Need a good condenser microphone setup for youtube/gaming/livestreaming (help!!!)

[LeKrang]

Hi! I'm a huge techie but a noob when it comes to microphones.

So recently I started making youtube videos where I record my gameplay sessions and do commentaries over them / record multiplayer conversations. I also plan and starting livestreaming very soon.
In the first few videos I made I noticed my mic quality wasn't very good and commenters pointed it out. I am currently using my astro a-40 gaming headset with mixamp and the microphone it came with.

So I want to buy a good condenser mic for youtube videos, livestreaming and gaming.

Now the problem is that I have been receiving conflicting opinions on the internet and I don't know what kind of setup I would need. Some people seem to suggest I buy an xlr connection mic while others suggest going with a usb one like the blue yeti or audio technica at2020 for a simple and cheap setup.

I really don't know what to do here.

My budget is in the 150-300$ range, meaning I would really prefer paying around 150 but am willing to go up to 300.

If I decide to go xlr what kind of setup will I need, what will I have to buy?
Some people told me I needed a phatom power. I imagine this is a power supply right? If so is there any brand in particular I should get or any type?

I already have a soundblaster-z dedicated gaming soundcard on my pc with a good mic-in, and which has a ton of microphone options on the control panel, so I would like to use it with the condenser mic. Will I have to get a phatom power with an xlr in and 3.5 mm out ? Or is using that sound card for the mic a bad idea? Or is there a particular setup I need to achieve that?

I won't be buying a desk arm like the psa1 straight away but plan on getting it down the road. I figure I will use the standard stand that comes with the mic to start off. But if I can get a good setup under 300$ with it I'd be glad.

I also know I need to get a pop filter. Any suggestions on what brand/size to get ?

So yeah, I want to know what you guys think i should get as far as MIC and setup for my budget. What would the setup diagram be like. What are the stuff I absolutely need to get it all to work, and what are the stuff I can buy further down the road to improve the quality/performance.

Thank you in advance, any help would be apreciated!

 

[CAlbertson]

The AT2020 will be the best over all sounding mic in under $100 price range. The XLR version will need both phantom power and a place to plug in XLR. But a Presonus "audio box" for $150. Ditch your current sound card.

Or buy the USB version of the AT2020 and then the interface is not needed and you save on the XLR cable too. XLR is the way to go if you get more serious into recording but USB is simpler and the sound is the same.

For your use you will never need any other pattern but "cartioid". It is directional and kills sound coming from the rear.

Get a pop filter and a mic stand. And the next thing is something to place in back of the mic to absorb reflected sound. Most of your voice goes right on past the mic, hits the wall and bounces, try and prevent that. It can be cheap and improvised. But really the location of the mic relative to you and the reflective surfaces matter more than the brand of mic.

One other COMPLETELY different option is a self contained recored like the Zoom H2. You don't need a computer and you can move into a very quiet place to record, like a walk-in closet. Do all the takes on the zoom then edit on the computer.

 

[Bobbsy]

Of the two, I prefer the sound of the Blue Yeti. It works quite well for voice commentaries.

A few thoughts though:

You'll need to budget for a mic stand and pop screen. A floor stand lets you decouple the mic from the desk and avoid picking up vibrations from the fans and hard disks in your computer.

A condenser mic is going to pick up a lot more background noise in the room than a headset--that's why singers on loud stages use headsets. You'll have to think about noises from your computer and general room noise.

Have a think about how you're going to route your audio. It sounds easy but it can be something between tricky and impossible to have multiple sound sources all recording at the same time all through a single computer. I believe there are specialist software packages for gamers live streaming but that's outside my range of experience.

Good mic input and Soundblaster are two phrases that should never appear in the same sentence.

Good luck!