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Last updated: Friday, August 3, 2018 There are numerous reasons why the best microphones for gaming continue to grow in popularity. Most gamers drop the extra dough on a nice microphone for recording gaming commentary, improve communication with their squadmates, streaming and providing their viewers with great audio quality, or to simply replace that cheap built-in microphone most headsets come with. Whether you’re trying to grow your Twitch following or chatting away with the homies on Discord, don’t let poor audio quality plague your existence. Contents.
Zoom Out: 10 Best Gaming Microphones Comparison Table These microphones are sorted by price ascending. For a closer look at each model, head to our ‘Zoom In’ section. Frequency response 20Hz–20kHz. USB output connector.
Compatible with Windows Vista, 7, 8 or newer; Mac OSX 10.4.11 or higher. 2-year warranty against defects. Priced at $129.99 The Blue Yeti might not have the clarity of the AT2020 series and it might not be the best USB condenser mic, but its versatility and its $129 price tag are major selling points. Right out of the box, the Yeti has a large gain dial and a pattern switch on the front that give the Yeti its versatility, and both a mute and a volume button on the back side for quick and easy recording. One of the cooler features is that you can order it in seven different colors including Blackout, Whiteout, Platinum, Vintage White, Silver, Midnight Blue, and Space Gray. It has an audio and headphones jack right on the bottom of the mic, and it comes in an adjustable stand. The Yeti is made of a tri-capsule array and its three condenser capsules shines in almost any indoor situation you can dream up.
You can choose cardioid to pick up sound from the front of the mic, bi-directional to give your two-person interviews a pop, onmidirectional to take in 360 degree sound from the whole room, and stereo for when you feel like recording with both right and left channels. Set up is simple, there’s no extra software to install, and the Yeti captures audio with a frequency response of 20 Hz-20 kHz and 16-bit/48 kHz resolution. The Yeti’s gain control and sound pattern adjustment provide the kind of flexibility that more than makes up for any faults it might have. In fact, the only real complaints about this unyielding little mic have to do with its build and with ambient noise.
The small stand that it comes with, and the fact that it looks like R2-D2, can make placement a pain. The Yeti has a low profile when it’s set down on a desk, and some users might have to bend over it in order to get a well-isolated voice pickup. However, for a few dollars more on Amazon you can pick up a boom arm to secure it to and a pop filter that will help keep your voice crystal clear. Frequency response 20Hz–20kHz.
USB output connector. Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8; Mac OSX 10.6.4.or higher. 2-year warranty against defects. Priced at $249.99 The Blue Yeti Pro is as much an upgrade as the AT2020USBi is to its competitor. At just about double the price, the Yeti Pro doubles the sound quality of its baby brother. With an added XLR connector for high-definition, studio sound, the Yeti Pro is one of the best USB condenser microphones you can buy. While the sound pattern settings and volume control are identical to the cheaper version, the Yeti Pro brings you a whopping 24-bit/192 kHz sound resolution with an even better frequency response.
If you have the ability to run an XLR connector to an external audio unit or soundcard, there’s really no beating the Yeti Pro in any studio voice setting. While it might not capture the same lushness of tone as a large-diaphragm condenser microphone, the tri-capsule array of the Yeti series give a natural, detailed sound image. This is important when it comes to the preciseness of spoken word over the range needed for a singing voice. Frequency response 40Hz–18kHz. USB output connector. Compatible with Windows Vista, 7, 8 or newer; Mac OSX 10.4.11 or higher. 2-year warranty against defects.
Priced at $49.99 Like the AT2500, there is a budget blue yeti USB microphone called the Snowball iCE. The Snowball is a steal at around $50, and covers all your quick and easy audio needs if you don’t have the cash to throw down for a studio mic. Unlike its more expensive cousins, the Snowball lacks multiple sound patterns, but it is still a great condenser microphone. It has a pressure gradient transducer with a USB digital output that captures your voice with 16-bit/ 44.1 kHz resolution and 40-18 kHz frequency response. It lacks the headphone jack and volume buttons of the competition’s AT2500, you simply can’t beat $50 for a quality USB mic like this one.
The Snowball model lets you switch between omnidirectional and cardioid (unidirectional) recording. It’s a much lower priced alternative than the Yeti and Yeti Pro. The Snowball’s design dramatically reduces noise and distortion. MXL With its roots in electrical engineering, MXL began producing microphones in 1998. They produce professional, studio-grade microphones as well as this low-priced, high-quality gaming microphone. Low distortion.
