Hi Everyone
I've been contemplating making a thread for a while but have been put of by the vast options available and my lack of knowledge
I am looking to purchase a microphone to carry out the following tasks:
- Adding voice commentaries to Youtube gaming videos
- Using voice during live gaming in programmes like Discord, Youtube or In game VOIP
- Live Podcasting
My requirements are:
- £200-250 max budget
- The sound characteristics of the microphone must have a warm signature. Kind of like what a sports presenter, radio jockey would use.
- I do not like bright, airy, tinny clinical microphones.
- Good warranty & Quality (No cheap plastic please)
- Good form factor i.e not bulky that it covers my face.
Additional Info:
- I am not bothered by brands just as long as it meets my desired sound characteristic.
- I will speak from a maximum distance of 20cm and do not mind microphones that need to be closer to my mouth like cardioids, as long as it does not block my peripheral vision whilst looking at the screen. Therefore good form factor / design is required.
- Super cardioids from what I can gather need you to be right up close to the microphone and due to the nature of gaming will they be suitable as I may move my head around away from the mic?
- How I interpret sound signature is: Dark refers to a prominent bass with recessed treble. Warm refers to a prominent bass with usually neutral treble
I have done some research if you can call it that and saw that these microphones are popular but am not sure which one will meet my requirements list, there is just simply too many. (Warm sounding takes precedence):
-Rode Podcaster
- Rode NT1
- Audio Technica AT2020
- Shure PG42
- Rode NT1A Anniversary
- Blue Yeti pro
- SE Electronics X1
- Behringer XM8500 Ultravoice Dynamic Cardioid Vocal Microphone
- Blue Microphones Spark
- (Is there anything else within my requirements?)
Furthermore from reading posts I discovered Ribbon microphones.
Some people don't recommend a ribbon mic for podcasting, as a condenser will give better articulation and lower noise, but if I need the warm, rich low end of a ribbon a condenser is of course not going to cut it. An "expert" in audio engineering told me:
Does XLR give better clarity/warmness/depth compared to USB?
Other Mics
- Warbler MK IV or V
- NOHYPE AUDIO LRM-1 or LRM-2
- MXL V67G
- Pronomic RM-1 Ribbon Microphone
- The t.bone RM 700
- HEIL PR40
- ELECTROVOICE RE20
- CAD GXL2200
- Cascade Fat Head II
- Golden Age Project R1 MK2/ MK3
- (Is there anything else within my requirements?)
Additional Kit which is considered essential when using the above
- Fethead standard and Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
OR
- Shure X2U
Youtube videos can make a microphone sound just what I'm looking for and then another for the same product will not sound different leaving me back at square one. Take this video for example:
How does he do that "editing" to make it sound so good whilst live broadcasting (Noise removal, EQ, Compression)?
I've been contemplating making a thread for a while but have been put of by the vast options available and my lack of knowledge
I am looking to purchase a microphone to carry out the following tasks:
- Adding voice commentaries to Youtube gaming videos
- Using voice during live gaming in programmes like Discord, Youtube or In game VOIP
- Live Podcasting
My requirements are:
- £200-250 max budget
- The sound characteristics of the microphone must have a warm signature. Kind of like what a sports presenter, radio jockey would use.
- I do not like bright, airy, tinny clinical microphones.
- Good warranty & Quality (No cheap plastic please)
- Good form factor i.e not bulky that it covers my face.
Additional Info:
- I am not bothered by brands just as long as it meets my desired sound characteristic.
- I will speak from a maximum distance of 20cm and do not mind microphones that need to be closer to my mouth like cardioids, as long as it does not block my peripheral vision whilst looking at the screen. Therefore good form factor / design is required.
- Super cardioids from what I can gather need you to be right up close to the microphone and due to the nature of gaming will they be suitable as I may move my head around away from the mic?
- How I interpret sound signature is: Dark refers to a prominent bass with recessed treble. Warm refers to a prominent bass with usually neutral treble
I have done some research if you can call it that and saw that these microphones are popular but am not sure which one will meet my requirements list, there is just simply too many. (Warm sounding takes precedence):
-Rode Podcaster
- Rode NT1
- Audio Technica AT2020
- Shure PG42
- Rode NT1A Anniversary
- Blue Yeti pro
- SE Electronics X1
- Behringer XM8500 Ultravoice Dynamic Cardioid Vocal Microphone
- Blue Microphones Spark
- (Is there anything else within my requirements?)
Furthermore from reading posts I discovered Ribbon microphones.
Some people don't recommend a ribbon mic for podcasting, as a condenser will give better articulation and lower noise, but if I need the warm, rich low end of a ribbon a condenser is of course not going to cut it. An "expert" in audio engineering told me:
If I were to go by everything I was taught I would actually say that a ribbon mic is the opposite of what you want for a deeper sound characteristic. im pretty sure condensors have more body and are also good for podcasting as they are more 'compressed'.
Does XLR give better clarity/warmness/depth compared to USB?
Other Mics
- Warbler MK IV or V
- NOHYPE AUDIO LRM-1 or LRM-2
- MXL V67G
- Pronomic RM-1 Ribbon Microphone
- The t.bone RM 700
- HEIL PR40
- ELECTROVOICE RE20
- CAD GXL2200
- Cascade Fat Head II
- Golden Age Project R1 MK2/ MK3
- (Is there anything else within my requirements?)
Additional Kit which is considered essential when using the above
- Fethead standard and Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
OR
- Shure X2U
Youtube videos can make a microphone sound just what I'm looking for and then another for the same product will not sound different leaving me back at square one. Take this video for example:
How does he do that "editing" to make it sound so good whilst live broadcasting (Noise removal, EQ, Compression)?