Best Microphone for FL Studio

If you can’t find the best microphone for FL Studio, you’ve come to the right place.

Rode NT-1A

A full-scale music production digital audio workstation (DAW), FL Studio features excellent multi-track recording, mixing, and sequencing capabilities for creating superior quality music tracks.

Additionally, the FL Studio software is equipped with an adaptable mixer, VST hosting, state-of-the-art ReWire, and MIDI compatibility, allowing you to make the most of your creativity. Of all the audio equipment components you’ll need for recording and mixing tracks using FL Studio, a microphone is one.

This review walks you through some of the best microphones for FL Studio that work perfectly for both recording instruments and vocals.

The 4 Best Microphones for FL Studio

ImageModelPrice
Rode NT-1A is the best microphone for FL StudioRode NT1-A
(Top Pick)
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Shure SM58LCShure SM58LC
(Close Runner-Up)
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Audio-Technica AT2020Audio-Technica AT2020 Check Price
Shure SM57-LCEShure SM57-LCE
(Best on a Budget)
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Rode NT-1A (Editor’s Choice)

Rode NT-1A is the best microphone for FL Studio

Touted as the industry standard, the Rode NT1-A Anniversary Vocal Cardioid Condenser Mic delivers a rich and smooth dynamic range. The Rode NT-1 A’s warm and crystal clear sonic reproduction typified by exceptionally high-level SPL capability is comparable to that of premium mics. In addition, this cardioid condenser mic from Rode is one of the quietest mics you’ll come across, thanks to its self-noise level of just 5dBA.

Owing to the NT-1 A’s incredibly low noise, this condenser mic is the first choice of musicians, singers, record producers, and audio engineers for vocal and instruments recording. Promoted as the ‘Complete Vocal Recording Solution,’ the NT-1A comes equipped with everything music producers need for the home studio- and professional vocal recordings.

This Rode cardioid condenser mic pack includes an instructional DVD, dust jacket, a high-quality 20’ mic cable, a shock mount, and an audiophile-grade pop shield.

RØDE Microphones has designed the NT-1A by employing premium equipment and up-to-the-minute technology, making the mic amazingly performance-driven and versatile.

Rode has thoroughly remodeled its iconic studio mic-the NT1-for designing and developing the NT1A anniversary model, thus raising the standards for high-end mics. This updated and sophisticated condenser mic features completely new nickel-electroplated bodywork and the latest surface mount electronic circuitry.

This cardioid condenser microphone by Rode has won the coveted electronic musician 2004 editor’s choice award. No wonder the NT-1A condenser mic is a go-to mic for most producers and musicians when it comes to home studio recording or commercial vocal recording.

Pros

  • Condenser mic with cardioid polar pattern
  • Oversized 1” gold-sputtered capsule diaphragm
  • Extended dynamic range
  • Externally biased true condenser
  • Accessories include SM6 Shock Mount with a removable pop filter, mic dust cover, and shielded XLR cable
  • 10-year extended warranty (when you sign up for your mic at Rode’s website)
  • Class-leading frequency range, output impedance, maximum SPL, and output level
  • Ideal for podcasters, rappers, vocalists, and home studio recording

Cons

  • The extraordinary sensitiveness of this condenser mic which is an advantage mostly sometimes can be a downside: the microphone’s sensitivity means it attracts reverberations

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Shure SM58LC

Shure SM58LC

The Shure SM58LC Cardioid Dynamic Microphone is one condenser mic that has graced many events attended by popes, presidents, rock stars, orators, and comedians.

Accomplished singers, motivational speakers, stand-up comedians, and a host of other entertainers have crooned and voiced their views through its legendary grille for decades. Designed and engineered with meticulous care, the SM58LC makes the most of cardioid polar pattern for impeccable voice and note reproduction.

Whether you’re delivering a keynote address or regaling your audience with your vocals, you can rely on the SM58LC to diminish background noise. So no matter whether you’re performing inside a gigantic stadium or entertaining special guests in a club, the SM58 is always up to the task. This Cardioid Dynamic mic comes with a pneumatic shock mount that absorbs and neutralizes handling noise, thus keeping sound vibration-free.

On the other hand, the integrated pop-filter and the bulbous mesh grille work together to keep out plosives and wind. The SM58L exploits cardioid pickup pattern to the hilt for reproducing your voice just as you’d desire without any feedback and excellent off-axis sound elimination. Featuring an innovative and ergonomic form factor, this Shure dynamic cardioid mic delivers bespoke frequency response especially configured for singing.

