One of the big reasons for this is the inclusion of a 'Clipguard' feature, which effectively swaps the standard recording channel for one 20dB lower if the mic detects clipping. This also integrates into the Elgato Stream Deck - either the physical devices or the phone apps - so you can control your audio settings while streaming with a tap, which is neat.Įven if you don't need the mixing features, the Wave 3 also performs well as a straight-up USB mic. This is great for streaming, because it makes it dead-simple to make sure your game audio, your subscriber alerts, your music and anything else running on your PC or Mac sounds properly balanced. That's because this mic is also a virtual mixer, thanks to the Wave Link software which allows you to adjust the mix of the mic and up to eight additional audio channels. In our best streaming accessories article, we have separate categories for 'best USB mic' and 'best mixer', but you could make a strong argument for the Elgato Wave 3 to take over both categories.

Clear, no-clip cardioid recording - but no other patterns.

Integrated eight-channel mixer is a rare feature well implemented.

Best-in-class software and integration with good usability.Best headset mic: Antlion Audio ModMic USBīest USB mic for streaming: Elgato Wave 3.Best audio interface for streamers: TC-Helicon GoXLR / GoXLR Mini.Best USB mic for recording and podcasting: Blue Yeti X.Best USB mic for streaming: Elgato Wave 3.Click the links below to jump to that entry, or just scroll down to read our selections in full. We'll start with a brief summary of our five favourites. With that out of the way, let's get into the selections. Finally, we also picked runner-up options for a few categories to recognise good alternatives that may be preferred by some people. We've also selected a handy attachable mic that trounces those built into most gaming headsets but remains just as convenient to use.Īll of our choices retail for less than $200/£200, as we're focusing on affordable options for those new to content creation rather than truly professional-grade solutions which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. There's a separate category for XLR mics, as these are a different kettle of fish. We've split our picks into a few different categories: the best mics for streaming, the best for recording voiceovers or podcasts and the best cheap option. There are plenty of options on the market, so we tested the most popular USB and XLR mics available to find the best of the best. These mics can provide that extra bit of audio quality, noise reduction and control you need to be a successful content creator - things you won't often find on your standard gaming headset microphone.

If you want to stream, podcast or record gaming videos for YouTube, then one of the first steps is picking up a good USB or XLR microphone.

Samson sound deck settings