If you’re shooting video content, sound is important, and if we’re talking about streaming, a good microphone is a must. The quality of your live broadcast and your image in front of the audience depends on it. So it’s essential for those who enjoy streaming gambling on a Hellspin login website or playing games, like Dota 2. Here’s how to choose a microphone for streaming: which parameters matter, and which are not worth overpaying for.
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What It Is
To choose the right gadget, you need to understand how it differs from others and what a streaming microphone should be. To do this, consider the main feature of streaming – they take place only in real time. Unlike bloggers, streamers almost never edit their videos, they host them live with a real audience.
A streamer microphone must necessarily meet two requirements:
- Quality voice recording – Audience loyalty depends a lot on how clearly you can be heard.
- Wired connection via USB, because synchronization via Bluetooth can cause delays, and they are destructive for online broadcasts.
How to Choose a Microphone
Condenser or Dynamic Microphone
Dynamic microphones are cheaper and simpler to design. Outwardly it’s a membrane in a magnetic field. The detail of sound in such models is lower, but they are more durable – resistant to sound pressure, they are difficult to overload. They can be used in an unprepared room without sound insulation. They pick up sound more directionally, so there is less extraneous noise – just right for a streamer.
Condenser microphones are more expensive, easier to damage, and require additional phantom power. But such microphones are more sensitive – they pick up more details, so the room must be prepared in advance so that there is no background noise.
Frequency Range
This is the bandwidth that the device will pick up. Since the microphone records voice, you need accurate, distortion-free transmission in the 80-1200 Hz range, which is where the human voice is found. The wider the frequency range, the more sounds the microphone can pick up. For streaming, a basic range is enough, but if your broadcasts involve vocals, choose a model with a maximum range.
Directivity
This parameter affects how well you will be heard by the audience. There are the following varieties of microphones:
- Unidirectional is great for detecting sound that comes from the front. They come in cardioid, hypercardioid and supercardioid. The former are good at picking up sound that comes from the front but not from behind, while not being receptive to side noise. The other two types have a 180° coverage angle, and are good at picking up sound that comes from the front and from the sides. The best choice of streamer is a microphone with a cardioid directionality to keep background noise out of the air.
- Bidirectional at the same level of clarity picks up sounds from both sides: front and back.
- Omnidirectional picks up noise from all sides due to its 360° angle of coverage. This is not a suitable model for a streamer because extraneous sounds, such as typing on buttons, will enter the air.
USB or 3.5mm or XLR Output
This parameter determines how the microphone is connected. The simplest option is a USB or 3.5mm jack where you simply plug the cable in.
To connect XLR-microphones requires a sound card, which must be purchased separately, which involves additional expense. In this case, the fundamental difference in sound quality of USB-and XLR-microphones will not be, so it is not worth spending extra.
Additional Accessories
To use the microphone, you can buy accessories:
- A table stand. With it, you won’t have to hold the device in your hands. When choosing a model, check the cable length to avoid installation problems. Often the stand is included, in this case, check additionally the availability of an adapter for connecting the device.
- An anti-vibration mount for the stand is needed for stability and good sound transmission.
- A folding acoustic screen or pop filter eliminates unnecessary air flow when certain sounds are made: hissing or whistling.
- Windproofing. If you’re streaming outdoors, you need it to neutralize wind noise and make your sound clear.
- Carrying case. If you broadcast live from different locations, it will be convenient to transfer the microphone. If it’s a condenser, take a hard case to protect the device from mechanical effects.