Affordable and high-quality streaming microphone.
Don’t settle for a mini-mic attached to the gaming headset when you can choose the best streaming microphone for crystal-clear live streams. Of course, gaming headsets are suitable for regular streaming when playing online games; however, they will not definitely do for a high-quality live stream. If you are truly concerned about the quality of your live streams, make sure to use a decent streaming microphone.
I have prepared an article on streaming mics that will help you make the right choice. The market is flooded with various models, but it might be challenging to find an optimal one, especially if you’re not an expert. I have outlined the main features you need to pay attention to and the pros and cons of different microphones.
Power: 5V | Polar patterns: Super-Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Frequency response: 48kHz
With the Razer Seiren X, your stream sounds just like it does for professional gaming. With a microphone built into the headset itself, any live event you participate in will feature crystal clear sound quality. The built-in DVR (Digital Video Recorder) system allows you to record everything that happens in your game without having to worry about missing anything. The Razer Seiren X also features a variety of handy features such as the ability to broadcast in different skins, and wide screen recording so even your friends can see you.
In addition to being able to broadcast directly to your friends, the Seiren also has a variety of other features. The Razer Seiren X has been equipped with a number of different streaming options, such as the ability to change skins on the fly. The powerful microphone technology backstabs any live action you participate in, and is the first step towards taking your stream to quality broadcasting heights. The microphone incorporated into the Seiren has been designed in such a way as to eliminate background disturbance, allowing you to get down to business while you stream.
Power: 5V | Polar patterns: Stereo, Omnidirectional, Cardioid, Bidirectional | Connectivity: USB | Frequency response: 20kHz
HyperX Quadcast features a full range of high quality features that you just won't find on other headsets. For example, the HyperX Quadcast features two extra buttons on the side, for quick input of your chat messages or quick switching from game to headset without needing to depress the Caps lock key all the time. In addition, the HyperX Quadcast has a large, easy to read display on the inside of the left ear cups, with large buttons for selecting which game you want to play, and easy to access jog control features as well.
While it lacks some of the other features present on other HyperX headsets such as the gaming ability to output to a HDTV, such capabilities are very important to many gamers, and even the Quadcast manages to do an excellent job of fulfilling this.
Power: 5V | Polar patterns: Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Frequency response: 20kHz
The FIFINE Studio Condensers USB Microphone Sets is the ultimate microphone and audio recording at home. It's a complete package consisting of a sturdy metal tripod, handheld digital control surface, adjustable condenser mic stand, and studio-quality shock mount. With it, you no longer have to purchase any other additional microphone or stand for your vlog and streaming. This is truly ideal for those who are just starting out with their own videos and audio recordings.
The controls on the FIFUTE Studio Control Panel let you adjust volume and pan levels while recording. The tripod is lightweight and easy to carry around while still maintaining stability for video shoots. There are also different recording modes, which enable you to select what you want to record - short clips, interviews, or entire audio tracks. There are also different options for audio recording, such as echo cancellation or white noise reduction.
Power: 5V | Polar patterns: Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Frequency response: 20kHz
The Fifine K780A USB microphone bundle from Cubase Pro are great for both home and studio recording, as it comes with an intuitive interface, a user-friendly control panel, an extensive library of sounds, a compressor with a large compressor section and a host of virtual instruments. One of the most noticeable benefits of this particular microphone is that it's extremely lightweight, even for a microphone; it is also a very simple plug-and-play type of instrument that can be used right out of the box.
The controls on the K780A are relatively easy to use, and it comes with a host of simple recording options including panning, pan across the board, and a large array of voices and tones for use with the built-in virtual guitar and vocal samples. Other cons of the K 780A include a basic lack of bass and some high level noise distortion.
Power: 5V | Polar patterns: Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Frequency response: 20kHz
The OCQ A5 digital audio workstation is considered to be the best when it comes to the price, features and performance. The reason why it has become so popular is that there are many pros in the market who have tried and tested it, all of whom come up with very good reviews.
The great thing about using an A5 is that it can be used not only for the professional recording studio but also for the home recording studio as well. With an audio workstation, you can do all kinds of things, including recording your voice and your instruments, mixing the tracks together, adding effects, and a lot more. In fact, it can do so much that you may even wonder why you did not get one years ago. Since OCQ A5 has many great features, it has become so popular among the pros in the market.