Noise cancellation. An extra-wide frequency range. Frequency response 40Hz–18kHz.
USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 output connector. Compatible with Windows and Mac. 1-year warranty against defects Marshall Electronics’ MXL Tempo KR is another lower-priced option for the frugal streamer. Coming in at just under $60 this smart looking plug and play alternative has everything you’ll need to keep your voice clear and crisp. It’s got a nice gray finish with a cool red mesh that will give your setup a pop of color, as well as a headphone jack to use for playback or while gaming. The Tempo captures sound with 16-bit resolution, a 44.1-48 kHz sampling rate, and offers great frequency response and noise cancellation compared to other USB gaming mics.
While it’s a vast improvement over a headset mic or a cheap clip on mic, it’s not going to offer the same caliber sound as a Yeti or an AT2020. There are two other colored versions of the Tempo, the Tempo SK and the Tempo WR, which offer a nice silver and black finish (featured above) as well as a bright white, and red, respectively. Each mic is identical on the inside, but each cost a couple dollars more or less depending on which color you want.
Samson Technologies Samson started as a two-person wireless microphone company in 1980. Now they’re a worldwide operation.
The Samson Meteor Mic is a cardioid (unidirectional) microphone. This comes in handy for gaming because it won’t pick up the voices of other people in the room.
The G-Track model costs more, but it delivers better reduction of background noise. Frequency response 20Hz–20kHz.
USB output connector. Compatible with Windows, Mac OS X. 2-year warranty. Priced at $69.99 Rounding out the list of our picks for best gaming mics are Samson’s Meteor and G-Track.
Samson microphones are for the buyer on a budget as well, and you can pick up either one of them for under $100 each on Amazon. Adobe digital editions 2.0 nook. The Meteor stays with the standard “studio mic” look that most USB gaming microphones have, and it’s a solid little device about the size of a light bulb. Unlike most of its competitors, the Meteor has built-in tripod legs that swing out and give it a nice little stand for setting on your desk or table. It also has a screw mount that lets you attach it to a separate mic stand or arm, however, when the legs are folded up the USB port is partially blocked- so you’ll have to keep it open a bit in order to do so. This is unfortunate, because the Meteor looks really cool when the legs are folded up, with its polished silver exterior.
The Meteor is a condenser mic as well, so like the rest you’ll have to sit fairly close to the front of it when you’re speaking in order to get the best sound. Speaking of sound, the spec clock in at the usual 16-bit, 44.1/48 kHz resolution, with a flat frequency response of 20 Hz–20 kHz.
It has a stereo headphone jack that monitors (with zero latency), a nice carrying case for its portable size, and it’s a solid little mic that doesn’t feel cheaply made. That being said, it’s not the best at picking up high-range sounds and leaves voices a little flat.
It also has a tendency to malfunction, losing its connection randomly with your Mac or PC, there is no gain adjusts on the mic itself, and there have been reports of issues regarding the USB port loosening and coming apart. Overall, a good option for a lower-priced USB microphone for streaming, but if you can swing it, there are better options for another $50. Frequency response 20Hz–16kHz.
USB output connector. Compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8; Mac Maverick and Yosemite OS. 2-year warranty. Priced at $119.99 The last USB microphone on our list is the Samson G-Track, which is currently on sale for only $82 at Amazon. The G-Track is definitely a step up from the Meteor as far as sound, and it has a large 19mm diaphragm condenser, which means it picks up a better range. Large diaphragm mics like the G-Track and the AT2020 are studio staples because they shine when it comes to loud sources and they’re extremely versatile when recording anything from a bass drum to a screaming electric guitar.
The G-Track might look like its custom made for musicians, it’s also one of the best mics you can get for under $100. The G-Track has amazing functionality built in to its unassuming gray body, and comes with enough cables and adapters to put the competition to shame. On the bottom it has three ports, one for USB, one for headphones, and a 3.5mm input jack that lets you connect an instrument or any other audio source to the mic itself- a feature not seen on any of the others we’ve looked at. As far as switches go, there’s an input toggle for mono or stereo instruments and a direct monitor switch for CPU playback in stereo or mono.
