Streamer Microphone — Razer Seiren Series
Our Razer Seiren microphones are engineered to give you the very best voice clarity and function no matter your preference. Tested and tweaked in live streaming environments, we’ve got a model to amplify every type of voice—whether you’re new to broadcasting or an industry vet.
While each model is designed to help bring out the best of your voice, let’s take a look at what differs between each variant so you can decide on a clear winner.
| CLARITY MADE COMPACT. | CLARITY THAT MAKES AN IMPACT. | PROFESSIONAL TONE. SIGNATURE SOUND. |
|---|---|---|
| A portable, ultra-compact supercardioid condenser mic designed for crystal clear voice capture and streamlined setups. |
A fine-tuned supercardioid condenser mic for crisp, natural vocals—supported by a digital analogue limiter to prevent voice distortion when things get loud. | Attain industry-grade audio production with a dynamic mic supported by a high pass filter for uncompromising voice clarity. |
| 14mm Condenser Capsule | 25mm Condenser Capsule | Dynamic Capsule |
| Supercardioid Pickup Pattern | Supercardioid Pickup Pattern | Cardioid Pickup Pattern |
| — | — | High Pass Filter |
| — | Digital Analog Limiter | Digital Analog Limiter |
| — | Gain Dial and Mute Button | Volume Dial, Gain Dial and Mute Button |
| Built-in Shock Absorber | Built-in Shock Absorber | Built-in Shock Absorber and Mic Windsock |
| — | 3. 55mm Headphone Port |
3.55mm Headphone Port |
| Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz | Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz | Frequency Response 20 Hz – 20,000 Hz |
| Bit Rate — 16 bit | Bit Rate – 24 bit | Bit Rate – 24 bit |
| Sample Rate – 48 kHz | Sample Rate — 96 kHz | Sample Rate — 96 kHz |
| Connectivity – Type A to Type C USB Cable | Connectivity – Type A to Type C USB Cable | Connectivity – Type A to Type C USB Cable |
| Desktop Stand/Boom Mic Adaptor | Desktop Stand/Boom Mic Adaptor | Desktop Stand/Boom Mic Adaptor |
| — | Compatible with Razer Synapse 3. 0 |
Compatible with Razer Synapse 3.0 |
| View the Razer Seiren Mini > | View the Razer Seiren V2 X > | View the Razer Seiren V2 Pro > |
Best Microphones for Gaming, Streaming and YouTube in 2023
Posted in Buying Guides on
19 Jan 2023
Whether you’re a gamer, livestreamer or YouTuber, there’s a microphone that’s purpose-designed to suit your needs. And no matter if you’re doing it for work or play—or both—you’ll need the right setup to optimize your and your audience’s experience. We’ve curated this collection of the best mics for gaming, streaming and YouTube to untangle the clutter that is today’s vast world of microphone options, so you can get to doing your thing in the best possible way—whatever your level of audio tech expertise and existing gear, or lack thereof.
Best Microphone Headset for Gaming
While quality standalone mics would technically deliver superior audio, their size, stationary nature and sometimes fragility don’t make them ideal for gaming.
That’s why gaming headsets have become as popular as they are, and it’s the reason we’re whittling down our recommendations to gear that’s specially designed to handle all your mic and listening needs in one wearable set. Both of our chosen headsets come with software that allows you to customize EQ and other settings to your liking, in addition to onboard mute and volume controls. And some headsets, like the JBL Quantum One, feature built-in spatial orientation technology that can give you a competitive advantage over your opponents—if winning is your thing. (We figure it is since you’re reading this.)
JBL Quantum ONE USB Over-Ear Professional Gaming Headset
No stranger to pro audio, JBL designed this one to turn heads—literally. The head-tracking technology on the Quantum ONE, dubbed the QuantumSPHERE 360, lends spatial surround sound to help fully immerse you into your virtual world. The Quantum ONE sports active noise canceling that’s specially tuned for gaming, hi-res 50 mm drivers and a detachable boom mic with voice-focusing noise suppression, so you can hear and be heard, loud and clear.
With its compatibility across all gaming platforms and QuantumENGINE software suite customization, it’s as ready for action as you are. Plus, let’s be real—its changing-color LED accents are next level in the looks department.
