The microphone you use in your ASMR videos is one of the main things that make your ASMR Channel better. That’s why we have created this article hopping to be able to help you find the best ASMR microphone available on the market.
1. Blue Yeti USB Microphone
The Blue Yeti microphone is currently the most popular microphone and it is regarded by many as the best ASMR microphone. One of the best features of this microphone is that it comes along with most important recording controls. For example, it has a built-in gain dial which is very important for quiet surroundings and prevents later processing.
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The Blue Yeti microphone is also rugged, lightweight and extremely easy to set up. All you need to do is take it out of your box, connect the USB cable to your PC and you’re good to go. Your PC will detect it pretty quickly as a recording device in any audio software. The microphone also has its own stand which is a big plus for many people. The mic stand has rubber padding which means that the microphone will be stable in one place.
The downside to the stand is that the microphone is not positioning the mic in an ideal height. For example, if you put it on your desk, chances are the microphone might be too low. That’s why it might be required to pop it on some books or a box when you’re recording. However, if you want it to be in perfect position every time, you might need a separate stand. The Blue Yeti has a screw thread hole which is compatible with most stands and boom-arms.
The Blue Yeti microphone also features a 3.5 mm port where you can plug in your headphones or earbuds. This allows you to monitor your recordings as you can hear what’s being recorded on real time. It also has three different dials: headphone volume, gain and polar pattern.
The headphone volume is there to control the volume of the audio that’s being recorded. Even if you decrease or increase the volume, it won’t have any actual effect on the recording. However, decreasing or increasing gain dial will have an effect on the recording. The gain dial controls the sensitivity of the microphone.
The polar pattern dial is a little bit more complex. In general, it allows you to choose which recording methods suits you the most. That’s due to the fact that there are settings which change the way a microphone picks up the sound. The Blue Yeti has four different options for that.
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There is the stereo option which is for recording a singer or a couple of instruments. The second option is cardioid. This one is made for the solo podcast as in only one person is talking into the microphone. The third one is omnidirectional which is for several people surrounding the microphone. That means that it records in different directions. And, finally, bidirectional, which is made for face-to-face interviews and both people facing each side of the mic.
The Blue Yeti microphone is popular among ASMR artists who capture sound effects and creative audio. Given it’s popularity it makes it the best ASMR microphone for many.
- Perfect for tapping, brushing and water sounds
- Four options for recording methods
- Easy to set up and use
- The stand doesn’t position the microphone in ideal height
2. BLUE Baby Bottle SL
The BLUE baby bottle has a rather unique and classy style. It has a fitted wooden case and a beautifully designed custom shock. It immediately tells you that it’s not your standard microphone. The BLUE baby bottle also features a small pop-filter which is great for quieter recordings.
The baby bottle microphone is a cardioid pattern condenser. The frequency response is from 20 Hz to 20 kHz which means it has a rather high frequency range. The Baby bottle mic has a Max SPL of 134 db so there’s no level sound that’s too loud for this microphone.
The sound the Baby Bottle SL offers pretty warm sound and clarity. The mid-range has a lot of definition and is very well balanced. The vocals have a good depth and great response. The microphone is ideal for recording sound effects, some even use it for role-plays. This could be the best ASMR microphone for you.
- Very good sound quality
- Great response and depth in vocals
- Good for all types of ASMR
- Not compatible with USB power source
3. Rode NT1-A
Setting up the Rode NT1-A isn’t difficult task but it still might require additional equipment. This isn’t a USB microphone, so you won’t be able to just plug it in your PC and start recording. The Rode NT1-A microphone requires an XLR cable which you can connect to an audio interface or a voice recorder. It comes with a 6m long cable as well as a shock mount and carrying case. Once you mount it and connect the XLR cable, you will have to position it and turn it on.
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The Rode NT1-A microphone is a little bit power hungry because it’s a condenser microphone. You’re going to need a recorder that gives the extra +48V of power for the best result. However, you can also use a recorder with +24V which is going to give a decent result as well. Something you should keep in mind is that this microphone is also highly sensitive. It has a sensitivity of -31.9dB, allowing to pick up a lot of low noises. It also has a max SPL of 137 dBSPL. This results to a microphone with amazing range as it’s able to pick up everything, from singing to quiet whispering.
The Rode NT1-A has also a good build. It’s made out of stainless steel which makes it rather heavy – around 326g. An important thing to keep in mind is its positioning. You need to place it vertically and speak to the side of the mic. It only produces 5dB of self-noise which is amazing for ASMR recordings.
