The type of microphone you pick depends on the specific situation, so let’s run through some of them. If you’re a streamer or make YouTube videos where you record yourself sitting at a desk, a dynamic or condenser cardioid mic likely makes the most sense for you to eliminate as much background noise as possible while keeping your own voice crisp and clear. That said, if you’re in a podcast situation with multiple people sitting in a room, an omnidirectional condenser mic is probably your best bet, depending on how many microphones you have set up and available to capture everyone’s voices.
If you’re a band that plays music and wants to record together in a session, a large-diaphragm condenser microphone for the singer makes sense, while there should be another small-diaphragm condenser to pick up the instruments. If you’re an in-real-life streamer, a wireless condenser or dynamic mic is your best bet for mobility.
Lastly, if you’re not too tech-savvy, a dynamic or condenser with a USB might be the best way to go, as there’s minimal setup for both options. Ultimately, as audio technology gets better, dynamic microphones are becoming more sensitive and better at reducing the amount of noise in recorded audio, and condenser microphones are becoming more durable and better for general use.
