Breaking into voiceover? You don’t need a Hollywood studio — you just need the right gear. Here’s the setup I recommend for beginners who want quality sound without needing a second mortgage. (Bonus: everything fits in a home office or corner booth setup.)
Best Microphone Setups for Voice Over Beginners
Good: Solid Starter Mics for Beginners
Audio-Technica AT2020
The classic beginner workhorse. Crisp, clean sound with just enough warmth to make you sound like you know what you’re doing (even if you’re winging it a little). Requires an audio interface, but it’s still one of the best bangs for your buck.
Rode NT-USB
Plug. Play. Book jobs. The Rode NT-USB is a dream for beginners who don’t want to mess with interfaces and cables. Clean audio, built-in pop filter, and it plays nicely with both Mac and PC — perfect for your first home studio setup.
Better: Serious Sound Without Breaking the Bank
Rode NT1
If silence is golden, the Rode NT1 is Fort Knox. Ridiculously low self-noise makes your reads sound polished right out of the gate. Add a good interface, and you’re recording sessions that could fool seasoned engineers.
sE Electronics X1 S
Smooth, detailed sound with a little extra sparkle. The X1 S handles everything from commercials to audiobooks like a champ — and its sturdy build quality means it’ll survive even your most dramatic “I’m never booking anything again!” meltdowns.
Best: Pro-Level Sound for Career-Track Talent
Neumann TLM 103
The voiceover industry’s “Oh, they’re serious” mic. Incredible clarity, rich lows, and silky highs. The TLM 103 makes everything sound expensive — even your grocery list.
Sennheiser MKH 416
The weapon of choice for movie trailers, commercials, and serious voiceover pros. Punchy, crisp, and cuts through any mix like a hot knife through butter. Warning: once you record with it, you’ll be spoiled forever.
Other Equipment You'll Need for a Pro Sound
Audio Interfaces
Even the best microphone needs a translator — that’s what an audio interface does. It connects your mic to your computer and makes sure your voice sounds crisp, clear, and “please cast me immediately” good. Here are two great starter options:
Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd Gen)
The gold standard beginner interface. Easy to use, great sound quality, and bulletproof reliability. One mic input, one headphone jack, and you’re ready to roll.
Audient EVO 4
Super beginner-friendly, with an “auto gain” feature that sets your recording levels for you. Like having a tiny sound engineer built into your desk setup. Sleek, simple, and powerful for the price.
Boom Arms
Holding your mic in your hand for every audition? Hard pass. A good boom arm keeps your mic stable, close, and ready for action — without making you look like you’re trying to tame a wild snake. Here are two favorites:
Rode PSA1 Boom Arm
Sturdy, smooth, and designed for serious use. Pairs perfectly with almost any microphone setup and makes adjusting your mic mid-session effortless (and quiet).
Heil Sound PL-2T Boom Arm
Built like a tank and moves like butter. Zero spring noise, hidden cable management, and a professional look for your home setup. Worth every penny if you’re recording regularly.
Sound Treatment
You can have the world’s best mic, but if you sound like you’re recording inside a bathroom, it won’t matter. Treat your space right — you don’t need to build a recording studio, but you do need to control echoes and outside noise.
Moving Blankets
Cheap. Effective. Not glamorous, but neither is bad audio. Hang them behind you, around you, over doors — anywhere sound likes to bounce. A great DIY option for a home recording setup.
Portable Vocal Booth
If you want something a little more polished than blankets, a portable vocal booth gives you instant control over echoes and background noise — and folds up out of sight when you’re done recording. Ideal for home setups where space is tight.
🛒 Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. Think of it like tossing a tip in the jar so I can keep sharing helpful stuff (and maybe upgrade my recording setup someday). Thanks for your support!