With the boom of YouTube and other websites like Twitch and with the emergence of the newer avenues like podcasts, more and more people have started moving towards the field of streaming, hosting podcasts, becoming YouTubers or Vloggers. To become successful in these fields, good content is not enough by itself. You need good quality as well. To ensure that the content is recorded in the best quality, people seek a good quality microphone. The difference made by a good quality mic when compared to an average one is like night and day. It can be a life-changing experience for most people.

To make sure that the people are experiencing your content in the best quality possible, you will need a good quality mic. However, most good quality mics are very expensive and most people who are just starting their journey in these respective fields, can’t afford such expensive equipment. So, in this article, we will talk about the best microphones under different budget ranges in India. The budget range is wide enough so that people with the smallest budget to people with a high-end budget can find the best quality product for them.

But before purchasing a mic, we should know what are the basics you need to know. A microphone has many different qualities which must be kept in mind while making the purchase. We will firstly cover these basics so you can understand and try to figure out which features you need in your microphone.

TYPES OF MICS:

There are two main types of mics, dynamic mics, and condenser mics. They both have their own uses and are suitable for different conditions.

Dynamic mics are the mics you usually see in concerts, stand-up shows, etc. These are sturdier than usual mics and are used to record louder sounds like drums, sounds in noisy environments, etc. However, they are usually costlier than the usual microphones. If you want to record music with high vocals or loud sounds, for example, rock or metal music, a dynamic mic is the correct choice. But our focus is on streaming, so we will not discuss dynamic mics.

The second type of microphones is condenser mics. Condenser mics are very popular and are the usual mics that are used by your favourite YouTubers, streamers, vloggers, podcast hosts. They are good at recording delicate sounds and recording soft vocals. Therefore, we will be looking at condenser mics in this list as they capture every sound clearly and give very good quality of the audio. These condenser mics are also cheaper than the dynamic mics, thus making them better for our budget.

In this article, only 3.5mm audio jack mics and USB mics will be listed. There is also another type of mic- the XLR mics. The XLR stands for X Connector, Locking Connector, and Rubber Boot. XLR mics are very high-quality mics that are used in studios, concerts, etc. This article will not have any XLR mics as they are too expensive and they are not needed for simple things like recording YouTube videos, streaming, hosting podcasts, or vlogging. They are made for professionals like sound engineers, music artists, music producers, etc.

POLAR PATTERN OF MICS:

The polar pattern of a mic tells us about the pattern in which the mic records the sounds. The polar pattern of a mic we need depends on the audio we want to record. There are several patterns that can basically be classified into omnidirectional and directional. Directional polar pattern in itself has several subtypes, but the most common one is cardioid. We will talk about these two patterns.

Omnidirectional pattern mics are mics that pick up sound from all directions. These mics are preferred while recording ambient noises. However, since streamers don’t want to record ambient noise, these mics are not our concern.

Directional pattern mics pick sound from some specific direction. There are many types of directional patterns like cardioid pattern, which is discussed below, bi-directional pattern, supercardioid pattern, and hypercardioid pattern.

Cardioid pattern mics are a type of directional polar pattern mics, which record audio in a heart-shaped pattern. They record audio from the front and the sides. Cardioid mics are the mics used most commonly by streamers. Most of the mics in the budget range offer cardioid polar pattern only. Therefore, it is the best choice if the mic you are looking to get has a good cardioid pattern.

FREQUENCY RESPONSE:

Frequency response is the range in which the mic picks up and records audio. Generally, the frequency response is between 20 hertz to 20 Kilohertz, but for microphones, the range is even higher as a good microphone needs to record more sounds. The higher the frequency range, the better it is for the mic. However, the range by itself isn’t the only indicator. The responsiveness to various frequencies is also an important factor.

IMPEDANCE:

Impedance means the resistance of an electric current circuit. A lower impedance makes for a better quality of audio as the audio quality is maintained. Therefore, the lower the impedance, the better is the audio quality, and vice versa. That is why we should always choose a mic with low impedance.

SENSITIVITY:

The audio sensitivity of the mic means how good is it at picking up sounds which are low in volume. The sensitivity is usually measured in a negative number of decibels, therefore the higher the number, the better it is. Thus, a mic with -50 decibel sensitivity is better than a mic with -30 decibel sensitivity.

There are many other factors also which must be kept in mind, however, those are not as important as the above-mentioned factors. Therefore, we should keep in mind these factors first and foremost if we want to get a very good quality microphone for streaming. The microphones we will discuss will be in different budget ranges. This will help users with the lowest budget to users with a much higher budget figure out which microphone they must purchase for their streaming.

