Markiplier is one of several hugely successful YouTubers with a large following who produces professional-quality gaming videos.
YouTubers such as Markiplier are known for producing top-quality videos with fast edits, excellent visuals, and crisp audio – so what microphone does the successful YouTuber use?
Markiplier currently uses the KSM44A multi-pattern condenser microphone from Shure to ensure his gaming footage gets the top-notch audio it deserves. The YouTuber has worked his way through several microphones over the years, but the KSM44a is his current mic of choice.
If you want to follow in the footsteps of the best in the business, and you’re an aspiring YouTuber or streamer, you could do a lot worse than to see how Markiplier puts out quality content that regularly draws millions of viewers.
While equipment alone won’t make you the next Markiplier or Pewdiepie, what it can do is give you the edge over your competition.
The YouTube audience is a discerning bunch, so if you arrive on the scene with subpar audio and shoddy visual quality, you’ll soon know about it from the torrent of critical comments.
To avoid this issue and to provide the best viewing experience possible, you need to get on top of both your audio and video quality.
While most people believe that visuals are all that matters, many people these days use YouTube as if it were a TV – that is to say they turn it on and have it playing in the background while they do other things.
Assuming this is true for at least a small fraction of your viewing audience, wouldn’t you want to make sure they were treated to crisp audio?
There’s also the audiophiles to think about who will switch off any video which doesn’t satisfy their high standards for sound quality.
Shure KSM44a
Right now, Markiplier’s microphone of choice is the Shure KSM44a.
Given how successful his channel is on YouTube, and how many people comment on his high-quality audio, you can bet that the microphone is well worth the investment.
But what exactly is a multi-pattern condenser microphone and what makes this particular model from Shure special?
What is a Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone?
A multi-pattern condenser microphone is an audio recording device that provides specific sound isolation so that you can focus in on a speaker’s voice or another sound source.
It’s a microphone with many settings, and one that can limit feedback, control bleed, and create sonic images.
This type of microphone is made up of two diaphragms which share a chamber and provide an omnidirectional pattern.
If all of this sounds like jargon to you, then all you need to know is that the multi-pattern condenser microphone offers superior audio control, allowing the YouTuber, streamer, or whoever else is using it to manage their audio just the way they want it.
KSM44a Best Features
The Shure KSM44a is one of the best multi-pattern condenser microphones out there, and if it’s good enough for Markiplier and his immensely popular YouTube channel, it’s good enough for you.
Here are some of the best features of the microphone, to give you an idea of what exactly it has to offer:
Professional Studio-quality Audio
The number one reason most people – including Markiplier – would invest in this microphone is for the professional studio-quality audio it provides.
The microphone offers 4dB of self-noise and a max SPL of 131dB which provides a total dynamic range of 127dB. This indicates an increase of 7dB on industry standards, setting the bar for clean nuanced audio capture.
Prethos Advanced Preamplifier Technology
One of the most impressive features of this microphone is the Prethos Advanced Preamplifier Technology.
This sophisticated technology provides severely restricted self-noise, minimizing both harmonic and intermodulation distortions.
It also provides an exceptionally quick transient response with no crossover distortion.
Subsonic Filter
The subsonic filter is especially useful if you want to mitigate the effects of mechanical vibration on your audio quality.
The filter will eliminate the rumble brought on by mechanical vibration below 17 Hz, so you won’t accidentally disrupt your video’s audio by hitting the table or moving equipment around.
Switchable Low-Frequency Filter
One of the last top features of the KSM44a is the switchable low-frequency filter which will reduce stand vibration noise and counteract proximity effect.
This, coupled with the subsonic filter, should effectively cut out the effect of any source of vibration on your audio.
What are Other Popular YouTuber Microphones?
There are many types of microphones you can use to create quality content for YouTube, including USB, DSLR, and lavalier microphones.
Each type of microphone can help you to craft crisp audio quality, which in turn can help you generate more views and build a dedicated audience of viewers.
Let’s take a look at each type of microphone to see which one might be best according to your preferences:
USB
By far the most commonly used type of microphone for making YouTube videos is the USB microphone.
It’s such a popular choice primarily because it’s easy to use and straightforward to set up.
All you need to do is plug the microphone in and you’re ready to start recording with quality audio.
Some of the best USB microphones for YouTube include the Rode NT and the ever-popular Blue Yeti.
DSLR
DSLR microphones are another decent option for recording YouTube videos, and they are named such because they are mounted to DSLR cameras using the hot shoe bracket.
DSLR microphones are best if you’re looking to create content outdoors using your DSLR camera.
One of the best examples of a quality DSLR microphone is the Rode VideoMic Pro.
Lavalier
The last type of microphone that’s commonly used to create content for YouTube is the lavalier microphone.
The lavalier microphone is different from the other types of microphone we’ve looked at since it’s clipped to your clothing. It can be an expensive investment or it can be a budget-friendly purchase depending on what you’re looking for.
This wearable microphone picks up omnidirectional audio, and provides an easy way for you to record audio when you’re outdoors and want to stand away from your camera.
The lavalier is the microphone of choice for interviews and walking outdoor vlogs, or any type of video which requires a lot of movement.
A popular lavalier microphone for making YouTube videos would be the Audio-Technica ATR-33501S.
Frequently Asked Questions About Video Microphones
What Microphone do streamers use?
There isn’t one particular microphone favored by streamers, since each content creator requires something different for their audio and will have their own budget to work with.
With that being said, there are some microphones that are commonly used by streamers and are known for their quality.
Popular microphones for streaming include the Samson G-Track Pro, Razer Seiren Elite, and the Blue series of microphones such as the Snowball and the Yeti.
What Microphone do YouTubers use?
Just like with streamers, YouTubers will all use microphones that work for their style of content.
For example, Markiplier might be one of the few YouTubers who uses a multi-pattern condenser microphone like the KSM44a.
Many YouTubers favor USB microphones, since these are incredibly simple to setup and are relatively inexpensive.
Do you need a mic for YouTube?
In short, yes, you do need a microphone for YouTube.
Even if not every viewer cares as much about audio as they do about video quality, many do, so if you want to build a large viewerbase you need to make sure you prioritize both.
Recording your audio with anything other than an external microphone will likely result in poor quality, so it’s in your best interest to invest in a microphone if you want to become a YouTuber.
A Final Word From Run Gun Shoot
Audio quality is hugely important for creating YouTube videos that help to create large audiences and draw in new viewers.
As such, it’s a good idea to take a look at the audio equipment popular YouTubers such as Markiplier use since it will give you a good indication of what the best options are.
