Stop obsessing over video quality.
I’m serious.
The thing killing your online course isn’t your camera. It’s your audio.
Bad video? People forgive it. Bad audio? They assume you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Why your microphone matters more than your camera
Poor audio makes you sound incompetent.
My first attempt at recording a course used a $50 Sony lav mic. The background noise made the whole thing unusable.
Video quality is forgivable. Viewers will sit through slightly grainy footage. But crackling audio? Constant background hiss? The sound of you breathing into the mic?
That’s when they click away.
When your audio is garbage, viewers subconsciously assume your content is garbage too. Doesn’t matter if you’re sharing 20 years of expertise—bad sound torpedoes your credibility.
Why your laptop’s built-in mic won’t cut it
Before we get into actual microphones, let’s address the elephant in the room.
Your laptop’s built-in microphone is terrible. Even the expensive ones.
Here’s what happens when you record with it:
Every. Single. Keystroke. Gets. Picked. Up.
You’re explaining something brilliant, typing notes as you go, and all your students hear is click-clack-click-clack drowning out your words.
Plus, built-in mics are too far from your mouth. The result? Inconsistent volume, an echo-y “room sound,” and audio that screams “I didn’t take this seriously.”
Even AI noise removal can’t fully rescue audio that starts out terrible.
You need an actual microphone. But here’s the good news: you don’t need an expensive one.
The reality of recording at home (not in a studio)
Let’s get real about your recording environment.
You don’t have a soundproof room. You’re not in a professional studio. And that’s completely fine.
Your reality probably looks like this:
- Echo because you’re in a regular room with hard surfaces
- Kids yelling in the background
- Traffic noise from the street
- The neighbor’s dog losing its mind at the mailman
- The hum of your refrigerator or AC unit
Most “home recording” advice completely ignores this. They tell you to “treat your room acoustically” or “record in a quiet space.”
Great. And where exactly is this magical quiet space when you’re recording after work with a family at home?
Here’s the actual solution: Get a decent microphone, then run your audio through AI editing.
That’s it.
A decent mic captures clean audio at the source. Then AI tools strip out the background noise, remove echo, smooth out inconsistent volume, and eliminate mouth clicks.
This approach works better than spending thousands on gear while still battling echo in your untreated room.
USB vs XLR: Why USB makes your life easier
Here’s where people overcomplicate things.
There are two main types of microphones: USB and XLR.
XLR microphones are what you see in recording studios. They sound great. But here’s what nobody tells you: they require extra gear.
You need:
- An audio interface (another box that costs $100-300)
- XLR cables
- Phantom power (for condenser mics)
- Time figuring out gain staging and input levels
For your first online course? This is overkill.
USB microphones plug directly into your computer. That’s it. No interface. No cables. No complicated setup.
Plug it in. Hit record. Done.
When does XLR make sense? Maybe later, if you’re recording a podcast with multiple people or you need to record while walking around (more on that in a minute).
But for creating online courses? Start with USB. Complicate your life later if you actually need to.
The counterintuitive approach: Let AI do the cleanup
This is where the magic happens.
You don’t need a perfect recording environment. You need decent sound quality, then you let AI fix the rest.
Modern AI audio editing is borderline ridiculous. It can:
- Remove background noise (traffic, AC, room hum)
- Eliminate echo
- Strip out mouth clicks and breathing sounds
- Smooth inconsistent volume levels
- Cut silence gaps automatically
Tools like Descript can turn mediocre home-recorded audio into something that sounds professional.
Think of it like this: You wouldn’t try to hand-wash your clothes in a bucket when you have a washing machine sitting right there. Same logic applies here.
Get decent input audio with a proper mic, then let AI handle the cleanup. This beats spending $2,000 on soundproofing and still ending up with echo.
The best microphones for online courses (by use case)
Enough theory. Here are the actual microphones you should consider.
Best all-around microphone: Audio-Technica ATR2100X
This is the workhorse.
USB-C connectivity means it works with basically everything—your laptop, your tablet, even newer phones.
Solid sound quality. Reliable. Not finicky.
But here’s what you need to know: Buy a separate pop screen and a decent stand. The included stand is garbage. It’s flimsy, tips over easily, and positions the mic in weird angles.