The links to all the products will also be attached. Keep in mind, the prices of these microphones are susceptible to change, therefore, you should keep a watch out for sales and price drops to get the best price deal available. Without further ado, here is the list of the best microphones for streaming on a budget.

BEST MICROPHONE UNDER RUPEES 500

MAONO AU-400 LAVALIER MICROPHONE:

The Maono AU-400 Lavalier Microphone is the best microphone under 500 rupees in India. If you have a very tight budget, this is the best microphone for you. It is an omnidirectional mic, which records sounds from all directions. It comes with a carry bag and a clip to attach to your clothes. The wire is 1.9m long as well. It is very lightweight and portable and can be easily hooked up to mobile phones, laptops, etc. using the 3.5mm audio jack at the end.

To connect it to your PC, you will need a splitter, which you need to buy separately. It can also be attached to DSLRs through the provided adapter. In this price range, you will not find a better microphone. It is also very lightweight and is easily portable. The audio quality is very good in quiet environments. The audio does take a dip in noisy environments, but that was expected at this price range.

It is currently priced at rupees 429 at the time of posting this article, however, the price may go up and down.

PROS:

• Portable and lightweight.
• Long wire, which helps to use it from a good distance away from the device to which it is connected to.
• Sharp and clear audio in silent indoor conditions.
• Very affordable price.

CONS:

• Doesn’t perform well in noisy outdoor conditions.
• Requires a separate splitter if you want to use it with your PC.
• It can break very easily and is not very durable.

 

BEST MICROPHONE UNDER RUPEES 1000

BOYA BYM1 OMNIDIRECTIONAL LAVALIER CONDENSER MICROPHONE:

If your budget is more than 500 but is limited to 1000 rupees, the Boya BYM1 Omnidirectional mic is the best option for you. It is an omnidirectional condenser mic. It is lightweight and portable and comes with a very lengthy cable which is 6m in length. It has a 3.5mm audio jack to connect it to devices. It is also compatible with a DSLR. It is durable enough to last long if proper care is taken. You must have seen this microphone used by several new YouTubers and streamers.

It is one of the, if not the most popular mic in use. The audio quality is very good and clear too. It is almost unbelievable that such good audio is provided at this price range. The noise cancellation works well and makes sure that the audio is clean. The quality of recording falls apart outdoors, however, as the noise cancellation of the mic not being strong enough, coupled with the fact that the mic is omnidirectional.

The price of this mic also keeps on fluctuating a lot. Currently, at the time of posting this article, the microphone is priced at rupees 649 on Amazon. The price may drop or increase on the day you are looking at the product.

PROS:

• Frequency range 65 hertz to 18 Kilohertz.
• Lightweight of 100 grams.
• Easily carried and portable.
• Long wire to record from a distance.
• Amazing sound quality at the price range.
• Good for using with DSLRs

 

CONS:

• Needs a splitter to use with a PC.
• Background noise in the outdoors degrades audio quality.

 

BEST MICROPHONE UNDER RUPEES 2000

BOYA BY-MM1 UNIVERSAL CARDIOID SHOTGUN MICROPHONE MINI MIC:

The BOYA by-MM1 Universal Cardioid Shotgun Microphone Mini Mic is hands down the best microphone under 2000 rupees. It is a cardioid shotgun microphone. The mic comes with a 3.5mm to TRS cable as well as a 3.5mm to TRRS cable. It also has a furry windshield to reduce wind and other sounds from affecting the audio. There is also a plastic shock mount and a storage bag. The microphone is a cardioid mic, therefore the audio it records is much better and free from background noise. It provides a very good audio quality. The microphone needs a splitter to work on PCs. The design is well made and it appears to be a very durable product also.

The price of this microphone varies a lot. Around January it cost around 1450 rupees but currently, it is priced at rupees 1999 on Amazon. The price keeps constantly changing so you should be on the lookout for a lighting deal or look for better offers.

PROS:

• Premium audio quality.
• Durable design.
• Good range of connectivity.

CONS:

• The length of the wires is too short.
• The windshield and shock mount are very fragile.
• Need a splitter to use on a PC.

 

BEST MICROPHONE UNDER RUPEES 3000

MAONO AU-A04TR USB CONDENSER CARDIOID MICROPHONE:

The Maono AU-A04TR USB Condenser Cardioid Microphone is the best mic for recording and streaming for under rupees 3000. It can be considered to be the first true mic for streaming and recording in this article. This is so because it is a USB mic designed specifically for the purpose of recording and streaming, and doesn’t require a splitter for PC use. It is a well-built and designed mic and is very sturdy and durable. The mic also comes with a stand. The microphone has amazing audio quality. It is a cardioid mic and it works flawlessly in the audio department. For beginners, it has to be the best microphone for streaming under a budget. It is designed specifically for podcasts so if you are looking to host a podcast, buy this mic without any second thoughts.

