Gamers and live streamers demand very different things from their microphone than musicians. If you're making a live stream, you can't just do things again, so the sound needs to be good from the start. There are two main types of gaming microphone out there: USB microphones that can be directly hooked up to a computer, and XLR microphones, which you'll need an audio interface or mixer for. If you want maximum control over your setup, then we recommend going for an XLR microphone. 'XLR' refers to the industry standard connection port that all professional microphones have. You can connect an XLR microphone to any mixer or audio interface, opening up your options when it comes to building really extensive audio setups with multiple microphones and sound effects.
USB Gaming Microphones
If you just want good sound and don't have the time to mess with the technical side of the audio, then we recommend picking out a USB microphone. It's made pretty clear by the name: these microphones can be directly plugged into your laptop or desktop computer via USB. You can get a really simple USB microphone, free of any unnecessary extras, where you just set the volume via software and start work. But if you want more real-time control, you can also get models fitted with physical, hardware-based controls like a microphone volume knob and a headphone volume knob. A mute button can also be useful, especially if you need to break the audio to sneeze or get through a coughing fit. More and more USB microphones also feature an internal DSP (Digital Sound Processor), which can do all the jobs that expensive peripheral audio equipment usually do. This can include perks like a built-in de-esser, that automatically suppresses any sharper 'S' sounds while you speaker, or a leveller that'll make sure the sound levels are always consistent - definitely a plus for all the other gamers listening in. Most of the time, the default settings of a lot of these DSP-based tools work really well but, if you want to customise them, there's usually an app for it.
Handy Gaming Microphone Accessories
The most essential accessory you're going to need for your gaming microphone is something that keeps it firmly in place, like a broadcast stand - the same ones they use in radio stations. These arm-like stands suspend the microphone, holding it in just the right place in front of your mouth. They also take up less space than normal microphone stands or desktop stands since they can be clamped onto the edge of your desk. It also makes sense to mount your microphone in a shock mount (if one didn't come included with your model). This will stop any vibrations or loud knocks being picked up by the microphone and shocking your audience. Another really useful accessory is a popfilter, which stops harder speech noises that are created when you say words that include harder letters like 'P' and 'F' from messing with the professional feel of your sound.
