Not all YouTubers use the same microphones but there are some favorites you should be familiar with if you want to have a good sounding video. And it better sound great if you want listeners to keep listening.

First you should decide what type of videos you’re shooting and know if you’re going to have someone help you with the camera and audio or you if need to be doing everything yourself!

Microphones for talking directly to camera.

This can be an on camera mic, hooked directly up to the camera, it can be a boom microphone, a Lavalier microphone or even a hand held or desk mic seen in the video. You have to decide what’s your style. If I mic in the frame works for you, Probably the best sounding option would be something like a broadcast DJ would use or what some of the super-popular podcasters, like Joe Rogan, use.

Desk Microphones

Hidden Microphones

If you don’t want to see the mic, you can put a boom microphone on a pole and suspend it over you and that should sound pretty good depending on the room and the polar pattern of the microphone.

Microphone for voice over.

This is often a large condenser microphone that sits on a desk or a stand that the person speaking the VO speaks directly into.

Wireless Microphones for Action.

Say you’re walking and talking or acting out a scene, what kind of microphone is going to be easiest to use. In the movies, there would be a boom operator holding a boom microphone capturing everything. Unless you’re a high level YouTuber, you’re not going to have the budget for a dedicated boom op and sound mixer. So you will likely need to be wearing a Lavaliere microphone that’s going directly to your recording device. These are usually attached to some sort of wireless transmitter, transmitting directly to camera or to an audio mixer for situations where you have more than one person talking. Inexpensive options for this are something like the RodeGo or from the drone make DJI. Both options work pretty well as long as you stay close to the receiver and are not in a heavily congested area for wireless use. Audio is acceptable for most YouTube applications and even better if you attach better microphones like Sennheiser MKE2 or Sunken Cos11.

It’s actually become quite popular for some YouTubers to carry around the RodeGo mics as if it’s a handheld mic. Not sure why this is a trend but it works.

If you need wireless with more range and better fidelity like Mr Beast, you’re going to be spending real money. There are mid their options from Sony and Sennheiser then the best quality stuff is from Lectrosonics, Wisycom and Zaxcom as well as Shure. All of these options are significant investments into the quality of your recordings and require learning a little about the technology to get good results in populated areas.

Easiest microphones to use.

For most YouTubers, the easiest microphone is going to be the best. Watchers of YouTube do not have the same expectation of quality as watchers or Netflix. When you’re shooting content by yourself of with a small crew, KISS (keep it simple stupid).

Posted on: November 18, 2025, by : Jimmy Gilmore