Choosing a streaming mic can be a difficult task. As there are too many things to consider. Plus, you want to ensure that the audio output is crisp and clear. So your audience can enjoy listening to you.
However, when it comes to streaming microphones there are way too many options available. Each microphone has its own set of features. As a result, it gets really confusing for us to pick the right microphone for our needs.
But not to worry, as below I have shared some tips that will help you find the right microphone for your streaming needs.
So here we go:
How to choose a streaming microphone?
Frequency response
The first thing you need to consider is the frequency response. It represents the range of voice frequencies that your microphone can pick up. The frequency response is measured in Hz and Khz from the lowest frequencies to the highest.
However, the thumb rule for choosing a microphone with frequency response is to choose anything that has 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz.
Any microphone offering anything lower or higher than these is pretty much useless. As your voice cannot produce such frequencies.
Polar pattern
The next thing you need to consider is the polar pattern. The polar pattern is also known as the directional property.
A polar pattern represents the ability of a microphone to pick up your voice from different angles. Most microphones come with three types of patterns which include cardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional.
Now let me talk about these three individually below:
- Cardioid polar pattern: A cardioid microphone can pick up the sound from the front. These types of mics are capable of isolating unwanted ambient sound, as well as any other unwanted sounds, from the back of the microphone. Also, they are an ideal choice for streaming and don’t really cost you much. For instance, you can go with the Razer Seiren Mini, which is considered to be the best streaming mic under 50 dollars.
- Omnidirectional polar pattern: The omnidirectional microphones are capable of picking up sound from every direction. They are designed to pick up sound from 360 degrees. However, the con is that it will pick unwanted background noise from your speech.
- Bidirectional polar pattern: The bidirectional microphones have a so-called Figure 8 sound capture type. This means they are capable of picking up sound from two sides, the front, and the back. They are great for live streaming interviews, podcasts, or other similar types of usage. As it can pick up your sound as wl as your guest’s.
Connection method
The next thing is the connection method. Streaming microphones usually use two types of connection that are XLR and USB. Both of these connection types have their own differences.
The thing with an XLR mic is that you cannot directly connect it to your PC, and you will need to buy a mixer or audio interface to plug your XLR microphone.
But if you choose to make the investment, you will get additional control over your sound and enjoy an improved sound quality.
On the other hand, there are USB microphones that are designed to get plugged into your laptop or computer easily. Usually, these microphones ’ audio output is not as good as XLR mics. But if you do invest in a good quality microphone, you won’t really have any issues while streaming.
Final Words:
So those were a few points that you need to consider while buying a microphone for streaming. If you are new to streaming and don’t want to spend much, you can also go for a good gaming headset. Or you can go for an affordable microphone. If you are a professional streamer, then buying an XLR mic with an audio interface would make much more sense.