Audio Gear Suggestions for a good mic under $100

[Timelord Miff]

I'm looking to improve the sound quality of my vids and would appreciate any advice and or links to desktop mics priced at under $100.
My Logitech C920 cam has good picture quality but the sound is not the best.

 

[Dronelander]

I would suggest you to spend more money on camera and light than microphone.
For the complete kit I've spent:

Clip microphone 9.99Γé¼ From Amazon
Light 27.99Γé¼ from Amazon
Once of the camera I'm using is a 4K action cam: 67Γé¼ from Banggood

For about 105Γé¼ you will dramatically increase your video

 

[Damon]

Drone, you have a good overall point. There is a lot you can do these days with $100. And any kind of external microphone will dramatically increase the audio.

However, coming from a music background, I argue the opposite. Get the sound right. Some many YouTube videos have horrid audio. I don't care how awesome the images, how slow the slow-mo is, if it sounds like junk, I'm gone. Trying to get the audio right even with his current camera is a wise choice.

For my voiceover work, I use a Sennheiser e835. This is an XLR microphone. It would require some method of getting the signal form XLR to USB since you are wanting it for desktop. There are many XLR microphones in the sub-$99 range that would give you and awesome sound.

 

[Timelord Miff]

I would suggest you to spend more money on camera and light than microphone.
For the complete kit I've spent:

Clip microphone 9.99Γé¼ From Amazon
Light 27.99Γé¼ from Amazon
Once of the camera I'm using is a 4K action cam: 67Γé¼ from Banggood

For about 105Γé¼ you will dramatically increase your video

Thanks so much for this info.
Could you supply the make and models of the clipo mic,light and camera you use.
It will make it so much easier knowing I'm using the same equipment recommended by a you tuber
--- Post updated ---

Drone, you have a good overall point. There is a lot you can do these days with $100. And any kind of external microphone will dramatically increase the audio.

However, coming from a music background, I argue the opposite. Get the sound right. Some many YouTube videos have horrid audio. I don't care how awesome the images, how slow the slow-mo is, if it sounds like junk, I'm gone. Trying to get the audio right even with his current camera is a wise choice.

For my voiceover work, I use a Sennheiser e835. This is an XLR microphone. It would require some method of getting the signal form XLR to USB since you are wanting it for desktop. There are many XLR microphones in the sub-$99 range that would give you and awesome sound.

Thanks so much Damon,
Having someone with a musical background is certainly a blessing in helping with audio. I'll do a search for XLR microphones, any special specs to be aware of for best sound?

 

[Damon]

Most any XLR dynamic microphone in the $100 range will be well attenuated for voice, you won't need phantom power, and they don't pick up a lot of room noise like more powerful microphones. They are most often used in live performance situations like comedy, public speaking or live music concerts.

Just search a bunch of YouTube reviews. The main microphone in this range that is sort of the gold standard is the Sure SM58. This microphone doesn't have enough high end for my nasally voice. That's why I chose the e835 from Sennheiser. The same price point, but much better high end response so I don't sound like Darth Vader with a head cold, lol!.

 

[Dronelander]

View: https://youtu.be/ax5rchE8kgE
--- Post updated ---

Thanks so much for this info.
Could you supply the make and models of the clipo mic,light and camera you use.
It will make it so much easier knowing I'm using the same equipment recommended by a you tuber
--- Post updated ---

Thanks so much Damon,
Having someone with a musical background is certainly a blessing in helping with audio. I'll do a search for XLR microphones, any special specs to be aware of for best sound?

If you check on any video description in my channel, at the end you will find all equipment used
--- Post updated ---

Most any XLR dynamic microphone in the $100 range will be well attenuated for voice, you won't need phantom power, and they don't pick up a lot of room noise like more powerful microphones. They are most often used in live performance situations like comedy, public speaking or live music concerts.

Just search a bunch of YouTube reviews. The main microphone in this range that is sort of the gold standard is the Sure SM58. This microphone doesn't have enough high end for my nasally voice. That's why I chose the e835 from Sennheiser. The same price point, but much better high end response so I don't sound like Darth Vader with a head cold, lol!.

I'm seriously doing a mess with message qquote

anyway, this is a video made by myself with a crap handmade microphone

View: https://youtu.be/p4joVu8yzQY


and this one with a 10Γé¼ clip microphone connected to my iphone and merged in production

View: https://youtu.be/ax5rchE8kgE


Audio is not so bad

 

[xidiga somali]

Xidiga somali
--- Post updated ---
$100
--- Post updated ---

Xidiga somali
--- Post updated ---
$100

 

[Timelord Miff]

Drone, you have a good overall point. There is a lot you can do these days with $100. And any kind of external microphone will dramatically increase the audio.

However, coming from a music background, I argue the opposite. Get the sound right. Some many YouTube videos have horrid audio. I don't care how awesome the images, how slow the slow-mo is, if it sounds like junk, I'm gone. Trying to get the audio right even with his current camera is a wise choice.

For my voiceover work, I use a Sennheiser e835. This is an XLR microphone. It would require some method of getting the signal form XLR to USB since you are wanting it for desktop. There are many XLR microphones in the sub-$99 range that would give you and awesome sound.

