Great streams have great sound. Period. End of story. Mic drop.
Well, wait—let’s pick that mic back up for a second and take a closer look. Out of every piece of equipment in your streaming setup, your mic is most responsible for the quality of your voice (and any other environmental source of audio you might use). So, how do you pick the best one? In this guide, we have your answers. (And a few product suggestions. Scroll down for those.)
In terms of how microphones pick up sound waves and convert them into electrical signal, there are primarily only two types on the market today: condenser mics and dynamic mics. (There are also ribbon microphones, but for most streamers, they aren’t really a practical choice.) Without diving too deeply into the electrical engineering, here are the basic differences between the two.
Dynamic microphones convert sound waves into electrical signal with the help of magnets. You can think of them as speakers in reverse. In a speaker, electricity vibrates a built-in diaphragm, which creates sound waves. In a dynamic microphone, sound waves from an audio source push and pull on an internal diaphragm attached to small movable coil inside of a magnetic field created by an internal magnet. When the diaphragm moves, the coil moves inside of the magnetic field, creating a voltage. That voltage is then increased with the use of a transformer and sent to the microphone’s output, creating sound.
Condenser microphones convert sound waves into electrical signal through the principle of variable capacitance. In a condenser microphone, In the case of condenser microphones, a diaphragm made with an extremely thin membrane of conductive material sits next to a solid metal plate charged with a current. When sound waves hit the sensitive diaphragm, it vibrates back and forth, transferring this current to the metal plate via the conductive material to create a signal. However, this signal isn’t strong enough to be output from the mic as-is, so all condenser mics have onboard preamplifiers to give it a boost. This preamp—and in certain types of condenser mics, the charged metal plate—requires external power to operate. In nearly all designs, the external power is supplied by something called 48V phantom power, which is sent via the XLR cable from whatever device the condenser mic is connected to.
While there are a number of factors that contribute to a microphone’s sound, there are a few universal sonic truths that separate dynamic microphones from condenser microphones:
Our Verdict: If you’re recording in a quiet environment and you want to minimize equipment, go with a condenser microphone. If you’re recording in a somewhat noisy environment where you only really want your voice heard, and you’re okay with a little extra setup to find the right gain (often, no extra setup is needed) go with a dynamic microphone.
Every mic has a polar pattern: the space around its body where it’s the most sensitive to sound and picks up sound “best”. Here’s how to read one:
Imagine a 360-degree field around the microphone as in the picture above. The 0-degree point along the circle represents the front (or the top) of the microphone at its most sensitive point and angle. The 180-degree point along the circle represents the back (or the bottom) of the microphone. Each smaller circle represents a 5-degree decrease in sensitivity within the sound field.
Generally speaking, there are four main polar pattern types you’ll find on microphones out in the wild. Read on for short explanations and diagrams of each.
Cardioid: The cardioid pattern is heart-shaped, capturing sound primarily from the front and sides, with minimal pickup from the rear. Cardoid pickup patterns are great for live performances and studio recordings where isolating the primary source of sound, such as a vocalist or speaker, from background noise is needed. (For streamers who are just talking, this is an excellent choice.)
Omnidirectional: Omnidirectional microphones capture sound equally from all directions. This pattern is represented by a circular diagram, indicating no special sensitivity (in lack thereof) in any specific direction. These microphones are ideal for recording ambient sounds or situations where sound sources are spread around the mic, such as conference rooms. (Streaming a board game night? An omnidirectional mic might be a good call.)
Supercardioid and Hypercardioid: These patterns are more directional than the standard cardioid pickup pattern. Supercardioid offers a tighter front pickup area with a small lobe of sensitivity at the rear, whereas hypercardioid has an even narrower front pickup but a larger rear pickup. Both are excellent for situations where high directionality and isolation are needed but some rear sensitivity can be tolerated, like in film production. (These are also solid options for streamers who are simply speaking into a mic, though their rear sensitivity may pick up noise from a keyboard or mouse.
Bidirectional or Figure-8: This pattern captures sound equally from the front and back but rejects sounds from the sides. The diagram looks like a figure-8. It is useful for recording two sources facing each other, such as in interviews or a duet. (Streaming with two people and one mic? With the right positioning, this is the polar pattern for you.)
