled condenser which is cool: reasonable condenser-ish clarity combined with calm mids and highs with good ambient sound cancellation of dynamic mics is a win win combo for me.
I have the AT2020 goin with the GOXLR and I absolutely love it. Followed your mic eq setup on the goxlr tutorial and branched from there to make it a bit more for me. Thanks for all you do!
I ended up being right on every microphone during the test, not just cheap/expensive, but the models themselves. The condenser test was only because I could hear that the first was EQ'd more, and the dynamic test mostly came from how much better the SM7B is at handling plosives. All in all, great video Harris!
The PodMic really is fantastic, I even thought that microphone 3 in the test was the SM7B since I already like the sound of the SM7B a lot but nope, it was indeed the PodMic
Do we need to talk really near the podmic for it to do its job? Im looking for a mic that doesnt need to be so close and dont catch too much the enviroment around. Do you have any suggestion sir?
I watch both Trash Taste Podcast and The Group Chat podcast so I know the sound of the SM7B really well and i knew it was the first one because it's a very flat sound, the podmic just has a ton of character in the sound i really like it. Also i can pick up a podmic for like $75 on ebay which is crazy to me because it sounds so good
nailed all of the tests, dinamic mic one was a breeze since i own the Rode mic, knew it was the last one, and the SM7b is kinda easy to notice its sound nowdays since its a popular pick
This is incredibly helpful as I'm looking to upgrade to an XLR mic down the road. I was going to save up for the SM7B since its widely considered a standard, but that podmic now has my attention and fits my budget far easier (I'm slowly growing). I love these little breakdown videos as it helps me to set equipment goals that are in line with the budget I get from my streaming/content/design work.
As someone who's spent a bit of time mastering I like to think my opinion is a informed one, to me the two mics with the best clarity was the Bottle and the Podmic, I picked those an felt sure of my choices, I love the tone of both of them. I'll be shelling out for a podmic soon.
I don't know if it's just my audio setup, but I found it very obvious which condenser was the bottle rocket. It was just so much more crisp and full, I felt like the other one had a bit of an artificial tinny sound to it. The dynamic mics were pretty straightforward as well, though the differences were more subtle. Before the reveal I had essentially identified #3 as my favorite, but I also didn't think it was the SM7B. The middle one was quite muddy as you mentioned, so I figured the first was the SM7B and the third was the podmic. Honestly, super surprised how awesome the podmic is, especially at that price. I use its big brother the procaster so maybe my ears are just attuned to that sound, but like...it's really clean.
I do professional voice acting, and I've actually been able to get away with using a cheap $50 USB mic for about 2 years now. I definitely plan on upgrading later this year, hopefully to the Shure SM7B so I can really take my stuff to the next level, but I may slip down and go with the AT-2020 with some minor EQ to make it closer to the Shure.
Word of advice from an audio engineer UNLESS THE CLIENT ASKS, NEVER EQ YOUR RECORDINGS!!! With all due respect, you are not the projects sound guy, you are to provide a raw, clean recording of your own voice, and that’s it. It’s fine to tweak your auditions to sound better, but never your project submissions unless; your client asks, you know what you’re doing, or you’re providing both the raw and processed. Also, I’d explore what mics are available and don’t take the singular advice of one person online. Every mic will sound different on your voice, as well as everyone else’s. Personally I sound my best on an Aston Spirit (I don’t own one but I have studio access to one)
I agreed with you on which mics I thought sounded the best. I would love to see a video of you showing us how you edited their settings to make them sound that way, so that we could actually feel confident purchasing them and being able to make them sound like that
I made a video comparing the AT2020 and the Rode Podmic a little while ago and the AT2020 is still my personal favourite because it’s condenser mic allowing more freedom to move around and it sounds better. Pod mic being a dynamic means you have to keep it right in front of your face otherwise you’ll lose input plus there’s very little low end which means more tweaking with eq. AT2020 is my recommendation for streamers and broadcasters who are live. For Podcasters who release their content without video then a dynamic might be a better option
i got condensers entirely wrong and the dynamics all correct i think the sm7b has a very specific character to it when it records siblance in that it makes ess sounds both super clear yet still not harsh at all; i think that was a dead giveaway for me. i assumed the 3rd one was the podmic because it was the second best sounding one despite the siblance being noticeably harsher than the sm7b's, and i'm honestly not a fan of the sound of the 2040 at all... what i was most surprised about was that the first condenser was the at2020, i totally thought that would've been the more expensive baby bottle. i literally own an at2020 as well so im surprised i couldn't pick it out
I got all the guesses right but ill tack that to all the reaserch ive been doing on audio and mics lately. I ended up buying a shure mv7 from your last review some months ago and i absolutely love that dynamic mic!!
When you realize that the chalky patina being applied to the video image is by "design" and not just the dusty remnants of how Harris gets through his day. Hah, the more you know.