Pictured: JBL Quantum One USB Wired Over-Ear Professional Gaming Headset
Best Microphones for Streaming
Livestreamers broadcasting on Twitch, Facebook and other platforms come in many forms, but there are a couple of crucial common constants when it comes to their microphone needs: Versatility and reliability. Of course, quality doesn’t hurt either. One good way to measure that is frequency range, which is measured in Hz (hertz)—the range of human hearing tends to be from 20Hz–20kHz, from lowest to highest pitch—and many look to this as a quantitative indicator of its sonic quality. Within a mic’s frequency spectrum are certain areas (e.g., lows, mids or highs) that are more pronounced or dampened than others.
Whether a microphone has a dynamic or condenser capsule is also crucial.
Dynamic mics are great for situations where a room is not acoustically treated, or a location has some background noise that isn’t intended as a part of the stream or recording. Condenser microphones, on the other hand, are far more sensitive, and tend to pick up more detail—especially in the upper frequencies. This makes condensers ideal for studio environments where room reflections, caused by hard surfaces like wood floors, glass or concrete, are minimized by way of acoustic paneling or foam, and strategic mic and sound source placement. The farther away from any hard-surface walls, floors, ceilings and windows, as well as noise from computer hum, fans, air conditioning or a nearby street, the better when it comes to dealing with mics—especially condensers. Another thing to consider with condensers is that they usually require 48V of phantom power, which gives them the juice to function. USB condensers will supply that power by default, whereas mic preamps, usually onboard audio interfaces, have a dedicated 48V button or switch you’ll need to toggle to get signal from your XLR condenser.
Another factor is the polar pattern. For example, a cardioid polar pattern will capture sound that is directly in front of the capsule, whereas a bidirectional (also known as “figure-8” or “figure of 8”) picks up sound directly in front of and behind the mic. The latter is great for interview situations where you only have one mic input to work with. Areas outside of the polar pattern are known by audio geeks as “off-axis.” Off-axis rejection is something that can be used to your benefit when it comes to mitigating unwanted background noise from the other side of the mic. Omnidirectional or “omni” polar patterns get their sound from all around—think of a single mic in the middle of a conference room desk. Anyone who speaks can be heard just as well as someone sitting adjacent or across. Many mics offer just one polar pattern, whereas a multitude of others give you switchable options depending on your use case. The size, material, build quality and number of capsules also play a role.
Earthworks ICON Pro XLR Broadcast Microphone
The Earthworks ICON Pro is an excellent choice if you can swing the expense for it, as well as an interface with a mic pre, since it has an XLR out. Boasting a frequency response of 20Hz to 30kHz, it covers all the lows, highs and in-betweens you’ll ever need. It’s a lovely choice for livestreaming, as it has some forgiving qualities. For example, you don’t need to be right on the mic to be heard clearly, and while it’s a condenser, it’s less sensitive than most others, meaning your space doesn’t have to be acoustically treated for your audio to sound great. What’s more, its built-in pop filter stops plosives—those pesky “p” and “b” sounds that can be such a challenge, if not impossible, to edit—in their tracks. Finally, its easily adjustable stand makes it a cinch to change the mic’s angle to wherever you need it—a seemingly simple task that isn’t always so seamless.
Pictured: Earthworks ICON Pro XLR Broadcast Microphone
Audio-Technica AT2020USB-X Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Like the Yeti, Audio-Technica’s AT2020 USB mic was one of the first big players to enter the mass market for non-audio-pro content creators—but teetering on the edge of professional quality, like its XLR-equipped AT2020 counterpart.
The AT2020USB-X cardioid condenser mic marks a decided turn for the content creator crowd, and its non-interface-dependent USB compatibility make it perfect for livestreamers. Its 20Hz–20kHz frequency range, touch-sensitive mute button, and clever positioning of its USB terminal—by the mount—present an irresistible combination of function, form and value.
For those who are looking to go all in on a new studio setup, there is also a bundled version that includes the widely beloved ATH-20x professional monitor headphones and an adjustable boom arm to hold your mic.
Pictured: Audio-Technica AT2020USB-X Condenser USB Microphone
Best Microphones for YouTube
In addition to all the characteristics that make the aforementioned mics great for streaming, creators who are looking to publish more permanent content on YouTube, and the like—podcasters included—may benefit from some added production polish. For those who have a more stationary setup where a mic is consistently on camera, in front of the presenter and/or host and interviewees, a more specialized investment may be in order.
