Professional Microphone Guide – 10 Best Professional Microphones

We all have to start somewhere, so when we’re looking for a professional microphone to either record with or sing live, we need to know what options we have. With that in mind, we’ve taken all the confusion out of selecting a microphone and put together a range of different professional microphones that will help you get the best recording at home, in the studio or help you enjoy high quality vocals on stage. We’ve included a range of industry standard options here and have highlighted how best to use these professional microphones, whether it be for recording vocals, singing live or recording instruments such as guitars, drums, brass etc. When you’re on the lookout for the best professional microphone – these are your best options.

1. SHURE BETA 58A DYNAMIC MICROPHONE

The Shure Beta 58A Dynamic Microphone is the industry standard professional microphone for live vocals, building on the immense success of its cheaper (but still just as widely used) brother the Shure SM-58.

Why?

Due to the dynamic super-cardioid pattern of the Shure Beta 58A Dynamic Microphone, the mic can handle a lot of high gain before feeding back making it ideal for louder vocals especially in a live scenario. In addition, the increased sensitivity and high-frequency response makes it a great option to record acoustic guitars and vocals in the studio as it accurately captures all the subtle nuances you need in a mix. This is also a hard-wearing professional microphone that has been designed to withstand the rigours of gigs and the life of a travelling musician as the internal shock-mount system reduces vibration and mechanical noise whilst the hardened steel mesh grille keeps the capsule safe. If you’re a live vocalist this is a great option and an industry standard.

Best for:

• Live vocals

2. SE ELECTRONICS SE2200 VE VINTAGE EDITION CARDIOID CONDENSER MICROPHONE

A timeless aesthetic paired with a stunning modern sound, the sE2200 Vintage Edition is a studio workhorse renowned for its versatility and affordability.

Why?

Crafted to deliver the optimal performance under a wide variety of applications, the sE2200 features carefully selected, discrete Class-A components - setting it apart from the competition.

Complete with a 1" gold-sputtered diaphragm, the sE2200 delivers a pristine sound quality of a much more expensive microphone, making it easy to see why this has become a studio favourite amongst microphone aficionados.

This mic also comes with the extra-handy isolation pack featuring a shock mount and a pop filter, meaning you can achieve professional-grade recording quality from home.

Best for:

• Studio vocal recording
• Drum Overhead
• Guitar Cabs

3. SHURE SM57 DYNAMIC MICROPHONE

We challenge you to find a studio or live music venue that doesn’t have a Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphone as part of its live recording set up. The Shure SM57 is a professional microphone found all over the world and an industry standard in its own right. If you like music, you’ve heard one of these being used.

Why?

The Shure SM57 features a cardioid pickup pattern which means it records whatever you point the microphone at and rejects anything around it, which makes it ideal for recording cranked amplifiers and loud vocals. This professional microphone is used in studios and on the stages of the world to pickup and record guitar amps, bass amps, brass instruments and drums – especially snares as it can easily handle higher frequency instruments. Considering Kurt Cobain recorded the vocals on Nevermind with this microphone, you’re in great company if you pick one of these up. Ideal for those who want to record at home or sound engineers who need to be able to rely on decent microphones for live use. An essential addition to any set up. 

Best for:

• Studio
• Live
• Spoken word

4. RODE NT1-A CONDENSER MICROPHONE

Not only is the Rode NT1-A Condenser Microphone a highly professional microphone, it’s also an extremely budget friendly microphone which comes in a complete package with a host of useful accessories. Oh, and it’s actually the best selling of all Rode mics, so you know it’s going to be good.

Why?

The Rode NT1-A has an extremely low self-noise level of 5Db, which makes it one of the world’s quietest studio microphones - so no self-noise (hum from the mix etc) makes it into your mix. The large 1” capsule utilises a cardioid polar pattern so it rejects any noise behind the mic for a purer signal when recording. The internal capsule also features shock mounting technology so you’re not getting any vibrations affecting the signal – ideal for those who record at home and in a non-acoustically treated environment. The cool thing about this professional microphone package is that you get a 20ft XLR microphone cable, studio grade pop shield and protective pouch included – you’re good to go straight out of the box and there’s also a 10-year warranty on top! 

Best for:

• Studio

5. ANTELOPE AUDIO EDGE SOLO CONDENSER MODELING MICROPHONE

The versatility of this microphone has quickly seen it become a staple across all sorts of professional recording environments. For a complete range of sounds suitable across styles and genres, this is the one to go for!

Why?

With 18 emulations of some of the most revered microphones throughout history, this cardioid condenser has an optimised polar pattern which is perfect for a range of instrumentation.

Whether you need a ‘Berlin 47 FT’ sound for tracking some brass or a ‘Minnesota 20’ emulation for broadcast-grade vocal clarity, this mic can do it all.

With an all-metal design and carry case it’s sure to last too - don’t miss out on a modern classic.

Best For:

• Vocals
• Acoustic Guitar
• Overheads

6. SENNHEISER MK4 DIGITAL USB CONDENSER STUDIO MICROPHONE

The Sennheiser Mk4 Condenser Microphone is a professional level microphone for recording vocals and instruments at a budget friendly price point. At around £300 you get outstanding sound quality, easy handling and pro level recordings every time.

Why?

