10 Popular Podcast Microphone Starter Kits

Whats’ the best microphone podcast kit that comes with all or most of the accessories to start a podcast?

I have been in the same shoes as many of you are in right now. You’re in need of a microphone that can produce the highest quality recording possible. Some of you are on a tight budget, some of you aren’t. But what all of you need is a microphone bundled with the accessories to start a podcast.

Through personal experience, testing, and extensive research, and the help of my friends working in audio, we formulated a list of the 10 best microphone kits that come with all or most of the accessories to get your podcast started!

In Short, Here Are 10 Of The Best Podcast Microphone Starter Kits

• MAONO AU-A04
• Soundcraft 2 Person Podcast Kit
• Audio-Technica AT2035
• Shure SM7B Podcast Kit
• SUDOTACK
• Pyle PDMIKT100 USB Kit
• Fifine K669B
• MAONO A04H
• Audio-Technica AT2020PK
• Neewer USB Kit

1. MAONO AU-A04

First up, the MAONO AU-A04 is a fantastic bang for the buck podcast microphone and starter kit. It’s one of the more affordable microphone kits on the market. However, it sounds very good, and the accessories are pretty sturdy.

The microphone sound quality outperforms its price range by a large margin. With its 192kHz/24bit sampling rate mixed with its flat frequency response of 30Hz-16kHz, it captures your speaking voice clearly. 

This microphone is a condenser that is generally more detailed than a dynamic. You’ll also love its ease of use, considering it’s a USB plugin. The podcast kit comes with just about everything you need to get started instantly. The only thing you might want to add is a pair of headphones. Overall, the MAONO AU-A04 is a great choice for anyone wanting to start a podcast on a tight budget. Not only is it highly rated amongst customers, but it’s “Amazon’s Choice,” as well. 

Included Accessories

• Boom arm
• Pop filter
• Foam windscreen
• Shock mount
• USB-B to USB-A Cable
• Table Mounting Clamp 

Tech Specs & Details

• Condenser
• Cardioid
• USB
• High sampling rate of 192kHz/24bit
• Frequency response: 30Hz-16kHz

2. Soundcraft 2 Person Podcast Kit

If you don’t care about having an adjustable boom stand that attaches to a table like the last one, the Soundcraft is an excellent microphone podcast kit. This set is designed for two people considering It comes with dual microphone kits, two headphones sets, a mixer with two full channels. The only additional item you need to get your podcast started is an A-male to B-male USB cord to plunge the mixer into your computer. 

The mixer does a fantastic job of adjusting the audio. In general, most mixers in this price range aren’t as good as this one. You’ll be very satisfied with the microphone sound quality, as well. It comes with a pop filter and mic stands.

Overall, we highly recommend this podcast kit if your planning on have two people at a time. It’s running at an excellent value, and we highly recommend it!

 3. Audio-Technica AT2035

Any fans of Jocko Willink? Well, Jocko Willink uses the Audio-Technica AT2035 microphone for his podcast. I can confidently say without a doubt that this microphone is extremely good for podcasts or voice-overs at the price. You can get this mic as a podcast packet or the standalone mic at a lower price. The AT2035 provides a full frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz, picking up every frequency in the audible spectrum.

It has an incredibly high SPL handling at 148dB with an exceptional dynamic range. Those technical details are not only great for microphones at this low price, but great for condenser microphones in general. The high SPLs make the microphone worthy of loud audio sources. It’s one of the few reasons that give the AT2035 the ability for extreme versatility.

The Audio-Technica AT2035 has a large diaphragm that helps sustain a rich vocal tone. A large diaphragm microphone, in general, can capture more of the acoustic energy than a smaller diaphragm mic. One of the more significant technical advantages of a large diaphragm is that it’s very low in self-noise. Fortunately, the AT2035 has very low self-noise for the price at only 12dB.

The diagram is also custom low-mass engineered with a great transient response. A higher transient response microphone is beneficial for picking up quick audio such as rapping, speaking quickly, or burst instruments like a snare. In my opinion, the AT2035 is too suitable for its price range.

