Why choose the right microphone when you’re a streamer/gamer?
You’ve probably heard it before, but whether it’s setting up a YouTube channel or a Twitch account, there are several important things to look into to get followers. Among them is the quality of the project/originality, the quality of the picture, and the sound. Of course, the project itself is the most important. But if you’re here, you must already have that in mind.
Today, you have to keep in mind that the quality of the sound comes before the image. No need for 4K, you will also find a lot of videos that perform quite well on the web with poor image quality. On the other hand, if the sound irritates the ears or is uncomfortable, then it grows back. Choosing the wrong microphone is therefore the best way to scare away viewers, despite a quality live performance. Whether for a simple video or a live, the most important accessory is therefore the microphone to provide super comfortable sound.
Contents
Comparison table of the best gaming / streaming microphones
Whether in terms of sound, frequency, support, or simply price, a microphone is chosen carefully according to different criteria. Here is a comparative table of each of these micro gaming including, their advantages, their disadvantages as well as some tips to know about each of them.
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
Product Features
- Connectivity: USB
- Frequency Response: 20 Hz- 20 kHz
- Models: Cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, stereo
- Features: Gain control, mute button, and headphone volume
How to do a microphone comparison without mentioning the Blue Yeti Mic? Used by many streamers such as Terracid or Wintergaming, the Yeti microphone is often used among YouTubers as well as in various pro interviews. Ideal for recording and streaming, it is a very versatile microphone offering excellent sound quality while remaining at an affordable price … hence the fruit of its success! Designed to be robust, it will survive in particular all types of burger or rage games. The main drawback (there is one) of this desktop microphone will remain that the foam padding remains ineffective, letting the sound of the keyboard, mouse, and surroundings shine through.
Our opinion on the Micro Blue Yeti
In our opinion, the Blue Yeti is an excellent microphone to start gaming when you’re on a budget. Offering an excellent quality/price ratio it provides very good sound and retains a very appreciable versatility with cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, stereo models… and as proof, it has received THX certification thanks to its high sound quality.
Blue USB Snowball Best Mic for Gaming Videos
Product Features
- Connectivity: USB
- Frequency Response: 40-18 kHz
- Models: Cardioid, omnidirectional
- Specifications: 460g
The most economical and transportable
Very easily transportable thanks to its small size and retractable feet, the Blue Snowball is a good option for those who have financial constraints and cannot upgrade directly to the Blue Yeti. Featuring a custom condenser capsule, the Blue Snowball is a mic that will record your voice crisp and clear. Easy to install because no pilot is necessary, the Snowball and a very nice microphone to have in your pocket, if only for its mobility. However, the Snowball is a microphone that will remain very limited in terms of adaptability depending on the situation and does not include an anti-pop filter.
Our Opinion on the Snowball USB Microphone
As always with Blue, the Snowball is a microphone with a very good price/quality ratio. It’s not for nothing that it is such a hit with newbie YouTubers: it offers perfectly acceptable sound and at a low price. It is therefore for us, the top of the microphones when we have a small budget and want to start cheap. If you have a little more money, we still recommend the Yeti microphone which remains the best at the moment.
Antlion Audio ModMic
Product Features
Durable and Flexible Design
There is just a small, powerful, and very space-saving microphone that can help you communicate more effectively with your friends: The Antlion Audio ModMic. The microphone provides impeccable audio quality without any background noise to ensure you the best audio recordings. The microphone simply attaches to a headset and it is compatible with all the models I have tested. The microphone also has a magnetic clip that will allow you to attach it anywhere on your helmet.
The ModMic 4.0 has a very neat design that guarantees extended longevity. This special design ensures it has a longer life and makes it very easy to install. The microphone features a 9.7mm electret condenser capsule that manages to deliver a very faithful sound. The quality of the signal when it is ensured by the copper coaxial shielding of the microphone. Several small accessories are supplied with the microphone, such as a 3M mount, a foam pop filter, an alcohol sponge, 5 cable ties, the instruction manual, and a small carrying pouch.
The ModMic 4.0 microphone has unidirectional directivity which allows it to effectively suppress unwanted noise. No need to deal with ambient noise anymore, you can just enjoy the sounds of your games thoroughly. It is very easy to install and use a microphone that will certainly suit many gamers. It is compatible with all headphones I have tested and comes with lots of practical accessories.
Our Opinion on Antlion Audio ModMic
The AntLion Audio ModMic microphone is a good communication system for gamers. With this mic, no more annoying noisy environments when recording, you can simply record without worrying about extraneous noise. To have more opinion on this model I recommend the Amazon reviews section.
RODE NT USB
Product Features
- Connectivity: USB
- Frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz
- Models: Cardioid
Pop shield, tripod Entering in direct competition with the Blue Yeti, the Rode NT USB today offers one can say, a better sound quality. Mimicking the design of studio microphones, the Rode NT USB keeps its price affordable, making it even more appealing. The pop filter is also directly supplied with the Rode microphone, a small bonus that can be appreciated. The main disadvantage of the Rode NT microphone is that it has only one polar pattern: the cardioid. Although this is the position that we use 99% of the time, it will limit you when it comes to the possibility of varying your stream. Finally, Rode claims to offer studio-quality sound, without studio-quality prices… and it must be said that they are doing pretty well so far.
