BEST MICS FOR CONTENT CREATORS UNDER $200 IN 2022
Have you started a YouTube or Twitch channel and now looking for some of the best mics for content creators under $200 for your vlogging, streaming, and/or online gaming?
Looking to build a DIY studio for yourself at home? If your answer is yes, you are at the right place.
These days, with so much competition, it is an absolute necessity to give your audience the best experience they can get. And while streaming or vlogging, flawless sound quality does play a huge role in delivering exactly that.
So why not take some time and read this article to buy a cheap mic to best suit your needs?
We have collected and reviewed some of the best mics under $200 that can compete with even the big guns of the industry. In this post, we’ll be highlighting and comparing the pros and cons of some of the cheapest mics while also suggesting what you should keep in mind while buying yourself a mic.
If you’re in a hurry, you can check the table below to jump to any heading you want.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KEEP IN MIND WHILE BUYING A MIC
WHY DO I WANT TO BUY IT?
The first thing that should consider while buying a new mic is of course the intent. You need to ask yourself: “What I’m going to do with this?”
Perhaps you want a mic to create content for your YouTube channel or for some sort of podcast that you’re going to host. Maybe you’re going to start streaming or vlogging or maybe planning your own concert, who knows right?
If you’re going to work in a noisy environment, then perhaps a dynamic mic would work for you perfectly.
These mics use coil and magnets and are very durable. Not to get into too many technicalities, these mics are perfect for noise cancellation.
Another type of mic is the condenser mic.
These mics are perfect for your own studio as they use work by using capacitor plates and are more sensitive to sound as compared to dynamic mics. Most content creators, artists and podcasters love to use this type of microphone.
BRAND RELIABILITY, DURABILITY AND BEST VALUE FOR MONEY
While looking for the best mics for content creators, first thing is, you should focus on the brand. Is it a brand that is in the market for a long time?
Does it really offer what it says it offers? Is the material for the device durable? Does the combination of price, quality and durability of the mic really offer the most advantageous experience for customer satisfaction?
If the answer to all these is positive, then only you should follow the next steps.
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
A major thing that you should keep in mind while buying a mic is the frequency response. It is essentially the range of frequencies that a musical instrument hears and then reproduces.
In an ideal case scenario, your mic should convert all the frequencies it “hears” into electronic signals. But that is usually not the case. Therefore, the frequency response of an ideal mic should fall in the range of 80Hz to 15kHz.
RECORDING SENSITIVITY
Another important factor for buying a mic is its recording sensitivity. For your home studio, you should probably buy a highly sensitive mic. Of course, if you are singing, you’d also like your low notes to be heard.
Keeping it all simple, we suggest you should buy a mic with a sensitivity range of 8 to 32 mV/Pa (millivolts per Pascal). Needless to say, you can easily vary the sensitivity by moving your mouth closer to or far from the mic.
YOUR BUDGET
Now, the most important thing perhaps is the price. For that, you should keep in mind that not the most costly mics are the best and vice versa.
So, just continue reading to check the best mics at a low price of just under $200.
AUDIO-TECHNICA AT2035 CARDIOID CONDENSER MIC
This exquisite and beautiful mic sure delivers. With its large diaphragm, it offers smooth natural sound with great noise-cancellation.
It comes in black color and is just 0.88 lbs. in weight. For just under $150, this mic has a sleek design and is perfect for your studio, podcasts and for streaming online games.
The Audio-Technica AT2035 comes equipped with an 80Hz high-pass filter and is bound to offer you the most amazing recording experience. It has a frequency response of 20–20,000 Hz which is well in the ideal range.
With all this considered, we can safely assume that this is one of the best choices for content creators under $200 in 2022.
Pros
- A great value for money.
- Awesome noise-cancellation.
- Sleek and beautiful design.
- Comes equipped with a shock-mount.
Cons
- No case.
- Does not come with a cord.
RODE NT-USB CONDENSER MIC
Coming from the renowned microphone manufacturer namely RØDE, this condenser mic falls in our hand-picked best mics for content creators under $200.
It is a versatile studio-quality USB mic and is loved by top content creators. It offers amazing sound quality and is so easy to set up even your child could do it.
This mic comes equipped with a 3.5mm jack that is compatible with PCs, laptops, iPads and headphones.
It features a tripod base, a carrying case, a pop filter for reducing noise from air puffs directed at the mic as well as a USB cable.
It has a black color and requires one Li-ion battery to operate.
This mic also offers great value for money. The only downside is that due to being extra sensitive, it can catch stray sounds, which isn’t ideal, of course.
