9 Best Microphones For Female Voice-Over (Every Budget)

What are the best microphones for female voiceovers for every budget? We all take our passion seriously. For whichever reason you’re in need of a microphone that’s best for female voiceovers, it’s best to pick the best possible choice in your budget.

With the help of some of our producer friends, sound engineers, reviews, and consistent comparisons between recording male and female voices with a large variety of mics; We were able to find a list of the top 9 studio microphones for recording female voiceovers for every budget.

Before We Get Started, A Few Things To Keep In Mind

• USB Mics are cheaper and simpler to use because you don’t need to purchase an additional interface. However, there are no USB microphones on this list.
• Microphones that need Phantom Power require an additional interface. (Every microphone on this list)
• Depending on whichever preamp you use also plays a factor in the sound of your vocal tracks.
• There are 2 types of studio microphones; Dynamic and Condenser. Every microphone on this list is a condenser mic which is typically better for recording vocals in a studio.

In Short, Here Are The 9 Best Microphones For Female Voice-Over For Every Budget

1. AKG Pro Audio C214
2. Shure SM7B
3. Audio-Technica 4040
4. Neumann TLM 102
5. MXL 770
6. Rode NT-USB
7. Electro Voice RE-20 
8. Neumann TLM 103
9. Neumann U87 Ai

1. AKG Pro Audio C214

For its affordable price, the AKG Pro Audio C214 is one of the highest-rated condenser microphones on the market. With its full frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz, low self-noise for the price at 13dB, good SPL handling at 136dB (156dB w/Pad), and excellent dynamic range at 123/143dB-A (0/20dB Pad), it will be hard to go wrong with this mic below the $400 price range. The sound quality is very accurate as it uses a built-in capsule suspension minimizing mechanical noise.

For female voiceovers or singers, the AKG Pro Audio C214 works incredibly. With a minor boost in the upper frequencies, the C214 naturally brightens up the voice while keeping the higher frequencies smooth. This microphone is another excellent solution for those who prefer a pleasantly bright but smooth vocal sound at an affordable price.

Included Accessories

• H85 Shockmount
• Metal Carrying Case
• W 214 Windscreen

Features and Details:

• -20dB pad
• large-diaphragm condenser
• 160 Hz low cut filter option
• Dynamic range: 123dB

2. Shure SM7B

Does this microphone look familiar? You’ve probably seen it on the Joe Rogan podcast. The Shure SM7B is one of the most popular dynamic microphones at 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’s also great for female voice-overs as it produces 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 the true essence of this mic.

Features

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

Included Accessories

• Windscreen

Tech Specs

3. Audio-Technica 4040

The Audio-Technica 4040 is another incredible low-budget microphone for capturing female voice-overs or singers. It’s a large-diaphragm condenser mic with the full frequency response of 20Hz-20kHz. The mic’s build quality is excellent, with an excellent shock mount that comes with the purchase.

The sound quality this microphone produces is very smooth and is much richer sounding than its low-price. The 4040 is, in my opinion, the best mic by Audio-Technica. It gives a slight boost in the upper airy frequencies that add more depth to the voice.

When a female vocalist tested this mic, it most definitely stood out considering its excellent presence in the low and mid frequencies while embellishing the highs without any harshness. In case the Audio-Technica 4040 picks up unwanted low-end, the highpass filter switch in the body of the mic helps reduce it.

Overall, the Audio-Technica 4040 is another incredible bang for the buck condenser microphone that works great for female voice-overs. 

Included Accessories

• AT8449 shock mount

Features

• 80dB highpass filter option
• -10db pad option for recording loud audio
• Large diagram condenser
• High SPL at 145dB

4. Neumann TLM 102

In my honest opinion, the Neumann TLM 102 is way too good for its price range. $699 may not be cheap. However, the incredibly clear and natural sound this microphone produces can stand toe to toe with some of the most expensive Neumann microphones on the market. The TLM 102 may be small, but the sound quality it produces is tremendous, with incredible clarity.

All TLM microphones by Neumann uses low-noise circuitry that captures the true nuances of the sound without any audio manipulation. A female vocalist tested the TLM 102 up against 11 of the much more expensive Neumann microphones. I was incredibly shocked that the TLM 102 placed in the top 4 while being substantially cheaper than the rest.

Although the capsule is small, it still uses a large-diaphragm for the added acoustic energy. It has very low self-noise and low handling noise.

Overall, Neumann TLM 102 is the very best bang for the buck condenser microphone for professional/high-grade studios while performing incredibly with a woman’s voice-overs and singers.

Included Accessories

• Stand Mount

Features and Details

• Low self-noise at 12dB
• Large Diaphragm
• Dynamic Range: 132dB
• Incredible versatility

5. MXL 770

The entry-level MXL 770 is a remarkably excellent budget microphone that, again, is too good for its price range. With an incredibly high percentage of flawless reviews, the MXL 770 will not disappoint you. The Large-diaphragm condenser is naturally good at capturing acoustic energy and clarity. For the price, it sounds fantastic for a woman’s voice-overs.