But make no mistake— affordable choices are also abundant. Keep in mind that should you opt for an XLR-equipped mic, you’ll need an audio interface going into your computer with a DAW (digital audio workstation)—or a field recorder like a Zoom H series or TASCAM Portacapture.
Audio-Technica AT2040 Hypercardioid Dynamic Podcast Microphone
With its hypercardioid pattern and dynamic capsule, the Audio-Technica AT2040 podcast mic does an impeccable job of capturing voice while rejecting extraneous sounds on the periphery. Made by a very reputable pro audio brand, the AT2040 delivers silky-smooth audio along with a professional aesthetic that looks great on camera and punches well above its weight class. The included stand with shockmount ensures your needs are met, so long as you have an interface to connect your XLR output to.
Pictured: Audio-Technica AT2040 Hypercardioid Dynamic Podcast Microphone
Lauten Audio LS-208 Front-Address Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Based in Silicon Valley, the designers at Lauten Audio pride themselves on making mics for modern utility.
The LS-208 is no exception to this trend. Its front-address large-diaphragm condenser capsule is catered to content creators with more aspirational audio standards. With its ability to handle high SPL (sound pressure level), and onboard high- and low-pass filter switches, it can eliminate low-frequency rumble or high-frequency background noise right at the start of your signal flow. Even the minor details are impressive—the included spider shockmount is ingeniously engineered to be compact and low profile, yet beautiful and complementary to the mic itself.
Pictured: Lauten Audio LS-208 Front-Address Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone
Shure SM7B and MV7 USB Microphone
Shure’s SM7B dynamic XLR mic has graced studios of all budgets since its beginnings. Oh, and it was used to record vocals on the best-selling album of all time, Michael Jackson’s Thriller—no big deal … Well, this mic is a big deal, and its iconic status is justified. Its internal suspension system protects your signal from light mechanical vibration, its electromagnetic shielding bucks low-frequency hum, and its swivel mount makes it ideal for world-class recording studios and YouTubers’ bedroom setups alike.
And for such a legendary piece of gear, it’s affordable.
Whether you have an interface or just a computer—or have a more established rig at home, but also want something for the road—the SM7B has an aesthetically similar sibling, the MV7, that can deliver superbly on all fronts. The Shure MV7 podcast microphone gives you a plethora of options that the SM7B doesn’t, like XLR and USB outputs, built-in headphone output for direct monitoring, and a touch control strip for gain and monitor level adjustments. If you want a discreet way to monitor your mix, there’s even a content creator bundle that includes the SE215 earphones.
Pictured: Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
Electro-Voice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone
Before becoming ubiquitous on YouTube, the Electro-Voice RE20 large-diaphragm dynamic mic was a familiar sight in broadcast studios across the globe. From its substantial, patently prestigious steel housing to its sublime sonic characteristics, it’s worthy of envy.
The RE20 features Continuously Variable-D technology, which essentially eliminates the proximity effect—the bass boost you get as you get very close to the mic. It also reaps the benefits of being a true cardioid mic, with fantastic 180° off-axis rejection, meaning any sound coming from behind the mic is greatly diminished. Few mics have achieved the industry standard level that the RE20 has, thanks to its ability to highlight a desirable frequency range in the voice, as well as various instruments for its uniquely musical quality.
Pictured: Electro-Voice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone
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Gaming Microphones: The Complete Guide on What to Look for
According to a recent report by Statista, there were about 1 billion online gamers in the world as of May 2022. By comparison, that’s about 12.5% of the world’s population — or North America and South America combined.
With such a large user base supporting the rapidly growing online gaming industry, sales of related accessories such as gaming chairs, speakers and microphones are expected to grow with the number of players.
Read on to find out just how popular gaming mics are among gamers, tips for finding them, and the main types.
