Live streaming on platforms like Twitch, YouTube and Facebook is gaining immense popularity and can be a fun and creative way to present your content to the world.
When it comes to streaming, one of the most important pieces of equipment you can invest in is the microphone. Choosing a microphone can be tricky to navigate in a sea of ??options, so this guide will help you find the best microphone for your setup.
Neewer NW-700
Price: $ 28.99
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 16kHz
Dimensions: 6x19x9 inches
Weight: 2.66lbs
A good microphone can create or interrupt live broadcasts, so high quality audio is essential. A condenser microphone requires an external power supply called a phantom power supply. This is usually found in the audio interface (as opposed to a regular microphone, which you plug directly into your computer via USB).
One of the highest quality condenser microphones on the market is the Neewer NW-700 When you speak into a mic, the low bass is deep and the treble is crisp, but doesn’t pierce your ears like tiny swords (like most mics at this price point).
This is definitely worth looking into if you’re on a tight budget.
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Blue Yeti
Price: $ 116.98
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Dimensions: 4.9 x 4.7 x 11.6 inches
Weight: 4.75 lbs
The Yeti has become a household name among streaming microphones due to its ease of use, clean sound quality, and rugged construction.
The Yeti microphone mainly consists of three small condenser microphones pointing in opposite directions that deliver crystal clear sound. The microphone has a single gain knob to adjust the microphone sensitivity level, which is great for changing sound levels but comes with drawbacks.
Depending on your settings, if you plan on streaming PC games, the keyboard sound will drown out your voice as this is a desktop microphone. It’s easy to fix this by getting a table clamp and bracket from their website.
While it’s a bit pricey, the sleek metal design and stunning sound quality make up for it.
Audio-Technica AT2020
Price: $ 99
Frequency Response: 20-20,000 Hz
Dimensions: 9.6 x 9.6 x 2.6 inches
Weight: 1.8 lbs
The Audio-Technica AT2020 is another fantastic front-facing condenser microphone perfect for louder setups since background noise is not detected.
Since the microphone picks up sound in only one direction, background noise is hardly audible. The sound quality is so clear that it sounds like it was recorded in a professional studio.
The biggest disadvantage of this microphone is that it has the same frequency response time as the Neewer NW-700 This microphone can do pretty much the same thing as this one for a small fee. However, when listening to audio recorded on the AT2020, it sounds clearer and clearer than the NW-700, which sounds as if there is a little static noise in the background.
HyperX QuadCast
Price: $ 139.99
Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
Dimensions: 5 x 4 x 9.8 inches
Weight: 9 ounces
While the HyperX is one of the more expensive mics on the list, it’s definitely worth it if you have a spare. Ease of setup, ease of use, and creative features such as mute are just a few of the reasons the QuadCast is one of the best streaming microphones on the market.
Apart from fantastic sound quality, this microphone has various chat features designed for gaming and streaming. However, there are drawbacks to all of these innovative features.
The only significant drawback to this microphone is the amount of power it draws from your device. He claims it is a USB condenser microphone, so the power needed for the microphone to function properly must come from the USB port, not an external power source.
If your device has an older power supply, this microphone will not work as expected. For newer cars, this mic is definitely worth a try.
Shure SM7B
Price: $ 399.00
Frequency Response: 50Hz – 20,000Hz
Dimensions: 7.5 x 3.8 x 5.8 inches
Weight: 2.03 lbs
The Shure SM7B is the best streaming and recording microphone on the market. Period. One fantastic feature that makes it stand out from the rest is the fact that it has “internal shock isolation,†which basically means that if you accidentally hit the microphone or you constantly need to tune it, there will be little to no noise.
This can be very important for streaming because mic and sound setup is an integral part of the ongoing sound check that is done throughout the live broadcast.
The Shure SM7B is the quintessential professional setup. The biggest drawback of this microphone is the price. This is the most professional microphone on the market, so if you’re streaming video games to a small audience (for example), this microphone is probably not the best choice for you.
It really comes down to your setup, budget, and style. If you’re looking for something bright and easy to use, choose HyperX. If you’re looking for something elegant and professional, choose Shure. However, all of these microphones can take your live streaming to the next level. One decibel at a time.
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