The 770 produces a full but clear low end with a bright high-end sound. For the scenario that your recording sounds a bit boomy or muddy, the bass roll-off switch on the side of the mic should do the trick. If your recording very loud instruments, the -10dB switch will help with that as well.

Overall, this is an incredibly versatile microphone that is priced extremely low for how great it is.

Features

• Included 1-year warranty
• -10dB pad option
• Bass roll-off switch option
• All metal construction
• Incredible off-axis sound rejection

Included Accessories

• Shock mount
• Carry case

Tech Specs

6. Rode NT-USB

Except for headphones, the Rode NT-USB condenser microphone comes with all of the accessories you need to begin recording right away. Considering it’s a USB mic, you do not need an additional interface. It’s a very sensitive mic that picks up many things that you wouldn’t typically hear.

Many people like the mic’s sensitivity, while some do not. In my personal opinion, this mic is better for softer voices or spoken word rather than louder vocals. Thus, the reason why many people rave how well it sounds for a female voice-over. 

It offers 16Bit 48 Kilohertz for great vocal clarity. Not to forget, it’s really good at eliminating background noise. There are two knobs on the back of the Rode NT-USB; The top one adjusts the sound you hear between what’s coming out of the computer compared to the mic.

The bottom knob adjusts your headphone volume. Overall, this mic is an excellent USB condenser microphone that comes with everything you need to get started. It’s a great bang for the buck, and we highly recommend it.

Included Accessories

• Pop Shield
• Tripod
• Protective Zip Case
• Stand Mount
• 6m USB Cable

Tech Specs

 7. Electro Voice RE-20 

One of the highest-rated microphones on this list, the Electro Voice RE-20 will not disappoint you. The dynamic microphone is designed for background noise rejection. Better yet, It is entirely immune to the proximity effect. This means if you’re in a situation where you must record clear vocals or speech in a noisy area, you can decrease the gain on your interface while recording right on top of the mic.

Then later boost the voice in post-production. By doing this, your chances of picking up only your voice with no background noise at all substantially increase.

It sounds amazing for female voice-overs of any style. With its large diaphragm microphone, it can capture more of the acoustic energy than a smaller diaphragm mic.

The RE-20 produces an incredible amount of air in your voice. In terms of frequency, this mic gives a slight boost in the low end, making your voice sound more powerful. The low-frequency boost is not overbearing considering the small increase in the highs mixed with a cut in the mids maintains excellent clarity in your voice.

Features

• No Proximity Effect
• Internal pop filter
• Dynamic microphone with a large-diaphragm

Included Accessories

• Carry Case
• Stand Mount

Tech Specs

8. Neumann TLM 103

The Neumann TLM 103 is another outstanding large-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone. On top of being an overall exceptional professional microphone, the TLM 103 is incredible at picking up a female’s voice. Something that makes this microphone unique is its extremely low self-noise at 7dB mixed with 131db dynamic range. This combination was only possible due to its transformerless circuitry customized by Neumann.

The off-axis rejection of this microphone is excellent, making sure only the voice is being picked up. The TLM 103’s smoothed-out proximity effect can be used as a plus for this microphone in some cases.  

This microphone is incredibly clear, accurate, and smooth while pleasantly accentuating the upper frequencies. It is perfect for any singer or engineer who prefers the high-end to shine before any post-processing naturally. However, the Neumann TLM 103 is very good at handling processing of any sort. We highly recommend this mic for female voice-overs.

Included Accessories

• Wooden box
• Shockmount

Features

• Large-diaphragm
• Extremely low self-noise with only 7dB
• Pressure gradient transducer
• Transformerless circuitry
• Dynamic range: 131dB

9. Neumann U87 Ai

One of the industry-standard voice-over microphones on the market, the Neumann U87 Ai is a top-tier contender. The Neumann U87 Ai is the more modern version of a classic mic. U87’s are, and have been since the ’70s, the favorite go-to microphone for top-of-the-line recording studios.

Used for overheads, string instruments, piano, guitar cabinets, singing, and of course, voice-overs as well, the U87 is one of the most versatile microphones on the market. It is the large-diaphragm condenser industry-standard microphone.

To best describe the Neumann U87 Ai sound quality without using the word professional is best described as “authoritative clarity.” It captures the most identical sound to the voice out of every microphone I have ever heard in my career. It’s almost as if they are literally singing or speaking directly in front of you.

Overall, the Neumann U87 Ai is the top-of-the-line industry-standard versatile condenser microphone that works flawlessly for female vocals. 

Features

• Large-diaphragm
• 3 switchable polar patterns: Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8
• Switchable 10dB pre-attenuation
• Updated with modern circuitry
• Pressure-gradient transducer with double-membrane capsule

Quick Recap

Here Are The 9 Best Microphones For Female Voice-Over For Every Budget

1. AKG Pro Audio C214
2. Shure SM7B
3. Audio-Technica 4040
4. Neumann TLM 102
5. MXL 770
6. Rode NT-USB
7. Electro Voice RE-20 
8. Neumann TLM 103
9. Neumann U87 Ai