The price of this microphone fluctuates often, but at the time when the article was posted, this mic cost rupees 2499. The mic should be tracked to get a good deal.

PROS:

• Good price to performance ratio.
• Premium audio quality.
• Sturdy design.
• Adjustable stand.

 

CONS:

• The stand is a little too short.
• The microphone is heavy, therefore a little difficult to carry.

 

BEST MICROPHONES UNDER RUPEES 4000

MAONO AU-A04 CONDENSER MICROPHONE KIT:

Maono seems to sweep the budget section under 4000 rupees with their microphones. This microphone also blows the competition out of the water. This microphone not only has a sturdy design and premium audio, but the best thing about it is that it comes as an entire kit. You get a shock mount, Pop Filter, and a boom mic stand in the kit. Therefore, after buying this microphone, you need not purchase any accessories as all the accessories required come packed within the microphone. The microphone would last long and is good for all kinds of recordings. It is one of the best microphones you can purchase.

The price of this microphone is almost as crazy as the cryptocurrency market. It is currently priced at rupees 3989, but there are so many fluctuations. It even goes down as low as 2500 or below on very rare occasions. It is a good mic under 4000, but if you can grab it under 3000, that is a steal in my books.

PROS:

• Amazing sound quality.
• Good noise cancellation.
• Complete kit for setting up the recording.
• Sturdy design.

CONS:

A lack of a mute button.

Since this mic can be grabbed for under 3000 on a few occasions, we decided to add another mic in this price range just as an alternative.

FIFINE K669B METAL USB MICROPHONE:

The Fifine K669B Metal USB Microphone is a condenser microphone. It has one of the best recording capabilities in the price range. Purely on audio quality, this beats even the A04. It performs as well as mics which are much more expensive than this microphone. This microphone is also very good for recording music and it works especially great with string instruments. The design is sturdy and it doesn’t feel cheap at all. The microphone also comes with a stand. However, no pop filter is provided.

The cost of the mic is rupees 3490 at this point but on deep sales, even this can be purchased for under 3000 rupees. However, even above 3000 rupees, it is a very good quality microphone. You can also go for Fifine T669 Condenser USB Microphone Kit, as during sales, even the price of this mic is under 4000.

PROS:

• Great sound quality and sensitivity.
• Great for recording musical instruments and singing too.
• Easy to set up.

CONS:

• The stand is flimsy and you may need to purchase another one.
• Lack of a pop filter.

 

BEST MICROPHONES UNDER RUPEES 5000

MAONO AU-902 USB CONDENSER PODCAST MICROPHONE:

Again, Maono takes the spot of the best microphone. In the range of rupees 5000, Maono has clearly won the battle with the MAONO AU-902 USB Condenser Podcast Microphone. This microphone has a strong metal build quality. It comes with many features which you won’t find in mics in this price range. A headphone jack is provided in the mic which helps the user hear their own voice through earphones and headphones by connecting them to the mic and this is a very cool feature. This microphone has a dual volume control which is used to control the headphone volume as well as the microphone gain. It also comes with a mute button which helps the user a lot. The microphone is by far the best in its price range. The audio quality is extraordinary. The only downside is that it is very sensitive and captures a little background noise as well.

This mic is currently priced at rupees 4949 but it falls down in sales. Keep a lookout at it for sales as this microphone is mind-blowing.

PROS:

• Volume control and gain control in mic.
• A mute button is provided.
• Audio quality is extremely good and the mic is very sensitive to even the smallest sounds.

CONS:

• The microphone is too sensitive sometimes and the noise cancellation isn’t strong enough to remove all background noise from the microphone.

 

BEST MICROPHONES UNDER RUPEES 6000

HYPERX SOLOCAST – USB CONDENSER GAMING MICROPHONE:

The newest addition to the list of microphones, the HyperX SoloCast shows that sometimes simplicity is enough to be the best. At 261g, this lightweight and simple microphone just has a mute button on it. The design is extremely good considering the weight of the product. It is the best-sounding microphone in this entire segment. Not only is it great for streaming and recording, but it is also the best mic in the price range for recording music. The audio quality might appear a little muddy while speaking too fast, but that can be fixed by purchasing a simple pop filter. It is tough to beat this microphone in this price range. HyperX has delivered a solid product.

The price of this microphone is rupees 5790. There won’t be a sale in the coming period because it is a newly launched product in India. Still, this product is well worth it.

PROS:

• Phenomenal audio quality even without editing.
• Simple but elegant design.
• Lightweight and portable.
• Easy to set up and use.

CONS:

• Lack of shock mount or a pop filter.
• Higher gain in the audio.

