I love creativity and I love it when I have to talk about it in different ways! Here, in this article, I will talk about a specific topic in the world of sound and it is foley! I don’t really like to go into foley as a definition because I will go into that at the end of the article.
Anyways, you guys are here for something else and that is finding a microphone for foley! I will mention for you the top five picks that I was able to find while doing some research, and also, you will notice that the choices are all from different and very professional brands. Yet again, in order to find more information about foley, stick until the end of this article.
You know that I don’t like to waste your time explaining what I will write for you, so let’s get this article started and take a look at the best microphones for foley.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
The Cheapest  | 8.6 | Check Latest Price | |
The Good Buy  | 8.5 | Check Latest Price | |
The Professional  | 9.1 | Check Latest Price | |
The Challenger  | 8.8 | Check Latest Price | |
The Greatest  | 8.6 | Check Latest Price |
The Top 5 Best Microphones for Foley
5. Tonor TC-777 – The Cheapest
This microphone is made and brought to you with a super cool and modern look while having in mind people that are in love with this kind of design. It is very compact, and most importantly it is one of those microphones that can come with you wherever you go. Studio, house, airplane, well, it is there accompanying you!
As compact as it is, this microphone is compatible with different devices, and its main connectivity type is via a USB connector which needs a USB 2.0 port. Besides using it for foley, this microphone also does a great job for basic things such as online lectures, podcasts, YouTube videos, and gaming as well.
When it comes to voice pick-up, the microphone is a cardioid condenser; meaning that its polar pattern is unidirectional. It captures the voices or the sounds that you will make, super clearly as long as you stay in front of it.
It is able to reduce and fully block the noises that may bother you or the recording of the foley sound effects.
Key Features
- Frequency Response: 100 Hz – 16 kHz
- Impedance: 680 ohms
- SPL (Sound Pressure Level): 56 dB
- Weight: 12.2 ounces
- Dimensions: 5.91 x 1.97 x 1.57 inches
Why Should You Buy It?
This Tonor microphone is one of the chest options that you can find on the whole market. Besides that, it knows how to do a decent job!
4. HyperX QuadCast – The Good Buy
We all know how famous HyperX is and how professional they are in their jobs, right? Well, it delivered its professionalism here as well and I think that based on the cool red color that this microphone owns, HyperX did a great job.
Just like the microphone that I mentioned above, this one uses USB as well, as the main type of connector, and it is compatible with many different devices. What makes this microphone worth buying is the ability to work with all gaming consoles, so it may be considered a gaming microphone as well.
When you will be making foley sound effects, you will find out this microphone’s power! There is an exceptional picking up of voice and you can choose to use four different polar patterns: cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo!
There couldn’t be a better thing, right? Well, HyperX also surprises us while making this microphone anti-vibration, meaning that there is no movement of any kind.
Key Features
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Impedance: 32 ohms
- SPL (Sound Pressure Level): 36 dB
- Weight: 1.6 pounds
- Dimensions: 5.05 x 4 x 9.8 inches
Why Should You Buy It?
Considered the greatest microphone when it comes to its value, the HyperX QuadCast knows how to bring quality and quantity to you!
3. Beyerdynamic FOX – The Professional
This microphone was completely made while having in mind professionals! It owns everything that a professional would like, besides owning the name Beyerdynamic. Its design is very simple, and it is covered in a black finish.
The connection and the compatibility of this microphone are via USB as well, and a specialty at this part is the compatibility that it has with headphones, which is a feature that not every microphone offers.
Beyerdynamic didn’t add any pattern when it comes to the voice pick-up, but still, being unidirectional the microphone is capable of capturing the voice in a great way, as long as it is placed in front of the foley artist. You can be more than sure that the sounds that you will make will be heard precisely by the audience, as it knows how to bring the best out of it.
Also, another thing that I would like to add about this microphone is that it can be used in different mixtures of music.
Key Features
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Impedance: 250 ohms
- SPL (Sound Pressure Level): 97.5 dB
- Weight: 1 pound
- Dimensions: 7.3 x 2.1 x 4.1 inches
Why Should You Buy It?
Beyerdynamic is a super well-known name, and whenever one sees it, they immediately think of professionals. Well, if you are a professional in the world of sound or a professional for foley, here it is, completely made for you!
2. Logitech Blue Yeti Nano – The Challenger
Even though this microphone has kind of a weird name, when one sees Logitech, we all know that it will do a great job while in use. Anyways, this microphone has a very simple and small body, while it comes in fours colors choices such as gray, black, red, and a pretty blue.
I know that it may become a bit boring, but this microphone is also one of those that works with a USB in order to get connected. Now, in these microphones, the best definition would be plug and play, because it is super easy.
This microphone is created with different pick-up patterns, and I would like to assure you that the way that this microphone picks up the voice is one of the best ones that you can find. There is an exceptional clarity of sound and what is more important is that it can capture your voice even if you are far away from the microphone.
Key Features
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Impedance: not specified
- SPL (Sound Pressure Level): 120 dB
- Weight: 1.39 pounds
- Dimensions: 4.29 x 3.78 x 8.31 inches
Why Should You Buy It?
