Since people found out the psychological benefits of ASMR, it’s been taking the world by storm. Content creators have been working hard trying to find new ‘satisfying’ ideas for videos and audio recordings.
If you’re already a veteran of the ASMR world, you probably know that the sole most essential item for producing high-quality content is the microphone. If you don’t have a good microphone, the sound will be all blurry and dissonant.
Here’s a buying guide for the best cheap mics for ASMR!
Our Recommendation of Best Cheap Mics for ASMR
The word ‘cheap’ may imply that the mics are of low quality. However, on the contrary, we have some pretty good mics on the list below. For their price, they provide excellent value, and their output is decent enough for your ASMR content.
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
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TOP Pick
 
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Blue Microphones ICE USB Mic
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Very affordable USB cardioid mic with a trendy looking to it. No driver required. Beginner friendly. | Check Price |
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Trending
 
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Audio Technica AT2005USB
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A cardioid dynamic mic that offers both USB and XLR capabilities. Latency-free experience of recording. | Check Price |
|
Trending
 
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Samson Sagomic Go Mic
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This very handy mic has both cardioid and omnidirectional recording modes, good frequency response. | Check Price |
|
Trending
 
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Shure SM7B
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This is properly one of the most popular mic on the internet right now, beside the great looking design it also captures the low and mid low frequency very well. | Check Price |
Scroll through the options and choose the best fit for your budget.
1. Blue Microphones iCE USB Mic for Recording and Streaming
Pros
- Trendy circular design
- Custom condensation capsule for a clearer sound
- Easy to use for beginners
Cons
- Some buyers reported the mic is a bit fragile.
The Blue Snowball is one of the most affordable microphones on the market. You’ll hardly find a better microphone in the same price range. If you’re a beginner, it may be the best option for you on this list.
The Snowball mic is pretty easy to use. It’s a USB device, so setting it up is a breeze. You only need to plug it into your computer, and voila! You’ll only have to set it up as your default device for recording, and you’re done—no need to install any software, which is good news for beginners.
The mic’s clear sound makes it a great option for ASMR. It comes fully equipped with a custom condenser capsule that results in a clear, bright sound. It works for ASMR, Facetime, and Skype. Besides, it’s certified by Discord and Skype.
It only has one recording mode, which is the cardioid. It means that the mic puts emphasis on the sounds directly in front of it. So it won’t catch the sounds on the sides and rear well enough.
Moreover, the Snowball only records in mono, which means you can’t create left to right motion using it. To be fair, all mics in this price range will be the same, but you’ll still be able to get decent quality out of it. Plus, you can always buy another mic and record using both if you want to create stereo recordings.
Aside from the functionality, the mic will look aesthetic on your desk. It features a contemporary circular design, a nice change from the conventional mic shape we know.
2. Audio-Technica AT2005USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone
Pros
- Headphone jack included for latency-free recording
- Extended frequency response for ASMR recording
- The controls are easy to use for beginners
Cons
- Some users reported the mic’s sound is a bit quiet for their liking.
The AT2005 mic from AudioTechnica is pretty popular among the podcasting community—mainly due to its relatively low price but mostly because of the quality it delivers. The mic is a bit more costly than most options on our list, but that’s only because it has the best set of features.
The Audio Technica offers both USB and XLR capabilities. On top of that, it has a cardioid pattern, which keeps unnecessary sounds out of your recording, resulting in the clearest sound possible. It only catches the sound directly in front of it, leaving the other sounds out.
Furthermore, the mic’s low-mass diaphragm provides an impeccable frequency response, so the sound produced is pristine for your ASMR videos.
Upon buying, you receive the AT2005 fully equipped with a headphone jack to prevent delay. This way, you listen to the audio produced in real-time, accounting for clear output. If you want to have a latency-free experience of recording and monitoring, the mic would be an excellent choice.