Additionally, the customized frequency response is characterized by a more embellished and vivid midrange and great bass roll-off for monitoring the proximity effect. The SM58LC is a hardy mic exemplified by its enamel-coated metal body and steel-mesh grille that effectively resists everyday wear and tear. As a unidirectional (cardioid) dynamic mic, the Shure SM58 finds extensive vocal use in commercial studio recording and sound reinforcement.

Pros

  • Consistent cardioid pickup pattern cut-offs the chief sound source and minimizes ambient noise
  •  Roadworthy design along with a break-resistant stand adapter enables the mic to keep going strong for years
  • Excels in screening out unwarranted wind and plosives
  • Performance-driven mic
  • A unidirectional pickup pattern guarantees complete isolation of core sound source and minimization of background noise.

Cons

  • There’s a slight distortion/static during playback, especially at high volume levels.

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Audio-Technica AT2020

Audio-Technica AT2020

The AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio XLR Microphone by Audio-Technica is considered the industry benchmark for affordable performance-oriented studio condensers. The Audio-Technica AT2020 takes optimum advantage of side-address studio condenser mic technology rendering the mic perfect for home- and project studio applications.

You bet you won’t encounter a more versatile cardioid condenser mic due to its extensive dynamic range and excellent SPL management capability.

The custom-built low-mass diaphragm goes a long in furnishing broad frequency response and excellent transient response. The AT2020 makes good use of a unidirectional (cardioid) polar pattern, which enables the mic to boost segregation of preferred sound sources through minimal pickup of lateral and rear sounds. The threaded pivoting stand mount comes in very handy when securely tethering the mic for comfortable and precise positioning.

You’ll be hard put to find a better-quality microphone at the same price that works immaculately as a vocal mic. A workhorse of a mic, the AT2020 stands out when it comes to reproducing a top-notch tone of voice with all the nuances. At the same time, you can press into service this Audio-Technica cardioid condenser mic for recording a wide range of acoustic instruments.

The AT2020 is fully capable of handling the rough with the smooth. Moreover, this mic can effortlessly deal with milder workflow calling for some recording flair and coping with a hugely overdriven bass. And to top it all, the AT2020 also does superbly well in studio environments serving as the indispensable entry-level mic for an up-and-coming studio.

Pros

  • Affordable condenser mic with a fixed cardioid polar pattern perfect for home- and studio projects
  • Compact form factor
  • Rock-solid construction: The mic has an all-metal body and a metallic grille
  • Phantom-power compatibility does away with the need to connect to an external power source
  • An SPL of 144dB together with an extended dynamic range facilitates the registering of louder signals with minimal distortion
  • Includes a pouch for carrying the mic around and storage

Cons

  • It does not come with a pop filter
  • More suitable for use in studios than for live performances
  • High self-noise at 20dBA and moderate sensitivity (1.41mV/Pa) makes the mic more suitable for loud sources compared to quiet acoustic sources or distant miking

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Shure SM57-LCE (Best on a Budget)

Shure SM57-LCE

If you’re looking for a mic that allows you to connect and bond with your audience instinctively, then you don’t need to look further. The Shure SM57-LCE Cardioid Dynamic Instrument Microphone has been engineered with meticulous care, enabling it to handle any acoustic condition.

The SM57-LCE unidirectional mic is ubiquitous in the world of entertainment, and music-you’ll find it in recording studios, bars, clubs, and in 1, 00,000-seater stadiums.

Thanks to its warm and clean sound, recording professionals and celebrated musicians hold the SM57-LCE in high regard. At the same time, the microphone’s fine contoured presence rise ensures gorgeously detailed and clean instrumental reproduction and smooth vocal pickup on podiums. In addition, the Classic SM57 has been and continues to set the industry standards for cymbal and drum miking.

Almost all US presidents have used a low-impedance cardioid dynamic mic, the SM57 after the mic was introduced in 1965. The SM57 made it to the introductory TEC Awards TECnology Hall of Fame in 2004 to pay homage to its forty years of stellar performance. Every SM57 is subjected to stringent quality control testing where the mic is dropped at least ten times from a height of 10ft.

No wonder this Shure mic tends to be incredibly durable and resilient, effectively coping with the rigors of the studio as well as the elements. As a stupendously dynamic mic, the SM57 is capable of dealing with highly high SPLs without distortion, making it perfect for vocals and recording high-volume percussion instruments.

Pros

  • Intelligently designed for recording vocals as well as instruments, especially percussion instruments
  • Suitable for both recording and live performances
  • The reproduced sound is unprecedentedly clean and sparkling
  • Capable of handling frequencies with a response range from 40Hz-15KHz, so ideal for vocals, drums, and guitars
  • Unvarying cardioid pickup pattern blocks out the primary sound source and also reduces background din

Cons

  • Preamp gain is overly low for Focusrite Scarlett audio interface

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How to Choose a Good Microphone for FL Studio?