Keep in mind, this mic will only work with an audio interface and does not come with a pop filter. It has an XLR output that requires 48 volts of phantom power.

Here is a video of Jocko Willink’s podcast using the Audio-Technica AT2035PK. (With different headphones)

Pros

• High SPL handling
• All metal build
• Very low self-noise for the price range
• Wide dynamic range for incredible versatility
• Full frequency response at 20Hz-20kHz
• Excellent transient response with its custom-engineered low-mass diaphragm
• Ideal for home studios on a budget with its superior versatility; Best used for vocals, acoustic guitar, voice-overs, podcast, and rap vocals.

Included Accessories

• Adapter
• Mic clip for a boom stand
• Mic Pouch
• ATH-M20x headphones
• Boom arm

Tech Specs

4. Shure SM7B Podcast Kit

Either you live under a rock, or you clearly recognize this microphone from the world-famous Joe Rogan Podcast. That’s right, JRE uses this microphone for himself and all of his guests. However, we are unsure of which interface they use. The Shure SM7B is one of the most popular dynamic microphones in its price range.

Like most dynamic microphones, it’s incredible at rejecting background noise and electromagnetic hum. It has a flat frequency response that can help smoothen out a nasally voice while maintaining clear vocal clarity. It produces phenomenally clear and crisp audio.

The Shure SM7B has two switches on the back for a presence boost and a high pass filter. This mic has a built-in windscreen while built like a tank with solid metal. In my opinion, one of the most significant downsides to the SM7B is it’s one of the quietest microphones on the market. You are going to need an excellent interface to capture its true essence.

Features

• Flat, wide-range frequency response
• Dynamic Microphone
• Improved rejection of electromagnetic hum
• Easy mounting and dismounting with captive stand nut

Included Accessories

• Boom arm
• External windscreen
• XLR cable
• Cloudlifter CL-1 single channel
• Table clip

Tech Specs

5. SUDOTACK

Running below $60, the SUDOTACK is a very affordable podcast microphone kit for starters on a budget. This condenser microphone has a cardioid polar pattern, which reduces off-axis noise. With a relatively full frequency response of 30hz-16kHz and a sampling rate of 24bit/192kHz, it picks up your voice smoothly without distorting. The overall audio quality dramatically outperforms its affordable price. Not to forget, this podcast package has great customer reviews, as well. 

Considering it’s a USB microphone, you don’t need an additional interface to use it. The 16mm diaphragm helps minimize the microphone’s self-noise. Coming with just about everything you need to get started; you get a USB cable, shock mount, desktop stand, foam windscreen, pop filter, and the microphone itself.

The only thing you might want to add is headphones. Overall, the SUDOTACK is an excellent choice if you’re going to start a podcast without spending too much money. 

Included Accessories

• Desktop stand
• Shockmount
• Pop filter
• USB cable

Tech Specs & Details

• USB microphone

6. Pyle PDMIKT100 USB Kit

The Pyle PDMIKT100 USB Kit microphone podcast kit has one of the highest customer reviews on the market. Better yet, it’s also very affordable. This USB microphone set is easy to put together and get started right away. Coming with the purchase, you get a robust travel case, pop filter, shock mount, desktop stand, and the mic itself; it’s an outstanding bang for your buck. 

With its pro sound chipset, the USB mic can playback a high-quality sampling rate. This is yet another condenser microphone that provides much better sound quality than its meager price. The USB effortlessly plugs into your computer or laptop to get started right away. Running under $80, it’s an affordable but reliable choice for building a podcast. 

Included Accessories

• Travel case
• Pop filter
• Shockmount
• Desktop stand
• USB cable

Tech Specs & Details

• USB microphone
• Cardioid polar pattern
• Condenser

7. Fifine K669B

Coming in either rose-red or black, the USB Fifine K669B isn’t the “Amazon Best Seller” for nothing. There are a plethora of reasons why it’s the perfect podcast kit if you’re trying to get a great deal. While this podcast set only comes with the microphone, stand, and the cord; You still have the basics to get started. It’s also the second cheapest on this list. Made out of metal, this mic has a robust build quality that outperforms its price. 

