5 Best Microphones Under $500 [2021]
Finding the right vocal microphone for your setup is one of the more important choices any home recording studio can make. And due to tight budgets, many of us are looking for microphones that work well on more than just vocals. That’s why we’re here to help you find the right microphone for your setup without breaking the bank.
Clean, clear and crisp are the three C’s that can be used to describe the Audio Technica AT4033 studio condenser microphone. Audio Technica has always been known to produce stellar microphones that work on just about any instrument or voice and the AT4033 is no exception.
With a low noise floor and high-grade parts, the AT4033 is ideal for any studio application. If you’re looking for a microphone that wont get in the way, the AT4033 is what you need, and at $399, it is a great choice for any budget.
Thanks to the pandemic lockdowns of 2020-2021, a lot of artists, producers, and recording engineers found themselves stuck at home and often in less than ideal conditions to make a professional studio recording.
This is most likely why the Shure SM7B dynamic microphone has become one of the best-selling microphones over the last year and acts as a portable vocal booth!
TheSM7B has become the ideal choice for podcast and vocal recording due to its ability to isolate any source you record with it. While we recommend using it along with a cloud lifter or other form of top-end boost, the SM7B will ensure that your recording sounds tight and clean.
The AKG C214 is a great choice for anyone looking to get a crisp, bright, and highly detailed recording. Similar in tone to the famous C414, the C214 can help ensure that your recordings always come out perfect, on the first try.
Great for the voice and the acoustic guitar, the C214 has found its place in many home studio setups as a cheaper alternative to AKG’s high-end line.
The Avantone Pro CV-12 tube condenser is highly regarded as one of the best vocal microphones under $500. Nicknamed “the Taylor Swift mic” , the Avantone Pro CV-12 was famously used by Taylor Swift during her career and featured on many of her early recordings.
As a tube condenser, it can easily capture the crisp highs of female vocals or an acoustic guitar while maintaining the warmth and body associated with tube microphones. An instant classic, the Avantone Pro CV-12 is a great choice for any recording artist on a budget.
The Royer R10 Ribbon microphone is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a vintage sound and we mean it when we say “classic”.
Ribbon microphones have often been the microphones of choice when recording a deep, male vocal such as a bass or baritone as the rich bottom-end captured by the ribbon adds a classic, warm, and vintage quality.
Royer has been making top-tier ribbon microphones since the early days of microphones, e.g. the R-121. The R-10 is the best solution to getting your hands on that classic sound without the high price.
At $499, this microphone is simply one of the best in its class and shouldn’t be underestimated.
While these microphones are all wildly different from each other, we decided to list them together to show just how many options you have at this price point for a professional recording.
Make sure you take the time to listen to as many sound demos as you can. That way you can ensure you end up with the microphone that works best for your needs!