A mic plays a crucial role in influencing audio quality, whether you’re a seasoned sound engineer or starting as a podcaster. Of course, you can record your podcasts or tracks using the integrated mic in your smartphone. But if you want to impart a unique touch to your audio projects and take them to the next level, you’ll indispensably need a high-quality microphone.

So if you’re looking for a versatile mic that’ll serve you well in different situations or one that’s compatible with a DAW (like FL Studio), consider the following aspects carefully:-

Type of Mic

While shopping for your ideal mic, you’ll come across three basic types- dynamic, ribbon, and condenser. One type is differentiated from the other based on the technology employed for converting sound energy (sound waves) into electrical energy (electrical signals). Every type of mic is particularly suitable for reproducing a specific sound wave depending upon the conversion technique it exploits.

Dynamic microphones function as entry-level mics that work best for audio recording. They tend to be remarkably durable and more affordable than condenser mics, rendering them ideal for novices who still have a long way to go before they become pros. Their excellent durability makes them less sensitive, requiring a higher SPL for picking up sound waves.

Hence a dynamic mic is suitable for vocals, cymbals, guitar amps, and percussion instruments in live gigs. Ribbon-style mics excel in reproducing delicate and subtle sounds as their frequency response range closely represents a human’s audible range. However, their most significant downside is that they’re pretty flimsy and delicate, which implies that you need to handle them very cautiously.

Condenser mics are available as mics with a small diaphragm and those with a large diaphragm. Condenser mics with larger diaphragms are as sensitive as their smaller diaphragm counterparts responding excellently to high-frequencies but have a superior frequency response overall. In addition, smaller diaphragm condensers respond better to higher frequencies than lower frequencies making them perfect for delicate percussion instruments and hi-hats.

Proximity Effect

Have you observed that your voice sounds heavier and deeper when you’re closer to the mic than when you’re farther? This happens because of the proximity effect as your closeness boosts the microphone’s low-frequency response. The directionality (polar pattern) of a mic determines the intensity of the transducer’s proximity effect.

So it stands to reason that the omnidirectional microphone does not demonstrate any proximity effect.

Polar Pattern

The directionality or polar pattern of a microphone is perhaps the most critical factor that’ll be influencing your purchasing decision. A microphone’s polar pattern defines its sensitiveness to various sound sources in an environment from diverse angles and is rated in decibels (dB). The directionality of a mic implies that its head (known as the capsule) will pick up sound waves with varying efficiency based on its sensitivity rating.

The polar pattern is further subdivided into two groups or categories-directional and cardioid. Each category again branches off into numerous exclusive patterns of directionality. So you’ll find mics having cardioid, hyper-cardioid, super-cardioid, unidirectional, bi-directional, and omnidirectional polar patterns.

Mics with a unidirectional polar pattern are also called shotgun mics, and as their name indicates, they excel in picking up sound from the direction they’re pointing at. As a result, unidirectional mics effectively isolate sounds from different musical instruments. Bidirectional mics (usually ribbon mics) are designed to pick up sound from the sides but keep out sound sources at the front.

Omni-directional mics pick up sounds coming from all directions and are best used for choirs and chorals. In addition, most dynamic microphones (and a few condenser mics as well) take advantage of the cardioid polar pattern enabling them to respond originating from the front and sides, rendering them excellent for vocals.

Maximum SPL (Sound Pressure Level)

A microphone’s max SPL is measured by its capacity to deal with a sound source’s loudness or intensity before distortion kicks in and is stated in dB. Therefore, you should always compare the sound source’s maximum dB with the mic’s maximum SPL to steer clear of distortion and prevent damage.

Connectivity

You can plug in a mic into your computer that comes with an audio (connectivity) input or into a preamp. So before you choose a product, ensure that it can be smoothly connected to equipment making up your audio setup. Most mics feature XLR connectivity, while some also come with USB connectivity that connects directly to your PC loaded with the DAW software.

Final Thoughts About the Best Mics for FL Studio

Choosing the best mic for FL Studio is a tall order as all the mic models reviewed above fit the bill. Whatever model you choose, ensure that your Mac or Windows PC is compatible with your preferred mic.

If you’re looking for rock-solid budget mics, you can go for the Shure SM57 geared more towards percussion instruments, guitar amps, etc.

Alternatively, the Shure SM58LC is a high-quality (but supremely affordable) mic that works best for vocals. And if you need a more versatile premium studio mic, then the Rode NT-1A is your best bet.