Blue Yeti X Vs Hyperx Quadcast
Whether yous’re in the market for a new podcasting microphone or just want something to use when chatting with friends on Discord, choosing a computer microphone can sometimes be quite difficult. There’south a lot to consider, from cheaper options such as the Razer Seiren Mini to higher-end choices such every bit the Blue Yeti X. We’ve nerveless this listing from the microphones nosotros’ve reviewed to offer solid options, depending on what sort of microphone you’re in the market for.
Why is the Blue Yeti X the best estimator microphone?
The Blue Yeti X reigns equally our favorite USB microphone. Y'all can choose from several different pickup patterns, making it uncommonly versatile. The all-metal construction makes for a solidly built mic that is piece of cake to come to grips with. It’s particularly well suited to phonation applications, and is an fantabulous choice for annihilation from conference calls to podcasting. Although the price is around the upper end of this list, the fantabulous quality makes the Bluish Yeti Ten an easy recommendation.
The Bluish Yeti X also features an adjustable knob to command gain and ensure optimal recording quality. This includes knob LEDs and integration with Logitech G Hub (Windows/macOS). From the Grand Hub app, yous can fully arrange the way the Blue Yeti X behaves. All these features combine to make this the all-time reckoner microphone for nearly people.
Overall, the Yeti Ten sounds great fifty-fifty though it has some issues with plosives and fricatives (p, ph, f, due south, sh, z
sounds). In the podcast episode below, Chris speaks from his empty kitchen total of hard, flat surfaces and information technology still comes through pretty clear.
The Shure MV7 has the best sound quality
Although it’s expensive, the Shure MV7 hits it out of the park regarding sound quality. This microphone resembles some other Shure mic that is arguably the queen of the podcasting space right at present, the Shure SM7B. That pedigree alone is enough to make the MV7 notable. With the Shure MV7, you become squeamish features similar LEDs to indicate level, and a impact strip on the height side for adjusting book on the fly.
The Shure MV7 features a fairly standard cardioid pickup pattern. It as well features an analog XLR output that can operate at the same time as the digital USB output, making it a solid choice for anyone that might be looking to switch to a more professional audio interface at a later appointment. Some other neat thing well-nigh the Shure MV7: you can use the XLR and USB ports simultaneously to record a high-res file and low-res backup.
It also has some integration with software, expanding the number of things you can do with it. The Shure MV7X also exists for users that don’t need a USB output.
The Shure MV7 sounds very practiced, only you may want to play effectually with all of the audio options in the app.
Shure MV7 (flat) microphone demo:
Shure MV7 (high pass) microphone demo:
Shure MV7 (presence heave) microphone demo:
Shure MV7 (high pass and presence boost) microphone demo:
HyperX QuadCast is great for RGB fans
The HyperX QuadCast is a solid option for anyone wanting a particularly flashy microphone. Streamers and podcasters will no doubt appreciate the adjustable lighting that fills the outside grill and looks quite excellent on camera, while also doubling equally an piece of cake indicator of when the microphone is muted. The HyperX QuadCast features several unlike polar pickup patterns that the user can switch between on the fly, and the microphone by and large delivers on sound quality.
The HyperX QuadCast features a congenital-in pop filter, which makes information technology easy to set up and utilise without having to observe extra equipment. It connects via USB, like almost of the other microphones on this list. The only issue nosotros noticed with the sound of the HyperX QuadCast is an affluence of sibilant sounds during recording, but you tin can remedy that by adjusting the microphone’s position and applying some post-processing.
In our podcast sample below, yous can hear the proximity effect coming into play but the quality is quite good for a basic setup.
The JLab Talk PRO has an extensive set of features
The JLab Talk PRO microphone is another USB microphone sitting around $150 USD. It comes with a pocket-size stand up that lets you bending information technology for the best sound quality. Y'all can toggle between multiple recording patterns to best suit the microphone to the recording surroundings. On the front end of the microphone is a meter that displays the levels for the volume and gain knobs. The microphone too features an LED circle on the bottom of the microphone.
