Best ASMR Microphones for Recording Tingling Triggers in 2021

Every content creator wants their content to be top-notch, similar is the case with ASMR artists. Every ASMR artist looks forward to creating the best content for their audience. Such that they don’t go anywhere else to get the tickling tingles. Considering that, you need to have the best ASMR microphone in the game.

ASMR is a little different from vlogs and other content because ASMR artists need to be extra careful regarding the sound quality being produced. Ultimately, the end result should be audibly perfect. For that, the best microphone for ASMR is a must.

These reviewed ASMR mics will help you reach the goal to produce high-quality ASMR videos and will certainly help you grow your ASMR channels faster!

All the microphones listed here are personally tested and being used by top ASMR artists, so you don’t need to worry about the authenticity here. You can find an extensive buying guide after the ASMR Microphone review section.

Before getting started, I’d like to let you know that I have divided the microphones into three categories which are Condenser, Recorders, and Binaural Microphones

Best ASMR Microphone – Condenser:

1- Blue Yeti Pro

Blue Yeti Pro, is a microphone that is owned by almost every ASMR artist whether they have recently started making ASMR content or have been in the game from start. Many artists prefer Blue Yeti because of the quality and features you get at such an affordable price.

Talking about the sound quality, it produces amazing crisp sound with minimal and unnoticeable background noise. It has a frequency range of 80Hz to 50kHz. It features an Omni-Directional polar pattern which means the ASMR artist can record in different recording patterns including stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional, and lastly bi-directional sound.

Talking about the build quality and controls of the microphone the Blue Yeti is known for its great build quality which is sturdy and gives a premium feel. The Blue Yeti is available in a wide range of colors so you can choose whatever color you like.

The Blue Yeti can be connected to any computer using a USB cable.

 

2- RODE NTG2

RODE is probably one of the best microphone producers in the world today. Talking about the RODE NTG2, it is basically a shotgun microphone that is usually used in film, video, and television productions. It is used with an extension leg such that it is not visible in the camera frame but it records sound efficiently.

This microphone is best for recording roleplay videos including barbershop, doctor checkup, etc.

Talking a bit about the technicalities, the RODE NTG2 has a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz and it also features rugged metal construction which makes it very durable.

It features a two-stage high pass filter which enables the switching between flat and 80Hz frequency. Its high pass filter is great for reducing external noise including wind noise and traffic etc.

The microphone can be operational with an AA 1.5-volt battery or you can even power it with phantom power using a recorder.

The feature of RODE NTG2 to run with a battery is great since you can directly run it with your camera without the need for a recorder. It has an equivalent noise level of approximately 18dBA.

This is slightly on the expensive side but is great for recording role-plays without any background noise.

 

3- Aston Microphones Origin

Here we have a large-diaphragm cardioid microphone that is widely used by vocalists. The reason for listing this microphone in the ASMR list is because of its capability to capture sound so beautiful and perfect.

Talking about the technicalities, the microphone features a 1-inch gold evaporated capsule that enhances the recording quality. The microphone has a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz and has an S/n ratio of about 76 dB which is decent.

The microphone has a built-in pop filter which is great for the reduction in external noises and saves you from buying a new pop filter.

There is one downside to this microphone; it can capture dust and other atmospheric particles on its top due to its design. Hence, you will have to wash its removable pop filter once in a while.

Overall, it is a great microphone with acceptable recording capability. It requires phantom power to be operational.

4- Audio Technica AT803

The Audio Technica AT803 is a great microphone for recording ASMR mukbangs, eating sounds, and other content of similar sorts.

Talking about the technical specifications, the microphone features a robust and sturdy compact body that is able to sustain minor falls and jerks easily. The microphone has a clip to attach it to your clothing for ease.

The microphone features a frequency response of 30-20,000Hz which is great for a lavalier microphone. It also comes with a high pass filter that has the ability to switch between flat frequency and a low-end roll-off.

The microphone operates using a battery or you can even use phantom power to run this microphone which is a great option.

