Do you Livestream on YouTube? or make Gaming or any other videos but get sick of the sound quality of your mic, headset or microphone?
If that’s a Yes! This post is going to help you to pick the best microphone for gaming or commentary.
As there is a huge variety of mics and headsets in the market which varies in features, quality, and pricing of course! This makes a tedious task for you to pick one perfect microphone that fits your requirements.
Well, today we are listing out the best microphones that are suitable for gaming, commentary, or any other video bloggers.
We have done all the research and listed out the most recommended good brand microphones.
All the gaming mics presented in this blog post are of high quality, record your voice clearly and noise-free. Also used by many of the known faces of YouTube who personally use them in their YouTube channels.
Check out the comparison table of all the good microphones that are briefly introduced later.
Table of Contents
1. Audio-Technica AT-2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone
If you are looking for great sound and audiophile-grade quality at entry-level gaming microphones, then AT2020 is the best one in the market.
Audio Technica 2020 Cardioid Condenser Microphone consists of Cardioid recording single pattern. This means that the microphone will only receive the sound that is in front of it which makes sure that sound isn’t switched between Omnidirectional, Cardioid, and Bidirectional modes.
Hence, this microphone is specialized in discarding the background noise.
As these microphones are of studio-grade quality, these are ideal for home studio utilization as well. The Audio Technica AT 2020 has a frequency range between 20 – 20,000 hertz. This microphone provides the finest low-frequency voice quality which works great for gaming commentaries.
When compared with different USB microphones in this range Blue Yeti or Blue Snowball, AT2020 gives the best sound quality.
All these benefits are available at a price below $100.
User Reviews –
An external USB audio interface like Focusrite audio interface and an XLR cable is required for the connection.
Only one Cardioid pattern is available and also there is a requirement of an external audio interface. This is the only flaw with the AT2020 microphone.
If you want to use a microphone only with your PC along with genuine sound quality then AT2020 is your clear choice.
2. Blue Yeti USB Microphone
This is a USB microphone that has multi-pattern support while recording which makes it favorite among gamers and YouTubers.
Being a USB microphone the sound quality is commendable when compared with XSR microphones.
Blue Yeti microphone also an emphasis on low frequency sounds like AT2020 microphone which generates a deeper low-frequency voice. It supports various sound patterns which makes it useful for interview purposes.
As Blue Yeti uses various recording patterns like Cardioid, Bidirectional and Omnidirectional pickups it can also be employed for conference recording.
The Bidirectional pickup makes it convenient for multiplayer gaming and commentaries.
User Reviews –
These microphones can only be used with desktops as it is not easy to carry along due to its big size and heavyweight.
No special drives or USB audio interface is required for Blue yeti microphone to work.
It is easily accessible as no installation is needed; you only have to plug in the USB cable to mobile phone or computer.
To boost your gaming experience the microphone has the gain knob and a mute button.
You can listen to mobile commentary as it can be plugged in your android or iPhone device’s USB port.
3. Zoom H1- Highly Versatile Condenser Recorder
Zoom H1 is a pocket-friendly microphone with the best quality and features.
It is a mini stand-alone voice recorder which requires a single AA battery to work.
Zoom H1 can also be plugged in the computer with the help of micro USB cable which comes free with its accessories.
The sound quality of this microphone is as good as Blue Yeti. It also provides with good sound recording without paying extra attention to lower frequency sounds.
User Reviews –
Lavalier or any condenser mic can fit in the input jack of the Zoom H1 microphone as it is a stand-alone audio recorder.
To have a better gaming experience you can attach it as a USB mic with a computer or mobile.
It’s a compact recorder that consists of two condenser microphones attached in the XY pattern to rebuff the background noise disturbances.
Zoom H1 is a compact and versatile microphone device that you can easily carry along and also use as a USB mic, stand-alone recorder, or can mount with DSLR using a shoe mount. It is also suitable for interviews.
Blue Yeti or AT2020 is more superior to this device as it is made up of plastic but still worth every penny because this microphone can be used in every possible manner.
4. Blue Snowball Condenser Microphone
If you want a cost-efficient microphone that has similar features that of Blue yeti then Blue Snowball is a perfect choice. Two versions of Blue Snowball microphones are available in the market. One is the Blue Snowball and the other one is Blue Snowball iCE microphone.
