One of the most critical hardware components that streamers rely on is their microphone. A microphone that introduces static, has background noise, garbles speech or that cuts out will lose viewers for your stream. You may be focused on video, but a poor soundtrack is both noticeable and irritating to your viewers. Let’s review popular microphone options that should bring reliable audio to your stream.
In my early streaming days, I relied on the original Blue Yeti. That was before Logitech took them over. That mic worked well for me for a couple of years until the USB connection at the bottom of the mic stopped working. I took a chance and chose a second-generation Blue Yeti as the replacement. I lucked out. Blue Yeti improved the USB connection. That mic is still working four years later.
Now, in no particular order, we’ll review microphones from the current generation. Prices are for this posting date.
The Blue Yeti X, priced between $99 and $139, is known to be a frequent choice for streamers. This is a USB microphone featuring a “four-capsule condenser array” for clear well-focused pickup patterns and a customizable LED meter. There are adjustments for headphone volume, mic gain, mute and headphone volume. The *Blue VO!CE Effects” are intended to enhance your voice with EQ settings, limiter, de-popper, and “fun vocal effects”. Pros: Most reviewers rate Blue Yeti X sound quality to be excellent. They enjoy its ease-of-use and its multiple pickup patterns. Cons: The most frequently mentioned Con is its high price. Others claim background noise is an issue,
The Shure SM7B is priced between $399 and $549. It is a dynamic microphone. Reviewers note its exceptional noise rejection and natural sound. “. . . suitable for high-energy streaming environments,” Pros: Excellent sound quality, good build quality and effective noise reduction. This model also has good fidelity in speech and music. Cons: Too expensive, requires a lot of gain and background sensitivity.
The HyperX DuoCast, priced between $39 and $69, is claimed to combine performance with aesthetics. It features RGB lighting and a slick design. Pros: Great sound quality, full feature set and attractive design. Cons: Price is too high, and it lacks adjustability.
The Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ is priced between $99 and $149. It is a USB microphone that is reported to have good sound quality, making it a good choice for beginners. Pros: Affordability and extended frequency response. Cons: The tripod stand seems fragile, reduced pickup patterns and includion of background noise.
The AKG Ara, priced between $45 and $65, seems competent for podcasting, streaming, gaming, and music recording. The two pickup patterns are front cardioid omnidirectional. Pros: Inexpensive and pickup pattern selection. Cons: No gain control and picking up background noise.
The SteelSeries Alias is priced between $90 and $150. This USB-C condenser microphone has a “capsule up to 3X larger” than other mics. It claims a wide vocal range. You get LED level indicators and customizable ambient lighting. Pros: Sensitive mute button, visual feedback for peak levels and mute status, shock mount and on-mic controls. Cons: Its software seems to have compatibility issues. More expensive than comparable microphones.
The RØDE NT1-A is priced between $159 and $229. This microphone features a large-diaphragm condenser microphone with clear sound reproduction. This mic is often used in studios. Its cardioid polar pattern means low self-noise and a wide dynamic range. Pros: Good Audio Fidelity, low self-noise, a shock mount, pop filter, and high-quality XLR cable are included. Cons: Portions of build quality, brightness and high sensitivity.
The Blue Snowball is priced between $29 and $40. This USB condenser model is popular among streamers and others online. Pros: Lower cost and rugged design. Cons: Limited frequency response, background noise and no gain control.