It has an omnidirectional polar pattern. Also, it has a permanently polarized condenser which is great for recording ASMR content. The microphone comes with a 1.8-meter cable that comes pre-attached from the company.

 

5- Sennheiser MK 4

Sennheiser MK 4 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone that is best suited for ASMR artists looking to record pure and crystal clear sound.

It has a 1-inch large-diaphragm gold plated capsule. The capsule of the microphone is shock-mounted internally for the reduction in noises and recording pure sound.

Talking about the construction and specs, it features a full metal body that is sturdy and can last a while even with rough use. The microphone requires 48V phantom power to operate. It has a frequency repose of 20 Hz to 20kHz.

It has a decent noise level of 10dB which is suitable for recording ASMR. The accessories include the microphone itself, a microphone clamp, and the instruction manual. You need to buy the pop filter separately.

Overall a great option if you are looking to upgrade your low-end condenser microphone.

 

6- Blue Yeti X

The company Blue has recently released an upgraded version of the Blue Yeti which is called the Blue Yeti X.

The recording quality has improved a lot from the previous one. It has the option to directly monitor the sound using a 3.5mm headphone jack. The microphone operates using the USB cable and works perfectly fine just like the previous one.

Talking about the technical changes that have been made, the microphone comes with a bit rate of 24 and has a frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz. It is available in black color and it comes with a couple of led indicator lights that help with the current status and the operating state of the microphone.

The microphone can record in 4 modes just like the Blue Yeti. Also, the internal parts have been improved and are capable to record much better than the previous version.

Best Recorder for ASMR:

1- Tascam DR-07X

If you are looking for a recorder that is portable and records high-quality audio with zero to none background noise then the Tascam DR-07X is the best choice.

It is a handheld recorder that has the capability to record high-resolution audio with its two tracks, keep in mind no external microphone is required for this.

It has two built-in microphones that can be adjusted in A-B position if you have to record in a spacious environment or on the other hand an X-Y arrangement for tight space.

Due to its portability, you can take it anywhere with you and even can mount it on tripods. You can use batteries, USB power supply or even an AC adapter for powering it.

Tascam DR-07X offers an external mini 3.5mm jack to use an external microphone. It offers a comparatively big LCD on which you can monitor the controls and settings of the recorder.

The Tascam DR-07X offers expandable storage i.e MicroSD cards having a max capacity of 128GB for storage.

 

2- ZOOM H4N Pro

ZOOM H4N Pro is an old but one of the most reliable recorder/audio interfaces. The ZOOM H4N Pro can be used as an audio interface and a recorder both.

The ZOOM H4N offers the users the option to record four audio tracks simultaneously. You have the option to connect an external microphone which is quite handy.

The ZOOM H4N Pro has both X-Y and A-B recording arrangements. The two low noise built-in microphones are capable of recording at 140dB SPL. The recorder also offers the option to use XLR and quarter inches inputs.

The ZOOM H4N Pro uses an external MicroSD card for storage purposes and you can use the provided USB cable to transfer the recordings directly or you can remove the SD card as well.

The ZOOM H4N Pro is a great option if you are looking for a two in one device that can record and act as an audio interface too.

It requires two AA batteries to power it up and in addition to that, it offers a 3.5mm jack to plug in smaller microphones.

If you want to use the ZOOM H4N Pro for recording purposes I’d highly recommend using it only recording close-up sound since it cannot capture far away sounds.

 

3- ZOOM H6

The ZOOM H6 is one of the best recorders available in the market offering handsome 6 track recording and a pair of built-in microphones that are removable.

Basically, the ZOOM H6 has four XLR inputs in which you can use external microphones. The ZOOM H6 is visually very rugged. It weighs and feels like a brick in hand but its high-grade construction makes sure that nothing will happen to the recorder.

The recorder features two microphones, one is an XY arrangement microphone and the second one is a mid-side microphone.

As the recorder has 4 XLR inputs you can use other XLR microphones and use it on the ZOOM H6. The recorder itself has an inbuilt storage capacity of 2GB only which is quite less. However, it has the option to use the SDXC cards having storage capacity up to 128GB.

