Mackie EM-99B — Editorial Review

Mackie EM-99B — Editorial Review

The Mackie EM-99B is an affordable cardioid dynamic broadcast microphone aimed at podcasting, live streaming, and dialogue. It bundles broadcast-style touches — an internal pop filter and vibration suspension — into a rugged, all-metal body that ships ready to record.

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Broadcast features at a budget price

Per Mackie, the EM-99B uses a cardioid capsule with a tuned response (roughly 50 Hz-16 kHz), an integrated single-axis suspension to reduce desk and stand vibration, and a built-in pop filter to tame plosives, all wrapped in an all-metal body with an included desktop stand. In Podcastage's review and test — featured above — it's compared directly against the SM7B, PodMic, and AT2040, where its clear presence and treble come through.

Honest cons

• Presence-forward voicing. The lifted upper range can sound bright or edgy on some voices and mic techniques.
• Dynamic-mic limits. It won't capture the airy detail of a good condenser.
• Cardioid only. A single fixed polar pattern — no pattern flexibility.
• Basic included stand. The desk stand gets you started but a boom arm is better for serious use.

Where this microphone fits

• Podcasters and streamers who want a rugged broadcast dynamic with built-in pop filtering at a low price.
• Dialogue and voice recordists needing clear, present speech out of the box.
• Untreated-room creators who benefit from a focused cardioid dynamic.
• Not those wanting condenser-level detail, multiple polar patterns, or a darker, warmer broadcast voicing.

Sources & Citations

1. Mackie, "EM-99B Dynamic Broadcast Microphone (product and technical overview)," mackie.com (accessed 2026-05-26)

Last verified: 2026-05-26