The G-Track also sports three dials for volume, input volume, and gain. Another handy feature is the LED light that goes red if your input is too hot. Sound resolution is fairly standard at 16-bit and 48 kHz, but with the large-diaphragm and the amount of level adjustment built in, the G-Track is near unbeatable for its price range. Antlion Audio Antlion Audio was started in 2011 by inventor Jimmy Console. The ModMic is one of their only products and it has gone through a total of 5 iterations throughout the years. The early ModMics were actually handmade in Portland, Oregon.
The ModMic 5 was launched in 2016 and is fully modular. Below you’ll find some details about the ModMic 4 — arguably a better value then the latest ModMic 5. Power: 10V. Modular.
Toggle Mute Switches. Adhesive pads, carrying case, 1m and 2m cables Making room for a standing microphone can be a difficult task and sometimes not worth taking up the desk real estate. This attachable mic is a great attachable mic that is space efficient. It will hug to the side of your headphones (just like a built in headset mic would) with the built in magnet. If that doesn’t work, Antlion included some adhesives to seal the deal. The big bonus is that the audio quality is much, much better than what most headset manufacturers will slap on their products.
Lots of those mics are an afterthought, whereas AntLion has put a ton of effort into the development of this small mic. A lot of folks wonder if the quality is as good as some of the standing mics like the Blue Yeti. Unfortunately, if you want that sort of sound quality, you’ve got to pony up the extra cash. Nevertheless, it’s going to beat out nearly all stock headset mics and is perfect for Skyping or gaming even in noisy rooms. The adjustable boom allows you to adjust the unit to the best position and is easy to swivel away when no longer wanted. It may not be up to par for some streamers but if you’re just getting into the streaming game it will probably suffice. Zalman When Zalman was founded in 1999, its premiere product was a silent cooling fan.
The price of the Zalman is no mistake. This is a small, clip-on microphone that makes almost every top ten list. It comes with a long cable so you can move around the room, and it delivers great quality sound. Connects to 3.5mm mic jack on computer. Priced low for the quality All the USB microphones we’ve mentioned so far are cardioid condenser mics, and I would be remiss if I didn’t take a minute to talk about ambient noise.
For condenser mics, ambient noise can be a very real issue as opposed to their dynamic counterparts. The Blue mics especially have a tendency to pick up keyboard clicks, room noise, computer fans, and if not tuned right, even the neighbor’s dog barking at the mailman. That’s why it’s always important to make sure you’re adjusting the gain and volume accordingly, as well as doing your best to cut down on excessive room noise Unless of course you want your viewers to hear what your roommates are talking about in the other room.
Unfortunately, this is an area where Audio-Technica has the competition like Blue and Samson beat. I’ve seen review after review where correct positioning and pop cover can almost completely cut out any extra noise you don’t want with the AT2020s. However, voice clarity on both AT and Blue condenser mics are near unparalleled, so once you get your settings dialed in correctly you won’t be sorry you forked over the extra cash. If you’re just starting out and you don’t have the cash to spend on a USB mic, then the Zalman ZM-Mic1 High Sensitivity Headphone Microphone is one of the best clip on mics you can get for under $10. The Zalman plugs right into your gaming headphones, or the stereo jack on your PC or Mac, and it offers decent sound whether you’re doing voice-overs for video, live-streaming your gameplay, or even trying to get the new guy in the lobby to keep from shooting any hostages in Grand Theft Auto. It has a long cable that clips right on to your headphones cable, and it’s quick and easy to set up. However, be warned that any other ambient noise in the room will be picked up as well.
Therefore, if your teammates don’t mind your background music or the neighbor’s dog outside, this mic is perfect. These brands are widely available through online retailers and your local music store. So shop around for a deal, notice the customer reviews, and get yourself the best microphone for gaming. Now it’s your turn!
Consider these factors, compare models, and get the best microphone for gaming. Microphone Guide Part I: General Thoughts on Microphones for Gaming and Streaming Compare their specific features and give some thought to your gaming environment.
Are you a streamer? Does your income and livelihood depend on a quality production?.
Is the room already fairly soundproof or do you hear outside noise all the time?. Is your microphone picking up the voices of other player(s) in the room?. Do you want to pick up ambient sound?. Are you on a tight budget, or ready to splurge? Blue Yeti USB Microphone Gaming these days is no longer a solitary sport. Whether you and group of friends are trying to capture the enemy’s last telegraph post in Battlefield 1, spamming the Pacific Standard Bank heist in Grand Theft Auto Online, or camping a low-sec gate in Eve Online- the simple fact is, you won’t get very far without communication.