Thanks so much Damon,
Having someone with a musical background is certainly a blessing in helping with audio. I'll do a search for XLR microphones, any specia

View: https://youtu.be/ax5rchE8kgE
--- Post updated ---


If you check on any video description in my channel, at the end you will find all equipment used
--- Post updated ---


I'm seriously doing a mess with message qquote

anyway, this is a video made by myself with a crap handmade microphone

View: https://youtu.be/p4joVu8yzQY


and this one with a 10Γé¼ clip microphone connected to my iphone and merged in production

View: https://youtu.be/ax5rchE8kgE


Audio is not so bad

--- Post updated ---
thanks for sharing this comparison.
--- Post updated ---

Most any XLR dynamic microphone in the $100 range will be well attenuated for voice, you won't need phantom power, and they don't pick up a lot of room noise like more powerful microphones. They are most often used in live performance situations like comedy, public speaking or live music concerts.

Just search a bunch of YouTube reviews. The main microphone in this range that is sort of the gold standard is the Sure SM58. This microphone doesn't have enough high end for my nasally voice. That's why I chose the e835 from Sennheiser. The same price point, but much better high end response so I don't sound like Darth Vader with a head cold, lol!.

Thanks so much for those make and models Damon.

 

[miryagmakeup]

I would suggest you to spend more money on camera and light than microphone.
For the complete kit I've spent:

Clip microphone 9.99Γé¼ From Amazon
Light 27.99Γé¼ from Amazon
Once of the camera I'm using is a 4K action cam: 67Γé¼ from Banggood

For about 105Γé¼ you will dramatically increase your video

Which items/models are you referring to?

 

[Timelord Miff]

Could you tell me the make of the camera, mic and light please?

 

[EV Nick]

spend on mic before cam, most users won't watch a video with bad audio but will happily watch a video with poor video and great sound quality.

 

[miryagmakeup]

spend on mic before cam, most users won't watch a video with bad audio but will happily watch a video with poor video and great sound quality.

Very good point and very true. A good, seperat, voice and video recording program would be a great idea as well since the one built into Windows can and usually will distort the audio.
--- Post updated ---

Could you tell me the make of the camera, mic and light please?

This is what I'm curious about too.
I have noticed that most, that require an external good quality mic, typically go with the RODE brand. The clip on mics, are actually pretty inexpensive.

 

[Damon]

The best lav mic you can get for the money is a Giant Squid: [not an affiliate link]

$50, dude: https://darren-nemeth.squarespace.com/

This guy used to make these by hand, but now he has a manufacturer making them so it won't take so long to ship out. Best way to get one in on Amazon, the first link. Good audio quality and the easiest microphone I have ever used--This is coming from a old musician. I get a more consistent sound with this microphone than any other microphone I have.

Syncing audio with video in post production slows me down too much! I abandoned the dark side a long time ago and chose the light side of the Force, lol: https://beachtek.com/product/dxa-micro-pro/ This using will sync audio and video in camera but give you a much better audio signal just like on the cinema cameras.

 

[Timelord Miff]

The best lav mic you can get for the money is a Giant Squid: [not an affiliate link]

$50, dude: https://darren-nemeth.squarespace.com/

This guy used to make these by hand, but now he has a manufacturer making them so it won't take so long to ship out. Best way to get one in on Amazon, the first link. Good audio quality and the easiest microphone I have ever used--This is coming from a old musician. I get a more consistent sound with this microphone than any other microphone I have.

Syncing audio with video in post production slows me down too much! I abandoned the dark side a long time ago and chose the light side of the Force, lol: https://beachtek.com/product/dxa-micro-pro/ This using will sync audio and video in camera but give you a much better audio signal just like on the cinema cameras.

Thanks for those links Damon. Would I be able to plug this into my PC audio jack?

 

[Damon]

Miff, honestly, I don't know. You'd have to call the guy and ask.

 

[TubeBuddy]

spend on mic before cam, most users won't watch a video with bad audio but will happily watch a video with poor video and great sound quality.

This is pretty true in my findings too

 

[Timelord Miff]

Miff, honestly, I don't know. You'd have to call the guy and ask.

Thanks Damon
I checked out the stats and it does seem intended for audio jacks on PCs as it says it will fry a smartphone lol

 

[Dronelander]

Which items/models are you referring to?

Actually I'm using a Firefly 7s that cost 68Γé¼, a AGPTek Z02- Mini Microfono that cost on amazon.it 9.99Γé¼ (great voice sound) and Fositan TL-160S led light for about 30Γé¼ and actually I'm happy with that because I make video with Iphone 6 or 7 at 1080p 60 FPP

 

[TanookiAlex]

I bought a used mic called a Blue Yeti snowball, 2018 model, for under $100. It works good, and i recommend it for podcasts.

 

[Bitbat]

I bought a used mic called a Blue Yeti snowball, 2018 model, for under $100. It works good, and i recommend it for podcasts.

It's also multi-purpose, meaning that there are multiple modes on the mic. I recommend the heart shaped mode because it provides equal sound and blocks out the majority of the noise.