The delay-free recording also helps with experimenting. When you listen to your voice or the audio produced in real-time, the output will be on point.
Generally, the AT2005USB is one of the rare Audio Technica mics that are affordable. And, it comes with plenty of useful features for ASMR recording.
3. Samson SAGOMIC Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone
Pros
- Portable size for frequent travellers
- Both cardioid and omnidirectional recording modes are available
- Equipped with a long-lasting lithium-ion battery
Cons
- Some users complained that the mic catches background noise.
If you tend to record in various places, this portable mic from Samson may be the best option for you. You may be taken aback at first because of the mic’s unconventional design compared to the other options. However, once you try using it, you’ll know how powerful and efficient it actually is.
Contrary to the previous mics on our list, the Samson Go has both cardioid and omnidirectional recording modes. The first means that the mic catches the sound directly in front of it, and the latter means it catches the sounds on all other angles as well.
This may be a double-edged sword because it may catch background noise. However, we doubt you’d record ASMR audio in any setting with background noise anyway. The versatile options will allow you to experiment well and produce sounds of all kinds, which is a good thing for most ASMR content creators.
The Samson Go has an extended frequency response, just like the Audio Technica AT2005USB. As a result, it handles high-end frequencies easily and seamlessly, providing a good balance with low and mid-range frequencies. So, you have a smooth sound output in the end.
Other than the mic’s functionality, its small size and portable design are brilliant if you move a lot. It’ll fit into your bag or pocket with ease, and you can put it absolutely anywhere. So it’s a pretty solid choice for frequent travellers. With the price it comes with, we’d say it’s quite the bargain.
4. Shure SM7B
Pros
- Very Versatile
- Balanced Frequencies
- Comes with windscreen
Cons
- Some users may find it too Bassy
The Shure is one of the best microphone for vocal, It’s also one of the best microphone for ASMR on the market, when everything comes to vocal related the SM7B is sure to find its way into the conversation.
As the balance on this microphone blow most other straight out of the water, the Shure SM7B uses a detachable crosswalk windscreen, This mic is powerful and versatile, perfect for getting up close, and personal to the microphone capsules and speaking with the smoothing voice.
The dynamic cartridge utilise a flat wide range frequency response for clean natural reproduction of your audio, the mid range emphasis with low bass roll off gives a major boast to your vocal clarity, which makes it especially suited for ASMR recording.
Things to Consider When Buying the Best Cheap Mics for ASMR
There are thousands of different models of recording microphones on the market. So, how would you know which is suitable for ASMR? Here are all the things you need to consider before buying your mic:
Recording Device
When recording ASMR content, you won’t only use the microphone. Instead, you’ll use a recording device as well, which is more often than not, the computer. In this case, you’ll need to consider the input method.
If you’re using a computer, you’ll need a microphone with a USB cord. If you’re using a mixing device, check its input options and consider that as well.
Bear in mind that a lot of mics come with XLR cables because they’re the standard option for audio equipment. However, these cables need an external adapter or audio interface if you want to connect them to a computer. A USB microphone is always the easier choice.
Low Noise Floor
When choosing a mic for ASMR, it needs to have a low noise floor because the triggers will mostly be subtle and quiet. So, the mic needs to be sensitive, and it needs to produce only a little self-noise so it’s able to catch the pristine sound well.
The self-noise is basically the noise that the mic catches when there are no other sounds around. With ASMR content, you need it to be as low as it can get because you’ll be recording extra soft sounds. A high noise floor will drown out your sounds completely, and you won’t get the results you’re aiming at.
To Wrap Up
All the four best cheap mics for ASMR on our list are efficient and reliable. That said, each one is better for a specific purpose. The Blue Snowball is one of the best options for beginners because it’s easy to use. Plus, it has a USB cord, so it’s easy to plug into your computer or absolutely any recording device you use.
The Audio Technica may be out of some people’s budgets, but it offers plenty of features. It provides excellent value in return for its price.
Lastly, the Samson is ideal for travellers. Its small size and portable design are perfect for moving around a lot. The dual-recording modes also come incredibly in handy for ASMR.
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