The JLab Talk PRO connects via USB-C and you tin plug headphones in for live monitoring. This microphone besides records at 192kHz/24-bit, ensuring plenty of detail is captured with a depression noise floor, should you lot demand information technology.
The Talk PRO sounds especially good with the cardioid polar blueprint, which is what nigh people will choose.
JLab Talk PRO cardioid speaking sample:
JLab Talk PRO cardioid singing sample:
JLab Talk PRO cardioid electric guitar sample:
The Razer Seiren Mini is the all-time calculator microphone for anyone on a upkeep
If you’re buying an external reckoner microphone on a budget, the Razer Seiren Mini is a good pick. This microphone is just $49 USD, and while that limits its sound quality and features somewhat, it still delivers on being a solid product on the cheap. The Razer Seiren Mini features a supercardioid polar pickup pattern, though some keyboard noises are still aural if y'all’re typing while using it. For the most part information technology’s pretty good at picking up what’south in front of it.
Unfortunately, the Razer Seiren Mini doesn’t support Razer Synapse, significant you’ll take to find your ain software if y'all wish to EQ it or do any other mail service-processing. The microphone is also a bit lacking in terms of your power to position it due to its brusque stand. Despite all this, however, it even so gets the chore done, and is a solid choice if y'all’re looking for something on a upkeep.
The 14mm condenser sheathing’s output is digitized to 16-bit audio at 44.1-48kHz sampling rates. The audio is proficient, merely not as articulate as with other more premium options, probable a consequence of the cheaper internals and high noise floor.
Razer Seiren Mini sample (10-inch altitude):
Razer Seiren Mini sample (6-inch distance):
Razer Seiren Mini polar blueprint sample:
Razer Seiren Mini with typing noises:
The best calculator microphones: Notable mentions
The Bluish Yeti Nano is a great microphone for podcasting lonely or with others using either the cardioid or omnidirectional polar patterns.
- Audio-Technica AT2020: A very common suggestion for an entry-level podcast microphone, the AT2020 is well known and comes in both USB and XLR variants. Information technology features a cardioid pickup blueprint and is best when paired with a pop filter. It’s a skilful pick for picking upwards the subtleties of the voice.
- Bluish Yeti Nano: The younger sibling to the Blue Yeti X, this microphone features two pickup patterns and a sensible selection of features. Information technology’due south fairly portable and well built, while being notably cheaper.
- Elgato Wave:3: Although information technology’south around the heart of the budget range for this list, the Elgato Wave:three is a neat selection for anyone looking for a nice streaming microphone. Information technology’s versatile and compact, and features a cardioid pickup pattern.
- Movo UM700: A nice option on the cheaper side of things. Features four different polar patterns and a removable windscreen. Information technology’s fairly portable and easy to employ, and only lacking when it comes to software.
- Shure MV5C: Although we did discover it to exist slightly overpriced, the Shure MV5C is still a decent choice when it comes to estimator microphones. Thanks to some software features and a solid design, this microphone is a solid choice for focusing on recording the voice in particular.
XLR microphones
The Shure SM7B is an manufacture-standard dynamic microphone used for vocals.
- Shure SM7B: The Shure SM7B is basically the industry standard for professional podcasting, and with proficient reason. Its tailored frequency response and included pop filter make it an fantabulous pick to adjust almost anyone’due south phonation. Since its output is over XLR, you’ll have to pair it with an audio interface. The high cost tag of this product is absolutely worth it if yous’re looking to capture the highest quality voice recordings.
- Shure SM58: The indestructible standard-bearer of alive audio. The SM58 has been the primary choice for capturing vocals, particularly in live settings, for the past few decades. If you choose to go with this microphone for your computer you’ll need an audio interface and a mount for it, but you won’t exist let down past its frequency response and high quality build.
Hold up! Something’south missing:
We’ve made a big improvement to how we demonstrate the microphone performance of products we review. We now use a standardized test setup that plays dorsum pre-recorded phrases from a calibrated artificial mouth in our test sleeping accommodation, either with or without fake background noises, simulated reverberant spaces, or bogus current of air. This means that samples from every product tin be direct compared, which makes it far easier to make meaningful comparisons between products in terms of the raw speech quality or the product’s power to pass up noise.
