The Best Budget Microphone for Recording Studios, Podcasts, and YouTube Channels

When it comes to building a budget-friendly recording studio, the MXL 990 condenser microphone stands out as the best budget microphone.

Priced at around $100, this microphone delivers professional-grade audio quality that rivals competitors at much higher price points.

Whether you’re a bedroom music producer (like myself), an aspiring podcaster, or a YouTuber (also like myself) looking to elevate your sound, the MXL 990 offers exceptional value and performance.

Why the MXL 990 Condenser Microphone Outshines Other Options

The MXL 990 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone renowned for its clear, warm sound and versatile performance. Unlike many budget microphones that tend to exaggerate certain frequencies, the MXL 990 captures a balanced tone, making it suitable for recording vocals, acoustic instruments, podcast interviews, and voice-overs.

One of the key features that sets the MXL 990 apart as the best budget microphone is its robust build quality. The solid metal body and vintage-inspired design not only give it a professional appearance but also ensure durability.

The microphone includes a shock mount and a hard case, which are often sold separately with other models, further enhancing its value.

Another standout feature is its low self-noise, which means your recordings will have minimal background hiss—a critical factor for achieving professional results in any recording environment.

How the MXL 990 Compares to Higher-Priced Condenser Microphones

Despite its modest price tag, the MXL 990 punches above its weight in terms of audio clarity and reliability.

While some microphones costing $250 to $300 or more may offer additional polar patterns or advanced features, the MXL 990’s cardioid pickup pattern ensures focused sound capture, effectively reducing unwanted noise from the sides and rear. This makes it ideal for untreated rooms or smaller spaces, which is often the case for home studios.

That said, I have a more expensive condenser microphone that I’ve also used to record vocals – the Warm Audio WA-47Jr. At $300, the WA-47Jr. is three times the cost of the MXL 990.

Although the WA-47Jr. has other features like pattern selection and dB control, the quality is very similar to the MXL 990 when using the basic cardioid pattern. I’ve done A/B comparisons of both microphones, and sonically, there is little to no difference between the two.

I’ve personally used the MXL 990 to record all my YouTube videos and even some of the vocals for my released songs. The microphone’s ability to capture the voice of Natalie Nokomis with warmth and detail has consistently impressed me and my audience.

Its reliability has made it a staple in my setup, proving that you don’t need to break the bank to own the best budget microphone.

Check out my studio setup in the photo below…

Important Setup Tips for the MXL 990

Before using the MXL 990, ensure your audio interface provides 48V phantom power, as this microphone requires it to operate. Without phantom power, the microphone won’t function.

Additionally, proper placement and room acoustics are key to getting the best out of this microphone.

That said, position it around six to twelve inches from your mouth, use a pop filter to reduce plosives, and consider adding some basic soundproofing to your recording space to enhance clarity further. In the section below, I go into detail on these items.

Accessories to Make your Studio Look and Sound Professional

whether you’re recording as a hobby or with the intention of making a career of it, you’ll want your studio to look and sound professional.

Here are all the items and accessories I’ve used and recommend to get the highest quality output…

Reliable Digital Audio Interface

This is the device that takes your analog microphone audio and translates it into digital data for your DAW or recording app. As shown in the photo above, I personally use and highly recommend the MOTU M2.

This decently priced interface delivers pristine audio quality, low latency, and an intuitive design. I find it to be an excellent pairing with the MXL 990. Check out my detailed write up on the MOTU M2 audio interface.

Quality Microphone Cable and Mic Stand

An XLR (eXternal Line Return) cable sends the analog sound from the microphone to the digital audio interface. Unfortunately the MXL 990 doesn’t come with an XLR cable, but the good thing is that XLR cables aren’t crazy expensive.

Here are the XLR cables I use and recommend. They’re gold plated, reinforced, and shielded – so your signal loss and interference are greatly reduced. For a 2-pack, it’s less than $20. And they have a 4.8 star rating!

Due to feedback, vibration, and interference issues, you never want to hold your mic when recording. That said, you’ll also need a stand for your shock mount and mic to rest on. Here’s the microphone stand I’m using in the photo.

Good Pop Filter with Decent Room Acoustics

In the photo above, I’m using the Earamble Studio Microphone Pop Filter. It does an excellent job of removing the plosives and filtering out some of the unwanted frequencies. And for room acoustics, as you can also see in my studio, I just use ultra thick moving blankets.

These heavy-duty moving blankets are a great cheap alternative to expensive and cumbersome acoustic foam. These blankets work wonders to reduce reverb and echo – giving a dry (but not too dry) sound.

An added bonus of using moving blankets is that you can also use them to wrap your expensive and sensitive studio equipment if you actually do move (which I’ve done twice). For $40 you get 4 blankets which should cover every wall in your bedroom studio. For the price and value, you can’t go wrong!

Monitoring your Recordings

One last thing you may want to consider is how you’re going to monitor (listen to) your recordings. You can either monitor through studio headphones (as you see in the photo above), or you can listen through a pair of powered monitors.

However, the common method (and most budget friendly) is through a good pair of studio headphones.

In the photo, I’m using the industry standard Sony MDR7506. You can always use a paid of cheap 3.5mm earbuds with a TRS adapter, but if you want quality or are taking your music recording to another level, you may want to consider investing in an upgrade.

Elevate Your Sound with the Best Budget Microphone, the MXL 990

The MXL 990 condenser microphone is the best budget microphone that delivers professional sound quality for any bedroom music studio, podcast, or YouTube channel.

Its durability, balanced audio capture, and affordability make it a no-brainer for content creators and musicians alike.

Ready to upgrade your sound? Get the MXL 990 Condenser Microphone today and experience the difference it can make in your recordings!