Online games have changed way people game as well as the games themselves. By introducing communication, teamwork, co-op play, and streaming, there is an entirely new social component to modern games. Even most mobile games have some sort of chat window worked into their builds.
Whether you’re a console kid, a mobile gamer, or a card-carrying member of the PC elite- if you play online games, chances are you’ve been in a situation were you needed a microphone. Over the last few years, platforms like YouTube and Twitch have made streaming video games almost as popular as sitting down and playing them. If you don’t believe me, look at the numbers. Amazon bought Twitch, for $970 million in 2014, and has since brought its income up over a billion dollars a year. That’s a billion dollars worth of people watching other people play video games.
It’s become so popular that Twitch has even started a service called IRL that allows broadcasters to stream videos of their real lives. As the technology gets better, and the platforms more widely accessible, streamers especially need one of the best USB microphones for vocal clarity. There is nothing more annoying than trying to get game tips on your iPhone and finding out the guy or gal on the other end is talking into a cheap gaming mic, making it hard to hear what they’re saying. While streamers do need to save money where they can in order to beef up other parts of their setups, having crystal-clear audio isn’t something that needs to break the bank anymore. Whether you’re playing co-op video games and you need a clip on mic for gaming or running your own Twitch channel or Patreon page and require a good streaming microphone, one of the most important parts of your game setup is how you capture your voice. Microphone Guide Part II: What to Look for in the Best Microphone for You What kind of microphone you should buy depends on a few things, most important being what you need it for, what kind of set up you already have, and how much you’re willing to spend.
For the sake of argument let’s assume your budget is somewhere between a cheap USB microphone and a high-quality stand mic, because let’s face it, if you’ve got the money to buy the best gaming microphone on the market- you don’t need our help picking it out. The first question to settle out of the gate is whether you plan to use a USB microphone or an XLR for high-definition sound. If you go with the latter, keep in mind you’ll at least need a compatible sound card for your PC or an external audio unit for your console. Neither of these are a problem, as both the Xbox One and the PS4 have optical audio outputs you can use with a compatible soundboard.
If professional is your thing, XLR is the way to go, that being said, there are a lot of cool things happening with USB microphones these days. Some other things to consider when choosing a new gaming mic are:. Wide Frequency Response Range. Microphones tend to brag about their tremendous range. The truth is, we only hear a range of 20Hz through 20kHz—that’s very low bass through very high treble. Plug and Play Simplicity. The microphone must work seamlessly with your system. Suitability for Your Environment.
Omnidirectional microphones can pick up your voice if you are not directly in front of them. Lavalier microphones can clip onto your clothing and reduce ambient noise. Unidirectional microphones only capture sound coming from a specific side.
If it’s aimed at you, it will not pick up other voices in the room. Manufacturer’s Warranty. If you’re investing in a good gaming microphone, a one- or two-year warranty should be a priority. Microphone Guide Part III: How to Record Gaming Commentaries In this ‘how to record gaming commentaries’ section, Ben from chips in and provides some helpful info about the recording process: In recent years, gaming has become a social activity in pretty much every way conceivable. Gone are the days of adding a wired controller to your console so that your friend could join in with your game, we can now play on massive servers with friends and strangers alike. On top of this, a whole social world surrounds the games we love with forums, online communities and, of course, YouTube. Many gamers have seen themselves turn to creating gaming videos such as commentaries to share among friends or even make money out of!
In order to create gaming commentaries, both the audio and video must be good quality. Knowing the basics of video editing and audio recording is enough to get started, and you can be creating gaming commentaries in no time. Most gamers have a way of recording video through capture cards and even the gaming capture capacities built in to your console or PC, but recording the audio is something people tend to struggle with.
Getting a professional audio sound doesn’t have to be costly or difficult. Types of Gaming Commentary If you have ambitions to create gaming videos, they will probably fall into one of the categories which has become popular on YouTube:. Lets Plays – Screenshots and gaming footage, effectively a ‘playthrough’ accompanied by a commentary. Reviews – A gaming review in audio format, accompanied by footage or screenshots from the game.
