Recording Equipment I Trust
If you’re building or refining your voice recording setup, the gear below represents tools I’ve personally used and found reliable in real-world recording environments.
Good equipment supports a strong recording foundation — it doesn’t replace one. When your room, mic placement, and gain structure are stable, quality tools make consistency and refinement much easier.
These are products I recommend with that understanding.
I purchase all of my own studio equipment through Sweetwater. They consistently offer strong selection, fair pricing, knowledgeable staff, and dependable customer service. If you prefer working with a dedicated representative, I recommend Aaron Tremain at Sweetwater (aaron_tremain@sweetwater.com | 800-222-4700 x1722).
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Voice Recording Microphones
The microphones listed below are models I’ve personally worked with and feel comfortable recommending for spoken voice recording.
Microphone choice matters — but it only performs as well as the recording environment and placement allow. A well-positioned, properly gain-staged microphone in a controlled space will outperform an expensive microphone used in unstable conditions.
There are many microphones on the market. These are the ones I trust and have direct experience with.
ElectroVoice
RE20
Electro-Voice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone with Variable-D
Neumann
TLM 103
Neumann TLM 103 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone - Nickel
Rode
NT1
Rode NT1 Kit Condenser Microphone with SM6 Shock Mount and Pop Filter
Voice-Over Plugins
⭐️ Waves Scheps Omni Channel
The sound of classic analog channel strips, with the diverse sonic color and flexible sound-shaping possibilities available only in digital.
⭐️ Waves F6 Floating-Band Dynamic EQ
F6 is ideal for isolating specific problems on individual tracks and fixing them transparently only when they pop out.
⭐️ Waves L4 Ultra
Maximizer
An adaptive limiter designed for modern audio, the L4 delivers sound options and competitive levels for loudness standards.
Waves Vitamin Sonic Enhancer Plugin
A parallel multiband harmonic enhancer with five individual bands that truly complements and enhances the original signal.
Waves L2 Ultramaximizer
For mixing, mastering, and more, the L2’s legendary combination of look-ahead brickwall peak limiting, level maximization, and ultra high resolution
iZotope RX 10 Standard Audio Repair Software
Audio Restoration and Repair Software with AI-assisted Processing (the photo editor of the audio world).
iZotope RX Elements Audio Repair Plug-in Suite
Audio Restoration and Repair Plug-in Suite with AI-assisted Processing. Uses machine learning to solve audio issues.
Massenburg DesignWorks® MDWEQ5
Parametric Equalizer by Universal Audio. Ultra-clean, with zero color and zero distortion. For UAD-2 hardware and Apollo interfaces.
AMS Neve® DFC Channel Strip
The AMS Neve DFC (Digital Film Console) is the ultimate, purpose-built console for multi-format film dubbing and TV post production at the highest level.
Waves StudioVerse
The Waves Studio Rack is a plugin chainer that holds Waves and VST3 plugins and their settings.
Voice-Over Audio Interfaces
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen USB Audio Interface
2x2 Scarlett G4 USB Audio Interface
Universal Audio Apollo Twin X DUO
10-in/6-out, 24-bit/192kHz, Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface with 2 Unison Preamps
Solid State Logic SSL2 2x2 USB Audio Interface
USB Audio Interface, 2-in/4-out, with 2 Mic/Line/Instrument Preamps, 4K Legacy Mode, MIDI I/O, USB Bus Power
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen USB Audio Interface
2x2 Scarlett Solo G4 USB Audio Interface
Voice-Over Acoustic Treatment
Gik Acoustics 244 Bass Traps
244 Bass Trap with FlexRange Technology. Among professionals, the 244 Bass Trap with its 5.25″ thickness has gained a reputation for excellence in recording studios and throughout the music industry. The 244 Bass trap includes our patented FlexRange Technology, which allows you to customize your listening or recording environment to perfection – from extended bass absorption via optional Range Limiter technology to diffusion of higher frequencies through an included Scatter Plate.
Voice-Over Audio Accessories
Cloudlifter
Get the best possible audio output from your low-output dynamic and ribbon mics with up to +25dB of gain
sE Electronics Dynamite
Active In-line Preamp for Passive Dynamic and Ribbon Mics with 28dB of Gain
Triton Audio Fethead
FET-style In-line Microphone Preamplifier offering up to 27dB of clean boost