Contents
Gaming Microphone Market Outlook
What to Look for When Looking for Gaming Microphones
Leading Types of Gaming Microphones
Stay Loud and Clear
Gaming Microphone Market Outlook
It’s easy to see how profitable the gaming microphone market can be if first look at the growth of the global online gaming industry. The global online gaming market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.9% during the forecast period from 2021 to 2027. This forecast includes all online gaming platforms covering mobile devices, PCs, laptops and gaming consoles. A market valued at $40 billion in 2020 is expected to reach around $120 billion by 2027. hosted by the world’s largest gaming platform-Steam. A statistical report showed that as of October 2020, 100% of Steam users were using microphones while using the platform.
While Steam did not disclose the total number of contributors, a separate study found that there were a maximum of around 23.19 million concurrent Steam users in the same month, with total active users estimated at 120 million in 2020. Aside from Steam data, the rise of esports around the world is another obvious factor driving gaming mic sales. communication is recognized as one of the most important skills for esports athletes.
What to look for when looking for gaming microphones
Microphone Specifications
Many might think that finding a microphone doesn’t require looking at many specifications because these devices don’t look complicated and usually have only a few buttons. On the contrary, at least four decisive quality attributes must be taken into account. Let’s dive in to understand as much as we can:
Polar patterns
Often also known as the pickup pattern, this is essentially the sensitivity of a microphone in terms of incoming sound waves coming from different angles or directions.
Microphone directivity can generally be divided into 3 classes: unidirectional, bidirectional, and omnidirectional.
A unidirectional microphone, also called a cardioid or directional microphone, is the most popular pickup pattern of the three. The cardioid pickup pattern basically gives you sound focus both in front and to the side of your direction. Therefore, the area directly in front of the microphone has the most sensitivity, while the area behind it has the least sensitivity. Microphones with this feature are a universally recognized universal choice for podcasting, streaming, and even musical or singing performances!
On the other hand, a bi-directional microphone is said to be the best way to pick up sound from both front and rear. However, it is not as sensitive to its sides, so it has a figure-of-eight firing pattern. Equal sensitivity for both front and rear makes it an excellent choice for conference calls, interviews, and any presentation involving audience interaction.
Finally, as the name suggests, omnidirectional microphones can pick up sound equally from all directions. The all-encompassing sensitivity makes them suitable for public events where performances and live performances are involved.
Despite the three distinct pickup directions from these pickup patterns, thanks to innovative microphone manufacturers, there are now many gaming microphones that support all of these pickup patterns. To get a better idea of how polar patterns work, you can refer to the polar response plot shown in the following figure, which clearly depicts, for example, the figure-of-eight shape of a bidirectional microphone:
frequency
The frequency range of a microphone is the range of sounds it can detect, including how that output signal fluctuates within the range. With hertz (Hz) as a unit of measurement, it is defined as the number of sound waves that travel per second. Simply put, these are the frequencies that the microphone is capable of picking up, and anything outside the range will not be recorded.
Because wavelength and frequency are inversely proportional, each increase in frequency basically means a decrease in wavelength, which increases the pitch and sharpness of the sound. This is why higher frequency mics are generally considered to be clearer, and this can make all the difference in multiplayer games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:Go) and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).
Compatibility/Connectivity
Connectivity is especially important if you are purchasing gaming microphones that will be used on multiple game consoles. This is due to the fact that there are two main different inputs for gaming microphones — USB and 3.5 mm inputs. Therefore, the connection may lead to a compatibility issue if the input is not selected correctly. It’s pretty standard for PC gamers to choose USB mics over 3.5mm mics, as USB mics are generally the safest choice. However, some game consoles only support one of the two main inputs, so it is recommended that you treat the connection as a target connection to avoid compatibility issues.
Select
The two main types of microphones are condenser and dynamic microphones. Which one to choose will depend on regular use and user environment. Since these two microphones are among the most popular for gaming, let’s look at each in more detail in the next section of this article.
Sound Quality
Since the main purpose of purchasing a gaming microphone is to elevate and create an immersive gaming experience, sound quality is indeed one of the most important requirements when it comes to choosing a good gaming microphone. For example, noise reduction or noise reduction, as well as clear, natural-sounding vocals and gain/volume control functions are some of the additional features that a microphone with excellent sound quality can have.
Flexibility
Video games, especially competitive games like esports, require quick, thoughtful responses throughout the game. In this sense, a gaming microphone that provides flexibility and ease of movement is definitely useful and comfortable for gamers.