Our Verdict: For most streamers just recording vocals, the cardioid polar pattern is king. Supercardoids and hypercardioids can be great, but many streamers find that they let in too much environmental sound from their setups. If you’re recording a duo, do bidirectional. If you’re recording a group, go omnidirectional.
Another characteristic to consider when buying a microphone is the diaphragm size. If you’ve been reading diligently, you know that a microphone’s diaphragm is the components that vibrates sympathetically with air disturbances (sound waves), starting the interaction that converts sound waves into
Small-diaphragm microphones have a diaphragm with a diameter of about 0.5 inches or less. These microphones are also known as "pencil mics" due to their slim, tubular shape. The primary advantage of small diaphragms is their ability to respond to sound waves more quickly and accurately, providing excellent transient response and a consistent pickup pattern across different frequencies. This makes them particularly good at capturing high-frequency sounds like acoustic instruments and cymbals with great detail and precision. They also exhibit less self-noise and coloration, leading to a more neutral and uncolored recording. Small-diaphragm mics are favored in classical music recording and any situation requiring precise sound imaging and a flat frequency response.
Large-diaphragm microphones, typically have diaphragms that are 1 inch or larger in diameter, are favored in studio environments for vocals and voice-over work. The larger surface area of the diaphragm allows for greater sensitivity to sound, capturing more sonic detail and delivering a richer, warmer tone often described as "full-bodied." This characteristic warmth makes large-diaphragm mics a popular choice for broadcasting and vocal performances, as they can enhance the presence and depth of a voice. They also tend to handle lower frequencies better and provide a strong output signal.
Our Verdict: Both diaphragm sizes can work for streaming situations, though large diaphragm mics offer wider frequency response and superior precision, making them a better choice for streamers in “ideal” recording situations. That said, if you’re a streamer who moves around and changes your volume somewhat dramatically in a relatively noisy room, a small-diaphragm mic may be a better choice, since it will offer better transient response and consistency across the frequency range.
To USB or Not to USB: Understanding the USB vs. Analog Debate
With some of the fundamentals of microphones now covered, we’re now going to talk about a more modern issue concerning microphone signal. It’s a matchup many a streamer has weighed: the USB mic versus the traditional analog mic. Here’s how the two compare.
USB microphones incorporate an analog-to-digital converter and an onboard preamp within their housing, meaning they convert analog electrical signal to digital audio information *before *****your computer or gaming device. This built-in functionality makes them exceptionally user-friendly, especially for non-professionals. They are essentially plug-and-play devices, requiring minimal setup and no additional audio hardware, like an external audio interface or mixer, to begin recording. This makes them highly suitable for podcasting, home recording, and other multimedia projects where simplicity and convenience are valued over absolute audio fidelity.
USB Mic Benefits
USB Mic Drawbacks
Analog microphones output an analog signal and require an external audio interface or mixer to convert this signal to digital form for use with computers. These microphones come in a variety of types (dynamic, condenser, ribbon—as we’ve covered above) and offer a range of sound characteristics suited to different recording needs. They are favored in professional environments due to their higher quality components and the ability to select from a wide range of preamps to color and enhance the signal before it's digitized.
Benefits
Drawbacks:
If you’re streaming on a budget, and if you want minimal hassle during setup, nothing beats a USB mic. That said, if you’re willing to spring for an audio interface (or if you already own one), an analog mic can get you truly studio grade sound with a little extra setup. (Again, this isn’t knock on USB mics. If you want audio quality and convenience, higher-end USB mics can give you the best of both worlds.)
Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB
Samson Q2U
Audio-Technica AT2040USB
Rode PodMic
Shure MV7
Rode XDM-100
Blue Yeti
Rode NT-USB
Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP
Sennheiser Profile
Rode NT1 5th Generation
Shure SM58
Telefunken M80
Electro-Voice RE20
Shure SM7B
Rode NT1 Signature Series
Warm Audio WA-47Jr
Shure Beta 87A
AKG C414 XLII
With our streaming mic guide now complete, you have the knowledge you need to make a great choice for your streaming audio. Now, use Cutlabs to create viral clips in a single click—and make sure that streaming audio ends up on quality content.