Overall, it is a great recorder/microphone for an experienced person. But if you are someone who is going to buy it as your first recorder, in that case, it is not recommended for you. Since it offers a lot of features and it ends up making beginners confused.

 

Best Binaural Microphone ASMR:

Talking about binaural microphones for ASMR, here is a huge list of binaural ASMR microphones that come in the medium-high budget range. They, for sure will make your ASMR community fall in love with your content.

1- 3dio Omni Binaural Microphone

The 3dio Omni Binaural Microphone has an omnidirectional recording pattern and has a pre-polarized condenser as well. Its frequency range lies between 20 Hz – 20 kHz. Its nominal sensitivity is ±3 dB at 1 kHz (20 mV/Pa with -34 dB re. 1 V/Pa)

The 3dio Omni Binaural Microphone has a lot of pros as it has an excellent dynamic range and great audio production. It enhances the smallest details in audio, making it sound extremely lifelike.

If you want to record roleplays this is an excellent microphone for ASMR. Not only it creates an excellent soundscape of your environment, but it does it well too. The ears can be a bit stiff at first; however, they become flexible with usage.

My ASMR recordings, with these microphones, had a certain depth and realism to them. Overall, it has excellent quality and did a pretty good job.

 

2- Rode NT1 2x

The Rode NT1 2x is an outstanding microphone for professional audio recording. It features a JFET impedance converter with bipolar output buffer and has a capsule that is 1.00”. Its frequency range lies between 20 Hz-20 kHz. The rode nt1 2x has an output impedance of 100Ω.

It also features a maximum SPL of 132dB. What makes it stand out is the equivalent noise level (A-weighted) which is 4dBA. Not only that, but it also features an XLR output with a warranty of 1 year or extended 10 years if you register your microphone.

It has a large, 1″ condenser capsule with a gold-plated membrane. Not only that, its ultra-low noise, self-noise of only 4.5dB (A) is extremely helpful in recording quality audio.

This microphone, while recording, produced exceptional audio. The ability to capture details of sound in such depth was indeed surprising. Its design, which is a fusion of artistic approaches and cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, makes it worth buying. Recording ASMR was fun with this too as it produced exactly the kind of audio that I was looking for. You won’t regret buying this one.

3- Roland CS-10EM

The Roland CS-10EM is a dynamic in-ear binaural headphone with a 12.5mm driver. The headphones offer a sensitivity of 102dB and a frequency response ranging between 15Hz-22k Hz with an impedance of 16 Ohms.

The microphone, on the other hand, has an electric condenser as well as features an omnidirectional polar pattern. The frequency response ranges between 20Hz – 20k Hz with a sensitivity of -40dB 1V/Pa. its signal to noise ratio is less than 60dB. The CS-10EM comes with 2 x gold-plated 3.5mm stereo mini-plugs with a cable length of 4.95′ (1.5 m) requiring 2-10V of power to function.

These microphones stand out as they feature a 2-in-1 functionality. They are also capable of sound monitoring. Its closed design is majorly helpful in reducing feedback.

After using the Roland CS-10EM I concluded a couple of things. They are compact and lightweight, and the 2-in-1 functionality was really helpful. I could listen to my audio while recording and could even go back which was very helpful. They also have high-quality condenser microphones in each earpiece. Overall, the ASMR content that I recorded came out well.

 

4- LyxPro SDPC-2

The LyxPro SDPC-2 is compatible with overheads, acoustic & woodwind Instruments. Its stereo pair captures even the slightest audio nuances with extreme accuracy. It is included with 3 capsules (Omni, Cardioid & Super Cardioid) along with a customized pickup pattern. It features a frequency response of 30Hz-18k Hz with a sensitivity of -38dB ± 3dB (0dB=1V/Pa at 1 kHz). It comes along with windscreens, an aluminum carrying case, and 2 smooth-tilt microphone clips.

These microphones are of high quality and are very easy to carry around as they are light in weight. Their unique pencil condenser stick design makes it extremely versatile as well.

This microphone didn’t fail to impress me. It has so many features that make it ideal for recording ASMR. It has everything you need for professional audio production.