As someone who mainly will just game, amateur voice acting and occasionally record TH-cam videos, not stream, I really love the Podmic in your videos. I'll probably go with a SM7B when I do upgrade, because I also would love to do more professional Voice Acting in the future, and it's probably going to last me longer. Regardless I appreciate your vids SO MUCH, so please, do this as long as it makes you happy. :)
Thanks for EQ-testing! PodMic wasn't super in other reviews, but with your little EQ sculpt it blew the others away! EQs well. The SE V7 stepped up to $120 recently, but it is is truly amazing. With pop filter, I really prefer it vs. the regular podcasters...like a condenser sound, but dynamic, with hypercardioid.
I am planning to buy the SM7B for my trumpet. Even though everyone is going to say it is overkill, trumpets are very loud instruments and need a large capsule to capture the rich sound. And also I have experience with microphones before, so I know how an SM7B sounds on a trumpet.
The difference between the mic used for filming in general and the mics used for testing is the difference between hearing yourself and your voice being played back to you. I'll take the mic used in general that's not apart of the tests. It's like the camera man running faster then the athletes running
Wow. This was actually insane. I was literally about to go pickup a SM7b because it's tax free weekend in my state so I figured I'd save a little money, Instead, I'm going to get a podmic and save a lot more money. Thanks, Harris!! Big!
Wow podmic sound great , recently got it . Do you use any kind of pre amp like cloud lifter or fethed? I use podmic without preamp just plugin to scarlet solo interface, ya it’s working great bt it need lot of gain because condenser mics are gain hungry mics I want to know do yo use any kind of inline preamp like cloudlofter fir this test ?
I like the sound of the Rode Podmic (was convinced it was the expensive one during the blind test) but you said it's lacking in bass. Does that mean I should avoid it if I have a really deep voice?
We’re the ideal customer, guy. The nasal character helps cut out muddy low end. I have a deep baritone going on and trust me, a pod mic driven properly with enough gain sounds as good as I’d ever need without going into a studio (use a fethead in line preamp over a cloud lifter for cost imo). An SM7B is very articulate but not worth the money for most people imo.
I use the PodMic since it was released and I love it. There are Streamers that have good audio and then they switch to the SM7B because it is hyped. I use my PodMic with an Focusrite Solo Interface and I don’t need an preamp. Just get yourself the REAPlugs and you can set an EQ in OBs
I'm about to invest in an XLR from elgato, and I asked my friends in discord if they have any info about microphones that would work. My prayer was answered. Ty.
I've enjoyed my Shure SM57 I got for $100 & while I do need a PreAmp (use the Cathedral Durham) & run it through my big ol' mixer, I love the sound over the bigger brother SM7B. I'm in the same boat where I like less muddyness (my voice comes off muddy/scratchy) & this mic helps a lot with that, but also keeps the body well formed. I enjoyed the Blue Ember a lot as well!
Great vid! Pod mic + windscreen + inline pre amp (fethead is cheap and great) sounds like a 1k+ setup (eg sm7b+cloud lifter). I have a very bass-heavy baritone voice, so adding the nasal character of the mic makes for an ideal result. I’ve been using it for the past two years so glad to see someone finding similar results even with it stock. The windscreen adds a substantial difference - less eq needed, I found, but I’m a mere hobbyist focused on guitar recording so… lol
I actually got both right! You can still hear their sound signatures even with EQ. The Bottle Rocket has a pretty distinct brightness to its sound, so that one was pretty easy.
i bought the Blue Ember a few months ago after a LOT of research, havent looked back. . i just love the warm mid tone to it. biggest challenge was mounting it effectively. being side-addressed is kind of a challenge due to its odd shape for a desk mic. I found the sampson shock mount fits it pretty well and its not 100.00 like the recommended blue mount is, which seems to be discontinued anyway.
I got the dynamic mics right, but honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of the PodMic. I have one and an SM7B, and I feel like I have to work a lot more to get the PodMic to where I want it, especially when the recording a typically female-sounding voice, or one that sits a bit higher. It's a bit too bright and doesn't have much going on in the low-end. It's an okay mic, but I'm not as in love with it as so many others seem to be.
On the dynamic mics, I thought #3 was the SM7B and I own a Podmic. Too funny. Thanks for the video. Great to see the AT2040 getting reviews. I think it sounds pretty good considering it's $99 but I went with the Podmic simply because so many reviews had it EQd to sound just as good, if not, better than the SM7B at 75% of the cost.
We're actually switching from condenser (Wave:3) to dynamic (Rode Procaster) because of the background noise. My wife and I stream in the same room and we just can't get the Wave's to not pick up on eachother.
I just upgraded from an off brand mic to the wave 3. My off brand mic did fine, but I always had an issue with it clipping when I got loud. Finally got sick of it and upgraded, I like the wave so far.
