I know the problem you may be having selecting the best microphone for YouTube, video recording or even live streaming. And that is the fact that there are many options to choose from but how do you know you are getting the best?
Despite the numerous options available, the market is still faithful with quite a good number of microphones that are exceptional. To get those, the most important thing is to decide how exactly you will want to use it, so as to get the best for the job.
The polar pattern of the microphone is one factor that is important to consider when looking at the use. While those with 4 polar patterns are considered to be the best because you get to have different options, you can still get to choose based on your needs.
The patterns include the cardioid pattern, if you want one that will pick out sound from the front of the microphone at full volume; omnidirectional, if you need it to record from all directions at the same volume level; Bi-directional, to pick sounds from mainly the front and the rear of the microphone; and then the stereo.
6 Best Microphones For YouTube, Gaming, Streaming and Recording
Blue Yeti USB Microphone
The Blue Yeti has been the best microphone for so many people for a long time now. When it comes to gaming, recording, and streaming, this is arguably the most popular.
A THX certified microphone, the Yeti is one of the biggest things to come out of the blues of Blue. It is a professional piece that comes with 4 different polar patterns; cardioid, omnidirectional, bidirectional, and stereo.
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The best thing about the microphone and why so many people can seem to get it off their desk is that it produces a super quality recording, ensuring that you get almost as good as you put in.
With crystal clear delivery, you can sit a little distance away and still have a powerful recording once you adjust the gain level using the control on the microphone.
Also, it is easy to use straight to your system without needing any mixers since it is a USB microphone. More so, with a jack port for your headset and volume control, as well as a mute button all on the microphone, this is one that is extremely easy to use.
With the headset, this microphone is designed to ensure that you get zero latency so that immediately as you record, you can monitor what is being reproduced.
The construction of the piece is absolutely fantastic. Just as it looks massive in size, so is it solid in the construction with good padding to keep it firm on your desk.
It has a Frequency Response of between 20Hz and 20kHz and a maximum resolution of 48 kHz/16-bit.
Pros
- Excellent quality.
- Very good sound recording.
- Has 4 polar pattern
- Very easy to use.
Cons
- The Blue Yeti is a large piece compared to many others.
Verdict
A microphone that has authority in both size, construction, and function, the Blue Yeti is easily the best for someone whose life is around the microphone, or one who is sure to always use a microphone whether for YouTube video gaming, recording, or even streaming.
Rode NT1A Anniversary Vocal Condenser Microphone Package
Regarded as the World’s Quietest Microphone, the NT1A Anniversary from Rode is another that works very well for almost every work you put it to, and it is one of the best-selling microphones for some time now.
The looks of the microphone carry much beauty and quality which you will confirm the moment you lay your hands on it.
The most important thing about it, however, is the sound it reproduces. It is very natural and has overwhelming clarity that delivers almost as exactly as it receives.
With a Cardioid polar pattern, the microphone does well in giving you a noiseless recording. Even though it is clean like silk, some gamers prefer a little noise, and for such, I will recommend the Blue Yeti since it has 4 polar patterns.
One other good thing is that it has a wide dynamic range and that is what makes it very versatile. This is as it records both loud and low recording without distortions.
What comes with the mic are a pop shield and a shock mount. It has a frequency range of between 20Hz to 20kHz.
Pros
- Amazing quality.
- Extremely versatile.
- Low noise signal.
- It comes with good accessories.
- It gives a warranty of up to 10 years.
Cons
- It only has one polar pattern.
Verdict
If you have a broad need for a microphone, this may just be your pick because it is the one that is able to handle a lot from gaming to music recording, streaming, and your list goes on. Let’s call it the Midas microphone.
Blue Yeti Pro USB Condenser Microphone
Blue Yeti is one of the most celebrated microphones. Many people consider it the best microphone for gaming, streaming, recording, and many other things. What comes as the big brother to the Blue Yeti is the Blue Yeti Pro USB Condenser.
The microphone is not the winner when you want something with beauty or compactness. Apart from that, the microphone is everything a microphone should be for recording or streaming.
With three custom condenser capsule, the microphone offers up to four polar patterns; Cardioid, Stereo, Bidirectional, and Omnidirectional. This gives you different recording options.
Even as it is a USB microphone, it also has XLR ports so that you can connect to XLR interface. Like the younger Blue, the Pro has comes with a headphone port that gives you no latency when you are monitoring. Other controls are similar in both microphones.