Our Opinion on the Rode NT USB Microphone
While the Rode microphone sounds better than the Blue Yeti, this one is still less versatile. The Rode is an excellent or even better microphone if you are sure to stay on cardioid (only use the microphone to stream video games in front of the PC). We advise you, in particular, to equip yourself with a microphone arm to benefit from a better hold and position but above all, to avoid surrounding noise such as mouse/keyboard.
Razer Seiren Elite
Product Features
- Connectivity: USB
- Frequency response: 50Hz-20kHz
- Models: Cardioid
- Features: Mute button, Desk stand
The Best Dynamic USB Microphone
Among one of the best microphones for gaming, the Razer Seiren Elite features a unique dynamic capsule that minimizes interference and delivers a true-to-life voice. The high-pass filter integrated into the microphone makes it possible to block low vibrations and thus limit external sound noises such as hard disks, keyboards, mice, and behind the back. The Razer Seiren Elite is a microphone that guarantees minimum interference and will provide a clear, warm sound, ideal for streaming. The mute feature is a particularly useful little bonus when you go away for a few minutes.
Our Opinion on the Razer Seiren Elite Microphone
It is clear that we enter here in a high-end microphone. And especially for streaming, Razer is a brand that clearly has a say. Today it is for us one of the best microphones for streaming and streaming: robust, adaptable, and offers excellent sound quality. If you want to lean into streaming the pro way and deliver the best possible experience to viewers.
Logitech G Pro
Product Features
- Sound insulation: up to 16 dB
- Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
- Wireless: No
- Compatibility: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, or even VR.
Detachable microphone, 259g At a very widely accessible price, the Logitech G Pro tries to provide access to a comfortable headset, as well as a very good quality microphone. Adjustable at the level of the hoop, the pressure points are evenly distributed allowing you to stay in good comfort throughout your playing session. The quality of the microphone is its strong point, the Logitech G Pro lets out a clear voice at the timbre respected, it captures vocals better than the HyperX Cloud Alpha. However, the audio is its weak point with unnatural sound return and a feeling of distance from certain audio sources.
Our opinion on the Logitech G Pro X headset
At this price, a headset cannot be perfect, far from it! However, the Logitech G Pro has the advantage of offering a quite acceptable sound and doing the job in audio at a low price. It is a very economical option in the sense that it will manage both the audio returns as well as the microphone.
HyperX Cloud Alpha
Product Features
- Frequency response: 13Hz – 27 kHz
- Wireless: No
- Compatibility: PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, or even mobiles.
Detachable noise-canceling microphone, 298g, cable with detachable in-line controls A benchmark among gamers for a few years now, the HyperX Cloud Alpha headset provides comfort and excellent sound quality. Including a memory foam and a 100% adjustable steel hoop, the HyperX Cloud Alpha and its 275 grams allow you to enjoy long sessions of games without ending up with a headache. As far as the sound is concerned, because that’s kind of why we are there at the base, the HyperX Cloud Alpha respects the timbre of the voice and manages to reconstitute it in a very clear and natural way. Its main flaw will be its too low sensitivity, sometimes confusing our voice with background noise. To mention a small non-negligible advantage of this headset microphone: the cable is detachable, just like the microphone.
Our opinion on the HyperX Cloud Alpha headset
As expected we fall into a sound quality much inferior to the microphones on a stand. But the HyperX Cloud Alpha, in our opinion, is THE go-to headset if you can’t afford a separate desktop microphone and headset. It provides an excellent balance between comfort/sound quality making this headset one of the most cost-effective in terms of value for money.
Headset Steelseries Arctis 7
Product Features
- Frequency response: 20 to 20 kHz
- Wireless: Yes
- Characteristics: 24h of life without recharging, retractable noise-canceling microphone
- Compatibility: PC, Mac, PlayStation, Switch, and Mobile.
The Best Wireless Gaming Headset
With a solid steel headband and better finished than on previous models, this Steelseries headset offers excellent comfort for small and medium-sized heads. Its design, limiting comfort for large sizes. Being wireless, it is autonomous for up to 24 hours of listening and works up to a distance of 10 m from the computer. Beyond that, it will end up disconnecting. But what about the microphone? Retractable, Steelseries has succeeded in providing a very good two-way microphone, intelligibly transcribing the voice and cutting out surrounding noise. Once again, the audio is not the strong point of the majority of microphone headsets with here too much bass emphasized and hollowed high mids.
Our opinion on the Steelseries Artis 7 headset
From our side, the Steelseries Artis 7 is not a favorite. Although it offers good comfort and acceptable audio, the sound quality remains minimal and very limited to make a stream. In terms of micro gaming, we would not hesitate to switch to the HyperX Cloud Alpha, which offers a much better quality to outright go on a Yeti microphone and a dedicated audio headset to provide a much better experience for viewers.
Razer Nari Ultimate
Product Features
- Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Wireless: Yes
- Features: 8h battery life, Lofelt L5 haptic drivers, THX Spatial Audio
- Compatibility: PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and Mobile.