Managed to pick the Bottle Rocket out its easily the best sounding mic there, sublime. Also picked the SM7b as the top dynamic. But the Podmic is crazy good for the price, easily the best choice for streamers. Other thoughts, the AT2040 is kinda meh, the AT2020 is a bit bright and grainy sounding, nowhere near as smooth as the BR. The Ember sounds smoother but a little muffled. You reach a point of diminishing returns a lot sooner with a dynamic mic than you do with a condenser and that was definitely demonstrated in this test.
Currently i'm using a Podmic + MG10XU combo, the Podmic sound fits really nicely my voice (which would probably be too bassy for a SM7B), might try the SM7B in the future tho. I don't really like the sound of the AT2040, looks like it sounds muffled or something. Great vid as usual, thanks for making this kind of content!
I've been eyeing the Podmic for a longtime but I really can't justify buying it right now because I already have a Newer NW700 and for light voiceover on videos it's all I really need right now. Maybe soon I'll splurge and get it but for talking to the boys in Discord it's all I really need.
Thank you for your channel and info posted my 1st video the other day a 100% awful low quality budget but I loved making it well be learning how to improve every single day thank you so much for your content
Could we please get a ~$500 mic roundup? I hate the way the SM7B looks and am leaning towards an Audio Technica BP40 but I'd love to see a bunch of comparisons
The expensive one out of the condenser mics clearly is the second one, however, out of the dynamics I'm having a hard time between the 1st one and the 3rd one! I'm going to say since the 3rd one sounds brighter, that that one is the podmic and that the 1st one is the SM7B, hopefully I'm correct!
I got all 5 mics right but im a sound engineer for the last 40yrs...it's ridiculous how good budget mics have gotten....even in studio work i'll often drop a pair of the AT2020's or AKG P120's as over heads
So my wife had the SM7B and side graded to the PodMic. The probably with the SM7B is you have to EQ out the lows, now as a male you want the bass, the lows in your voice. But as a women well its why Dio's for ASM sound so "nice". Honestly I'd like to see you try some none common mics like Live Streamer MIC 330 or JLab Talk Pro or the Maono Microphones thats included in all the stream mixers they have.
I got both right but honestly was because of the floor noise, not the mic coloration (I was hearing on my iPhone speakers so it gets waaaaaaaaay harder to hear the differences between each other without headphones in the coloration area). Cheaper microphones tend to have higher noise floor but nothing that can’t be treated with a de noiser (especially the one that comes FREE in OBS). Tech gets better each and every year :) that’s a good thing and opens up the possibility to more creators and not only the ones that can afford it (I started to make TH-cam cover songs 9 years ago and living in Mexico at 16-17 years old the only option were buying an interface and spend all of your budget on that one thing or buy a crappy adapter and use the internal audio interface of your computer (don’t know how the hell mine survived that!) Whereas now you can buy everything you need with the same amount of money back then.
I have been waiting on this video!!!!!!! I wanted to know which one between the Ember and the Podcast Rode on which one to purchase. Thank you for making my decision easier. Ordering My Rode now
I want to hear any and all thoughts on these mics. Did you have guesses during the blind test? Did you have thoughts during the comparisons? Hit me.
I think it was great, especially from the best :D
Alpha gamings comment: 6 hours ago
Everyone else: 1 min ago
Me: ¿?¿
I was honestly surprised by the quality of the cheaper mics
Happy to see these companies making such good sounding mics at such an affordable price point vs the "big dogs".
No longer does it cost a ton to sound great.
I love the blue ember to btw but can I cancel the noise
Managed to get both sets of microphones right, but to be honest, even as someone that uses and swears by the SM7B I have to admit that the PodMic sounded great and provides some serious competition at a fraction of the cost! Not a fan of the AT2040 at all though, unfortunately. Was curious to hear how that one sounded, but I can't say I was at all impressed.
unfortunatly in practical use the podmic often comes up as very nasil heavy and arsh sound mic compared to the sm7b i think there better choices then podmic i if u dont mind giving up looks
Would you recomend the SM7B for music recording?
@@usr-coffee what abt the samson q2u?
@@Ravalo354 is the sm58 alright
The podmic with a popfilter and a little bit of eq is amazing
I've had a couple AT2020 for years. It's been a solid performer with several interfaces and field recorders. Glad to see it can still keep up with newer offerings.
I got everything wrong, but great information! Our Blue Snowball just broke, so I'm looking at other options now for the stream :) Looks like AT2020 and Elgato Wave XLR is in my future
YOOO SWITCH AND CLICK IS HERE :D
Get the pod mic instead great mic
how are you commenting on every video I watch
do u think its possible to make a keyboard with a mic built-in?
