What factors should be considered when selecting a microphone for professional voiceover work?

Unequivocally, the single MOST IMPORTANT factor in choosing a microphone is one that will work with your recording space. Truthfully, you could have a $20k Neumann U47 but if you put it in an untreated room, it's going to sound like .

Conversely, you could use an $80 Blue Yeti usb mic in a dead quiet space and record National TV ads (in fact, I'm sure you've unawarely seen some of those while watching re-runs of The Office )

I've been a full-time professional voice actor for eight years and built my career with a $100 mic, cheap interface, and free recording software. Was I making tons of cash? Not a chance! But it was enough to make some , put it back into my business, and now I have an epic studio.

If your room is already treated with a noise floor of at least -64db then you're ready to start upgrading your mic. The most versatile you can buy is a large diaphragm open condenser microphone (ex. Rode NT1, Neumann TLM103, Shure SM4). In rare circumstances a shotgun mic could be helpful, but that's not typical for starting out.

*Just know* that when you upgrade from a usb mic, you'll also need an interface, coax cables, and maybe even a cloudlifter.

This isn't a small investment, but it is worthwhile in the long run.

Is your room treated? (That is, does it echo when you speak?)
Your budget

How many channels does your interface have?

How many mics do you want to use at a time?


These will help you to either get a condenser microphone or dynamic microphone.


Avoid USB microphones. Most of them do not work well.

The microphone is important, absolutely. However; what's just as important or even moreso, is the space that you're recording in, and your skill set with audio engineering.

I personally use an SM-7B as my primary voice over microphone and have significant acoustic treatment in my studio office. That said, there are instances where you may have to be mobile, which causes a significant number of variables in different settings (hotels, guest rooms, vans, etc).

This is where proficient knowledge of audio plugins (de noise, de reverb, EQ, compression) play a major role in honing your sound, no matter what type of microphone you're using. 

If you're just starting out, I would strongly recommend using the SM-57 as a starter microphone. It's a microphone that has been around for decades, it's versatile and durable, and you probably won't pay more than $100 bucks for it. See what you can do with your audio software and plugin template to make it sound as professional as possible.

That way, if you do decide to upgrade your microphone later on, you'll have the skills necessary to make whichever microphone you decide to use sound the best it can possibly be.

Hope this helps! 

Check online marketplaces for the customer reviews. Multiple websites, and then some reputable websites that do gear reviews.

Then, just buy a microphone in your price range, notch out any resonant frequencies, and then decide if you like the sound. If you don't, then you need another microphone. No point in compressing a signal if there's a whine or a weird muddines to it, making it louder won't fix that. 

If you don't want to take the risk with different mics, go with an SM7B (with a cloudlifter or mic preamp included) or a condenser mic for softer vocals, and make sure that you have it set up in a way that is sustainable.

Different results/gain/settings/environments lead to different results - and if that's undesirable, we want to just keep it where it is, and not fiddle with it once it's set up.

Two things are more important than your microphone:

1. Your space - is it quiet, acoustically treated to deaden the sound in the room, and as far away from noise sources as possible? (Outside traffic, refrigerator hum, etc.)
2. Coaching - spend your money on a decent coach to help you hone your skills. It's well worth the money.

That being said, when selecting a microphone, start with what you can afford. A decent XLR condenser microphone in the $200-$400 range should be good enough to start. Once you start working, save your money. When you can afford it, upgrade to something better. Do not spend $1000 on a high end microphone until you are sure this work is for you and you have the ability to get clients. 

Personally, I use a Sennheiser 416. It's a shotgun mic, which doesn't pick up as much sound from the sides, which I find helps in my less-than-perfect recording space. But it's around $1000. So I saved up until I could afford it. You should do the same.

OK, so when picking a microphone for professional voiceover work, the first thing to consider is your budget.

Start with something within your price range, especially if you’re a beginner—you can always upgrade later once you get more experience.

► Also, think about where you’re recording. The room's sound (ambience and reverb) plays a big role, and it's something a lot of people forget. While professional acoustic treatment is great, when you're just starting out, you work with what you've got. Maybe throw a blanket over some furniture to dampen the sound.

At the end of the day, a good mic helps, but how you use it and your recording environment are just as important!

Factors and considerations in choosing a mic in my experience:

• What is your budget? 
• Will you use a 'plug and play' like a USB Rode NT1, 5th Gen or need/prefer a mic that requires an interface?
• How well will the mic handle your recording space?
• Is the mic well-suited to the dynamics of your particular voice, i.e., a bassy voice vs. a high pitched voice. 
• Do you need a mic that travels well? 
• Do you need a condenser mic or a dynamic mic keeping in mind that:

Condenser mics are:

1. More sensitive and pick up subtle sounds better vs. a dynamic mic
2. Require external power (phantom power) vs. a dynamic mic
3. Dynamic mics are often more rugged and can handle higher sound pressure levels making them work well for live performances and loud sources. 

Here's the dirty secret I've learned in 15+ years of voice over: "Good enough" is more than good enough, but sometimes "not good enough" is still good enough.

Confusing right? Let me give you an example...

I was once in a well known voice actor's living room and watched him record a few lines with his iPhone's voice recorder. He didn't even use a headset... just the phone's internal microphone. It was later broadcast worldwide.

A good room to record in and excellent acting skills are FAR more important than what microphone you use!

But THAT is not what the question is about... So here is what I believe to be most important when choosing a microphone:

• *ALWAYS* avoid USB mics and opt for a mic with an XLR connection (no Blue Yetis... though that's what I started on)
• A low-priced condenser microphone is enough! (I used the Rode NT1 for years when I was starting out)
  • If a lot of voice actors are using a mic, it's probably good enough
  • Usually anything in the $100-300 range will work... I cant emphasize enough how this is not worth overspending on at first
• When ready to take it up a level, pick an industry standard mic. Frankly, editors and producers are just more used to hearing those mics and it makes their lives easier.
  • My first "pro" mic was a Sennheiser 416. It's probably the most used VO mic and there's a reason why
  • I now use a Neumann TLM 103, which is another extremely common mic in VO studios. No particular reason for the change... I just thought it worked better with my voice
  • The Neumann U87 is an exceptional, and VERY expensive, option. I have never felt that I need

I made tens of thousands of dollars with a terrible mic and an okay mic. And I have no doubt that I could have made just as much if I'd stuck with my Rode NT1 instead of upgrading. But I can't say the same if I hadn't invested in my recording space and acting classes.

BOTTOM LINE: Record in a good room with minimal noise or room sound and focus on giving a great performance! If you do so, any decent mic will work! When you're at the point where you're doing broadcast work and working with industry professionals, upgrade to something that they're used to hearing and working with.