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One of the hardest things I found in getting started with podcasting was finding a microphone that I liked. I looked through page after page of reviews online and so many looked good but where they really what I wanted? Given that sound is such a big part of any podcast I wanted to get my microphone purchase right and so (in typical me fashion) I over thought it and procrastinated.
In the end, after way too many hours of searching, I did something I should have done in the beginning, I asked someone who’s sound I loved what they used. The podcaster I asked was Angela Santillo, presenter of the And Then Suddenly Podcast. I asked Angela not because I love her podcast (I do love it though, if you haven’t heard it before I highly recommend checking it out!) I asked her because I loved her sound. I felt her voice sounded full and warm and I wanted Stories for Grace Rene to have a similar feel.
She sounded clear and crisp and there were no strange popping Ps or hissing Ss or heavy breathing which I find distracting in some other shows. While, I know, some of those noises are user error and they can happen with any microphone, they are more common with some mics that others because of the way they are designed.
So I reached out to a total stranger to say ‘Hi I love your sound, what microphone are you using?’ And to Angela’s credit, she answered my random question and sent me down a purchasing path which I have never regretted.
Before I reveal the microphone I have, I should point out that below is a link to purchase from Amazon and if you do use that link to purchase I will receive a commission. I have chosen to add an affiliate link because I genuinely love this product and I myself purchased it from Amazon. I want to be clear that if you are interested in buying you DO NOT have to buy using this link, it is available from other retailers.
Angela recommended the Samson Q2u.
The really great thing about this microphone for me is that it can plug straight into my laptop via USB. No software to install, it’s just plug and play. In fact, it is so user friendly I asked both my parents and my inlaws to buy the same one so I could improve the audio quality for future Stories for Grace Rene episodes. It also comes with a table stand so its easy to angle to get just the right distance to pick you up clearly without heavy breathing,
While I like the USB option, it also has a XLR cable so it doesn’t have to be used just with the computer. That is a big plus for me as I can use it for recordings in the field with my Zoom too. It depends on your setup whether you would use this cable but if you have a preamp audio interface they generally use the XLR cable.
See this video below of me setting it up and see just how easy it is to use.
I can’t emphasis enough how happy I am with this microphone. It does everything that I want, at a price that I was comfortable to pay. I am sure that many other podcasters equally love their mics too. So I recommend that next time you listen to a podcast you ask yourself do I love their sound? If you do maybe take that risk and ask them what they use to make it.