@@jollibaee-q2v I don't think so bro.. she have to lube too much may be... 😆 lol
I paused the video after you played the AT2020 and the Bottle Rocket to make this comment. I started streaming with a Yeti using Voicemeter, and after a lot of research and watching videos like yours purchased a PodMic and a GoXLR. What an awesome combo! Using your GoXLR video as a baseline and tweaking from there, you wouldn't believe how many people comment on how my voice sounds, whether on my stream or even while gaming using in game voice comms. Thank you so much for your content!
I literally just got my Rode Podmic and everyone i talk to says it actually sounds better than a SM7B, it might be bias but it sounds so good and i don't regret getting it at all
In my personal opinion owning neither of them, the PodMic sounds better than the SM7B because its not trying hard to be a "broadcast" mic, but rather just a good microphone overall. Thanks to that its much easier to listen to for a very long time with little fatigue, rather than with the SM7B which sounds like a subwoofer constantly going off the second anyone says anything.
The end was something, congratz, the video is excellent. I own the AT2020 and RODE Podmic and I'm happy with both.
I recently bought a Podmic after using an Ember for almost the last 2 years and I'm loving it more than I do the Ember.
The Ember is a great mic, by no means do I dislike it, I just happen to live close to a major highway and the Ember picked up a ton of traffic while live.
thank you thats actually very helpful to know :)
I have an AT2020 and my AC is directly overhead. My solution, other than a gate, was to decrease gain, get the mic in your face, then boost the final signal. AC is almost impossible to hear and it's 5 ft away.
@@SlapMyBassDaddy I feel like you'd be better off getting a dynamic microphone. It's very easy to clip the signal on a condenser if you get it too close to your face
@@yongukjung5390 I have plenty of headroom on my M2 but screw it... I'll buy a podmic and let you know how it goes.
@@SlapMyBassDaddy that doesnt mean lot unfortunatly has u can clip on interface side usually wear people are cliping are either at interface or the digital side when generally talking about clipping but when talking streaming and or percifically about when having it close to your oface u often clip at the mic btw when u see dynamic raneg this in reference to loud u can be before the mic clips the lower the gain can be on the interface and get healthy loud sigle close to clipping the mic u get not nessarly bad thing
I am so happy I found this video. Been looking for ages for an actually good comparison on these mics.
Honestly, I am really surprised how good the Rode sounds.
I'll have to give this video another listen to finalise my choice of mic soon, but dor now the Podmic is a clear winner.
i sold my SM7B and GoXLR combo to downgrade to an Elgato Wave XLR and Rode Podmic combo.
my biggest issue with the GoXLR was the compatibility with Mac since I switch between those 2 operating system for personal stuff and work stuff.. heck no one even noticed i downgraded.
With the money i got back from these downgrades, I was able to buy myself a standing desk and a Elgato Wave Arm LP.
Nice decision
we all noticed
I have a pod mic and have been thinking of switching to the Elgato Wave XLR from the Audient Evo 4 I'm just a lil on the fence about that lol.
I just think the software diff would be worth it but it does feel like money lost
nice goxlr isnt allways nessary for a xlr setup tho its nice if u actually need all its features
@@REAPEROFTOES u honestly would notice quality difference between maybe comaptiability or stability different but not by degree that matter unless u doing professional work
So I have been using the Blue Yeti for over a year now and wanted to switch to a new style of microphone. After watching this I decided to upgrade to the Rhode Pod Cast Mic. I also just picked up the GO XLR, never using one it seems the easiest to learn on. Love the videos, your my go to on streaming now days since I found you. Thank you and congrats on the new Senpai Gaming.
As long time AT2020 user, was good to see it still stacks up. I didn't just buy it because it was cheap, it really is good. Oh and XLR condensers all the way for me. They are fulller and more pleasant to my ear but there is no wrong choice on that topic.
Condenser: Ember has a bit of a warmer tone, from what I hear. I prefer that sound personally for Harris’ voice.
Dynamic: I have the Podmic myself, been using it for years, and have always like the sound. I think the AT2040 had a bit more hiss to it compared to the Podmic. I think a pop filter would make things sound a bit better.
Mic guesses:
Condenser -
1.) AT2020 - a sharper, more piercing sound
2.) Baby Bottle - Smoother, more pleasing to listen to
Dynamic:
1.) Podmic - Pleasing to listen to, but not my favorite
2.) AT2040 - The worst of the 3, but not too bad. I’ll stick with my Podmic
3.) SM7B - So clear compared to the others, from what I heard
HOLY. CRAP. Harris, I NEED to know what you did to the EQ on the Podmic, because I didn’t think that clarity could be achieved on it. I’ve heard you EQ it before, but something about this time makes it sound like you’re speaking in the same room as me, but with a better tone and timbre. Plz share your secret, thanks
Some tips:
Give yourself about -16 dB in your input signal
Check your high pass cutoff (shouldnt be lower than 100ish hz, but not higher than 200hz, MAYBE 250hz), cut mids first (mudiness is around 1.5k-8khz) then lows (establish level of pressence, usually 150hz-1khz), then highs (character of vocals - 8-18khz). Mids *should* have a healthy dip for most vocals with soft peaks in the highs and lows.