Get a basic boom arm or desktop stand. Add a foam pop filter. Now you’re actually set up properly.
Price point? Around $100 for the mic, another $30-40 for the stand and pop filter.
Best budget screen recording mic: Sennheiser XS Lab USB-C
If you’re on a tight budget, this is your answer.
Costs $30-40. Lightweight. Simple to use.
Perfect for screen capture courses—which, let’s be honest, is most online courses. You’re recording your screen, talking over slides or a document or a mind map.
You don’t need broadcast-quality audio for that. You need clear, intelligible sound. This delivers.
Just plug it into your computer and start recording.
Best for recording on your phone: Shure MV88
This one’s specific: iPhone integration for mobile recording.
When does this make sense? When you want to capture course content while commuting or walking. Some people do their best thinking on the move.
You can record voice memos, rough drafts of lessons, or even full course modules if you’re comfortable talking without notes.
The Shure MV88 plugs directly into your iPhone and gives you significantly better audio than the built-in mic.
Not essential for most people. But if you’re constantly on the go and want to record away from your desk, it’s worth considering.
Rode NT-USB
Another great alliterative that you can plug into your USB port and that comes at less than $200.
If you must go XLR: Shure SM58
The Shure SM58 has been in production since 1966.
There’s a reason for that. It’s bombproof. Road-tested. Legendary for live vocals.
But it’s an XLR mic, which means you need a recorder to pair with it.
Here’s the thing though: this complicates your workflow significantly compared to USB.
Only go this route if you specifically need portability without a computer.
For most course creation? USB is simpler.
Special mention: GoPro for hands-on courses
If you’re teaching something physical—cooking, woodworking, crafts, fitness—a GoPro makes sense.
Decent audio. Good video. Tons of mounting accessories.
You can strap it to your chest, mount it overhead, attach it to a tripod. Whatever angle you need for demonstrating physical skills.
But for courses where you’re mostly talking and screen-sharing? Overkill.
The minimal recording setup that actually works
Here’s what 90% of online courses actually look like:
Screen recording + voiceover.
That’s it.
You’re recording your screen while you talk. Maybe you’re showing:
- A mind map you’re building in real-time
- Slides you’ve thrown together
- Notes you’re typing in a Google Doc
- Drawings you’re making on an iPad
This beats “professional” studio setups for one simple reason: it focuses on your expertise, not production value.
Your students don’t care about cinematic lighting and multiple camera angles. They care about learning what you know.
Real timeline for creating an entire course this way? Under 3 hours if you stop overthinking it.
Why “broadcast mode” beats perfectionism
Record like you’re live. No retakes for minor stumbles.
This is the secret that separates people who ship courses from people who endlessly tinker.
Did you say “um”? Keep going.
Did you cough? Keep going.
Did you stumble over a word? Keep going.
Let AI handle the cleanup. Modern tools automatically remove ums, ahs, coughs, and silence gaps.
Perfectionism is what’s killing your progress. You’re recording the same 5-minute segment for the third time because you said “like” twice.
Meanwhile, “good enough” gets courses finished and published. “Perfect” never ships.
Your students would rather have your slightly imperfect knowledge today than your theoretically perfect course that doesn’t exist.
What NOT to waste money on
Let’s talk about what doesn’t matter.
Expensive cameras. Nobody cares. Most successful courses are screen recordings with occasional talking head footage from a webcam. Save your money.
Professional lighting rigs. Unless you’re recording a course about cinematography, natural light from a window is fine.
Soundproofing your entire room. Diminishing returns. A decent mic + AI noise removal handles most issues for a fraction of the cost.
XLR setups when USB would work fine. Don’t complicate your life. Start simple.
The common thread? All of this is advanced equipment that sits unused while your course never ships.
Stop optimizing. Start recording.
Ship it
Your expertise matters. Your gear doesn’t.
Get a USB mic. Use AI cleanup. Publish your course.
Stop waiting for the perfect setup. Your students need your knowledge, not cinema-quality production.
The difference between you and someone already making money from their online course? They hit record with imperfect gear. You’re still researching microphones.
Pick one from this list. Buy it. Record tomorrow.
Done is better than perfect.