Power: 5V | Polar patterns: Super-Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Frequency response: 20kHz
If you have ever had a great idea but didn't have the chance to execute it then the K Ecology USB microphone might be just what you need. This USB microphone comes in a variety of colors and features that allow you to do many things with it. I love to use the microphone to record audio while playing my guitar. The software for the USB microphone allows me to record audio while my computer is on and when I am not.
With the Fifine K669B USB microphone you are able to record or stream music on your pc, game on ps4 or use it for recording vocals. It has an all metal body with an all black finish. The microphone also has a tripod mount and mic pivot mount. When turning on the microphone, there is a light that goes blue when it's powered on.
Power: 5V | Polar patterns: Super-Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Frequency response: 20kHz
The Blue Yeti Nano is an amazing microphone. It has a diaphragm that is so tiny you can't even see it. It comes with a standard USB cable to allow it to be used on any computer with a USB port. It has a standard noise-canceling feature as well as a frequency-dependent directional microphone.
The Blue Yeti Nano is relatively new in the market, and at this time there are not many reviews on it. However, it seems to be popular because of its surprisingly good audio quality. It has a nice warm sound, with a nice low-frequency response. It has a nice clarity, yet has a very tight frequency response. It also has a very low noise-canceling feature. These things make the Blue Yeti Nano the best podcasting mic for people engaged in this activity, as well as those creating voice-overs, or similar types of recordings.
Power: 5V | Polar patterns: Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Frequency response: 20kHz
The TC20 is a new mic designed by two legendary engineers, John Cowperthwaite and Brian Cook. These two men have more than 25 years of manufacturing experience between them, and they know their stuff. The reason we liked the TC20 so much is that it has a lot of great features, but it does come with some cons as well. It has a very simple layout, but that means that it isn't as versatile as many other microphones out there.
One of the pros that really jumped out at us was the amount of headroom it had. Other models we tested had virtually no amount of headroom, and it was clear to us when using the TC20 that it was much better than others. Another thing that we loved was that this mic has a cardioid pattern, which is important because it generally picks up a lot of sound sources and does a great job with them. In addition, if you have a laptop computer, you'll find this easy to use because it utilizes what is known as an "analogue mic," which has a cardioid pattern just like a standard microphone.
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Razer Seiren X
Our choice
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CHECK PRICE → | |
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HyperX QuadCast
All-inclusive
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CHECK PRICE → | |
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FIFINE Studio Condenser
Budget
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CHECK PRICE → |
Frequency response means how well your microphone can reproduce audible frequencies. It is measured in Hz and kHz. According to the standard, the frequency response should be from 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz. The thing is that a human voice cannot produce lower or higher sound.
There are two main connectivity options for streaming, XLR and USB. Both of them have advantages and disadvantages. If your mic has an XLR connection type, you cannot connect it directly to your computer. You should additionally buy a mixer or audio interface. However, if you invest in these extra attachments, you will get a better sound quality. So, set your priorities straight and pick the best streaming microphone that suits your needs most.
This feature is probably one of the most important ones when it comes to live-streaming mics. A pop filter eliminates any unnecessary sounds that appear while streaming. It is also known as a pop screen or pop shield. By using this filter, you can produce a high-quality sound.
A polar pattern means how much of the signal your mike can pick up from various directions. It indicates how sensitive your microphone when audio waves are coming from different angles. There are three basic polar patterns, cardioid, omnidirectional and bidirectional.
A cardioid polar pattern involves picking up sound from the front. Cardioid microphones eliminate any surrounding sounds.
A cardioid polar pattern has two subtypes, super-cardioid and hyper-cardioid. They offer narrower sound sensibility angles and a greater ability to reject ambient sound.
Bidirectional microphones are able to capture audio waves from two sides, the front and back of the mike. This sound capture type is also known as Figure of Eight.
The choice between a mic stand and a boom arm when streaming depends on your setup and preferences. A boom arm is typically more versatile, allowing you to adjust the microphone's position easily, while a mic stand is a stable, stationary option suited for fixed setups where you don't need to make frequent adjustments.
To clean a streaming microphone for optimal performance, start by using a soft, lint-free cloth to gently wipe the microphone's body and grille to remove dust and fingerprints. You can also use a small brush or compressed air to clean hard-to-reach areas and occasionally disinfect the microphone grille with a mild alcohol solution to prevent the buildup of bacteria or germs.
Shotgun microphones are favored for vlogging due to their highly directional pickup pattern, which helps capture clear audio from the vlogger while reducing background noise. This allows vloggers to record in noisy environments or outdoors while maintaining professional audio quality, making shotgun microphones a popular choice for content creators on the go.