This is a great microphone for recording at home, recording sessions in the rehearsal room and in those instances where you need to record without an audio interface - for example direct to your DAW via USB. It's also compatible with iOS devices should you want to podcast, create video content or more - you even get all the cables you need to hook it up to your iPhone/iOS device! The built-in Analogue-to-Digital conversion provides 24-bit / 96kHz conversion to which is just as good as high-end audio interfaces. It's recording made easy! You get superior sound transfer and the low inherent self-noise makes sure you’re not getting any horrible hum when you’re recording.

The Sennheiser Mk4 has also been designed for portable studio applications. The full metal housing protects the inner workings and the capsule has been shock-mounted internally to minimise structure-borne noise and protect the capsule should you accidentally drop the mic. Should you want to create podcasts or record straight to your computer or tablet via USB, the Sennheiser Mk4 Digital USB Condenser Studio Microphone is a great option that features a handy USB connection for ease of use. 

Best for:

• Podcasts
• Studio
• Broadcasting

7. SHURE SM7B DYNAMIC STUDIO MICROPHONE

Next up we have the Shure SM7B Dynamic Studio Microphone which is another industry standard studio microphone designed for a wide range of vocal applications. This professional microphone is ideal for everything from radio broadcasting, TV talkovers, to general studio lead vocal recording. In fact, you’re probably going to find this on most podcast channels and studios all over the world due to its smooth frequency response. It’s a little more expensive, but worth it if you care about high quality audio.

Why?

There are many reasons why this mic is so sought after, but one of the main reasons comes down to its ability to deliver a completely noise free signal. It’s also been built with an internal “air suspension” system which provides superb shock isolation and eliminates any mechanical noise – if you knock the mic by accident it wont pick it up. The included pop filter effectively eliminates any plosive sounds, making it ideal for voiceover work and vocals where breath might be problem. The classic cardioid polar pattern also provides maximum rejection of off-axis sounds so you’re only picking up the sound source you want. If you demand the highest quality vocals for voiceover work, narration, broadcasting and singing in the studio – this is a must-have microphone. 

Best for:

• Studio
• Broadcasting
• Podcasting
• Voiceover

8. SHURE 55SH-II DYNAMIC MICROPHONE

 The Shure 55SH-II Dynamic Microphone is obviously one of the best-looking microphones ever created, so we had to include it in our best professional microphones blog - but it’s not all about the looks as this iconic microphone is capable of producing pro-level sounds on stage and in the studio.

Why?

This dynamic cardioid microphone is designed for those who demand a little more character to their onstage look, of course, but its beautiful frequency response has been specifically tailored for speech, vocals and instrumental music, so you’re all set for studio recording too. The self-tensioning swivel mount tilts through 45 degrees forward and 80 degrees backward, so you can grab it when you’re on stage and move it around easily, confident in the knowledge it’ll spring back to where you last left it. The shock mounted cartridge minimises any noise that may come through the stand so you get a quiet, professional level recording at all times. Probably the coolest looking microphone ever made! If you want upgraded performance and a supercardioid polar pattern the Shure Super 55 Deluxe Microphone is also available. 

Best for:

• Live vocals
• Studio vocals

9. TOURTECH VM50 DYNAMIC MICROPHONE

This is one of the best professional microphones for live use especially if you’re on a budget as it clocks in at just £29.99 and makes pro-level sound available to all. In fact, the TOURTECH VM50 Dynamic Microphone completely blows every other live microphone out the water when it comes to price. But don’t let the small price tag fool you – this is a great, hard wearing piece of kit for performers.

Why?

The supercardioid pickup pattern rejects noise either side of the microphone and focuses on the sound source, so you’re covered for singing vocals or even spoken word should you need it for public speaking. The VM50 has also been constructed with a steel mesh grille to keep the capsule safe when you’re on the road or throwing the mic around at those gigs that get a bit rowdy. An internal pop shield reduces the plosive sounds that can sometimes creep into a mix and the metal alloy chassis has been designed to withstand years of use. In addition, the high SPL capabilities with a max 135 dB means you can also use it for recording drums and guitar cabinets - ideal for studio owners. A very versatile microphone for live use and studio applications that won’t break the bank.

Best for:

• Live vocals
• Recording guitar cabinets
• Spoken word

10. SHURE BETA 87A CONDENSER MICROPHONE

Last but by no means least we have the Shure Beta 87A Condenser Microphone. This live vocal microphone is one of the more expensive vocal mics around, but the extra investment is entirely worth it should you want high quality live vocals on stage.

Why?

The Shure Beta 87A features a super-cardioid design for added sensitivity, providing a very smooth frequency response and high-pressure sound level (SPL) so you’re totally fine if you’re the type of singer who likes to really belt it out. The controlled low-frequency roll-off is extremely useful when it comes to spoken word applications as it compensates for the proximity effect and reduces all that horrible boomy sound that can sometimes creep in when you’re close-mic’ing. The tighter super-cardioid pattern is ideal in a live situation as it has a null point at 125 degrees for maximum isolation from other singers and instruments – there’s not going to be any colouration from external sources on this mic! This is one of the best professional microphones for onstage vocals for the likes of professional musicians, church singers and spoken word applications.

Best for:

• Live vocals
• Church vocals
• Spoken word
• Big band vocals

Shop a full range of professional microphones over at PMT online including a complete selection of studio recording microphones, live vocals microphones and more. Speak to our in-store studio and production experts at your local PMT store about your bespoke microphone needs – we can help you get the sound you need.