This mic has a cardioid polar pattern that’s pretty good at rejecting off-axis noise. It projects your speaking voice precisely and crisp. Compatible with Mac or PC with its USB connection, it doesn’t require an interface to operate. The mic itself has a volume knob on its front face for added convenience. Podcasters who used this kit to startup speak very highly about it. Overall, we recommend it for beginners due to its inexpensive but high-value performance.

Tech Specs & Details

• 2 color options: Black or rose-red
• Condenser
• USB microphone
• 5.9-Foot USB cable
• Cardioid polar pattern

8. MAONO A04H

Next up, the MAONO A04H podcast kit is almost identical to the very first set on this list. However, this one comes with an impressive pair of headphones. With 50mm drivers, the headphones sound much better than you’d expect from a podcast bundle set. You’ll also appreciate how comfortable they are. It has an adjustable headband and soft ear cups.

Too quickly recap the microphone’s quality, it has a 192kHz/24bit sampling rate, a frequency response of 30Hz-16kHz, condenser microphone, and cardioid polar pattern. It sounds impressive for the low price. Overall, the MAONO A04H is an excellent podcast setup if you want a high-quality pair of headphones, as well!

Included Accessories

• Boom arm
• Headphones
• Pop filter
• Foam windscreen
• Shock mount
• USB-B to USB-A Cable
• Table Mounting Clamp 

Tech Specs & Details

• Condenser
• Cardioid
• USB
• High sampling rate of 192kHz/24bit
• Frequency response: 30Hz-16kHz

9. Audio-Technica AT2020PK

The XLR Audio-Technica AT2020PK has been said to be the “Industry standard for condenser microphones in its price range.” It requires 48V phantom power that must be provided by a separate interface. The mic feels like it’s built to last with its solid all-metal body. And quite frankly, I have owned it for five years now without a single problem.

It has a cardioid pickup pattern meaning the mic only picks up the sound that’s directly in front of it. The off-axis for this microphone is very good, or in other words, it works great at rejecting background noise. If you’re trying to record audio in a noisy environment for whichever reason, it will suit you well.

Above shows the Audio-Technica AT2020’s frequency response curve. As you can see, there is a minor boost in the “airy frequencies” starting around 6K. I’m personally a sucker for “airy” frequency boost for microphones considering the added depth, clarity, and crisp directivity it has to offer. What will most likely surprise you about this microphone once you first test it out is its ability to capture the tiny nuances of what’s directly in front of it. Overall, the Audio-Technica AT2020PK is a great podcast microphone bundle kit. 

Included Accessories

• Boom arm
• Headphones
• Foam windscreen
• Shock mount

Tech Specs & Details

10. Neewer USB Kit

Lastly, the Neewer USB Kit is the most inexpensive microphone podcast package on the entire market. But don’t let the low price fool you. This mic and podcast accessories are highly rated and reviewed by users.

Coming with a scissor arm stand, pop filter, shock mount, table mounting clip, and USB cable; You’ll be amazed by the high-quality accessories for the low price. It’s a fantastic mic and podcast kit for a cheap price. We highly recommend it.

Included Accessories

• Boom arm
• Pop filter
• Foam windscreen
• Shock mount
• USB cord
• Table Mounting Clamp 

Our Winner

Keep in mind that our opinion is not the end all be all. Like mentioned earlier, everyone has different needs, requirements, and budgets for their podcast microphone kit. However, we believe the Shure SM7B Podcast Kit is the overall best microphone and podcast kit for many reasons. It’s highly professional, sounds amazing, has superior background noise rejection, and durable build quality to last a long time. We highly recommend it!

Quick Recap

Here Are The 10 Best & Highest-Rated Podcast Starter Kits

• MAONO AU-A04
• Soundcraft 2 Person Podcast Kit
• Audio-Technica AT2035
• Shure SM7B Podcast Kit
• SUDOTACK
• Pyle PDMIKT100 USB Kit
• Fifine K669B
• MAONO A04H
• Audio-Technica AT2020PK
• Neewer USB Kit

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