DeEssin is next (usually in the 6-8khz range)
Send it to compression (this is much harder to type - not gonna go super in depth, but 2:1 or 3:1 ratio with a softish knee, maybe some soft distortion on the outward side, of its an option on your comp, and recoup any loss of gain in the gain out setring on the comp)
--------
This^ should give you a good base; they are mainly rules of thumb.
Summary: Gainstaging is very important for end results (the -16dB of input gain), subtractive EQ is usually the safer bet for "clean", remove sibalance before compression is easier than after (as are most things), and try to avoid compressing until you refined the prior steps (it's like glue - pulls the prior fx together)
The Rode Podmic is my go to, it sounds amazing and I love the look of it. a little heavy but with the right boomarm it works great
I have the AT2020+USB which I love, but bought the PodMic (both before I even watched your video) as I needed an XLR when I got a rodecaster. I love the podmic but I move around a little too much and it drops out. (our streams can get a bit rowdy lol). I was going to upgrade and get an 'expensive' XLR condenser mic but after seeing this I think I'm going to just try and pick up an AT2020 XLR as it's so reliable and sounds great. Plus doesn't drop out when I flail all around my desk. After watching this I am VERY happy I didn't spend more.
Your production is always top-notch and impressive, thank you for the review!
currently using the AT2020 and a scarlet solo and it’s *chefs kiss* even for recording vocals musically or for content it’s amazing
For someone who knows nothing of audio, and now my USB mic is starting to fade away unfortunately . I see myself picking up a xlr mixer and dynamic mic in the future. Thanks for the awesome content. Has helped a lot!
Harris needs a live or recording light to signal the upstairs people lol
Ive had my podmic for over a year now since watching your first video on it and I absolutely love it still. Amazing
you posted this video right when i needed it omg
Before I watch the rest, my prediction is Condenser 1 is the AT2020, Condenser 2 is the Bottle Rocket, Dynamic 1 is the AT2040, Dynamic 2 is the SM7b, Dynamic 2 is the PodMic.
I got the SM7b and AT2040 mixed up lol. Overall a great video showcasing some great $100 microphones, and I really appreciate that you compared the SM7b's sound to your camera not having a LUT, too many people think that having that microphone will give the best sound possible, not realizing it's a studio microphone that's meant to give detail over quality so the engineer can get the exact sound they want in post production.
I would have liked to see the Neat Worker Bee in the Condenser bunch, it's by far the best Condenser I've heard under $400, and it's only $90, but it's not nearly as well known as the two you showed.
ahhhh man, I can feel myself buying a microphone at the end of this video. you make so quality no nonsense informative videos man, I appreciate you.
I’ve been using the Podmic for since Christmas of 2020 and I love it!! I feel I have no need for a upgrade ever. Def my favorite
I think I’ve watched you for so long now it was pretty easy to get everything right, and I even said 1 was the Sm7b but 3 sounded the best 😄
I really feel like I'm in sync with you and Nutty. Been getting great video content from you and with exactly the help I need! I LOVE the Blue Ember, I already have a Blue Yeti which has been my trusty sidekick, but been wanting to upgrade to the Elgato XLR! Thank you for your videos!!
The quality of video, Audio and information here gets you a subscribe 😌
As soon as I heard you talk into the Rode Podmic I put it in my amazon basket, and on the audio tests I guessed all correct, expensive vs cheap, thx for making this video.
I’ve had the rode pod mic and the blue ember for a while now and see no reason to get any others. Both do a fantastic job, can’t beat the price either!
I like how ember doesnt exhaust my hearing in minutes compared to many other condenser mics. Also, podmic sounds just like muffled condenser which is cool: reasonable condenser-ish clarity combined with calm mids and highs with good ambient sound cancellation of dynamic mics is a win win combo for me.
I have the AT2020 goin with the GOXLR and I absolutely love it. Followed your mic eq setup on the goxlr tutorial and branched from there to make it a bit more for me.
Thanks for all you do!
I ended up being right on every microphone during the test, not just cheap/expensive, but the models themselves. The condenser test was only because I could hear that the first was EQ'd more, and the dynamic test mostly came from how much better the SM7B is at handling plosives.
All in all, great video Harris!
The PodMic really is fantastic, I even thought that microphone 3 in the test was the SM7B since I already like the sound of the SM7B a lot but nope, it was indeed the PodMic
Do we need to talk really near the podmic for it to do its job? Im looking for a mic that doesnt need to be so close and dont catch too much the enviroment around. Do you have any suggestion sir?
