Creator GearintermediateUSUpdated 4 days ago

The Broadcaster's Guide to Dynamic Microphones (2026)

If you have ever listened to a professional sports broadcaster or a morning radio DJ, you have heard the Electro-Voice RE20. It is the massive, gray, steel tube sitting on a boom arm in almost every professional broadcast studio in the world. Many beginner podcasters buy sensitive 'condenser' microphones, only to realize that the mic is picking up the air conditioner, the dog barking next door, and the echo of their own voice bouncing off the walls. Professional broadcasters don't have perfectly soundproofed rooms; they have perfect microphones. Dynamic microphones are intentionally insensitive. They only pick up audio that is two inches away from the capsule, rejecting all background noise. This guide explains why dynamic microphones are the only choice for spoken-word audio, and why the RE20 remains the undisputed king of the category.

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Job brief

What this setup covers

$450 - $700

Stop picking up the sound of your neighbor's lawnmower. Learn why professional radio stations use heavy dynamic microphones like the Electro-Voice RE20 to isolate voices.

Audience: Podcasters, radio hosts, and voiceover artists.

Learning curve

Moderate learning curve. Quality depends on planning signal flow and settings.

Expertise to build

Most buyers need practical production judgment: sound, light, framing, storage, and a repeatable pre-flight checklist.

Equipment best practices

Run a complete dry run before the first real use.
Document working settings, cable paths, and support contacts.
Buy accessories deliberately: cables, mounts, adapters, and backup power often decide whether the setup works.
Review the guide every 30 to 90 days for price, availability, and safer alternatives.

Checklist

Required gear and upgrades

requiredDynamic CapsuleCardioid PatternVariable-D Technology

The Radio Standard: Electro-Voice RE20

Most dynamic microphones suffer from a physics problem called the 'Proximity Effect.' As you move your mouth closer to the microphone, the bass frequencies dramatically increase. If a podcaster leans in to whisper, their voice suddenly becomes a boomy, muddy mess that destroys subwoofers. The Electro-Voice RE20 solves this problem with a patented acoustic design called 'Variable-D.' It uses a series of ports along the side of the microphone barrel to cancel out the proximity effect. A host can sit three inches away, lean in to one inch away, and turn their head left and right, and the tonal balance of their voice will remain perfectly consistent. This makes it foolproof for long-form podcasts where the host is naturally moving around.

Learning curve

Low. Plugging it in is easy. The learning curve is entirely based on proper microphone technique and gain staging.

Expertise required

Understanding of XLR gain staging, inline preamps (like Cloudlifters), and basic EQ vocal compression.

Best practices

+ Use a high-quality inline preamp (like a Cloudlifter CL-1 or FetHead) between the RE20 and your audio interface. This provides 25dB of ultra-clean gain, allowing you to turn the noisy preamp on your interface down, resulting in a crystal-clear recording.

Maintenance habits

+ Never blow directly into the microphone to 'test' if it is on. The moisture from your breath and the sheer force of air can permanently damage the delicate dynamic diaphragm over time. Simply scratch the metal grill gently with your fingernail.

When to upgrade

+ If you are recording pristine acoustic guitar or a classical piano, you must switch to a high-end small-diaphragm condenser microphone. The RE20 is designed for the human voice, not the delicate high frequencies of classical instruments.

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Electro-Voice RE20 Broadcast Announcer Microphone

Electro-Voice

Electro-

The undisputed industry standard for radio broadcasting and voiceovers, featuring proprietary Variable-D technology that completely eliminates the proximity effect for a consistent, booming voice.

Why this pick: It naturally rejects off-axis noise. If your podcast co-host is sitting three feet across the table, the RE20 will not pick up their voice, giving you perfectly isolated tracks for editing.