The 3 interchangeable capsules are included with your purchase, which allows you to easily switch between pickup patterns, without the need to un-mount anything, which makes everything so much simpler.

These premium microphones can handle anything you throw at them, from capturing every nuance in the studio to bringing sparkle to your ASMR recordings. They performed well and I highly recommend them.

Factors to consider before buying the Best ASMR Microphone:

Microphone Self-Noise:

Every microphone creates a sound on its own while recording, it is distinct from the sounds being recorded from the surroundings and environment.

Self-Noise is actually the buzzing or hissing sound you usually hear clearly with cheaper microphones.

Expensive microphones also tend to have these sounds but they are not loud enough to be heard clearly. However, they can still be heard if listened carefully.

As ASMR quality depends upon the quality of the sound so you must prefer to get a microphone with a very low self-noise.

The quietest microphone I have seen is the RODE NT1-A it produces the least self-noise among all the microphones I have tested.

For ease, I’d recommend you all to go for a microphone having self-noise under 20dB. However, the higher-end microphones come with self-noise of about 5dB which is amazing for recording ASMR.

Microphone S/N (Signal to Noise) Ratio:

S/N ratio stands for a signal to noise ratio, it is basically the ratio between signal and noise.

For example, if a microphone has an S/N ratio of 50dB, this means the signal is 50dB stronger and powerful than the background noise.

So ultimately you should be going for a microphone that has the highest S/N ratio. In short, you should go for a microphone with having S/N ratio greater than 70dB.

Power Source:

Mainly, microphones are powered using three main power sources:

1. A simple 3.5mm headphone jack
2. An XLR port also known as phantom power
3. A USB port

The 3.5mm headphone jack is used for small microphones that don’t require high external power, for example, Apple EarPods are used by many ASMR Artists to record Lo-Fi sound as the EarPods have a very small microphone they don’t require external power.

On the other hand, Professional microphones that have a condenser built into them require external power as they can’t record using a simple 3.5mm jack.

Microphones like the RODE NT1-A require external power and for this, a special cable with an XLR plug is used to supply the microphone external power.

A recorder is used for providing this external power, for example, if we want to power a RODE NT1-A, We can use a ZOOM H4N recorder to provide external power to the microphone using the XLR cable, but there is one thing that needs to be kept in mind, the recorder should have the required voltage rating to power the microphone.

Finally, a USB port is used by many different microphones including the Blue Yeti Pro, this enables you to record and monitor the sound directly from your computer. No recorder is required in this case.

However, most of the USB powered microphones cannot be directly connected to a DSLR camera as they do not have a 3.5mm audio jack.

Price:

Pricing is the most important thing to consider, whether you are a starter or someone who is looking to upgrade their current microphone.

Calculate the budget you can spend on a microphone, I won’t suggest going for the most expensive ASMR mics in the market or getting something based on the price point.

As I mentioned in the introduction, ASMR is sensitive. So you need to know what you will deal with.

If you don’t have the environment or skills to record with an expensive highly sensitive microphone, you’ll end up returning it.

 So I’ll recommend to upgrade with time and go in a step by step manner. 

Requirements:

Another important thing to keep in mind is, for what type of ASMR content you are going to buy a microphone, are you buying a microphone to create assortment content including tapping, scratching, etc. Are you going for an ear massage, ear cleaning, etc., or going for binaural recording?

Each microphone is designed for a specific purpose.

Hence, you have to list out the features you require from the microphone and then you can go for it keeping in mind the pricing.

Phew… Information overload?!?! Not Yet!!

More Detailed Information on Choosing the Best ASMR Microphone:

We have a detailed guide on Types of ASMR Microphones which covers the technicalities and polar patterns of the ASMR Microphones. Must check it out.

Conclusion:

Lastly, if you have reached the end, thank you very much. We believe you are a good researcher and are looking for a perfect microphone that will be the best bang for your money. We have gone in-depth and reviewed the most used and best microphones for ASMR. We hope that you find the best ASMR microphone of your choice and it completely fulfills your requirements. All the best!