This article will discuss only microphones in the price range of rupees 6000. This is because even though there are better microphones present over this price range, they don’t offer something substantially different and something so unique, that they are worth spending the extra money for. Users should only look for more expensive microphones if they want to record professionally, for example, if they are professional musicians or music producers.

SUMMARY:

All these microphones have their own pros and cons as listed above. They can be used for different purposes. For recording outdoors, the cheaper microphones under 2000 rupees are the best choice. For recording indoors and streaming, the microphones from 2000-6000 are the correct choice. The choice should be made based upon the requirements of the user and their price budget. The Maono AU-A04 Condenser microphone kit appears to be the best choice as it comes with all the required accessories to set up the kit and thus nothing extra needs to be bought. The only reason to go for a more expensive microphone is if you want a very premium sound quality from your videos and recordings and if you need to record music as well. Other than that, there is no need to purchase a more expensive microphone. If you do buy the other microphones, below are a few tips to make your videos sound much more professional.

TIPS TO GET THE BEST OUT OF YOUR MICROPHONE:

ACCESSORIES:

The two most essential accessories while purchasing a microphone is a boom mic stand and a pop filter. These two are the most essential accessories for the microphone. A shock mount is also good, but it is not essential. A boom mic stand is a much longer and flexible mic stand that helps you set up the microphone as far away or as close to you as possible. This makes recording a lot easier since you can set the right distance at which the sound appears crystal clear. A cheap mic boom stand is the Juarez JRZ16MS Microphone Boom Scissor Suspension Arm Stand, which costs around 500 rupees. It is definitely worth it.

A pop filter is an accessory that acts as a noise filter while recording your voice. It helps to reduce the noise and muddiness from the final audio. Hence, a decent pop filter helps prevent noisy audio. The Juarez Pf-100 6-Inch Studio Microphone Pop Filter is a good pop filter that costs just rupees 289. These two accessories will improve the audio quality by a large margin. This can make the difference between the recordings sound like night and day. It is advisable to invest in a good boom mic stand and a good pop filter. A shock mount is an accessory that protects the mic from low vibrations and noise and it can also be helpful. However, a shock mount really isn’t necessary for most users so we would advise you to not purchase it as it would just be a waste of money.

ENVIRONMENT:

In order to get clean and sharp audio without any background noise, you must ensure that your environment is suitable for recording. The room should be locked and the doors should be closed. There shouldn’t be devices like fans running which might at background noise to the audio. Try to keep the room as quiet as possible to get the best quality audio for your recordings and streams. Ensuring that background noises are removed is one of the most overlooked parts of streaming and recording. If your environment and background are noisy, even a 12,000 rupees microphone will catch the background audio. Even though condenser mics are designed to record audio close to them, still a lot of background noise can find its way into the audio. Therefore, always record and stream in a quiet place.

SOFTWARE AND MICROPHONE SETTINGS:

The microphone settings in windows and the use of a few software can drastically improve the audio quality. Just adjusting the boost in the microphone settings from the sound settings panel in the windows settings can reduce the background noise and make the recording sound very clear. Play around with these settings to find out which setting makes the sound quality match your desired quality. It might seem a little confusing at first but after researching and studying and a little bit of trial and error, you will start to get the hang of things.

There are also many software that changes the microphone settings and adjusts them to give the clearest audio possible. One example of free software is Krisp. Krisp is a free software that helps and improves the noise cancellation of your microphone to ensure you have the clearest sound possible. There is a solution for those people who don’t want to take time and try to find out the best settings for their microphones and just get straight to the point. There are also many other software that can be used to edit the sound quality post-recording. They can adjust the volume, grain, etc, and make the recording sound much better. An example of a free software is Audacity, which is an open-source software used to edit audio. You can research more about these software and give them a try to improve your recording quality if you are serious about improving the quality of your content.

CONCLUSION:

Keeping all these things in mind, the users must remember that the good quality of audio does not depend on the mic only. There are several factors like accessories, environment, and microphone settings, as stated above, which affect the quality of your audio. When a good quality microphone is paired with all these factors, the users will get the best quality audio for recording their videos as well as for streaming or for podcasts or vlogging. With the growing competition, users need to keep up with the demands of their viewers and provide the best quality content with the best quality equipment. A microphone under 4000 is enough to get good results. However, if the content of the user depends highly on the audio quality, or if the microphone is needed for recording music as well, microphones costing over 4000 will be preferred.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the price of these products keeps on fluctuating regularly, so the costs of the products mentioned in the article are susceptible to changes. A microphone may get cheaper or it may get more expensive. It is advisable that the users install an extension in their browsers which helps keep track of the prices of the microphones.