What Kind of Microphone Do You Need for Streaming?
Have you ever thought about starting your own podcast, creating a YouTube video, or even streaming your video game skills (or skills you’re missing) via websites like Twitch? If yes to any of these, you’ve no doubt wondered what equipment you need to do it. Or, if you already have the knowledge, you’ve started researching the technology, and hopefully some research.the transaction of best mic.
Different types of streaming microphones
One of the most important items you need to create content is a microphone. I want my audience and listeners to pay attention to my voice and what I’m trying to say. Microphones come in all shapes and sizes, and you have multiple options, whether you choose a desktop USB mic or a slightly more technical mic that uses an XLR connection.
The easiest option is to use the built-in mic on one of the best gaming headsets. Some of these mics have improved significantly over the years with more and more companies catering to the use of streamers and communication software such as Discord, which improves the quality and clarity of the mic voice.
So what are you going for? For me, I like to do a little casual streaming on Twitch and record weird audio for videos, and there are a few options available to make this easier. Budget is a big constraint for me. I don’t want to spend a lot of money on something that I rarely use or that can be duplicated or cleaned up with third party software.
my streaming settings
My own setup uses OBS and Streamlabs software for streaming and recording, and Audacity for editing and cleaning up audio files. Hardware-wise, I have the Blue Yeti mic, but I also use the mic from my Corsair Virtuoso SE gaming headset. Great audio quality and much more convenient to set up.
I found that I had to create a software filter to use my desktop Yeti mic. The Yeti mic is very sensitive and will pick up any vibration or background noise if not set up correctly. A mic boom arm and pop filter are also essentials, but luckily they’re fairly cheap.
The Yeti I’m using is a desktop USB mic that I’ve owned for years and has several different polar patterns, including cardioid, bi-directional, and omni-directional, which you can change with the turn of a small switch. . Used to pick up multiple people in a room for podcasts or conference calls, from individual audio pickups for streaming.
A great example of a USB microphone is:
Be more professional
Upgrading your setup from USB to XLR and adding mixing hardware like GoXLR can cost a little more. As a cost estimate, TC-Helicon GoXLR hovering around $400 Mark, the only time I’ve seen prices drop significantly was during the Black Friday sale. Unlike the plug-and-play simplicity of USB, when using the XLR interface, you need to have a sound card or audio mixer with XLR jacks connected to your PC to get it up and running. However, the advantage of such a hardware setup is that you don’t have to stop and start your recording/streaming software to implement changes or test new settings, and you can more easily perform live streaming. The ability to configure and change settings.
Some of our favorite XLR mics include:
All-in-one solution
There are many other options for USB mics, XLR mics, mixers and DACs, research and see what fits your best use case scenario and of course how much you are willing to spend need to do it. I personally find that the quality of gaming headsets has improved dramatically over the last decade. Gaming audio enthusiasts always opt for decent headphones and desktop mics, but if you’re not too keen on the ultimate sound setup, opting for a gaming headset is a perfectly acceptable compromise.
As I mentioned before, I use a Corsair Virtuoso SE headset, which I find to have a very clean and clear mic quality. I can honestly say that every time I go back and listen to streams and recordings, it sounds perfectly workable. Also, friends often comment on how clear the sound is on Discord.Same goes for my son HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless Headphones that sound great on Discord and provide clear communication when he’s playing with me or his friends online.
Some of our favorite gaming headsets include:
In summary, you should base your decision on which equipment to use based on how much you want to do within your budget and what you want to do with it, as prices can skyrocket quickly. I have. For multiple people podcasting in the same room, use cardioid mics for each person, bidirectional mics for two people, or omnidirectional mics for multiple people gathered around a table. must be used.
If you just want to stream your game on YouTube or Twitch, the cheapest option is to buy an all-in-one gaming headset. If you can afford it, you can also opt for a more professional stand-alone microphone (USB or XLR). ) to select a combination of audio mixer and DAC.
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