{"id":48681,"date":"2018-06-04T09:00:11","date_gmt":"2018-06-04T13:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/?p=48681"},"modified":"2018-10-31T17:48:24","modified_gmt":"2018-10-31T21:48:24","slug":"best-microphones-for-gaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adorama.com\/alc\/best-microphones-for-gaming\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Microphones for Gaming"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re playing with teammates online or doing a game commentary for others to enjoy, recording good audio is crucial. After all, you want your teammates and your viewers to understand what you\u2019re saying \u2014 especially when you\u2019re screaming in excitement. The analog mics on your webcam, earphones, or cheap headphones have inferior sound quality, so you\u2019ll eventually have to get a USB or XLR microphone.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going all out and looking for the best microphone for gaming, or at least considering the upgrade, we have it for you. In fact, we\u2019ve listed several, so you can choose which one suits your setup and meets your audio needs the most. But first, let\u2019s look at the qualities that you\u2019ll need to look for in a good gaming microphone.<\/p>\n

Qualities of a Good Gaming Microphone<\/h3>\n
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Image via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here are several basic qualities you\u2019ll need to look for in a gaming microphone. A good mic won\u2019t help you play like a pro overnight, but a better audio experience can help improve the quality of your teamwork, gaming videos, and live streams.<\/p>\n

Great Sound Quality<\/h4>\n

There are many types of microphones<\/a> to choose from \u2014 but you\u2019re better off choosing either a dynamic or condenser microphone (much like the microphones used for podcasting<\/a>) that\u2019s specifically designed to pick up the intricacies of a person\u2019s speaking voice and does so without delays. It\u2019s also ideal to choose one with a tight bi-directional (figure 8) or cardioid pattern. Both effectively cancel out background noise from the sides, including keyboard and mouse clicks.<\/p>\n

Suits Your Game<\/h4>\n

While studio microphones are best for recording voices, they\u2019re not always the best for every gamer. Before heading to the audio store, figure out the kind of microphone you need for the kind of games you play and how often you play.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s always beneficial to upgrade to a studio-quality mic, you don\u2019t always have to make that investment. Many real-time strategy (RTS) and adventure gamers prefer a good quality headset or pair of headphones for their affordability and convenience. But if you\u2019re going to be live streaming and sharing your gaming videos, you may want to complement your gear with a good-looking microphone.<\/p>\n

Easy to Set Up<\/h4>\n

What gamers really need is great audio recording quality, and they would always prefer one that\u2019s much easier to set up. Some studio microphones need additional components such as audio interfaces, preamplifiers, phantom power supply, and extra cables to maximize its features. Depending on your experience in audio devices, you may want to go for plug-and-play USB mics that only require you to plug your mic into your computer for recording and your headphone jack into the microphone for monitoring.<\/p>\n

Cost-Efficient & Budget-Friendly<\/h4>\n

Fortunately, there are good quality microphones that go for under $100. Obviously, the quality increases further as you decide to spend more, but you definitely won\u2019t have to go way beyond $200 for one that is suitable for more serious gamers, streamers, and podcasters.<\/p>\n

Best Microphones For Gaming<\/h3>\n
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Image via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Below you\u2019ll find our list of the most popular and well-loved microphones for gaming. Some of them may not be ideal for recording singing or music, but each of them have been tried and tested by thousands of gamers to meet your game recording needs.<\/p>\n

Samson Go Mic Portable USB Condenser Microphone<\/a><\/h4>\n

Adorama Price:<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Samson<\/p>\n

The Samson Go USB microphone is a great choice if you want both quality and portability without the heavy price tag. Believe it or not, it\u2019s only less than 3 inches long and can easily fit in your pocket. It even comes with a zippered carrying case, aside from the clip case that doubles as a mic stand. Setup is also pretty simple with the Samson Go\u2014it can be connected to your computer via a USB cable and has a standard audio jack so you can monitor your recording with a good pair of headphones.<\/p>\n

The microphone has a switch for three different recording settings: omnidirectional for 360-degree audio coverage (best for multiple speaking voices), cardioid for recording only from the front of the microphone, and -10dBb for lowering the gain so you eliminate ambient noise. To use the latter, you\u2019ll have to move in closer, which also means you\u2019ll need a separate pop filter<\/a> to eliminate distracting plosive sounds. And while its small transducer doesn\u2019t do well with singing voices, the Samson Go is definitely good enough for gamers who want clear voice recordings.<\/p>\n

Key Specifications:<\/h5>\n