I watch both Trash Taste Podcast and The Group Chat podcast so I know the sound of the SM7B really well and i knew it was the first one because it's a very flat sound, the podmic just has a ton of character in the sound i really like it. Also i can pick up a podmic for like $75 on ebay which is crazy to me because it sounds so good
Nice comparison and eq. These kind of video are very interesting and entertaining.
nailed all of the tests, dinamic mic one was a breeze since i own the Rode mic, knew it was the last one, and the SM7b is kinda easy to notice its sound nowdays since its a popular pick
This is incredibly helpful as I'm looking to upgrade to an XLR mic down the road. I was going to save up for the SM7B since its widely considered a standard, but that podmic now has my attention and fits my budget far easier (I'm slowly growing). I love these little breakdown videos as it helps me to set equipment goals that are in line with the budget I get from my streaming/content/design work.
As someone who's spent a bit of time mastering I like to think my opinion is a informed one, to me the two mics with the best clarity was the Bottle and the Podmic, I picked those an felt sure of my choices, I love the tone of both of them. I'll be shelling out for a podmic soon.
Was looking for good reviews on 100 dollar xlr mics and this made that final push for me to get the at2020.
awesome video! love to see this in depth analysis
Your channel is super dope and I love your videos dude. You seem super friendly
I don't know if it's just my audio setup, but I found it very obvious which condenser was the bottle rocket. It was just so much more crisp and full, I felt like the other one had a bit of an artificial tinny sound to it.
The dynamic mics were pretty straightforward as well, though the differences were more subtle. Before the reveal I had essentially identified #3 as my favorite, but I also didn't think it was the SM7B. The middle one was quite muddy as you mentioned, so I figured the first was the SM7B and the third was the podmic.
Honestly, super surprised how awesome the podmic is, especially at that price. I use its big brother the procaster so maybe my ears are just attuned to that sound, but like...it's really clean.
I bought the at2020 recently and have no regrets - it's been fantastic
Its honestly a great mic been using it for over a year and recently got a go xlr and with eq it sounds so good
@@IkeaPog I've actually been really impressed with the Behringer UMC22, it powers it fine and everything
This is the third time I watch this video and I still learning. Thank you for your job
I've been using the GoXLR with an AT2020 for years (and a USB AT2020 before that!) and it's never once let me down. Good, solid microphone.
Always enjoy you analysis!
I do professional voice acting, and I've actually been able to get away with using a cheap $50 USB mic for about 2 years now. I definitely plan on upgrading later this year, hopefully to the Shure SM7B so I can really take my stuff to the next level, but I may slip down and go with the AT-2020 with some minor EQ to make it closer to the Shure.
Word of advice from an audio engineer
UNLESS THE CLIENT ASKS, NEVER EQ YOUR RECORDINGS!!!
With all due respect, you are not the projects sound guy, you are to provide a raw, clean recording of your own voice, and that’s it.
It’s fine to tweak your auditions to sound better, but never your project submissions unless; your client asks, you know what you’re doing, or you’re providing both the raw and processed.
Also, I’d explore what mics are available and don’t take the singular advice of one person online. Every mic will sound different on your voice, as well as everyone else’s. Personally I sound my best on an Aston Spirit (I don’t own one but I have studio access to one)
I like how you're voice went into npr mode on the dynamic mics
Glad you kept the outro!
Been planning on the Rode Pod Mic for a few months and this video pretty much solidified my choice.
For anyone that wants to know, the song snippet is "Quick Getaway" on the Cracked album
I agreed with you on which mics I thought sounded the best. I would love to see a video of you showing us how you edited their settings to make them sound that way, so that we could actually feel confident purchasing them and being able to make them sound like that
Just swapped from the Wave 3 to the PodMic + GoXlr and I love that it picks up so much less ambient noise from my room.
I made a video comparing the AT2020 and the Rode Podmic a little while ago and the AT2020 is still my personal favourite because it’s condenser mic allowing more freedom to move around and it sounds better. Pod mic being a dynamic means you have to keep it right in front of your face otherwise you’ll lose input plus there’s very little low end which means more tweaking with eq. AT2020 is my recommendation for streamers and broadcasters who are live. For Podcasters who release their content without video then a dynamic might be a better option
i got condensers entirely wrong and the dynamics all correct
i think the sm7b has a very specific character to it when it records siblance in that it makes ess sounds both super clear yet still not harsh at all; i think that was a dead giveaway for me. i assumed the 3rd one was the podmic because it was the second best sounding one despite the siblance being noticeably harsher than the sm7b's, and i'm honestly not a fan of the sound of the 2040 at all...
what i was most surprised about was that the first condenser was the at2020, i totally thought that would've been the more expensive baby bottle. i literally own an at2020 as well so im surprised i couldn't pick it out
Sold my SM7B and got the RODE Pod instead :) Still not regretting. No more need for the CloudLifter running it through my 2i2
The RODE Pod Mic will always and forever be my fav 100$ dynamic mic
That Ember looks great. I got my eyes set on the Spark when I switch from Yeti to XLR
I got all the guesses right but ill tack that to all the reaserch ive been doing on audio and mics lately. I ended up buying a shure mv7 from your last review some months ago and i absolutely love that dynamic mic!!
no affiliate links to buy any of these!? bro.
