Make: Shure | Model: SM7B
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £340 | £220 Used
Spec sheet HERE

The darling of Podcasters, Streamers and YouTubers. Surprisingly closely related to the SM58 and SM57. Actually been around a LONG time – early version was the favoured vocal mic of Michael Jackson. Beware though, VERY gain-hungry – needs a good pre-amp or hiss can be introduced

Make: Shure | Model: SM58
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £98 | £55 Used
Spec sheet HERE

The industry standard. The microphone from which the vast majority of handheld mics are based. It’s been around forever and will last forever too as it’s built like a tank. Very easy to work with. Possibly the most popular professional microphone in existence.

Make: Shure | Model: SM57
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £105 | £60 Used
Spec sheet HERE

The non-identical twin of the SM58. The only difference being the lack of spherical grille at the end. The design of this makes it more suited to mic up instruments. However, it is just as good as the SM58 for vocal work – just ask any of the last eleven (11!) US Presidents

Make: Audio-Technica | Model: AT2020
Mic Type: Condenser | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: Side | Connector: XLR
New £90 | £50 Used
Spec sheet HERE

This was the first mic I bought specifically with voiceover work in mind. It is well priced, has a fairly flat response (a more natural sound) and does a pretty good job at rejecting ambient noise. Note it is a side-address microphone, I have seen people speaking into the end of it and complaining about the quality of the recording!! Simple set-up, no faffing about with buttons and dials on the mic which offer you very little!

Make: Audio-Technica | Model: AT2020USB+ Mic Type: Condenser | Pattern: Cardioid Address: Side | Connector: USB New £125 | £45 Used Spec sheet HERE

The nerdier brother of the AT2020. In theory, this should produce a similar sound to the AT2020. However, with the simplicity that a USB microphones brings (no audio interface or mixer required), you sacrifice a little in terms of adaptability and have limited control over the built-in components. This also means there is more to go wrong with it. That said, if you are going down the USB mic route, it doesn’t get much better than the AT2020USB+ and there’s some absolute bargains to be found pre-owned

Make: Behringer | Model: XM8500
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £25 | £15 Used
Spec sheet HERE

This is Behringer’s version of Shure’s SM58. And oh my, what a mic. *Pound for pound* I would say this is the best mic out there. I’m not joking. You can get four of these for the price of one SM58! The sound quality is frankly miraculous at this price point and if you are on a budget (or even if you’re not) you wouldn’t regret this purchase. Keep an eye out for sales, I picked mine up at an incredible £15 brand new! You would be hard pressed to tell the difference to mics costing 10X this

Make: Behringer | Model: SL75C
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £25 | £15 Used
Spec sheet HERE

Once again, Behringer has performed a small miracle at this price point with its SL75C which is in no way influenced by the Shure SM57. The sound is noticibly different here though. The SM57 produces a fairly flat, natural sound, whereas the Behringer has a bit more in the bass frequencies as well as in the high end. This is only how it sounds to my ear and you may feel it sounds better for voice. Again though, dirt cheap and surprisingly good.

Make: Samson | Model: Go Mic Mic Type: Condenser | Pattern: Cardioid/Omni Address: Side | Connector: USB New £60 | £15 Used Spec sheet HERE

Whilst this mic is primarily designed to clip to the top of your laptop (or desktop, I guess) screen and serve to just provide a better sound for listeners at the other end video calls etc, bring it closer to you and position carefully (it is VERY susceptible to plosives) and you can get a serviceable sound out of it for voiceovers. On the plus side it is without doubt the most portable of all the mics on here and could well be worth investing in as an emergency backup. Not worth new prices, but can be found pretty cheap used.

Make: Sennheiser | Model: e825 S
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £65 | £25 Used
Spec sheet HERE

A decent all-round mic, mainly geared towards stage work rather than voiceover. Has very little handling noise for example and is sturdily built. Fine to get started with if you have access to one, but would look to upgrade sooner rather than later for voiceover purposes.

Make: Stagg | Model: SDM50
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £18 | £18 Used
Spec sheet HERE

One of many clones out there of the Shure SM58. While it may look like an SM58, it certainly doesn’t sound like an SM58. Fairly muddy and muffled to my ear, so not a good starting point to try and work from to get a decent sound. It’s very cheap (so there’s no value to be found buying used), but it’s not particularly cheerful.

Make: Stagg | Model: SDM70
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £18 | £18 Used
Spec sheet HERE

Much like the SDM50 this is Stagg’s cheap knock off of one of the mainstays of the Shure range, the SM57. It’s ok. But if you don’t want to splash out for the proper thing, you can do a lot better, even at this price point. [cough-cough] XM8500 [cough] 

Make: Pyle | Model: PDMIC58
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £20* | £18 Used
Spec sheet HERE

Another SM58 clone – this one not even imaginative enough to change the numbers in the name! Quite a bit brighter than the Stagg so usable straight out of the box in a pinch. Ludicrously cheap, I actually got mine for about £11 new, like the PDMIC57. Do not seem to be readily available at the time of writing however.

Make: Pyle | Model: PDMIC57
Mic Type: Dynamic | Pattern: Cardioid
Address: End | Connector: XLR
New £11(!) | £18 Used
Spec sheet HERE

Unashamedly similar in appearance to the Shure SM57, this is a ludicrously cheap microphone – there are toy microphones costing more than this. For the money it’s pretty good really. But you want better. Useful as a backup maybe.

SM58 Sample