9 Best Gaming Microphone for Commentary When Live Streaming on Twitch or YouTube

It’s easy to see why so many gamers and lives streamers are willing to spend big bucks on just about anything except, for a high-quality microphone. After all, most webcams and gaming headsets already come with a built-in microphone, so why spend money on another one, especially when some studio-level mics can cost the same as a high-end gaming rig? Because the sound quality of your stream matters just as much as the visual quality. Like it or not, a sizable chunk of your audience won’t even watch you play—they will only listen to your voice as they do something else.

A high-fidelity microphone can give your streaming a whole new dimension, bringing your commentary closer to your listeners. Of course, you don’t need to spend a small fortune to outperform most speakers and headphones. As a streamer, you can safely stick to the mid-range price tier and focus on other aspects besides sound quality, such as ease-of-use and versatility. This article is based on the collective experience and recommendations of countless successful streamers, giving you the top nine best gaming microphones for commentary when live streaming on Twitch or YouTube.

Blue Yeti USB Microphone

If you follow at least some of the most popular YouTube and Twitch commentators, we would be surprised if you haven’t seen the Blue Yeti USB microphone before. Thanks to its fantastic sound quality, affordable price, and practical features, it has established itself as the most recommended mic for live streaming.

The Yeti is fully plug and play, which means that you can take it out of the box, plug it into any USB port, and start recording. There are no drivers to worry about, no complicated setup procedure to go through. That being said, the simplicity of this microphone doesn’t get in the way of its versatility. Using a convenient dial, you can select between four different pattern modes to achieve excellent sound quality while recording anything from podcasts and interviews to music and instruments.

Reviewers have praised Yeti’s proprietary tri-capsule technology for its ability to produce pristine, studio-quality recordings, which stand out miles above what you usually hear on YouTube or Twitch. The frequency response of this mic is 20Hz to 20kHz, and the highest sound pressure level it can handle before the onset of distortion is 120dB.

Included in the box is also an adjustable stand, USB cable, and instructions. The Blue Yeti USB microphone is a lovely deal, and we understand why so many live streamers choose it as their first proper mic and stick with it forever.

Samson Meteor Mic USB Studio Microphone

The Samson Meteor microphone might be ridiculously small, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t compete with other microphones on this list. Still, considering what other mics are available, we wouldn’t recommend the Meteor to someone who’s looking for a single microphone for a home studio. Instead, we would recommend it to those live streamers who are often on the go and need something small they can easily pack into a small backpack.

If it weren’t for its large, 25mm condenser diaphragm—one of the largest condenser diaphragms of any USB mic available—the Meteor would never sound as good as it does. Thankfully, Samson refused to make any compromises, giving us one of the best-sounding portable USB mics out there. And it’s not just the mic’s sound that makes so recommendable, either. Its sleek design, fantastic build quality, and plug and play nature make it a real pleasure to use. It works with any PC or Mac right out of the box. You can even plug it into your iPad for use with GarageBand.

Audio-Technica AT2020USB PLUS Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone

Audio-Technica has been making some of the world’s best audio equipment since 1962. Their AT2020USB condenser microphone brings their pristine sound quality into the modern era by providing users with a single USB output for hassle-free digital recording.

The microphone has been explicitly designed with streamers in mind, and, as such, it comes with several handy features that make it more than worth its relatively affordable price. The built-in headphone amplifier with high output delivers superior clarity and musical detail as well as more volume. The mix control dial allows you to blend your microphone signal and pre-recorded audio together to create a single mix quickly.

Thanks to its custom-engineered low-mass diaphragm, the Audio-Technica AT2020USB provides extended frequency response and superior transient response, and the cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of sounds from the sides and rear. Alongside the microphone itself, Audio-Technica also includes a tripod desk stand, pivoting stand mount, USB cable, and storage pouch.

Neewer NW-700 Professional Studio Condenser Microphone

If you’re willing to sacrifice some convenience, you can get excellent sound quality on a budget. To be more precise, you need to sacrifice a USB plug and play connectivity and potentially get a supply of phantom power. Once you tackle these obstacles, you’ll end up with a professional condenser microphone that ships with a sturdy scissor arm stand, screen pop filter, and other useful accessories.

