Microphone Accessory Reviews (Stands, Shock Mounts, Pop Filters, etc.)

Microphone tripods and stands allow you to position your mic exactly where you want it. The better versions tend to be more quiet, sturdy and flexible.

My favorite are these boom arms, but you can also get some tabletop stands.

Shock mounts are a necessity if you want to get clean audio.

Other microphone accessories like pop filters further improve audio quality.

And don't overlook XLR cables, they're more important than most people realize.

Find your favorite microphone accessories below...

Post Updated April 8, 2020 / Ross Winn
Disclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Best XLR Cables For Microphones

An XLR cable might not seem like the most important thing, but it is often the “weak link” in your audio’s signal chain.

You don’t want a high-end condenser or dynamic microphone paired with a cheap cable.

They can wear out, pick up interference, and different materials will conduct electricity better or worse than others.

Some terms you might see are balanced or unbalanced, low or high impedance, conductor material, strand count, and more.

It can definitely get kind of confusing – but don’t worry about all that.

We’re going to help you out by highlighting the best XLR cables among a few different price points.

Most of them will be offered in different cable lengths, with longer cables tending to cost a little more than shorter ones.

They generally fall into three different tiers based on price: budget, mid-range, and high-end.

If you want to save yourself some time, my favorites among the different tiers are:

Budget XLR Cable: LyxPro
Mid-Range XLR Cable: Rapco Horizon
High-End XLR Cable: Mogami Gold Studio

Post Updated January 1, 2020 / Ross Winn
Disclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Best Pop Filters For Recording Vocals

Pop filters do what their name suggests – they reduce or eliminate popping sounds.

In natural speech, certain letters tend to cause your mouth and breath to produce fast-moving air. These plosives typically come from the letters P, T, and K.

Try saying the word “podcast” or “pop filter” while holding your hand in front of your mouth – you’ll feel the air.

This air can easily overwhelm a microphone, causing distortion and clipping.

We definitely don’t want that.

So let’s take a look at some of the best pop filters to use when recording vocals as of September 2020… [Read more…] about Best Pop Filters For Recording Vocals

Post Updated December 4, 2019 / Ross Winn
Disclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Blue Yeti Upgrades: Accessories To Improve Your Yeti Microphone

The Blue Yeti microphone is one of the most popular microphones for podcasting, gaming, YouTube, and any other type of recording you typically do in front of your computer.

It’s an excellent microphone out of the box – it’s our top pick for USB microphones and gaming microphones – but there are a few things you should get to increase your audio quality and make it easier to use properly.

Update: You can get the brand new Blue Yeticaster Bundle that includes the Blue Yeti, Blue Radius III shock mount & Blue Compass boom arm – and you save a bunch by getting them together!

Check out the top Blue Yeti accessories here:

[Read more…]

Post Updated January 1, 2020 / Ross Winn
Disclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Best Microphone Boom Arm (For Podcasters & Home Studios)

I have to say that getting a microphone boom arm was one of the best decisions I made for my podcasting studio.

Why? Because I can be ready to record so much faster. All I have to do is pull the boom arm toward me and hit record. But it also frees up a lot of space on your desk and feels much more professional. A mic boom arm also allows you to get perfect mic placement much easier and with better posture. That means your voice sounds better.

Also, if you get a shock mount (and you should), you will need a mic stand of some kind in order to attach it.

It’s pretty crazy that one basic piece of equipment can do so much.

But quality varies quite a bit and certain microphones (like the Blue Yeti) are heavier than average and will need a sturdier boom. If you invest in a decent one, it will last you a long time. I would avoid the cheaper ones if you can.

I’ll start with my favorite as of September 2020:

[Read more…]

Post Updated January 1, 2020 / Ross Winn
Disclosure: Links to other sites may be affiliate links that generate us a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Best Universal Microphone Shock Mount (For Studio Mics)

Choosing the best universal microphone shock mount is interesting because most microphone brands offer their own compatible shock mounts that are designed to perfectly fit the microphone they are designed for.

In some cases, they don’t offer a compatible shock mount, which is a great reason to get a universal one…

But I think the #1 reason to get a universal shock mount is so you don’t have to get a new one when you decide to get a new microphone.

Good ones (like our recommendation) tend to be built with better materials that will last much longer than what most microphone brands will offer as well and reduce vibration and unwanted noise better.

Cheaper ones usually have suspensions that are much too tight and don’t do a good job reducing sound. [Read more…] about Best Universal Microphone Shock Mount (For Studio Mics)