Last Updated on February 26, 2023 by Markeyus Franks
You might have been hunting for microphones that streamers use. These types of microphones should deliver the best sound quality at a low price. Unfortunately, that is not possible. You can’t get the best quality sound at a low price. But don’t be sad. You may have been wasting your time on something you don’t even need. Honestly speaking, the best quality microphones are only used at studios or if you want to record music.
There are seven popular microphones that streamers use:
- Blue Yeti USB MIC
- Blue Yeti Nano
- Rode NT USB mic
- Shure MV5 Digital Condenser Mic
- Razer Seiren X USB Streaming Mic
- USB Streaming Podcast PC Microphone
- FIFINE Studio Condenser USB Microphone
You are the judge here. Take a minute and think about what you really need while ignoring every myth you have heard. Streaming can be for different purposes. This single word includes gaming, live interviews, singing, and music, a YouTube video, and much more.
You can use the built-in microphones in your phones or laptops, but you should give these microphones a try too. Even the cheapest microphones sound much better than the microphones in your phone.
Microphones are available at a great range of prices. They can differ a lot in features, and these features set the price tag.
If you are here for some highest quality microphones, such as music, this is not the right place for you. All the microphones listed below use USB to connect to computers.
1. Blue Yeti USB Mic for Recording & Streaming on PC and Mac, 3 Condenser Capsules
Spend a little, get a lot.
The reason why Blue Yeti has made a place in every guide is the perfect combination of performance and price. We can say that Blue Yeti is the most popular microphone in the world. It does not deliver the best sound quality, but it is totally worth it for the price tag. In fact, this microphone’s sound quality beats almost every microphone on the market at the same price. It is ideal for those who are new to streaming and don’t want any hustle.
You switch between different pickup patterns: cardioid, Omni, bidirectional, and stereo. This normally requires multiple microphones.
It is a mid-range mic and ideal for streamers, podcasters, and semi-serious buyers.
There is a bad side too. Blue Yeti is not the best at eliminating surround sounds, so a pop-filter would be a great choice. Putting it on a shock mount stabilizes the mic, but it does not meet one standard. It does come with an adapter, so it will work on boom arms.
It gives the best for its price, but the quality isn’t great enough to satisfy audiophiles.
Check Prices for Blue Yeti USB Mic on Amazon
2. Blue Yeti Nano Professional Condenser USB Microphone
Little Yeti.
If you record at different places like interviewing people, the Yeti Nano may be perfect for you. It is half as tall as the big Yeti and twice as handy.
It is hard to spot any differences between Yeti Nano and the previous Yeti. It comes with cardioid and Omni pickup patterns compared to four pickup patterns in the previous Yeti. Streamers and interviewers are likely to be using just these two options, but it is a downstep from the original Yeti. This reason is possibly due to the shrinkage of size.
But there are some improvements in the Yeti Nano. For instance, Yeti Nano seems to handle vocal pops better than its big brother. Yeti Nano is great at recording low-end tones in a deeper voice too.
As this is a mid-range microphone, it is not very good at canceling unwanted noise. So, a pop-filter is highly recommended. Other than that, it is worth upgrading to Yeti Nano if you own the previous version or start with it.
Rode NT-USB-Mini USB Microphone with Detachable Magnetic Stand
Check prices for Blue Yeti Nano Professional Condenser on Amazon
3. Rode NT-USB-Mini USB Microphone
No more Yeti
Rode makes some of the best microphones out there. The newly release Rode NT-USB-Mini seems to be gaining popularity. It might even dethrone the well-known Blue Yeti.
The Rode’s new NT Mini uses a condenser capsule, which results in a crisp and clear sound. It can block out unnecessary sounds if positioned at the right angle.
The same price tag as a Blue Yeti comes with a built-in pop-filter, which is amazing.
If we compare it with the Shure MV5, NT Mini sounds a bit better. The only advantage MV5 has over NT Mini is its ability to completely disable DSP.