Flexibility includes some seemingly minor built-in features such as a record button, mute button, volume control, or more sophisticated accessories such as an adjustable microphone stand or shock absorber. The shock mount is designed to use gimbals, common in the form of metal tubes, to shield the game microphone from contact with a stable surface (typically a computer/TV table) and thus minimize or get rid of unwanted vibrations, noises. and mechanical knocking in the suspension.
Leading types of gaming microphones
Condenser gaming microphone
Condenser microphones differ from dynamic microphones in more than just shape and design. This is a high quality type that has a higher quality and is suitable for studio-level recording. This is because condenser microphones are very sensitive to a variety of sound sources and are able to pick up much higher frequencies, resulting in a clearer and cleaner sound.
However, in terms of sound quality, it is also important to keep in mind that condenser microphones can pick up background noise quite a bit due to their sensitivity.
They also have their own noise, which is an inevitable by-product of an active microphone operating with phantom power — DC electrical power that powers microphones equipped with active electronic circuitry through microphone cables.
In contrast, most dynamic microphones are passive microphones because they are based on electromagnetic induction rather than electricity and have no inherent noise problems at all. However, when choosing a condenser gaming microphone, you should always pay attention to an acceptable self-noise level of about 16-19dB-A according to Neumann, an experienced microphone manufacturer founded in 1928.
Due to the high sensitivity of condenser gaming microphones, it is not uncommon for manufacturers to offer condenser gaming microphones with tripods as standard, or versatile condenser microphone options designed with easy installation for both tripod stand and shock absorber in mind. You can also get a complete condenser gaming microphone solution with a built-in microphone stand and shock mount, such as the one shown below:
Dynamic Gaming Microphone
Given that dynamic microphones are commonly used for stage performance, they usually represent a stereotype of what conventional microphones are.
Dynamic microphones are indeed one of the most widely used types of microphones due to their affordability, durability as well as versatility. For example, dynamic noise-cancelling gaming microphones work as live broadcast microphones and are also suitable for singing and recording.
Despite many different features, dynamic gaming microphones remain affordable, especially simple ones. wired dynamic gaming microphone as shown in the picture below:
At the same time, for anyone who wants to create a unique brand of gaming microphones, an inexpensive, customizable dynamic gaming microphone can be one of the models to think about.
Clip-on gaming microphone
Clip-on gaming microphones, also known as clip-on microphones or clip-on microphones, are portable miniature microphones that users attach to their clothing and close to their mouths. Equally small and wearable, their working mechanism is somewhat similar to microphones attached to headsets or headphones, especially in terms of their similarly omnidirectional pickup pattern.
Overhead microphones are usually divided into two main pickup patterns — omnidirectional and unidirectional. Since an overhead microphone is essentially an electret condenser microphone, omnidirectional overhead microphones can be extremely sensitive as they pick up sound sources from all directions with high sensitivity.
In other words, the convenience offered by the clip-on microphone in terms of its ease of setup and portability is actually a compromise between careful placement and use of the microphone. Despite these potential issues, it is generally popular with YouTubers, podcasters, and gamers due to its simplicity, reasonable audio quality, especially in terms of speech, and affordable price range. The clip-on microphone eliminates most of the limitations of desktop microphones, such as portability and flexibility.
Most detachable gaming microphones connect via 2.4 GHz wireless receivers. Clip-on gaming microphones with USB-C connector The connectors (USB type-c) can be easily connected to most laptops, tablets and mobile phones.
These are also lavalier gaming mics with two-in-one receivers that include an iPhone/lightning receiver to support easy plug-and-play connection to Apple devices. lavalier microphone shown in the picture below, for example, has this two-in-one solution:
Stay loud and clear
The explosive growth of the global online gaming market and the growing awareness among gamers of the importance of communication to enhance their overall gaming experience has taken gaming microphones to new heights. Among the first things wholesalers should look for when looking for gaming mics are basic specifications such as polar patterns, frequencies, compatibility, connectivity, and mic types.
In addition to specifications, wholesalers must also place great value on the sound quality and flexibility that a gaming microphone can provide to ensure an adequate purchase. Dynamic gaming mics, condenser gaming mics, and detachable gaming mics are the three main types of gaming mics that are generally well-received by gamers.