When you realize that the chalky patina being applied to the video image is by "design" and not just the dusty remnants of how Harris gets through his day. Hah, the more you know.
In my opinion the shotgun mic he used to film the vid was the best of all but probs more expensive than even the blue microphone
As someone who mainly will just game, amateur voice acting and occasionally record TH-cam videos, not stream, I really love the Podmic in your videos. I'll probably go with a SM7B when I do upgrade, because I also would love to do more professional Voice Acting in the future, and it's probably going to last me longer. Regardless I appreciate your vids SO MUCH, so please, do this as long as it makes you happy. :)
Thanks for EQ-testing! PodMic wasn't super in other reviews, but with your little EQ sculpt it blew the others away! EQs well. The SE V7 stepped up to $120 recently, but it is is truly amazing. With pop filter, I really prefer it vs. the regular podcasters...like a condenser sound, but dynamic, with hypercardioid.
not sure what are you looking at in the thumbnail but i like it, its funny😂
I am planning to buy the SM7B for my trumpet. Even though everyone is going to say it is overkill, trumpets are very loud instruments and need a large capsule to capture the rich sound. And also I have experience with microphones before, so I know how an SM7B sounds on a trumpet.
Oh confirmation bias, you have me in love with my buy on the Podmic even more
The difference between the mic used for filming in general and the mics used for testing is the difference between hearing yourself and your voice being played back to you. I'll take the mic used in general that's not apart of the tests. It's like the camera man running faster then the athletes running
Wow. This was actually insane. I was literally about to go pickup a SM7b because it's tax free weekend in my state so I figured I'd save a little money, Instead, I'm going to get a podmic and save a lot more money. Thanks, Harris!! Big!
The intro opening transition was sick
Wow podmic sound great , recently got it . Do you use any kind of pre amp like cloud lifter or fethed?
I use podmic without preamp just plugin to scarlet solo interface, ya it’s working great bt it need lot of gain because condenser mics are gain hungry mics
I want to know do yo use any kind of inline preamp like cloudlofter fir this test ?
the podmic is a dynamic mic you muppet.
I like the sound of the Rode Podmic (was convinced it was the expensive one during the blind test) but you said it's lacking in bass. Does that mean I should avoid it if I have a really deep voice?
If anything the added low end might make your audio sound muddy
Honestly I'd say especially if you have a really deep voice avoid mics that have a pronounced bass and lower tone
We’re the ideal customer, guy. The nasal character helps cut out muddy low end. I have a deep baritone going on and trust me, a pod mic driven properly with enough gain sounds as good as I’d ever need without going into a studio (use a fethead in line preamp over a cloud lifter for cost imo). An SM7B is very articulate but not worth the money for most people imo.
I have a bit of a deep voice (not too bass-y though) and I actually had to turn the bass A LOT on my PodMic, so you're good to go.
I use the PodMic since it was released and I love it. There are Streamers that have good audio and then they switch to the SM7B because it is hyped. I use my PodMic with an Focusrite Solo Interface and I don’t need an preamp. Just get yourself the REAPlugs and you can set an EQ in OBs
I loved your outro take you used!
sm7b, podmic, and 2040 literally sounded the same lol thx harris for saving me money 🤣🤣
I'm about to invest in an XLR from elgato, and I asked my friends in discord if they have any info about microphones that would work.
My prayer was answered. Ty.
Keep going Bro, you are excellent and greetings from the Middle East
I’m looking for a mic to have to talk to friends and maybe get into streaming and I really like the pod mic I might get it
I've enjoyed my Shure SM57 I got for $100 & while I do need a PreAmp (use the Cathedral Durham) & run it through my big ol' mixer, I love the sound over the bigger brother SM7B. I'm in the same boat where I like less muddyness (my voice comes off muddy/scratchy) & this mic helps a lot with that, but also keeps the body well formed. I enjoyed the Blue Ember a lot as well!
Great vid! Pod mic + windscreen + inline pre amp (fethead is cheap and great) sounds like a 1k+ setup (eg sm7b+cloud lifter).
I have a very bass-heavy baritone voice, so adding the nasal character of the mic makes for an ideal result. I’ve been using it for the past two years so glad to see someone finding similar results even with it stock. The windscreen adds a substantial difference - less eq needed, I found, but I’m a mere hobbyist focused on guitar recording so… lol
I actually guessed right on both comparisons. (Me with Studio Cans...) The Condenser Mics were the hardest to tell the differences between, imo.
