Lowest Self Noise Microphones for Field Recording: A Helpful, Comparative List

 

Discover which field recording microphones have the lowest self-noise in this article.

The lowest self noise microphones for field recording on the market

When recording delicate and soft sounds, a quiet microphone can make the difference between an amazingly detailed recording and a hissing nightmare.

Nature, sound effect, and foley recording artists know this well. They all face the challenge of recording quiet sounds.

To help these artists find low noise microphones, I created this list of the lowest self-noise microphones available.

Links on this page are affiliated with Sovrn and Amazon Associates networks.

 

 
Products Comparison Table | CodyHouse

Compare Models

Products
  • Rating
  • Self-Noise
  • SNR
  • Included Accessories
  • Purchase
  • product image

    sE Electronics sE8

    • Best Value Cardioid
    • 13 dB
    • 81 dB
    • Stereo Bar
      x2 Foam Windscreens
      x2 Mic Clips
      Carrying Case
  • product image

    Audio Technica At4022

    • Best Value Omni
    • 13 dB
    • 81 dB
    • Carrying Case
      x2 Foam Windscreens
      x2 Mic Clips

  • product image

    Rode NTG5

    • Best Value Shotgun
    • 10 dB
    • 84 dB
    • Pistol Grip
      Furry Windshield
      Foam Windscreen
      Carrying Pouch

 

Microphone Pickup Patterns

Cardioid

Cardioid microphone pickup pattern

The cardioid microphone gets its name from its heart-shaped pickup pattern. They are the most popular microphones for recording speech thanks to their ability of rejecting sound from the side and rear.

A cardioid mic’s pickup pattern is unidirectional, meaning it is only sensitive to sound from 1 direction.

Single cardioid mics are used for recording spot sound effects in situations where you can get the microphone very close to your subject.

More commonly, pairs of cardioid microphones are arranged in X/Y configuration (see below) to record stereo ambiances.

Figure 8

Figure 8 microphone pickup pattern (bi-directional)

Figure 8 or bi-directional microphones receive sound equally from the front and the back, creating an “8” pattern.

Traditionally, they are used for recording two subjects at the same time. For example, an interview, a duet or a stereo ambiance.

In field recording, they are most commonly used in “mid-side” recordings. This technique requires two microphones: a figure 8 mic and a uni-directional mic (usually cardioid).

The resulting recording offers a lot of flexibility in post-production to stereo width and depth.

Omnidirectional

Omnidirectional microphone pickup pattern

An omnidirectional (non-directional) microphone picks up sound equally in all directions.

Due to this pickup pattern, they are great for capturing entire environments of sound.

Omni microphones are often used to record ambiences and soundscapes. Use two of them to create a stereo image.

There are many popular miking techniques using a pair of omni mics including, A/B stereo, jecklin disk, binaural and Olson wing.

Shotgun

Shotgun microphone pickup pattern

Shotgun microphones are the most highly directional out of all the unidirectional types.

A shotgun microphone is basically a cardioid/hypercardioid microphone at the bottom of a tube with slotted holes up and down its length.

When off-axis sounds enter these slots, a phase cancelling effect is created and the sound is silenced.

Because of their ability to silence surrounding sounds, they are often used in field recording to capture animal sounds, especially birds.

X/Y Stereo

X/Y Stereo miking pickup pattern image

Technically, this isn’t a type of microphone but rather a combination of microphones.

X/Y microphones are made up of two cardioid mics perpendicular to each other (90°).

Typically, X/Y configurations are setup manually by the field recordist, with mics of their choice, but purpose-built X/Y microphones do exist (there are 2 on the list).

X/Y microphones are great for capturing stereo ambiances when you are at least 10’ away from your subject.

