Choosing a microphone for your podcast is probably one of the most critical decisions you will make. A great microphone connected to a great microphone preamp will set your podcast up for success from the beginning. The most common type of microphone for recording vocals is a large diaphragm condenser microphone, like the PreSonus M7 microphone available in the AudioBox 96 Studio, AudioBox 96 Ultimate, and AudioBox iTwo Studio bundles. The sensitivity of this microphone type makes it great when you are recording alone in a relatively quiet environment.

If you are recording multiple people, you can still use large diaphragm condenser microphones, but you should be aware that this microphone type will pick up more of the room than other microphones, including the other speakers on your podcast. This can be mitigated by using a dynamics effect called a noise gate. Noise gate plug-ins are available in professional DAWs, like PreSonus Studio One, and effectively mute sounds below a set decibel threshold.

For more information on using Dynamics processors, like Noise Gates, please see this article.

Another option is to purchase a broadcast dynamic microphone. Designed for the broadcast environment, these types of microphones are not as sensitive as their large diaphragm condenser cousins and provide better rejection because they are not as sensitive. The disadvantage of these microphones is their price point. A good broadcast microphone is worth the investment.

Whatever microphone you select, connecting to an audio interface with a high-quality microphone preamp, like those available on PreSonus audio interfaces and StudioLive mixers, will help you to more easily achieve a professional podcast sound.