by Do you need a good microphone for live streaming on Skype or YouTube? If you like to talk with people over the internet, then you need a high-quality microphone which can project your voice loudly and clearly. This can come in handy for both personal or business use.
If you do a lot of video chatting with clients or family members, then you can’t rely on the built-in microphone which comes with your computer. You must have a secondary microphone option which ensures that your voice communication is transmitted flawlessly to the recipient on the other end of your connection.
Most of the microphones that are made for computers use a USB wire connection, while the commercial-quality microphones use XLR connections. The differences between the two pertain to their sound quality, price, and ease of use. The polar patterns of the microphones are worth considering too, such as stereo, omnidirectional, bidirectional, or cardioid.
Best Microphone for Streaming
To help you shop for the best microphone to suit your needs, below are the top 5 best microphones for gaming and streaming.
1) Samson G-Track Pro
The Samson G-Track Pro is the ideal microphone to use for online gaming and video streaming. It is a USB microphone with several polar patterns, a solid build, superb sound quality, 100 voltage, dual-track recording, headphone volume controls, instrument input port, and a frequency response of between 50 hertz and 20,000 hertz. The lowest retail price for the microphone is $100, which is a true bargain. The setup may have some inconveniences, but you’ll get over them quickly.
2) Blue Yeti X
The Blue Yeti X is popular amongst people who like to customize their own sounds. The front panel has vibrant LED lighting so that you can see the volume levels more easily. When you speak into the microphone, you’ll sound like a professional broadcaster as you stream or conduct your podcasts. Out of all the Blue microphones on the market, this one definitely sounds the best. It comes with special software which gives you a lot of voice filters to work with. The buttons make a lot of noise when you press them, but that is a minor inconvenience.
3) Zalman ZM-Mic1
If you’re shopping for a microphone on a budget, then you’ll want to consider the Zalman ZM-Mic1. It is priced extremely low at only $7.09 on Amazon, which is practically a steal. Surprisingly, it works better than most of the other expensive headset microphones. The only problem is that it doesn’t have any noise cancellation technology to block out the background sounds of your environment. It certainly isn’t the best microphone on the market, but it is great for casual gamers who just want some method of communicating with other gamers.
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4) Rode NT USB
The Rode NT USB is a little more expensive at about $169 on Walmart.com. But if you’re in search of a premium quality microphone, then that is what you will get here. The sound quality is amazing, and the microphone even comes with a free pop filter and tripod. The pop filter will reduce the popping sounds that occur when you speak too quickly into the microphone. The tripod allows you to stand up the microphone on a table without it falling over. On the downside, cardioid is the sole polar pattern of the microphone.
5) Razer Seiren X
The Razer Seiren X is a microphone that offers great mobility because of its small compact size. In fact, it is about half the size of the classic Seiren design. But the small size doesn’t take away from the sound quality because it offers great clarity when you speak into it. The only controls of the microphone are the mute button and the volume control. When you set the microphone on your desk, it looks like a little Red Bull can that is painted black. But it is hoisted up on a stand to give it stability. It may pick up some ambient noises, but overall, it is a good microphone.