Considering that the whole package is reasonably priced, it’s hard to go wrong with the NW-700 from Neewer. Its sound quality is up there with many condenser mics from renowned manufacturers of audio equipment, and its build quality is surprisingly strong as well. If you already own a dedicated sound card or amplifier that can supply the mic with adequate power, look no further—this is the mic you want to get.

KLIM Desktop USB Microphone

LED-equipped gaming gear seldom delivers on its lofty marketing promises, but the KLIM Desktop USB microphone is an exception. This stylish plug and play USB mic is compatible with all modern operating systems and made from metal-reinforced plastic. The mic stand doubles as a smartphone stand, so it won’t just waste space on your desk when you’re not recording.

You can’t expect the same level of sound quality as professional microphones are known for, but the KLIM should still be more than good enough for virtually all live streamers out there.

Samson G-Track Pro

The Samson G-Track Pro is an excellent choice for those doing game commentary. This all-in-one microphone is perfect for all sorts of purposes, whether you’re streaming, gaming, recording a podcast, or recording music. On the microphone itself is a front panel mixer, with it, you can adjust things like microphone level, instrument level, and even headphone volume controls.

This one was built for professionals. It’s got dual 1-inch condenser capsules with three selectable picks up patterns – Cardioid (unidirectional), bidirectional, and omnidirectional. That said,  it’s able to produce some impressive high-definition audio. It’s also easy to set up, with no technical knowledge required — plug it in, and you’re ready to go. There’s no driver installation required!

Blue Yeti Nano

Blue is well known for its consumer-level microphones and has done some excellent work yet again with the Yeti Nano. This USB microphone is excellent for recording and streaming. Like most Blue microphones and most microphones on this list, the Yeti Nano is a simple plug and play microphone.

The Yeti Nano has Cardioid and Omni pickup patterns and supports sample rates up to 24-bit/48Khz. Suffice to say, and the Yeti Nano can pick up some excellent audio quality that your streaming viewers will be able to really enjoy.

It comes in several different colors to make sure that you’re getting something that fits your studio the most.

Blue Snowball iCE

If you’re just starting out in the commentary world, you don’t want to bog yourself down with expensive equipment. The commentary world is exceptionally volatile, and you often don’t know whether or not you’re going to make your money back. It all depends on the visibility that you get. That said, it’s always a good practice — when you’re first starting – to start out as cheaply as you can, but without sacrificing too much in quality.

That’s where the Blue Snowball iCE comes in. A slight step below Blue’s Yeti microphone, the Snowball iCE is still able to provide you with some excellent audio quality. All you have to do is plug the power end into the microphone, then the USB end into your laptop or PC, and you’re ready to start recording!

Blue offers this one in either White or Black.

Razer Seiren X

If you’re looking to get your hands on a professional-grade microphone, look no further than Razer’s very own Seiren X. This one has some noise-canceling features on it, with the sound being recorded at a tighter angle. That reduces unwanted background noise, providing more clear and crisp audio to your listeners.

On top of that, Razer has equipped the Seiren X with a built-in shock mount. This helps dampen sound and physical vibrations to help protect your stream or video from strange noises and abnormalities. Some say that you need to drop a few hundred on a microphone, but the Seiren X is in an affordable package that provides you with top tier sound quality.

The Seiren X actually has extender frequency and transient response, allowing the microphone to pick up a more extensive range of nuances — such as tone, depth, and more — so your voice is captured and presented to your viewers.

One of the more unique aspects of this microphone is real-time monitoring abilities. Razer has included some awesome technology inside, which allows you to hear what your audience is hearing in real-time so that you can make any adjustments necessary.

Verdict

The market is saturated with all sorts of microphones that are more than capable of providing you with excellent quality as far as recording your voice goes for commentary. All of these microphones will be able to transmit clear and sharp clarity to the person listening on the other end. These microphones will work just fine for regular video recordings, as well.

What microphone are you planning on picking up for live streaming on Twitch or YouTube? Do you have any specific microphone out there that’s your favorite? Let us know in the comments section below, and it might just end up on our list at some point!