The best microphone for interviews depends on where you’re recording: in a controlled room a dynamic broadcast mic sounds great, on camera a lavalier keeps things tidy, and on location a shotgun captures speech from a distance. The common goal is clear, consistent, intelligible speech with minimal background noise.
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Quick answer: For seated, in-room interviews use a dynamic mic like the Shure SM7B, Rode PodMic or Shure MV7 per person. For on-camera work use a lavalier such as the Rode Wireless GO II or DPA lav; for run-and-gun, a Rode VideoMic shotgun.
What to look for in a microphone for interviews
- Speech clarity: You want intelligible midrange and controlled sibilance, not hi-fi sparkle.
- Noise rejection: Dynamic mics and cardioid patterns reject room noise well, which matters in untreated or public spaces. See condenser vs dynamic microphones and polar patterns explained.
- One mic per person: Recording each speaker on their own channel makes editing and level control far easier.
- Form factor: Desk mic, clip-on lav or boom-mounted shotgun — match it to your setting.
In-room, seated interviews: dynamic mics
For podcasts and studio-style interviews where everyone is seated, broadcast dynamics are the standard.
- Shure SM7B: The broadcast benchmark — smooth, rejects room noise, needs lots of clean gain.
- Rode PodMic: Affordable, easy to drive and great up close; pairs well with a Rodecaster.
- Shure MV7: USB and XLR in one, ideal for simple multi-guest setups.
Give each speaker their own mic into an interface or podcast mixer like the Rodecaster or a multi-input Focusrite Scarlett. See how to record a podcast at home.
On-camera interviews: lavalier mics
When the interview is filmed and you don’t want a mic in shot, a clip-on lavalier is the discreet choice.
- Rode Wireless GO II: A compact wireless system, hugely popular for video interviews and two-person setups.
- DPA / Sennheiser lavaliers: Higher-end lavs for broadcast-quality clip-on sound.
On location: shotgun mics
For run-and-gun or when you can’t clip a mic on, a shotgun’s tight pickup grabs speech from a short distance while rejecting the sides.
- Rode VideoMic series: Camera-mounted shotguns that are easy to deploy.
- Sennheiser MKH 416: The film-industry standard boom shotgun for dialogue.
Setup tips for clean interviews
- Keep mics close and consistent for every speaker.
- Record each person to a separate track when possible.
- Use headphones to catch problems live.
- In echoey rooms, add quick treatment — see acoustic treatment for home studios — or move closer with a dynamic mic.
- Browse the microphones hub for more.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best microphone for a podcast-style interview?
A broadcast dynamic mic such as the Shure SM7B, Rode PodMic or Shure MV7, with one mic per person, gives clear speech and good room rejection for seated interviews.
Lavalier or shotgun for filmed interviews?
Use a lavalier when you can clip a mic to each person for consistent, close audio. Use a shotgun when you can’t attach a mic, such as quick street interviews or moving subjects.
Do I need a separate mic for each interviewee?
It’s strongly recommended. One mic per speaker on its own track makes balancing levels and editing much easier than sharing a single mic.
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