I actually got both right! You can still hear their sound signatures even with EQ. The Bottle Rocket has a pretty distinct brightness to its sound, so that one was pretty easy.
i bought the Blue Ember a few months ago after a LOT of research, havent looked back. . i just love the warm mid tone to it. biggest challenge was mounting it effectively. being side-addressed is kind of a challenge due to its odd shape for a desk mic. I found the sampson shock mount fits it pretty well and its not 100.00 like the recommended blue mount is, which seems to be discontinued anyway.
I got the dynamic mics right, but honestly, I'm not the biggest fan of the PodMic. I have one and an SM7B, and I feel like I have to work a lot more to get the PodMic to where I want it, especially when the recording a typically female-sounding voice, or one that sits a bit higher. It's a bit too bright and doesn't have much going on in the low-end. It's an okay mic, but I'm not as in love with it as so many others seem to be.
On the dynamic mics, I thought #3 was the SM7B and I own a Podmic. Too funny.
Thanks for the video. Great to see the AT2040 getting reviews. I think it sounds pretty good considering it's $99 but I went with the Podmic simply because so many reviews had it EQd to sound just as good, if not, better than the SM7B at 75% of the cost.
We're actually switching from condenser (Wave:3) to dynamic (Rode Procaster) because of the background noise. My wife and I stream in the same room and we just can't get the Wave's to not pick up on eachother.
I use the AT 2020 XLR myself and I'm really happy with it
I just upgraded from an off brand mic to the wave 3. My off brand mic did fine, but I always had an issue with it clipping when I got loud. Finally got sick of it and upgraded, I like the wave so far.
Managed to pick the Bottle Rocket out its easily the best sounding mic there, sublime. Also picked the SM7b as the top dynamic. But the Podmic is crazy good for the price, easily the best choice for streamers. Other thoughts, the AT2040 is kinda meh, the AT2020 is a bit bright and grainy sounding, nowhere near as smooth as the BR. The Ember sounds smoother but a little muffled. You reach a point of diminishing returns a lot sooner with a dynamic mic than you do with a condenser and that was definitely demonstrated in this test.
Currently i'm using a Podmic + MG10XU combo, the Podmic sound fits really nicely my voice (which would probably be too bassy for a SM7B), might try the SM7B in the future tho. I don't really like the sound of the AT2040, looks like it sounds muffled or something. Great vid as usual, thanks for making this kind of content!
I've been eyeing the Podmic for a longtime but I really can't justify buying it right now because I already have a Newer NW700 and for light voiceover on videos it's all I really need right now. Maybe soon I'll splurge and get it but for talking to the boys in Discord it's all I really need.
Thank you for your channel and info posted my 1st video the other day a 100% awful low quality budget but I loved making it well be learning how to improve every single day thank you so much for your content
The pod mic is insanely beautiful
Could we please get a ~$500 mic roundup? I hate the way the SM7B looks and am leaning towards an Audio Technica BP40 but I'd love to see a bunch of comparisons
BRO i swear on me mum, when the video hit the 5:04 mark i thought i'd switched channel to H3H3 listening to Ethan LOL
The expensive one out of the condenser mics clearly is the second one, however, out of the dynamics I'm having a hard time between the 1st one and the 3rd one! I'm going to say since the 3rd one sounds brighter, that that one is the podmic and that the 1st one is the SM7B, hopefully I'm correct!
NO WAY! I GOT IT!!!!
Thank God someone finally compares the at 2020 and the at 2040
I got all 5 mics right but im a sound engineer for the last 40yrs...it's ridiculous how good budget mics have gotten....even in studio work i'll often drop a pair of the AT2020's or AKG P120's as over heads
So my wife had the SM7B and side graded to the PodMic. The probably with the SM7B is you have to EQ out the lows, now as a male you want the bass, the lows in your voice. But as a women well its why Dio's for ASM sound so "nice".
Honestly I'd like to see you try some none common mics like Live Streamer MIC 330 or JLab Talk Pro or the Maono Microphones thats included in all the stream mixers they have.
I got both right but honestly was because of the floor noise, not the mic coloration (I was hearing on my iPhone speakers so it gets waaaaaaaaay harder to hear the differences between each other without headphones in the coloration area). Cheaper microphones tend to have higher noise floor but nothing that can’t be treated with a de noiser (especially the one that comes FREE in OBS). Tech gets better each and every year :) that’s a good thing and opens up the possibility to more creators and not only the ones that can afford it (I started to make TH-cam cover songs 9 years ago and living in Mexico at 16-17 years old the only option were buying an interface and spend all of your budget on that one thing or buy a crappy adapter and use the internal audio interface of your computer (don’t know how the hell mine survived that!) Whereas now you can buy everything you need with the same amount of money back then.
I have been waiting on this video!!!!!!! I wanted to know which one between the Ember and the Podcast Rode on which one to purchase. Thank you for making my decision easier. Ordering My Rode now
I bought a pod mic just because of your videos...I use it for meetings and some keyboard sound test...but it sound great.