Yo what’s up guys, Drew here. In this “show and tell” style video I break down the exact microphones and audio accessories I’ve been using for my YouTube channel and The Shred Sessions Podcast, plus a few options at different price points if you’re trying to start a channel or podcast in 2026. I start with the tried-and-true Shure SM7B (and why people pair it with a Cloudlifter), but I’m also real about the fact that most people don’t actually need an ultra-silent noise floor. A lot of great podcasts aren’t “perfect” production-wise—it’s more about your content than your gear. From there I get into interfaces and gain staging (I’m on a PreSonus Quantum HD8—70 dB of gain is insane), and I talk about budget workhorses like the SM58/SM57 that have basically been holding the American economy on their back for 40 years. I also go deep on wireless for field interviews and band use—especially the XVive U35 system with my Zoom H6 for crowd/venue interviews. Then I cover why I’m not a fan of holding a mic on camera, my thoughts on the Shure MV7+ as a USB option, and why the Triton Audio in-line Kompressor has been huge for keeping podcast levels consistent. Finally, I share my all-time favorite mic for crystal clear, out-of-frame audio: the Sennheiser MKH 416.