The best microphone for two people depends largely on the strength of your budget and your personal preferences.
The most important thing is that you have a single microphone for each person.
This provides optimum sound quality, while also keeping the vocal tracks separated to ensure they don’t overlap.
Also keep in mind that for new podcasters, a USB microphone with your computer might be preferred over an XLR mic.
More experienced podcasters should have access to an audio interface that will allow them to record directly to their computer with their XLR microphone.
If you’re not sure about this then it’s probably best not to go for XLR and just plug it into your USB microphone jack on your computer.
Table of Contents
How to Choose a Microphone Kit for a Two-Person Podcast
Placement
For the best quality, it is best to put your mic on a stool or table.
The reason for this is that sound reflects off of the desk, though this can be mitigated by putting a foam cover on the desk.
Another option is to use a shock mount which will cut down on vibrations.
Microphone Type
The most common type of microphone for podcasts is the unidirectional microphone.
This type of microphone has a more narrow pickup pattern, so it is more sensitive to sound from the front than from behind or in other directions.
These types of microphones are usually small and have a relatively low profile.
They are also inexpensive to purchase and operate, making them one of the most popular choices for podcasters.
If you do not need to capture as much ambiance noise as possible, you might want to use an omnidirectional microphone instead because it picks up sound in front and behind that is coming from a wide-angle.
These microphones need more amplification than unidirectional mics and can be quite large in size, making them the least common type of microphone for podcasts.
In general, you will most likely want to record both sides of a podcast using two microphones.
You can either use two unidirectional microphones or one unidirectional and one omnidirectional microphone, depending on what is best for your situation and how you intend to use the podcast in the future.
Pickup Pattern & Frequency Range
A good pickup pattern for podcasting would be cardioid or bidirectional.
A frequency range of 20Hz to 20kHz will work well because most podcasts tend to be recorded at this range.
Most other frequency ranges have too much high or low-end sound.
4 Best Microphones For Two Person Podcast
1. Audio-Technica ATR2100
The Audio-Technica ATR2100 and ATR2100-USB are professional quality dynamic microphones and USB audio interfaces. In terms of features, these microphones are pretty much the same with some differences. The Audio-Technica ATR2100 PCI Interface package comes with an AC power adapter and an orange carry case for travel purposes. The Audio-Technica ATR2100 was specially designed by a feature rich microphone that can be used in different applications such as podcasting, singing, music recording or live broadcasting to make use of various digital audio sources such as radio and TV.
2. Blue Yeti Pro
The Blue Yeti Pro is a USB microphone that is built for recording. The one word that should be used to describe this microphone is superior. Since it has been designed to record audio, it is able to function properly in any setting and deliver a consistently clear sound. It has the extremely high audio quality and makes for an exceptional choice when recording anything whether it be vocals, instruments, or even other voices so you can really push the quality to the max when you have this attached
3. Shure SM7B
The Shure SM7B is a professional broadcast quality condenser microphone. It was originally designed for live performance applications and is ideal for the most popular digital recording applications, including voice, instrument, and so on. The mic has proven to be a favorite for other professional recording applications as well. The Shure SM7B is capable of high-frequency transients, smooth PGA-style gain controls, and optional shock mounts are also available. This mic is great for everything from voiceovers to music recordings to podcasting.
4. Behringer B2 Pro
Behringer B2 Pro is a USB condenser microphone. It offers a variety of features and accessories. This USB microphone is capable of recording at up to 96Khz digital quality as well as 48 KHz digital quality. The microphone has been designed for musicians, singers and other professional applications as well.
FAQs
What do I need for a 2 person podcast?
You need a microphone and either an audio recording app or access to a computer. In addition, you need some sort of podcast server to host your episodes.
How do I record podcasts with two microphones?
If you want to record a podcast with two microphones, the easiest way is to plug one of your microphones into the audio input of your computer, and then plug your other microphone into an audio input and use them in tandem.
You will need an app or hardware that can record from two different sources simultaneously. For example Garageband on a Mac or Audacity on Windows.
How do I record a podcast with two hosts remotely?
You can either record your Skype conversations or use a Google Voice line and then send the recording to one of your hosts.
With Skype, one person will need to create a conversation and invite the other person into it. The other person will be automatically muted in the call, but if you want them to speak you can unmute them. The person who created it will need to start their recording app before beginning the conversation with that second person. You may also want to check your settings for which device you’re using to make sure that no Desktop Sharing is enabled, or else both sides will get each other’s screens displayed on them during conversation time.
Use a Google Voice line, but instead of generally talking to the other person on the line, you will be speaking to one of your hosts. Once that person has the recording from you on their phone, they can then set up a “Next Caller” Ring for the second host or send it by email to them.
FAQ:
Q: What is the best microphone for podcasting?
A: Rode Procaster is a dynamic model designed to record vocals professionally, which makes it the best microphone for podcasting and postscoring. The microphone captures small details of the recorded audio and perfectly rejects unwanted noise around it. To set up this podcast mic, you need a bar or microphone stand.
Q: What is the best multi person mic kit for beginners?
A: All-around excellent choices that balance price and quality. The Procaster is a big step up from the beginner multi-person kit and is an excellent value for the price. If you jumped to here, the microphone kit is the same as the solo section (with other top-notch options as well).
Q: What equipment do I need to start a podcast?
A: This stuff will be with you for many years and is worth the investment. With a 2 or more person podcast, you’ll each need an XLR microphone – and studio headphones are highly recommended.
Q: Is the rode Procaster XLR good for podcasting?
A: Rode Procaster Connection: XLR | Type: Dynamic | Polar Pattern: Cardioid | Frequency response: 75 Hz to 18 kHz | Impedance: 320 ohms Rode Procaster is a dynamic model designed to record vocals professionally, which makes it the best microphone for podcasting and postscoring.