With its amazing compact body, and the amazing features that it holds within, this microphone is definitely one of those that is used by many foley artists and it does a great job while in use.
1. Audio-Technica AT2020 – The Greatest
What would be better than an Audio Technica condenser mic? I know that you think the same as me, definitely, nothing would be better! This condenser mic has a great design, or at least I think that it has a great design. It is a super cool and compact microphone that comes in black color, and it owns the logo of Audio Technica on the front part.
Anyways, what is important is the connectivity, right? Well, differing from the USB microphones that I mentioned above, the Audio Technica AT2020 uses the famous XLR cable inputs that are used in order to get this condenser mic connected. By the way, I say famous because XLR connectors are the most used connectors in audio devices.
Being able to provide you with amazing noise isolation, this condenser mic picks up your sound only! Everything that you may do or every sound that you will make will be picked up or captured in the best way possible so that you can sound great while doing your job. Overall, it’s a pretty good mic that i would recommend to any foley artist.
Key Features
- Frequency Response: 40 Hz – 20 kHz
- Impedance: 100 ohms
- SPL (Sound Pressure Level): 136 dB
- Weight: 1.8 pounds
- Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.6 x 2.6 inches
Why Should You Buy It?
Just as previously stated, nothing can be considered better than an Audio Technica microphone, and this one brings everything that a foley artist may need. From the design to the way of picking up the sounds, the AT2020 microphone is perfect!
General Information About Foley (FAQ)
Foley is quite an interesting topic, and I would like to tell you guys more about it! I will be dividing this section into the most frequently asked questions about foley in general
What is foley?
Foley is a special or unique technique that deals with sound effects. Those sound effects are made in different movies or television shows.
It is not just any type of sound, foley is one of the most special sound effects, and it is considered one of the main elements in the whole industry of sound. For some people, foley is an art in itself!
Are there specific and well-known foley artists?
The foley sound effects are named by an artist! His name was Jack Foley, and he worked with Universal Studios during the 1920s. He was the first artist that has ever created or made foley sound effects.
Nowadays, there are many people working as foley artists, but there are no specific given names as the most famous ones, even though we would like to know some of them!
How do people record foley?
Foley is mostly recorded in studios, and people who make those sounds have in front the scenes that they are creating. For example, they have the movie going on in front of their eyes and based on that, they make foley sounds.
Which sounds are considered foley sounds?
Considering that foley is a sound effect, you should know that as a foley sound are known footsteps, rubbing things, punches, kicks, door slammings, and many others.
Even though these things can be heard for example while watching a movie, there is still added a sound effect that makes them be heard a little bit more.
Anyways, a fact that is known is that foley is divided into three main groups
- Moves and Cloth
- Feet
- Specifics (other sounds)
Is foley related to ASMR?
Even though they might look the same, and have the same purpose in mind, which is sound effects, foley and ASMR are quite different from one another. Foley doesn’t require the person to stay attached to the microphones, meanwhile, when creating any ASMR, we see people super close to the microphone that he or she uses.
What is considered a good foley?
A good foley is when the artist knows how to deal with any kind of sound effect. For example, in a movie, you never know what is going on and what may be appeared there. Yet again, a good foley is when the artist brings the best out of the sound that is required.
A simple explanation would be the feet part! Whenever there are steps, the person who is doing foley should be able to bring them clearly, to make the viewers feel like the sound is coming out of the recording of the movie and not the sound effects.
How does foley affect a scene?
There are different ways on how foley can affect and have a great effect and the main job during a scene from a movie or whatever that you may think of.
Whenever there is foley, the scenes that you will be watching will sound definitely more realistic, there is immersive storytelling, the ambient sounds will be brought in a better way, and most importantly, whenever there are foley sound effects you won’t be watching at some weird scenes.
The things that I mentioned above are mostly related to cartoons since in them noises and sounds are more difficult to be made.
Below you will find attached a video on how foley is created, check it out!
Final Words
You know I love to conclude articles in the simplest way possible, and I will do it here again!
You can notice that all the microphones that I mentioned in this article are all great performers when it comes to foley and that means that they all will do a great job at that part! Based don’t the way that I listed them, you can understand how they would do their job!
I really hope that this article will be the biggest supporter and the number one help in case you guys need the best microphone for foley!
Further Reading
At the end of this article, I can’t help but mention and advise you guys to check out something else!
Above, I mentioned ASMR as another type of sound effect, and I would gladly introduce you to some of the greatest microphones for ASMR that you can find on the market. Or, by the way, while we are here, let me also mention that there are some amazing headphones for ASMR that you can take a look at!
While we are at headphones, you guys that own a tragus piercing, did you know that there are some of the most prominent headphones for tragus piercing that you can use? Take a look at them if you need a pair!
There is nothing left to say, besides I hope you guys have fun!
Mix & Mastering
I love to get my hands on all sorts of audio equipment, from headphones and speakers to audio interfaces. I love putting these products through their paces and seeing what they can do.
