When you are planning your webinar, many different factors will come into play. Choosing a webinar date, time, set goals, promote, prepare the presentation etc… Webinars are an important marketing channel that more and more of us are turning to, especially since the physical restrictions seen during COVID-19.
We have prepared a dedicated guide on the best microphones to use for recording your webinars. You can go through the overall guide or switch between the different sections, by clicking on the links below:
- Why do you need a microphone for recording a webinar?
- What different types of microphones can be used for recording a webinar?
- What are the microphone brands we recommend for recording a webinar?
- What are the best microphones for recording a webinar?
- Conclusion
Like every marketing channel you want to communicate on, webinars need to be prepared and recorded with high-quality equipment to deliver high-quality content. Would you use an old Nokia to shoot a commercial? We wouldn’t.
Want to get your webinar program off the ground?
From the research we have conducted in 2020 with our customers, we know that sound quality is MORE IMPORTANT than video quality. 63% of our respondents said that the most important thing during a webinar is a crystal-clear audio quality. We are not saying that video doesn’t matter, but webinar attendees mainly want to get your content across. If you can’t even hear the presenter, then your webinar is a waste of time for you and your attendees. Download our Redback Report 2020 to get all the data.
Why do is this important to know? When we know this, then it becomes transparent that your audio is one of the most important elements of a great webinar. Therefore, the way you are going to record the sound of your voice is critical and you need an adequate microphone to do that.
Since this is so important, we would advise you not to cut corners in terms of budget and invest in the best quality equipment there is. It’s just like fixing something in your house, if you decide to use a $20 drill, the finished product is less likely to be perfect.
Of course, there’s always a balance, but the high-quality brands are well known in the industry and therefore we want to guide you in choosing the best product possible.
Why do you need a microphone for recording a webinar?
As our research shows, audio quality is one of the most important factors in a webinar. We would recommend investing in a proper mic to record your webinar but also possibly rent or prepare a special room to record your webinar. At Webinars.com.au, we rent specialised studios that can be used in order to record high-quality webinar. You can also trust our team of experts to deliver trouble free webinars and podcasts if you wish to do so. We take care of everything and you deliver your content in the best conditions possible. Don’t let your attendees down by delivering bad audio.
What different types of microphones can be used for recording a webinar?
This question can be a surprise for the non-initiated, but there are different types of microphones and particularly in the way they capture the sound waves around you. The two big families of mics that we have are the following: dynamic microphone and condenser microphone.
Dynamic microphone: a dynamic microphone is an equipment that converts sound into an electrical signal by means of electromagnetism. This means that a thin diaphragm moves when responding to sound pressure. These types of microphones are the most forgiving because of the way they work. They tend to not record as much surrounding noise as the condenser mics. This is good but the drawback is that you generally have a poorer sound in terms of the different frequencies you can capture. The sound is not so rich. They are the most used microphones because they are usually cheaper as condenser mics.
Condenser microphone: a condenser microphone is usually the choice made by people working in music studios. This is because those microphones can record different speed of sound waves way better. This type of mic uses a condenser capsule which consists of a thin membrane, usually gold-sputtered mylar, near a solid metal plate. These mics are more expensive and you also need to use them in a secure area because of background noises which are more easily captured by these mics. You also need to be aware that condenser microphone usually use a XLR output which is the standard for professional audio. Don’t worry you can get reliable XLR to USB adapters from $5 to $20 which makes it easier to record to your computer.
What are the microphone brands we recommend for recording a webinar?
The brands of webinar microphones are close to the professional audio industry since these brands are delivering different equipment for the industry. This explains why you find renown brands in our list such as Audio-Technica, Shure, Rode or Heil. You can find a lot of different brands such as Razor, Blue Microphones, Samson, Neumann, and CAD Audio.
Audio-Technica: Audio-Technica is a Japanese company that was born through the passion of it’s founder Hideo Matsushita. Before he founded the company, he hosted LP listening concerts at Tokyo’s Bridgestone Museum of Art, where people would experience vinyl records played on high-quality audio equipment. He was so moved by the reaction of the public when listening to the music that he decided to produce high-quality audio for everyone. Today, the brand is known worldwide and produces a large range of audio products such as headphones, turntables, cartridges, and microphones.
Shure: This American company operates since 1925 and began by selling AM radio kits and components. The company grew through repetitive innovations like the world’s first single-element unidirectional dynamic microphone in 1939. Shure was a trusty supplier of the US Air Force throughout the Second World War and brought the first handheld wireless microphone system to market in 1953. Today, the company produces microphones, sound isolating earphones, headphones, in-ear monitoring, conferencing solutions as well as specialised software.
Heil Sound: Another American company, Heil Sound is a very respected brand throughout the professional music world. The company was created in 1966 and was the only company invited to have an exhibit in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Heil Sound produces mainly microphones but also offers headphones and accessories.
