If you've spent any time on YouTube or Spotify, you've probably wondered what mic Joe Rogan uses. The answer is the Shure SM7B, and it's been his go-to for years on The Joe Rogan Experience.
At this point the SM7B is basically the default podcasting microphone. Walk into any serious podcast setup and there's a good chance you'll see one. But is it actually the right choice for you? And what else is in Rogan's full studio setup?
Let's get into it.
The Main Mic: Shure SM7B
The Shure SM7B is a dynamic cardioid microphone originally designed for broadcast radio. It's been around since the 1970s — Michael Jackson recorded "Thriller" with one — but it exploded in the podcast world because of JRE.
What makes it good:
- Rejects background noise well. It's a dynamic mic, so it only picks up what's close to it. Air conditioning, traffic, computer fans don't bleed in much.
- No room sound. Condenser mics pick up everything including your room's acoustics. The SM7B is much more forgiving of imperfect spaces.
- Built-in pop filter. Saves you from buying one separately, and it works well.
- Warm, full sound. It makes most voices sound better than they are.
The honest downside: it's not plug-and-play. The SM7B needs a lot of gain, more than most USB audio interfaces provide cleanly. If you plug it into a basic interface and turn the gain up high, you'll get a noisy, thin sound. You need either a solid interface with clean preamps, or a dedicated gain booster like the Cloudlifter CL-1 between the mic and interface.
Price: around $399. Worth it when you're serious about the show. Not necessary if you're just getting started.
The Audio Interface: Rode Rodecaster Pro II
Rogan's studio runs the Rode Rodecaster Pro II as their audio interface and show mixer. This is an all-in-one podcasting console that handles up to four XLR mics, has built-in audio processing per channel, onboard recording, sound effect pads, and connects to your computer via USB as an audio interface.
For a studio running multiple guests simultaneously, it's a smart choice. For a solo podcaster at home, it's probably overkill at $600. A Focusrite Scarlett Solo ($120) and the SM7B handles most people's needs just fine.
If you want the exact JRE setup and you're running a proper studio, the SM7B plus Rodecaster Pro II is the answer. If you're working from home, the simpler chain sounds just as good.
The Headphones: Sony MDR-7506
Rogan and his guests wear Sony MDR-7506 headphones during recording. These are $100 studio monitoring headphones that have been the industry standard for decades.
They're not fancy. They don't cancel outside noise. But they're accurate, durable, and every audio engineer knows exactly how something should sound on them. That's why they're in basically every radio station and professional recording setup.
If you need monitoring headphones for your podcast and don't want to overthink it, the MDR-7506 is still the right call.
Should You Actually Buy the SM7B?
Here's the honest take: if you're just starting out, no. Not as your first mic.
The SM7B has a reputation problem. People buy it expecting to automatically sound like JRE, then plug it into a cheap interface and wonder why it sounds thin and noisy. That's not the mic's fault — it just needs a proper signal chain to perform.
If you want something that sounds great without buying extra gear, these are better starting points:
Shure MV7 (~$230) — USB and XLR hybrid, similar look and feel to the SM7B, works plug-and-play. This is the SM7B for people who don't want to mess with interfaces. Genuinely excellent.
Rode PodMic (~$100) — XLR dynamic mic that sounds punchy and clear. Pair it with a Focusrite Scarlett Solo and you're set for around $220 total.
Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB (~$90) — A solid USB/XLR mic for people who want to test podcasting before committing to a full setup.
The Full Joe Rogan Setup (Approximate)
| Item | What It Is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Shure SM7B | Main microphone | ~$399 |
| Rode Rodecaster Pro II | Audio interface / mixer | ~$600 |
| Sony MDR-7506 | Monitoring headphones | ~$100 |
| Rode PSA1 boom arm | Mic positioning | ~$110 |
Total: roughly $1,200+. That's a proper studio, not a bedroom setup.
What to Actually Buy
Based on where you are right now:
- Just starting out (under $150): Rode PodMic + Focusrite Scarlett Solo
- Want the USB convenience ($200-250): Shure MV7 — best single purchase you can make at this price
- Going pro ($400+): Shure SM7B + Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 + Cloudlifter CL-1
The SM7B is genuinely great. But Rogan sounds good because he has a real studio, proper acoustic treatment, and a professional engineer running the board. The mic is one part of that. If you skip the rest and just buy the mic, you won't get the same result.
Start with what fits your current setup. Upgrade when the show actually needs it.