When it comes to the audio recording of the Yeti Pro, it is at that point that you hit your winner. It delivers it with clarity and fullness.
It has a frequency of 20Hz – 20 kHz, and a maximum resolution of 24-bit/192kHz.
Pros
- Comes with good and useful features
- Crystal clear and fullness of recording.
- Four polar directions.
- It is easy and convenient to use.
Cons
- Can be large for some people.
Verdict
Compared to the Blue Yeti, this is better because it gives you better features and not necessarily better quality performance. Still, this raises the bar for the Blue Yeti, as such if you are looking for something even better in features than what the former holds, this is the choice.
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Razer Seiren Pro Elite XLR Microphone
Razer has kept almost every promise it didn’t make to gamers. From laptops to keyboards, mice and mats, to headsets and now microphones, the company has always produced some of the best components and you can count that this is one of the best microphones that can be on your desk as a YouTube gamer, or someone who love recording or streaming.
A professional microphone, the Pro Elite XLR has simple and yet intriguing features and looks. It is made with quality that should sustain for a long time.
It has four polar patterns; stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional. The recording quality of the microphone is very great. Since it is an XLR piece, you can use higher configuration and achieve what you want when you connect it to your mixer boards.
Apart from the shock mount it comes with to ensure you do not get vibration when recording, it also has the high-pass filter switch to take off any unwanted parts of your recording. This feature can help you to achieve a great recording.
Compatible with any 3.5mm headphones, the microphone offers good monitoring which is at zero latency for immediate monitoring.
The mic has a frequency of 20 Hz – 20 kHz.
Pros
- Good recording quality.
- With its USB provision, it is a plug and play microphone.
- Zero latency when monitoring.
- Comes with a shock mount to eliminate vibration when recording.
- High-pass filter switch.
Cons
- Can be expensive for some people
Verdict
Razer is one company that is very gaming minded, but this is a microphone that they have developed as an all-rounder for gamers, or anyone needing a piece for recording or streaming. Even though the price is higher than the Blue Yeti which is our top choice, it is still a great buy.
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Audio-Technica AT2035 YouTube Microphone
Audio-Technica has been one of the biggest when it comes to microphones. It is in the same line with others such as Shure, and when it comes to gaming, even though it is not as excellent as Blue or even Razer, the AT2035 doesn’t fail.
Keeping to the high quality the company has been known for, the AT2035 is one that is not only strongly built, but intelligently so.
With a large diaphragm, this piece comes with good audio reproduction ensuring that you get a very good recording that has little or no noise since it is a cardioid microphone.
The mic comes with a frequency of 20 to 20,000 kHZ, the microphone has a switchable 80Hz high-pass filter.
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Also, the microphone features some important and very useful accessories including a pop filter, a 10ft. XLR cable for connecting to the mixer or any interface, and microfiber cleaning cloth.
Pros
- Very good and balanced sound
- It is durable
- Very valuable
- Generous accessories.
Cons
- Not the easiest to set.
Verdict
The Audio-Technica AT2035 is a very valuable one that is faithful in what it does. This is most especially when you consider everything it comes with and what it has to offer. It is for someone wanting to pay less and getting more in every way!
AKG Pro Audio C214 Condenser Microphone
The AKG Pro microphone wasn’t produced for gaming, but there is no way we could have left it out due to its massive all-round performance.
Being of the most versatile microphones, this was designed as a music recording microphone, but it beats many others in streaming, YouTube gaming, and other recordings.
With a solid and beautiful construction, this cardioid microphone has a nice look even though I won’t field it in any pageantry.
The performance of this piece is both intelligent and generous and its sound it records is crisp and natural no matter the purpose you decide to use it for.
The frequency response you get with the piece is between 20Hz and 20kHz and it comes along with accessories such as H85 Shock mount and a metal carry case.
Pros
- Excellent dynamic range.
- One of the most versatile microphones.
- Solid construction.
- Good accessories.
Cons
- It may be expensive for some
Verdict
A very versatile microphone that should be able to serve you for different things including music recording, gaming, streaming, among other things. If the price is not a problem, you would not need any other microphone owning this piece.
Conclusion
As stated earlier, the best microphones for youtube gaming, recording, and streaming have to offer very good recording quality, convenience, and ease of use, good frequency, good polar direction (even though this is according to your needs,) as well as good frequency and very low or even zero latency at best when monitoring.
We have considered all these before arriving at these as the best microphones for YouTube, streaming, gaming, and Recording. You should also consider a good mounting option for optimal sound capturing.