Pros
- Great quality of sound.
- Offers a sleek design.
- Good value for money.
Cons
- Can pick up stray sounds as well.
- The stand can cause issues.
AKG P220 PROFESSIONAL STUDIO MICROPHONE
The AKG Pro 220 has a glossy metal body made of aluminum. It is robust and perfect for day-to-day use.
It comes with a huge diaphragm and offers a clear sound for lead vocals and acoustic guitars.
This rugged mic weighs 1.16 lbs. It has a recording sensitivity value of 20 mv/Pa. The audio frequency bandwidth is in the range of 20–20kHz.
It also comes with a spider-shock mount in an aluminum carrying case. All this in just 145 bucks.
The only problem with this mic that we found is that for high-pitched sounds, it increases the sharpness of the sound even more.
Pros
- Good sound quality.
- Lightweight.
- Comes with a spider shock mount and a carrying case.
Cons
- Not great for high-pitched voices.
ELGATO WAVE:3
When it comes to the best mics for streamers under $200, Elgato Wave:3 is another great choice. It has a reasonable price of just under $120.
With a smooth and lustrous black-colored surface, this mic features a USB cable, a quick start guide and a Desktop stand.
It offers a frequency response of 20–70,000 Hz and a great recording sensitivity of 24bit/90kHz. Now for streamers, it is a great choice.
But if you’re looking to start a podcast or your own home studio, you should look for the other options in our list, as this mic lacks somewhat in the noise-cancellation aspect.
Pros
- Great sound quality.
- Easy-to-access mute button.
- Affordable price.
Cons
- Users sometimes face issues with WaveLink Software.
MARANTZ PROFESSIONAL MPM-1000
The cheapest mic on our list of best mics under $200, the Marantz MPM-1000 costs just $34.99. It comes equipped with a windscreen, shock mount, tripod stand and XLR cable.
Besides being extra sensitive, it offers a frequency range of 20–20kHz that can capture everything in the audible spectrum.
Weighing just 10.6 ounces, it is so lightweight and has a nice sleek design. It is compatible with gaming consoles and amplifiers.
It is a considerable option for you if you’re a bit tight on budget. Although it has a low cost, still it could rival any of the other mics on our list easily. Just give it a try!
Pros
- Really awesome, considering its low price.
- Really lightweight.
- Comes with many accessories.
Cons
- Low sensitivity.
BLUE YETI USB MICROPHONE
The Blue Yeti USB Microphone is the go-to choice for many of the top YouTubers, podcasters, bloggers and streamers. It is a bit heavy, weighing 3.66 pounds.
Featuring an audio sensitivity of 120 dB, it is awesome for clear, powerful and quality sound recordings. In the words of Marques Brownlee, a leading technology authority:
This mic is a YouTube classic.
Featuring an exquisite design, this mic has four unique patterns: Cardioid, Omni, Bidirectional and Stereo.
These enable the mic to essentially behave as four different mics, all in one package. Thanks to these patterns, the Blue Yeti USB mic can record a range of sounds in a variety of conditions.
As with all the other mics on our list, this one also has a frequency response of 20–20kHz.
Pros
- Awesome noise cancellation.
- Great for YouTube, Twitch and podcasts.
- Multiple recording patterns.
- Features Plug ‘n Play. Start streaming as soon as you buy it.
Cons
- May pick up stray noises, so it’s best to be in a quiet place to record.
MXL 770 CARDIOID CONDENSER VOCAL MICROPHONE
Last on our list but absolutely not the least — the MXL 770 is another amazing mic to buy if you’re starting with content creation.
It has a pretty nice and lustrous touch to it. It comes with a rugged carrying case and a shock mount to reduce any vibrations during recording.
It has a black metal finish, a black grill and a 22mm gold-sputtered capsule. The MXL 770 has a recording sensitivity of 15mV/Pa.
It also offers a frequency response of 20–20,000 Hz. For acoustic guitar and harmony vocals in the studio, this mic is second to none and surely offers the best value for money.
Pros
- Very lightweight.
- Outstanding recording quality.
- Offers an awesome value for money.
- Sturdy and durable.
Cons
- A bit over-sensitive.
- Shock mount may cause problems.
There you have it. Some of the handpicked and best mics to buy under $200 for content creators in 2022.
Now, the choice is of course yours but do keep in mind the things you should look for while buying a mic.
If you’d like to add anything or feel like any of the information provided is wrong, feel free to comment. Happy buying!