 
 

Comparison Table

 
Manufacturer Mic SNR Self-Noise Type Price Cost/SNR
Rode NT5 78 16 Cardioid $219 $2.81
Audio Technica AT 4021 80 14 Cardioid $349 $4.36
sE Electronics sE8 81 13 Cardioid $259 $3.20
Sennheiser MKH 840 81 13 Cardioid $1199 $14.62
Sennheiser MKH 50 82 12 Supercardioid $1199 $14.62
Sennheiser MKH 30 80 13 Figure 8 $1249 $15.61
Audio Technica AT 4022 81 13 Omni $349 $4.31
Sennheiser MKH 20 84 10 Omni $1199 $14.27
Sennheiser MKH 8020 84 10 Omni $1199 $14.27
Sanken CS-3e 79 15 Shotgun $1499 $18.34
Rode NTG3 80 13 Shotgun $609 $7.61
Sennheiser MKH 416 80 13 Shotgun $999 $12.49
Rode NTG5 8 10 Shotgun $499 $5.94
Sennheiser ME66/K6 84 10 Shotgun $405 $4.82
Sennheiser MKH 60 86 8 Shotgun $1499 $17.43
Sennheiser MKH 70 89 5 Shotgun $1749 $19.65
Rode NT4 78 16 X/Y Stereo $529 $6.78
Audio Technica BP4025 80 14 X/Y Stereo $649 $8.11
 

Winners

Having all of this information in one place made the data really easy to analyze. I chose to sort the chart by microphone type for more accurate comparisons.

Things really got interesting when I calculated how much you are paying per dB of SNR. This was really helpful for finding great performing, budget options.

For each microphone type (unless there was only 1 contender), I’ve written a bit about the best overall microphone for that category, as well as the best budget option. Check them out below ↓


Best Budget Cardioid Microphone

sE Electronics sE8

The sE Electronics sE8 offers the most bang for your buck.

With only 13 dB of self noise, it is exceedingly quiet and comes with a bunch of great accessories.

Accessories include:

  • stereo bar

  • x2 foam windscreens

  • x2 microphone stand clips

  • robust carrying case

Bottom line: The value a matched pair of sE8 cardioid microphones is unmatched by all other cardioid options. The Sennheiser MKH 8040 is only 1 dB quieter and is five times more expensive than the sE8!


Best Overall Cardioid Microphone

Sennheiser MKH 8040

The Sennheiser MKH 8040 cardioid microphone is just as quiet as the sE Electronics sE8, with only 13 dB of self noise.

Additionally, the MKH 8040 is moisture resistant and will withstand exposure to high humidity and moisture.

It is also capable of recording ultrasonic frequencies up to 50kHz, which may be an important feature for sound designers and acoustic ecologists.

Bottom line: The MKH 8040 is the best cardioid microphone money can buy.


Best Budget Omnidirectional Microphone

Audio Technica AT4022

The Audio Technica AT4022 is the best value omnidirectional microphone on the market.

With only 13 dB of self noise and affordably priced, the AT4022 is a popular microphone for soundscape and nature field recording artists.

Bottom line: The AT4022 is very quiet and within the reach of most budgets. These features have made it one of the most popular omnidirectional microphones for field recording.


Best Overall Omnidirectional Microphone

Sennheiser MKH 8020

The Sennheiser MKH 8020 is the best omnidirectional microphone on the market when it comes to noise and performance.

With only 10 dB of self noise, the MKH 8020 is capable of capturing sounds with no hiss under the most critical recording conditions.

Additionally, it is RF-biased, meaning that it can withstand high humidity and moisture, making it the perfect option for recording sounds outdoors.

Bottom line: The Sennheiser MKH 8020 is the best omnidirectional microphone available. If it’s within your budget, you won’t be disappointed.


Best Budget Shotgun Microphone

Rode NTG5

The Rode NTG5 takes the spot for the best value shotgun microphone thanks to its exceptionally low noise and incredible array of included accessories.

The NTG5 has quickly become one of the most popular shotgun microphones on the market since its release in 2019 thanks to having only 10 dB of self noise, including many useful accessories, and being affordably priced.

Accessories include:

  • pistol grip shockmount

  • furry windshield

  • foam windscreen

  • microphone stand holder

  • XLR cable with integrated cable strain relief

  • zippered carrying pouch

As if that isn’t enough, the NTG5 is also RF-biased and can withstand high humidity and moisture with no issues.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a low noise shotgun microphone, there’s no better option in my opinion than the Rode NTG5. It’s super quiet, includes a ton of extras, and can record outdoors without having to worry about humidity issues.


Final Thoughts

I hope this exhaustive comparison table has helped you to find the best microphone for your purposes.

Do you own a low noise microphone that was left off this list? Please let me know by contacting me.

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