Information technology will take a while to update our excess of onetime test results, just we will update this review (and many others!) in one case we’ve improved microphone demos. These will exist made obvious in each new sample which begins with the phrase, “This is a
SoundGuys
standardized microphone demonstration …”
Once nosotros brand this alter, you’ll detect new and improved audio quality measurements and performance plots (black groundwork instead of white), rather than our older test charts with a white background.
Thanks for bearing with us, and we promise to see y'all over again once we’ve sorted everything out.
What you need to know near computer microphones
When selecting a microphone for use with your estimator there are a few factors that you should go along in listen no matter which option you lot’re because.
You don’t demand an audio interface if you choose to buy a USB microphone, rather than the XLR ones featured in our Notable mentions section. You will need to purchase an audio interface if yous buy an XLR microphone, since you can’t simply plug an XLR mic directly into a PC.
What is a microphone pickup (polar) blueprint?
A cardioid pickup pattern reproduces sound primarily from the front and sides of the unit of measurement.
Consider the recording (polar) design of each microphone. Most microphones feature a cardioid pickup pattern, which focuses on sounds directly in front of it with a gradual rejection of sounds to the sides and rear. Other pickup patterns such as hypercardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional (too called effigy-viii) also exist. Some of the microphones on this list, such as the Blue Yeti 10, allow you to switch between several unlike polar patterns on the fly, allowing you to improve your microphone’south sound quality depending on your room and other variables.
USB vs XLR microphone connections
Some other factor to consider is how the microphone outputs audio. Most of the microphones on this list are designed to output sound digitally over USB, but some have support for analog XLR connections as well. XLR is a standard for microphones dating back to the 1950s and is withal the standard for live sound and recording studios today. To use a microphone that only has an XLR output, you need an external audio interface with a preamp that accepts an XLR input (some microphones likewise require something called phantom power, consult your product’southward manuals for more details on this).
Does your computer support the microphone’s software?
The
HyperX QuadCast South
is compatible with Ngenuity, which can be used to adjust the color scheme and headphones volume.
Finally, you lot may as well wish to consider if your figurer has support for whatsoever additional software used by these microphones. USB sound has wide support across devices and operating systems, but you may run into issues if you demand to apply specialized software with these microphones. Additionally, if you plan to employ MacOS, Linux, or some games consoles, you lot may want to double-check that they support those platforms.
How we choose the best calculator microphones
SoundGuys
pulls a selection from our reviewed products that we consider both high quality, and easy to apply, for a variety of purposes. While this listing isn’t comprehensive, it represents a pick of products that fill the needs of someone looking for a high-quality microphone that volition hands plug and play on typical computers.
Our best lists are continually evolving as new products come out. When that happens, our team confers and we update the listing equally we run across fit.
Why you should trust
SoundGuys
on the all-time computer microphones
We utilize state-of-the fine art exam equipment, like our Bruel & Kjaer 5128 test head to measure product functioning.
The squad at
SoundGuys
is deeply invested in helping you observe the best audio products for your needs and budget. We want to share our passion with our readers and minimize the legwork you need to put in. Whether we’re interviewing experts on hearing loss or submerging waterproof speakers, we do what it takes to become to the truth of the matter.
Our team has years of experience reviewing products, conducting lab tests, working in studios, and in the field of journalism. If you’ve wondered if we get paid to favorably review sure products: we don’t. In fact, it’southward confronting the
SoundGuys
ethics policy to receive whatsoever compensation or gift for reviews or spots on our lists.
Frequently asked questions nearly computer microphones
Unfortunately, the Xbox Series Due south/10 consoles employ a different audio standard than the PlayStation v and Nintendo Switch. When buying a microphone for an Xbox console yous should be on the lookout for a microphone that specifically says it supports it (likely at the expense of back up for the PS5). All of these microphones should exist compatible with PCs regardless.
Source: https://www.soundguys.com/best-computer-microphones-76048/