THE Benchmark for Gaming Headsets
Renowned among gamers, what makes the Razer Nari Ultimate unique is its new technology for haptic feedback. And yes, it emits vibrations at low frequencies which allows you to immerse yourself even more in the video game. What could be better than a little horror game with this? With excellent audio quality, the Razer Nari Ultimate will be especially great for listening to music or movies. The comfort remains very present with soft ear cups and an evenly distributed weight. It won’t be ideal for streaming though, as the mic is still very limited with little overdrive protection.
Our opinion on the Razer Nari Ultimate headset
The Razer Nari Ultimate is a very good headset, offering a unique gaming experience. However, and if you seriously want to get on Twitch or do live/videos, this is a headset that we do not recommend given the price compared to the quality of the microphone. In order to offer much better lives, we clearly advise you to opt for the Steelseries Arctis Pro or simply for a Rode NT USB accompanied by an audio headset.
Steelseries Arctis Pro
Product Features
- Frequency response: 10 to 40 kHz
- Wireless: No
- Features: Retractable noise-canceling microphone, retractable microphone rod, removable cable
- Compatibility: PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, VR, and Mobile.
The Ultra High-end for E-sport/Gaming
With a very simple design, although it is customizable, the Steelseries Arctis Pro headset is a comfortable gaming headset. Equipped with a stainless steel hoop and an aluminum hinge to increase its longevity, the helmet provides well-distributed pressure points as well as soft pads for optimal comfort. Much better than the Arctis 7 in terms of bass, it remains perfectible in terms of the mediums but still offers very good audio, especially for gaming. In terms of microphone, there is no need to say we clearly go a step above with a microphone providing a clear voice, clear and without saturation, reflecting reality as well as possible.
Our opinion on the Steelseries Arctis Pro headset
By being demanding in terms of audio, the Steelseries Arctis Pro is a top-of-the-range headset of excellent quality that will clearly do the trick when it comes to Twitch streaming or esports. It is a winning combo, which however requires that we pay the price. It all depends on individual preferences and needs, a Steelseries Arctis Pro or a Blue Yeti microphone accompanied by headphones specialized in audio?
How to choose your micro pc/gaming?
The Sound Quality
Ah! Sound quality is probably THE most important criterion in choosing your microphone. Today, the most suitable model for solo lives in front of the screen is the cardioid, which you will probably use 99% of the time. The microphone will only pick up the sound coming in front of the microphone. However, depending on the situation (live with several people around a table for example) other models such as bidirectional or omnidirectional can be useful. In addition to the sound quality, it will also take into account the sensitivity of the microphone. Will it pick up mouse clicks or keyboard keys? This is a point that can be unpleasant for viewers in the long run and will degrade the quality of the live.
Tips: Namely, floor-standing mics will generally provide better sound quality than headsets and will be especially useful during multi-party lives.
The Adaptability of the Microphone
When it comes to setting up his office, we all have different needs. It is therefore important that it can adapt to different situations and postures. A microphone provided only with a suspension stand, and having to be 10 cm from the mouth … will probably not be suitable for your current setup and will be difficult to place on many desks. In short, it is absolutely necessary to take into account the adaptability of the microphone. Whether it is on a single stand or suspended on a microphone arm, it must be able to position itself so that it can play comfortably live, while offering quality sound.
The Price of the Microphone
And finally, an important and essential element: the price. In general, we will here advise and mention the microphones that provide, in our opinion, the best quality/price ratios. The ultimate goal: to acquire the most suitable microphone for a lower price. As far as streaming is concerned, we recommend that you ideally plan for a minimum budget of $100. Why? Well, because the sound is once again a very important criterion for making streams that are pleasant to follow. Beyond $200, we start in a ++ comfort to offer content of increasingly sophisticated quality.
How does a Microphone work? Types of Microphone
There are two main types of microphones, called dynamic microphones and condenser microphones. Whether it is one or the other, they will be equipped with technology to convert sound into electrical energy. But what are the differences between these two types of microphones? Which microphone should I choose for simple streaming?
Dynamic Microphones
Like the loudspeakers, a dynamic microphone will have a membrane as well as a metal coil. However, unlike loudspeakers, it is the sound pressure that will cause the membrane to move, producing a flow of current. These microphones, which operate without batteries or external power, are renowned for their robustness and reliability.
Condenser Microphones
Made up of a capacitor connected to a fixed electrode as well as a small membrane, the condenser microphone also works under the action of sound pressure. The sound pressure will then affect a change in the electrical output. Generally, condenser microphones are favored due to their higher frequencies (speed of sound emission between the microphone and the computer) and better clarity of sound. There are two types of condenser microphones:
The polarized condenser microphone – Widely used in studios by sound professionals.
The electret condenser microphone – Widely used for broadcasting and recording thanks to its magnificent performance.
We’re not going to lie to each other, there are a lot of microphones. However, not all of them offer a quality of sound and comfort that justifies their high price directly or indirectly. After much analysis, here are some of the best microphones for streaming today. Whether for a cheap gaming microphone or a pro microphone offering incredible sound, each range has its sets of microphones at the best quality/price ratios.
