Best Rapping Microphones
Using the best rapping microphone to record your raps or perform live will not only make you sound better, it will also be a lot easier to use. Too many people think that any mic can be used for rapping. It’s not true.
In order to get the perfect mic to record rap, you need to look at the polar pattern, style, and sensitivity. Good rappers tend to have tons of plosives in their lyrics, so it’s important to get a mic that is capable of blocking those.
You don’t have to worry about all the technical stuff, we’ve reviewed all of the top microphones for rap music along with their pros, cons, and features, so you can pick the right one for your music.
Top 3 Rap Microphones
Contents
| Best Rapping Microphones | Model | Price |
|---|---|---|
 |
AKG Pro Audio C214 | Check Price |
 |
MXL 770 | Check Price |
 |
Audio-Technica AT2035 | Check Price |
Top Microphones for Rapping
Here is our list of the best microphones for rapping in the studio or at a live show.
AKG C214 Large Diaphragm Microphone
AKG is one brand that has contributed so much to the world of microphones such that the history of microphones cannot be complete without mentioning its name. Right from its inception in 1947 till date, the brand has maintained a leading position in this industry.
Here, AKG offers us the C214. This is a large diaphragm microphone that is offered as an affordable alternative to the legendary C414.
It shines in the studio for a variety of uses including vocals with the kind of high energy levels you will expect from rap musicians. It can actually handle sound pressure levels of up to 156dB.
This is a condenser microphone so it is very sensitive. You however have a 20dB attenuator that will reduce its sensitivity while the bass roll off will help manage those unwelcome low frequencies.
For its build, an all-metal construction ensures that the microphone will withstand the rigors of heavy use without showing signs of wear and tear.
With a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and a maximum SPL of 156dB, this microphone can be put to a wide range of uses including vocal and instrument miking.
Pros
- Transducer type – Condenser.
- Polar pattern – Cardioid.
- Frequency response range – 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Cons
There’s really nothing one can complain about at this price. It is well worth the price and more.
Suggestion
If you are looking for a well-priced microphone that can handle intense vocal recordings and other applications then try this.
MXL 770 Condenser Microphone
MXL Microphones is a brand owned by Marshal Electronics. This brand can be regarded as being relatively new to the microphone industry. Despite coming on the scene long after the leading brands had established themselves on the scene, they have still managed to create some space in the microphone market by providing affordable products to musicians on a tight budget.
We are here looking at the 770 from this brand. This is a large diaphragm condenser microphone that can serve multiple purposes. It has a wide frequency response of 30 Hz to 20 kHz, a sensitivity of 15mV/Pa and a max SPL of 137 dB.
To ensure it can produce great results in different recording or use scenarios, it has a 10 dB attenuator that cuts down it sensitivity for really loud audio sources. It also has a high pass filter that helps cut down on unwanted low frequencies.
These features make it perfect for vocals as well as certain instruments.
When you order this, you will get, in addition to the microphone, a sturdy carrying case and a shock mount that provides high isolation. Best of all, this will not break your bank one bit.
Pros
- Transducer type – Condenser.
- Polar pattern – Cardioid.
- Frequency response range – 30 Hz to 20 kHz.
Cons
For the price, there is no con to be pointed out.
Suggestion
This microphone is ideal for the project or home studio owner on a tight budget. With this single microphone, you can achieve a professional level recording of both vocals and instruments.
Audio-Technica AT2035 Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Audio-Technica has been around since 1962 and has really been impacting the professional audio world with its many top quality products. When it comes to headphones and microphones, very few brands equal the quality that this brand offers.
One of its products is the AT2035 which is a large diaphragm microphone with a condenser transducer and sporting a side address form factor. This is one microphone that will excel in any home or project studio setup.
With a frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz and a max SPL of 149 dB, there are a number of applications, aside from vocals, that it will handle with ease.
To help manage its sensitivity especially when recording extremely hot audio sources, it features a 10 dB attenuating pad which can be engaged to curtail the hot signal. You can also engage the 80 Hz bass roll off when low frequency rumbles become an issue.
With proper positioning and gain staging, this here microphone can deliver at professional levels. Best of all, it will offer all these at a very affordable cost, making it ideal for those on a tight budget.
Pros
- Transducer type – Condenser.
- Polar pattern – Cardioid.
- Frequency response range – 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Cons
Some buyers get a plastic mounting adapter instead of a brass one.
Suggestion
If you own a project or home studio and you need a multi-purpose microphone that will deliver good quality without breaking your bank, then this is a good option to consider.
Rode NT1-A Complete Vocal Recording Solution
Rode is another well-known microphone brand. This Australian company has, from its inception in 1967, never failed to live up to the expectation of its global customer base with products that help them shine.
One of such offerings is what the brand calls its Complete Vocal Recording Solution. This is a package that includes the popular NT1-A, a shock mount, a pop filter, a 20 feet microphone cable, dust cover and instructional video that can be downloaded. This package offers the singer or home studio owner an affordable way to begin to record audio professionally.
The NT1-A is a microphone that has gained notoriety as the world’s most quiet microphone. This is because if its self-noise that is put at just 5dBA. It is a large diaphragm microphone with a condenser transducer and a cardioid pickup pattern that excels for vocals and also some instrument recording.
Actually, with a maximum SPL of 137dB, its sensitivity and frequency response of 20 Hz to 20 kHz, this microphone will handle high intensity singing and playing.
Remember that it has a very low self-noise which means that the clarity you will achieve with it is top quality.
Pros
- Transducer type – Condenser.
- Polar pattern – Cardioid.
- Frequency response range – 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Cons
For its use and cost, there’s really nothing much to complain about.
Suggestion
This is an affordable package offer that is ideal for the home studio owner or anyone who is just starting off with professional recording.
AKG C414 XLII Microphone
We started this review with an AKG microphone so it is interesting that we are ending with another microphone from AKG. This at least shows that the brand has a lot to offer in this niche.
What we are looking at here is the C414 XLII. This is a really interesting microphone in that it is so loaded with features that it almost appears as if the brand expects you to have just this microphone and use it for everything.
First, it is a large diaphragm microphone with a condenser transducer. Things begin to get interesting when you look at its polar pattern, or should we say, polar patterns.
This one microphone offers about nine switchable polar patterns. Some of these include: omnidirectional, cardioid, wide cardioid, figure of eight, and hypercardioid.
It also has a switchable attenuating pad with which you can cut -6 -12 or -18 dB. In addition to this, you can also cut unwanted lows with the bass roll-off option which offers a cut of 160, 80, or 40 Hz.
It comes in a briefcase-like box which will also contains a pop filter, a windscreen and a shock mount.
Pros
- Transducer type – Condenser.
- Polar pattern – Omnidirectional, cardioid, wide cardioid, figure of eight, and hypercardioid.
- Frequency response range – 20 Hz to 20 kHz.
Cons
You need to learn how to really use its many features.
Suggestion
If you’re looking for intense versatility and you can pay for this microphone, get it. Your only problem may be having the patience to fully maximize its potentials.
What You Should Get!
Microphones are always interesting products to review. There are a lot of personal preferences and unique circumstances that come to play when deciding how good a microphone is. That said, some microphones offer a wider level of acceptance and versatility and that is what we will be basing our selection today on.
A critical look at this list shows that we’ve been unfair to a lot of the other microphones here. While they all offer some value, the AKG C414 XLII clearly stands heads and shoulders above them all. We can therefore not really say we were comparing microphones in the same class.
With all that said, we have no choice but to declare the AKG C214 XL our pick for the Top Rapping Microphone. This microphone will comfortably handle a wider range of vocal challenges with ease.