- Clarity and purity to the sound
- 5dB of self-noise
- Highly sensitive
- Amazing vocal range
- Might be a bit too heavy
- Doesn’t support USB power source
4. 3Dio FS PRO II
The 3Dio FS PRO is a binaural microphone of a high quality. The microphone has Primo EM172 capsules which makes it highly sensitive and quiet. The frequency response range is quite impressive so you will be able to record both high frequencies and low frequencies.
The 3Dio microphone is able to capture even subtle sounds and has an amazingly wide dynamic range. Most microphones compress and compensate loud and quiet sounds so both of them are of equal level. This is not the case with the 3Dio microphone.
The FS PRO II is one of the best microphones for ASMR as it can record very delicate sounds. The microphone also has a standard 3.4 mm headphone jack and a male to male 3.5 mm cable which you can connect to an external recorder. It also features a tripod to mount the microphone.
- Portable
- Good for any kind of ASMR
- Amazing dynamic range
- Has a headphone jack
- Meant to be used only for binaural ASMR
5. Sennheiser MKH 416
The Sennheiser MKH 416 is a compact shotgun microphone. This means that the microphone picks up the sound that’s right in front of it with exceptional detail while removing any unwanted background peripheral noise. The MKH 416 uses RF biasing (radio frequency) which makes it less sensitive to moisture, brings a wider frequency response and extremely low noise levels.
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This microphone has an ample gain which has a very strong signal. It’s completely made out of metal and can endure any kind of weather. The sound of the MKh 416 microphone is absolutely fantastic. There is a reason why it’s used very often in the movie industry.
The sound it produces is very rich and captures the sound in amazing detail and clarity. There is absolutely no distortion. The MKH 416 microphone also saves you time because there is no need for post-processing. There is also no self-noise which is also great for ASMR recordings.
Considering that this is a professional microphone, you need an additional XLR cable and an audio recorder. If you are looking for a mic that will only focus on audio coming directly from the front, this could be the best ASMR microphone and suitable for your project.
- Impressive sound quality
- Manages to capture the slightest details
- No self-noise
- No need for post-processing
- Doesn’t support USB power source
- Requires an additional XLR cable
- Requires an additional audio recorder
6. Audio-Technica AT2050
Overall, this Audio-Technica microphone comes with no frills in terms of design. It has a black metal chassis and a black mesh grille divided into a side/top configuration. The only thing that stands out from its otherwise black design is the logo at the front.
The AT2050 microphone features polar patterns which are switchable. There is an omni option, cardioid and figure-of-eight. It has a rather wide frequency response, ranging from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and a max SPL is of 148 dB. The max SPL of 148 dB can also be extended to 159 dB making it ideal for recording both vocals and instruments. There is also an 80 Hz high-pass filter switch.
The cardioid option is made for the solo podcast when only one person is talking into the microphone. The omnidirectional is made for several people surrounding the microphone. And, the third, the figure-of-eight picks up sound from specific directions.
When it comes to performance, the Audio-Technica AT2050 offers a multifaceted experience. Because of its different polar patterns, you can use this mic for recording everything from vocals to full orchestras. On top of that, because of the higher SPL options, you can even record loud and aggressive instruments. Although, loud and aggressive instruments isn’t a thing you usually record for ASMR, it’s still nice to point out.
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Vocals sound amazing with the AT2050. It’s rather consistent and reliable no matter which pattern you set to record. The AT2050 is an amazing choice for a home studio or semi-professional home studio, making it a great option for ASMR.
The AT2050 microphone offers a great combination of value, features and performance. And, one more important thing – it has no self-noise.
- Highly sensitive
- Switchable polar patterns
- Built-in pad and comes with a shock mount
- Low self-noise
- Needs a power source
- No ON/OFF switch
- Requires an additional audio recorder
Conclusion
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing the best microphone for ASMR. One of the most important things is the self-noise. For ASMR, it’s really important because when recording low-level audio any noise and buzzing can be audible. The higher the self-to-noise ratio the better. Typically, 60bB is decent and over 80dB is excellent.
Omni-directional and binaural are the most used polar patterns in ASMR. All the microphones labeled as “binaural” have two or more omni-directional microphones in them. The Blue Yeti microphone is definitely regarded by many as the best ASMR Microphone.
We hope this article helped you to find the available options on the market for the best ASMR microphone for your audio recording projects.