Walkthroughs – Very similar to Lets Plays but with more of a ‘tutorial’ focus. These are more informative and designed to help other gamers progress through the gameplay.
Reactions – These are great for things like unboxings and buying expansion packs and in-game items. Effectively you’re just recording yourself reacting in reel time!.
Best Of lists and other features – These require a bit more planning but can be very good for growing a following. The Recording Process – Microphones If you are serious about your videos, the microphone from your headset is not going to cut it.
You’re going to be looking to purchase a mic that can do a better job, but you probably don’t want to go to the expense of setting up an audio interface, needed to record a traditional ‘studio’ microphone (these have XLR cable connections). So, the simplest option is a USB microphone or a mic which can plug straight into your capture card. For instance, the Elgato HD capture card has the capacity to plug a USB mic into it, this way the audio is synchronized with the captured footage, great for reaction videos and playthrough videos.
Even if you are going to record your audio separately (probably the case for reviews and other similar videos), USB mics are still a great option. Recommended Model: Blue Yeti Blue Microphones have really pushed the boundaries when it comes to USB technology. The Blue Yeti, and cheaper option the Blue Snowball are both excellent USB mics with plug-and-play technology, making life very easy for recording. Sideview of the Blue Snowball The Yeti has high quality audio capture, but also a few brilliant features such as gain control, which allows you to set the ‘gain’ or sensitivity of the microphone to suit the volume of your voice. Three different microphone ‘pickup patterns’ allow you to record in different scenarios and perfect the mic to the environment in which you are recording. With zero latency output built-in, you can also monitor your recording while you speak if you so wish. It is also easy to mount on a, most YouTubers will do so to avoid incidental noises such as things moving around on the table.
Software Options If recording straight onto your capture card, this will cover your software. The Elgato, for instance, has its own software which captures video and audio. The fact that the audio has already been synchronized makes life easier. If not, recording audio can be done with free software such as. Audacity has some amazing features for freeware. You can easily select your USB microphone as the input and record high quality audio on either mac or windows based computers.
Audacity – Top Tier Freeware If you already have any music software such as, or others, recording audio is a pretty basic feature which you will be able to do with all of this software, and with most audio software there is the capacity to import your video and sync up the audio. You can do things the other way around, even basic video editing software like Windows Movie Maker or iMac have the ability to import and chop up audio, once you have captured in Audacity, import the MP3 and combine with your footage! Everyone tends to find their own way to edit, and it is largely down to what works best for you, fortunately there are tons of videos and articles online specific to your choice of software, which can guide you through the process from start to finish.
Sharing Your Video Once you’ve finished your video and exported in the highest quality possible, it is time to upload and share. It can feel like a huge uphill struggle to get anyone to pay attention to your video, but following a few steps at the time of uploading can help you a lot.
Upload the video to as many platforms as possible. YouTube, Vimeo and even Twitch if it is appropriate. Give the video proper tags and a full description wherever you upload it to ensure it shows up for as many searches as possible.
Utilize other social networks to try and get your video kick-started. If you have a following on Twitter or Facebook, even sharing among your friends can be a good way to get those difficult first viewers to your video. Find appropriate forums to share. These might be on Reddit or other gaming forums. Don’t spam, but if your video is generally helpful and interesting, they should be well received.
Gaming commentaries can be a great way to share your hobbies and even make some money out of your love of gaming, and following the above steps it is easier than it has ever been. Microphone Guide Part IV: Is an Expensive Gaming Microphone Really Worth It? There’s one more factor you may want to consider before you review our top choices. And it is an important one: price.
The market is filled with studio-quality microphones for several hundred dollars. Are you recording music or voice-overs for high quality videos? Then the more expensive microphones are definitely for you.
But if you’re gaming and you don’t need that level of perfection there’s no reason to spend that much. Decide which features are most important to you. This will narrow down your choices and determine the price range.
If you’re a gamer, it doesn’t matter how much of a team player you are. If your team can’t hear what you’re saying, you lose.
Why let a poor quality, built-in microphone cost you one more game? If you’ve invested in a quality gaming setup, you’re going to want the best microphone for gaming. A great microphone will improve your gaming experience. Think about your gaming environment. How many cheap chairs, mice, and headphones have you been through? Sometimes it can save you a lot of headache (and even money in the long run) to buy one of the highest quality models from the get go.
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