Razer: founded in 2005, Razer is an American company that is well known in the gaming community. They manufacture PC’s for gamers, specialised GPUs, and monitors. They are also selling headphones, gaming accessories and a product line called streaming in which they sell specialised microphones.
Rode: Rode is the perfect choice if you want to support an Australian owned company. They are located in Sydney and the company was founded in 1967 but was named Freedman Electronics. The Rode brand name was used starting 1990 with the aim to offer a low-cost, high-quality microphone. Rode offers microphones, software as well as audio accessories.
Blue Microphones: Founded in 1995, Blue Microphones is a company from California. Blue Microphones is nowadays a subsidiary from Logitech. The company produces microphones, headphones, and audio related accessories.
Neumann: This German company was founded in 1928 in Berlin and is well known in the industry for the quality of their product. They manufacture microphones, headphones, preamplifiers, studio monitors as well as accessories.
What are the best microphones for recording a webinar?
The best mics are manufactured by the best brands, and we have compiled the following list for you to consider buying a webinar microphone (all prices are in AUD).
Heil Sound PR-40: this microphone is the most potent of the dynamic family. The PR 40 incorporates Heil’s phasing plug technology, along with the use of a very large (1″), low mass diaphragm, and custom magnet metals housed in a specially designed microphone body. Heil Sound microphones are known to be very durable and reliable overall. The PR-40 is specially adapted for users who are doing a lot of webinars, podcasts or other type of audio recordings. It’s one of the most expensive options, so you might want to consider other products if you being in the industry.
2021 Price: approx. $600
Audio-Technica ATR2100: This handheld microphone offers two outputs (USB & XLR) and offers a quality analog-to-digital converter for excellent fidelity, and a headphone output with level control for monitoring. Since it’s handheld, you might want to buy a stand for it but it’s one of the most versatile mics on the market.
2021 Price: approx. $150
Audio-Technica AT2020: This is the first condenser microphone on our list that is easy to use and relatively cheap. This makes it a very user-friendly mic that can be used by beginners. It has a low-mass diaphragm provides extended frequency response and superior transient response. This mic uses a cardioid polar pattern that reduces pickup of sounds from the sides and the rear. It’s delivered with a pivoting stand mount and a case.
2021 Price: approx. $150
Samson Meteor: This mic is a condenser type and is very affordable for this type of equipment. This is one of the most durable equipment in our list and is delivered with foldable legs. This mic is compatible with iPad, PC & MAC and is therefore a very good solution to record on your computer.
2021 Price: approx. $100
Samson Go Mic: One of the most usable mics in this list. This product can be used and transported anywhere which is perfect if you need to travel often between webinar studios. The Samson Go Mic can even be clipped to a desk. If you buy this product you will have access to Samson software which is perfect to record on the go.
2021 Price: approx. $80
Rode Podcaster: This product is one of the most expensive in this list, especially for a dynamic type mic. This is also the only one that combines broadcast-quality audio with the simplicity of USB connectivity, allowing recording direct to a computer without the need for an additional digital interface. You also pay for the warranty which lasts 10 years. The Podcaster includes a sturdy RM2 microphone ring mount.
2021 Price: approx. $300
Rode NT USB: The NT USB is the perfect product for a person that is looking to record directly from the Desktop. A premium pop-filter is included, which fits onto the base of the mic, positioning the filter the ideal distance from the capsule to minimise plosives during singing or speech.
2021 Price: approx. $200
Blue Microphones Yeti: This mic is one of the top sellers on the market. It is relatively affordable, it works well, and it has a stylish, retro design, which makes it ideal for webinar hosts who plan to be on camera. You can choose between 4 pattern modes to record under all conditions: cardioid mode, stereo mode, omnidirectional mode and bidirectional mode.
2021 Price: approx. $200
Blue Microphones Snowball: Blue Microphones is known to make stylish products. This mic is an affordable condenser mic and it looks fantastic on camera. Its custom condenser capsule with cardioid pattern offers crystal clear audio for communicating, creating and recording.
2021 Price: approx. $100
Shure SM58: This handheld mic is a very mobile product and is very tough. This unidirectional (cardioid) dynamic vocal microphone is designed for professional vocal use in live performance, sound reinforcement, and studio recording.
2021 Price: approx. $170
Shure SM7b: This a condenser mic that needs a special room in order to work to it’s best. It has a smooth, flat, wide-range frequency response appropriate for music and speech in all professional audio applications. Since it’s the most expensive product in the list, this will only be the perfect product for professional applications.
2021 Price: approx. $800
Conclusion
We have many years of webinar recording experience. As webinar professionals, we aim to get the best quality possible. For this reason, we as a company, use microphones from Rode. They are an Australian company that has a high focus on quality sound and professionalism.
You can access our other webinar guides here: how to record a webinar, webinar etiquette, how to promote a webinar.
If you have any questions regarding webinar recordings or how to organise webinars, our team of experts can help you out. Contact the 1800 733 416 to get in touch.