Four Budget Microphones From $35.99 and Up

Many people have begun working remotely for the first time, conferencing with supervisors and staff via Slack, Zoom, Skype, and other video chat platforms. And what is more frustrating than trying to communicate but not being heard due to your computer’s inadequate built-in microphone. For those not looking to become YouTube famous but still wanting to sound professional and sharp, we have reviewed these four budget microphones (Under $150) that will bring your A game without breaking your wallet.

Audio-Technica AT2035

If you’re looking for a quality microphone that will bring your work presentations up a notch as well as be useful for that YouTube channel you’ve decided to make on the side, look no further. Part of Audio-Technica’s 20 Series, the AT2035 is the best of our budget microphones designed for home and professional studios at a great price. The cardioids polar pattern will pick up audio directly in front of the mic while reducing sound pick up from the sides and the rear, giving you clear audio of what you have to say and nothing else. The large diaphragm gives an even, natural sound ideal for creators of any type. The AT2035 comes with a custom shock mount and protective pouch and has a switchable 80 Hertz high pass filter and 10 dB pad. This microphone will deliver that professional feel to your next remote meeting or video presentation.

  • Designed for critical home/project/professional studio applications and live performance
  • Cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of sounds from the sides and rear, improving isolation of desired sound source
  • Large diaphragm for smooth, natural sound and low noise
  • High SPL handling and wide dynamic range provide excellent versatility
  • Custom shock mount provides superior isolation
  • Features switchable 80 Hertz high pass filter and 10 dB pad

Available at Amazon from $149.00

Blue Yeti Nano

Blue Mic took their bestselling Yeti microphone and made a compact version without sacrificing any quality. This is one of the most common budget microphones  we post to the front page. Say hello to the Yeti Nano, a plug ‘n play mic with a small footprint and a simple, beautiful design made to sit comfortably anywhere on your desk and look great on video. Perfect for podcasting, streaming, Skype calls, and more with a 24-bit/48kHz sound quality and no-latency headphone output. The Yeti Nano can be attached to the shock mount and/or a compass boom arm and will give you either a cardioids mode for only your voice to be heard or the omni-directional mode to catch the whole room. We've posted Blue Yeti Nano Deals in the past, and when they come up, you can be sure we will post it.

  • Tri-capsule array - 3 condenser capsules can record almost any situation.
  • Multiple pattern selection - cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional & stereo. Frequency Response- 20Hz - 20kHz
  • Gain control, mute button, and zero-latency headphone output. Power output (RMS): 130mW
  • Perfect for vocals, musical instruments, podcasting, voiceovers, interviews, field recordings, conference calls.

Available at amazon.com

Blue Snowball iCE

Another Blue mic worth of mention is the Snowball iCE, a custom condenser capsule plug ‘n play with cardioids polar pattern. The tripod stand is adjustable and brings a retro-vibe to your desk with 16-bit/44kHz  and crystal-clear sound for all your audio needs. Quick to use and the price is just right.

  • Custom condenser capsule offers crystal clear audio for Skype, Messages and FaceTime
  • Record vocals, create podcasts, and add narration to your home movies
  • Add crystal clear audio to recordings for YouTube. Frequency Response: 40 –18 kHz
  • Easy plug and play directly to your Mac or PC-no drivers to install
  • Snowball iCE is a USB 2.0 device (USB 3.0 compatible as per USB 3.0 backward compatibility specification). Sample/word Rate: 44.1 kHz/16 bit

This budget microphone is available on Amazon from $49.99.

Shotory Professional Lavalier Microphone

This microphone is not like the others, but not everyone is working from a desk. The Shotory lavalier lapel microphone is designed to go with you as you need it to, attaching to a shirt collar or wherever you need. Equipped with noise-reducing technology, this little mic can be used for interviews, speeches, and so much more. 360 degree omnidirectional mic has an optimal pick up distance of 8 inches will catch what you want while on the go, all in a tight little package for an excellent price.

This is the best priced microphone of the bunch, and is available on Amazon from $35.99.

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