What are the best microphones for game streaming under $100?

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May 28, 2019

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Here’s the Deal

3 Options Considered

Best microphones for game streaming under $100	Price	Weight	Type
-- Blue Yeti	$130	-	-
-- Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone	99.00	0.8 lbs	Condenser
-- Zalman Zm-Mic1	$5.99	-	-

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score 1 · Answer 1

Blue Yeti

Top Pro

Very useful for desktop recording situations where the sound source is in front of the microphone when the Yeti is set to Cardioid Mode

When the Yeti is set to cardioid mode, it will focus audio capture in front of the mic while reducing reception from audio sources from the back side. This Yeti mode is ideal for game streaming as it allows for clear capture of your voice yet also minimizes sound from your keyboard and/or mouse button presses for example. See More

Top Pro

Great recording sound quality as the audio captured is clear and with good depth

The Blue Yeti microphone produces great sound quality, with recordings that sound natural, clear yet also has good depth. It is common for budget microphones to have decent audio volume yet still sounds tinny and hollow. This is not the case with the Blue Yeti. Audio detail is preserved and does not sound harsh. The timbre of the sound source is also captured well, making the resulting audio sound much more natural compared to recordings achieved from lesser microphones. See More

Top Pro

Can stand securely on a desk as the mic comes with a wide and hefty base

The mic can securely stand on its own when placed on a flat surface. It features a weighted base which helps keep the mic stable. Also, the base allows for mic angle adjustment which users can secure by tightening the base's knobs beside the mic. See More

Top Pro

You can easily attach the Yeti to boom stands/mounts and the like thanks to the mic's standard mic mount

At the bottom of the Yeti is a standard mic mount which makes the mic compatible with aftermarket boom mounts, tripods and other mic mounting solutions. See More

Top Pro

The Yeti looks and feels premium thanks to its superb build quality

The mic is primarily made of metal which makes the mic look premium and also gives the mic a reassuring heft. Fit and finish is also great with virtually no unnecessary creaks or wobble from the different parts of the mic. See More

Top Pro

Users can monitor mic and computer audio as the built-in sound card and 3.5 mm jack allows from-mic audio playback

With the Yeti, you do not need to have a separate setup for monitoring audio. Simply set the Yeti as the primary recording and playback device on your computer then connect earphones or headphones to the mic's 3.5mm port. With this setup, you will be able to hear audio from your computer (game audio or background music for example) and at the same time, you can hear your voice from the mic with zero latency. See More

Top Pro

Mic is plug and play due to its built-in sound card and USB connectivity

With this mic, you do not have to use mic pre-amps, audio interfaces and the like. Simply connect the mic to your computer via USB cable, customize settings according to your computer's OS and the mic is ready to record. See More

Top Pro

Can capture the natural, in-room sound of the source when in omni-directional mode

If natural sounding audio captures are your priority instead of canceling out unwanted sound then you can set the Yeti to omni-directional mode. This makes the mic record sound from around it, resulting in the most natural sounding audio capture. See More

Top Pro

Users can mute/un-mute the mic easily using the Mute button on the front side of the mic

If sound from the mic needs to be cut, all a user needs to do is to press the Mute button on the front of the mic. This button lights up red to signify that the audio is muted. To un-mute, the user will only have to press the button again and the red light turns off, indicating that the mic is recording audio again. See More

Top Pro

The mic can focus on recording sounds coming from its sides when set to stereo mode

If space on your desk is an issue and you can only set your mic to the sides, then you still record great audio by setting the mic to stereo mode. In this setting, the mic will focus capturing sound coming from its sides, so you will still be able to get clear audio even when placing the mic to your right or left side. See More

Top Pro

The mic's sensitivity can easily be adjusted using the Gain knob at the back of the mic

The mic's sensitivity can be adjusted by simply turning the Gain knob found at the back of the mic. This makes it easy for a user to increase or decrease mic volume on the fly. See More

Top Pro

Great for use in face to face conversation or interview situations using the mic's Interview Mode

If you need to record audio in an interview situation where you and another person are face to face, talking to one another then the Yeti is a great mic to use. Setting it to interview mode, the microphone captures audio from the front and back of it, recording your conversation with clarity yet without the hassle of using multiple mics or manually setting mic direction when one of you speaks. See More

Top Pro

You can choose from 4 mic patterns thanks to the Yeti's tri-capsule mic design in conjunction with the on-mic mode switching knob

Under Yeti's metal grill are 3 mic capsules arranged in an offset triangular pattern. These capsules can be activated in different combinations, giving the Yeti 4 mic modes which vary according to the direction that the mic focuses its audio capture. This can be set by turning the knob at the back of the mic according to the preferred microphone mode setting. See More

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score 3 · Answer 2

Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone

Top Pro

A great all-around microphone

Whether you're looking to stream, record vocals, or do voiceover work, this microphone is a great choice on account of its lack of "characteristic." It doesn't lend itself to performing particularly well in a single way, and instead is made to work well for numerous uses. See More

Specs

Weight:0.8 lbs

Type:Condenser

Length:6.38 inches

Frequency range:20 Hz - 20,000 Hz

See All Specs

Top Pro

Built to last

The AT2020 is designed to be resistant to wear-and-tear and being dropped. See More

See All

score 1 · Answer 3

Zalman Zm-Mic1

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What are the best microphones for game streaming under $100?

3 Options Considered

Blue Yeti

My Recommendation for Blue Yeti

My Recommendation for Blue Yeti

Very useful for desktop recording situations where the sound source is in front of the microphone when the Yeti is set to Cardioid Mode

Great recording sound quality as the audio captured is clear and with good depth

Can stand securely on a desk as the mic comes with a wide and hefty base

You can easily attach the Yeti to boom stands/mounts and the like thanks to the mic's standard mic mount

The Yeti looks and feels premium thanks to its superb build quality

Users can monitor mic and computer audio as the built-in sound card and 3.5 mm jack allows from-mic audio playback

Mic is plug and play due to its built-in sound card and USB connectivity

Can capture the natural, in-room sound of the source when in omni-directional mode

Users can mute/un-mute the mic easily using the Mute button on the front side of the mic

The mic can focus on recording sounds coming from its sides when set to stereo mode

The mic's sensitivity can easily be adjusted using the Gain knob at the back of the mic

Great for use in face to face conversation or interview situations using the mic's Interview Mode

You can choose from 4 mic patterns thanks to the Yeti's tri-capsule mic design in conjunction with the on-mic mode switching knob

Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone

My Recommendation for Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone

My Recommendation for Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser Studio Microphone

A great all-around microphone

Built to last

Zalman Zm-Mic1

My Recommendation for Zalman Zm-Mic1

My Recommendation for Zalman Zm-Mic1

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