Pros

+ Variable-D technology allows the host to move their head around without the bass response suddenly changing
+ Built like an absolute tank; these microphones survive decades in abusive radio station environments
+ The internal pop filter is highly effective at stopping plosives (P and B sounds)

Risks

- It is incredibly heavy and requires a heavy-duty, expensive broadcast boom arm to hold it up
- It requires a massive amount of clean preamp gain to reach broadcast levels
- Like the Shure SM7B, the RE20 is incredibly gain-hungry. If you plug it into a cheap, entry-level audio interface (like a $100 Focusrite Scarlett), you will have to turn the gain to 100%, which introduces a loud, distracting static 'hiss' into the recording.

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recommended88/100Good fit

Electro-Voice RE20 Broadcast Announcer Microphone

Electro-Voice

Electro-

The undisputed industry standard for radio broadcasting and voiceovers, featuring proprietary Variable-D technology that completely eliminates the proximity effect for a consistent, booming voice.

Why this pick: It has a built-in bass roll-off switch. If your voice is naturally very deep and muddy, you can flip the switch on the bottom of the mic to instantly tighten the low-end frequencies.

Pros

+ Variable-D technology allows the host to move their head around without the bass response suddenly changing
+ Built like an absolute tank; these microphones survive decades in abusive radio station environments
+ The internal pop filter is highly effective at stopping plosives (P and B sounds)

Risks

- It is incredibly heavy and requires a heavy-duty, expensive broadcast boom arm to hold it up
- It requires a massive amount of clean preamp gain to reach broadcast levels
- It weighs nearly two pounds. If you attach it to a cheap $20 Amazon boom arm, the arm will immediately collapse onto your desk. You must buy a heavy-duty professional boom arm (like the Yellowtec m!ka or Rode PSA1+).

Amazon US

Check price on Amazon

Verify details

Retailer details may change. Confirm price, stock, and product version before buying.

Amazon link: qualifying purchases may earn Selectrogear a commission. Check the current price and availability on Amazon. Last checked: 4 days ago.

View offer

pro93/100Strong fit

Electro-Voice RE20 Broadcast Announcer Microphone

Electro-Voice

Electro-

The undisputed industry standard for radio broadcasting and voiceovers, featuring proprietary Variable-D technology that completely eliminates the proximity effect for a consistent, booming voice.

Why this pick: It is famously forgiving of untreated rooms. You do not need a $5,000 soundproof booth to sound good on an RE20; you just need to speak directly into it.

Pros

+ Variable-D technology allows the host to move their head around without the bass response suddenly changing
+ Built like an absolute tank; these microphones survive decades in abusive radio station environments
+ The internal pop filter is highly effective at stopping plosives (P and B sounds)

Risks

- It is incredibly heavy and requires a heavy-duty, expensive broadcast boom arm to hold it up
- It requires a massive amount of clean preamp gain to reach broadcast levels
- It is an 'end-address' microphone. Many beginners make the mistake of talking into the side of the barrel. You must speak directly into the flat top of the microphone.

Amazon US

Check price on Amazon

Verify details

Retailer details may change. Confirm price, stock, and product version before buying.

Amazon link: qualifying purchases may earn Selectrogear a commission. Check the current price and availability on Amazon. Last checked: 4 days ago.

View offer

Avoid these

Common mistakes

Talking into the side of the mic.

The RE20 looks like a microphone that you should speak into the side of (like a Blue Yeti). It is not. It is an 'end-address' microphone. The capsule is pointed straight up at the flat top. If you speak into the side, you will sound like you are underwater.

Using a cheap USB adapter.

Do not plug a $400 broadcast microphone into a $15 XLR-to-USB adapter cable. The analog-to-digital converters in those cheap cables are garbage, and you will completely bottleneck the audio quality of the microphone.

Questions

FAQ

Is the RE20 better than the Shure SM7B?

They are the two titans of broadcasting. The SM7B is darker and smoother, which is why Joe Rogan uses it. The RE20 is brighter and more articulate, which is why NPR and traditional FM radio stations use it. Neither is 'better,' they just fit different voices.

Do I need a pop filter?

Unlike the SM7B (which has a massive foam windshield), the RE20 has an internal pop filter. For most people, it is sufficient. However, if you are an aggressive speaker who heavily pops their 'P' sounds, you may still want an external pop filter.

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