Due to its small size, some people might want to attach it to a stand or shock mount. Thanks to Rode, it has a built-in adapter making it compatible with boom arms.
Check Prices for Rode NT-USB-Mini USB Microphone on Amazon
4. Shure MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone (Black) + USB & Lightning Cable
Looks retro but sounds modern
You’ll often see Shure products in retro design. That’s what they think is cool. But what is cool for us is this new Shure MV5 microphone. Although the design looks retro, its long neck eliminates the need for a longer stand. Most of the microphones are a couple of inches in height, making them difficult to speak in. But the design on this microphone seems to be thought out.
A few manufacturers offer DSP and DSP-free signals in the same mic. Even the most popular Blue mics don’t come with DSP. Shure is at an advantage here. The sound quality is good, and the signal is very clear.
There isn’t anything to complain about the MV5 except for a high price tag. But the flexibility of DSP modes allowing you to alter the audio signal does make up for the price.
Check Prices for the Shure MV5 Digital condenser Mic on Amazon
5. Razer Seiren X USB Streaming Microphone
No background noises
It is great for outdoor recording, thanks to its ability to eliminate unwanted sounds. Seiren X is made to focus on your sound and ignore all others. The sound is clear and crisp, but the bass and low mid-range are not the best. The design is liked by many users, which looks like a RedBull tin painted black shiny reflections.
The built-in shock mount absorbs spikes from desk kicks well. It has a super-cardioid pickup pattern delivering outdoor results incomparable to other brands.
Although it is the most affordable microphone, it is not worth the price. The build quality is not as good as Blue Yeti and Rode NT Mini, with a small price difference. It doesn’t come with an adapter to put on a boom arm. Other than that, it can be a great mic to start with.
Check prices for Razer Seiren X USB Streaming Mic on Amazon
6. USB Streaming Podcast PC Microphone, SUDOTACK professional
All in one
If you want to look at a low-budget side, then Sudotack and Fifine are here. It is cheaper than the Razer, Blue, and Rode microphones and comes with a scissor arm and pop-filter. It uses a cardioid pickup pattern, and the sound quality is just fine. The noise cancellation equipment comes standard in the box and does a fine job.
It is ideal for you to be new to podcasting, streaming, or YouTube and have a low budget. You cannot carry it to other places as it’s a big setup. As it is cardioid, it only takes sounds from the front side. If you are an interview, it is not a good choice.
Check prices for the Razer Seiren X USB Mic on Amazon
7. FIFINE Studio Condenser USB Microphone Computer PC Microphone Kit
Highly rated with low price
After Sudotack, Fifine is the second on the list of low-budget microphones. It comes with a pop-filter and a scissor arm in the box. As with the Sudotack, this microphone is not made for outdoor recording.
It is a condenser mic with a cardioid pattern that carries sound from just one side. Fifine recommends using the mic from ten centimeters for a crisp and clear sound. As it is cardioid so you might expect it to be good at noise canceling. But unfortunately, even with the pop-filter unwanted noise gets in. What else do you expect from a microphone this cheap?
Just like Sudotack, it is easy to plug into any computer using a USB.
Check prices for the FIFINE Studio Condenser USB Mic on Amazon
So, which one is for you?
If you want to use a microphone for interviewing, streaming, podcasting, and gaming, go for Blue Yeti. It has four pickup modes and is the best value for money. These four modes cover all the purposes.
Razer Seiren X is the best among all these when it comes to eliminating unwanted noise. It is specially made for outdoor purposes and increased portability.
If multipurpose use is not what you want, then try Rode NT Mini. It comes with a pop-filter and does an excellent job removing unwanted sound. It has the same price tag as Blue Yeti but delivers greater sound quality.
If you want to use the microphone for interviewing purposes also, then use Yeti Nano. It is portable and allows the same quality as Yeti’s original does. It is good at clearing background noise too. It is not very good at removing noise, though.
Those having a tight budget should choose from Fifine or Sudotack. These are only for indoor and single-person use.
