Recording & Studio

The Neumann U 87 Ai remains a gold standard for studio microphones. It delivers rich, detailed recordings with minimal effort, even in untreated spaces. While it’s a serious investment, the build quality, versatility, and proven sound make it worth the cost for professionals.

If you’re in the market for an instrumental microphone, the Shure SM57 is a great jumping-off point. For $100, you’re getting a die-cast steel mic with an integrated pneumatic shock mount for countering vibration-induced movement. It’s built to last a lifetime and is able to accompany you on a career’s worth of tours.

The Shure SM7B is beloved by professional musicians for its reliable performance, top-grade construction, and noise attenuating technology that lends itself to clear recordings. This isn’t a mic for those making their first foray into recording, rather it’s for aspiring professionals and industry veterans.

The HyperX Quadcast is an ultra-credible USB mic that takes aim at other units in the sub-$200 price range. Despite its technical limitations, it can credibly record a podcast, stream, or other vocal-centric application short of professional recording.

If you’re looking for an attractive bang-for-your-buck XLR microphone, Blue drives a hard bargain with its Ember microphone. This is one of the slimmest XLR microphones out there, and its sophisticated, muted design means it won’t be an eyesore to have it in frame while recording.

The HyperX QuadCast S is a sleek, clear-sounding USB gaming microphone with a mesmerizing light show. While its lack of portability and subpar internal pop filter detract a bit from its value, it is overall a very good microphone that comes with a two-year defective warranty.

The JLab Talk series consists of three microphones, and the JLab Talk PRO is the flagship product. Though $150 USD isn't cheap, it's more affordable than many alternatives, and the Talk PRO has notable features such as four selectable polar patterns.

With its updated USB-C connection and extended windscreen, the Shure MV7+ provides some welcome upgrades over the original and remains an excellent option for podcasters and content creators alike.

With its multiple, flexible I/O's, the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 (4th Gen) audio interface is the natural step-up for any aspiring producer, audio engineer, DJ, or musician requiring more connection options than the Scarlett Solo or 2i2 can offer.

The Focusrite Scarlett Solo (4th Gen) remains the go-to, affordable recording interface for beginners or anyone who simply doesn't require multiple inputs at a time. Within minutes, you'll be tracking your voice or instruments into your favorite DAW with quality results.

The Maono PD200W is a great option for those seeking a versatile microphone that can be used wired or wireless. At this price point, you won't find a better recording microphone that delivers all the features and connectivity options of the PD200W.

The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio contains just about everything you need to start recording at home.

The HyperX SoloCast is a very well made, if a little barebones recording microphone. It's perfect for Zoom-bound workers, though recording artist might want to spring for something a little more substantial.

The DJI Mic 3 is two steps forward and one step back compared to the DJI Mic 2. It's missing a very important feature. Content creators will find the slew of new features amazing for saving time in editing. The lack of a 3.5mm jack and obvious branding can make it a little more difficult to use in commercial work.

The Profile Wireless delivers. While the unique charging bar design will grab your attention, the functionality and features make it a competent device. From onboard recording and universal connectivity to thoughtful touches like threaded lav mic inputs on the transmitters, it checks all the right boxes.

The Insta360 Mic Pro is one of the best-sounding wireless lav mic systems I've tried. However, it is large, bulky, and not all the accessories fit in the case. Despite that, the e-ink display can camoflauge the Insta360 Mic Pro, making it hard to spot despite its size.

With three selectable polar patterns, an attenuation pad, and a low-cut filter, the AKG P420 is the Swiss Army knife of microphones. Whether you're tracking at home or looking to expand your options in the studio, the P420 is a versatile, budget-friendly option for recording just about anything.

While noise canceling technology and 32-bit float recording are welcome additions to the DJI Mic 2, the little things make all the difference.

If you're in the market for a large diaphragm condenser microphone for your home studio, consider the Shure SM4. While you won't find any pads or highpass filters on this simple, straight-ahead microphone, sometimes less is more.

The DJI Mic Mini is an excellent all-in-one microphone system for casual content creators on a budget. However, while the new transmitters are discreet and lightweight, they lack some important safety features like internal and 32-bit float recording.