This microphone consists of two recording pattern choices that are Cardioid and Omnidirectional and is identical to Blue Yeti.
Bidirectional recording pattern is not present in this microphone, so for multiplayer gaming commentaries, an omnidirectional pattern has to be used.
Since this microphone is less sensitive when compared with Blue yeti, it can abort more background noise while recording.
Blue Snowball has the equivalent sound quality as that of Blue Yeti. It is a famous microphone among YouTubers and gamers, who are looking for a microphone having features of a premium microphone in a small budget.
Since it is a small and compact microphone in comparison to Blue Yeti and other desktop microphones makes it more portable.
User Reviews –
This is a budget-friendly gaming microphone that comes within $50. It does not have multi-pattern support and flexibility which is the main reason for its low cost.
5. Samson Meteor Microphone
Its the composition of Samson Meteor microphone which makes it different from other microphones. It is designed with high-quality material and had a blue LED to provide a great touch experience. no extra mini tripod is required to support this microphone as it has an inbuilt three legs stand for the same.
The price ranges below $70 and in this price range, it consists of boosted bass which is an advantage. The sound quality is comparable to other premium microphones like Blue Yeti. The low-frequency sound is very captivating and due to its small-sized diaphragm, it provides the crystal clear voice.
The company endorses it as the studio-grade microphone it is a USB microphone in nature and if you want to have studio-grade sound quality then Samson Meteor would not be the right choice.
The great thing about the sound quality is that it is similar to premium microphones like Blue Yeti, the low frequency turns out to be engaging, and the small 25mm diaphragm makes the details of the voice crystal clear. The microphone also has a boosted bass which is a bonus.
User Reviews –
Samson Meteor microphone comes at a higher rate in comparison to other microphones like Blue Snowball and supports only Cardioid mode because, for this reason, it is less useful for multiplayer game commentaries.
6. Samson Go Microphone
Samson Go is an economical desktop microphone available in the market. Despite the fact that it has low sound quality it is included in the best microphones list because of the fact that it is loaded with great features when compared to other devices of the same price range.
It is a USB microphone that can be plugged in computers and mobile phones by using the USB cord available with it.
Samson Go microphones provide the multi-pattern support which helps to alter from Cardioid mode to Omnidirectional mode and vice versa at a low budget which makes it the best microphone available for multiplayer commentary under 50.
User Reviews –
It is a small portable microphone with a size of 3 inches and a weight of only 8 ounces and can be easily carried in your pocket while traveling.
This microphone does not support studio recording but is good at gaming commentary, podcast recording, and voice-overs and has fewer features as compared to the Zoom H1 microphone.
7. BOYA BY-M1 3.5mm Electret Condenser Microphone
In today’s world, the game commentary can be done from anywhere, it is not compulsory to sit in front of a computer to do so. This has been made possible because of lavalier mic, you just have to clip it onto your pocket and can record the game with your convenience.
If you are looking for a lavalier mic at an affordable rate then BOYA BY-M1 is the right choice. It comes under $20 and gives you good gaming and general user experience. With its affordable price, it is also great at recording high-quality sounds.
Everything comes with their pros and cons, the main disadvantage of using lavalier mics is that they are Omnidirectional and can catch surrounding sounds easily and we get the poor sound quality which mainly affects the live recording and broadcast of commentaries on Youtube.
User Reviews –
Lavalier microphones can almost connect to everything, it may be PC, mobile phones, DSLR. It can connect to portable recorders like Zoom H1 too.
If you want to sit at a distance from the screen and play then 20 inches long cord available with BOYA BY- M1 is very useful.
You need to play games out of your desktop or had to do DSLR videos in order to experience good studio- grade sound quality.
Final Note
I hope the above list of high-quality gaming microphones helped you to choose the best headphone on the basis of your needs and your distance from the screen or device.
In addition to this, most of the microphones mentioned above can also be used for other purposes apart from gaming.
Well, if you wanted to use your microphone on the go with DSLR! Go for Zoom H1 as it is highly adaptable.
Did I miss to include any best microphones in this post? Drop their names in the comment also don’t forget to share this post with your friends.
