Best gaming microphones 2020: top USB and XLR mics for streaming

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. 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. 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.

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’s a separate category for XLR mics, as these are a different kettle of fish. We’ve also selected a handy attachable mic that trounces those built into most gaming headsets but remains just as convenient to use.

All 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. Finally, we also picked runner-up options for a few categories to recognise good alternatives that may be preferred by some people.

With that out of the way, let’s get into the selections. We’ll start with a brief summary of our five favourites. Click the links below to jump to that entry, or just scroll down to read our selections in full.

Best gaming microphones 2020

Best USB mic for streaming: HyperX QuadCast

• Unique gamer-friendly look with red backlighting
• Good audio quality with four recording patterns and internal pop filter
• Default stand includes shock mount but is a little short

The QuadCast is the best USB microphone we’ve found for streaming thanks to its excellent audio quality and its long list of well-implemented features. There are four recording modes on offer and a physical gain dial, allowing the mic to be adapted for one audio source or multiple voices with ease. Being able to mute your audio quickly can be indispensable, and the tap-to-mute system – accompanied by the entire microphone dimming – is the best implementation we’ve seen. Other handy features include an internal pop filter that ensures p and b sounds don’t result in an annoying pop, a shock mount in the provided desk stand and lag-free audio monitoring. The only real drawbacks are that the LED lighting isn’t optional and the default stand is a little short, so using a proper boom arm or another mount is recommended.

Runner-up: Røde NT-USB Mini

The Røde NT-USB Mini is a compact USB mic with a short stand but excellent audio quality for its £100/$100 price point. Rather than offering multiple recording patterns, as with the Blue Yeti, Røde have focused on capturing the best audio they can from right in front of the mic, with recordings typically emphasising the mid-range in a manner that’s pleasant for acoustic instruments or – helpfully for us – human speech.

The focus on simplicity means this mic really is plug-and-play, with no gain knob to adjust or polar patterns to select, and it works on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS over full-size USB or USB-C. The NT-USB Mini does include one very helpful extra feature though – zero-latency monitoring via 3.5mm, which is great for dialling in your sound before you go live. The included desk stand is quite short, so we do recommend picking up a simple desk mount to make sure your dulcet tones are being captured rather than the mechanical clatter of your keyboard. Overall, a great low-profile microphone that’s easy to use and sounds fantastic.

Best USB mic for recording and podcasting: Blue Yeti X

• Choice of four recording patterns to suit a wide range of scenarios
• Standout audio quality that requires little cleanup
• Useful LED volume metre and extensive software options
• Will pick up background noise like keyboards if gain is too high

When it comes to streaming and podcasting, the Blue Yeti series is perhaps the most popular microphone in the world. Whether plunked down on a desk to be held aloft by its chunky stand or held in place on a strong boom arm, the Yeti provides strong audio quality for a range of use cases thanks to its four different recording patterns: cardioid, stereo, omnidirectional and bidirectional. The inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack means you can also plug in headphones to monitor exactly what the mic is hearing.

The Yeti X is the latest edition and includes a new LED volume metre and multi-function control knob right up front, making it easy to adjust gain to dial in the perfect levels on the fly. On the software side of things, the Blue Vo!ce section in the Logitech G Hub includes plenty of options for adjusting tone and removing annoying sonic artefacts, including presets from popular streamers. The Yeti X is a solid improvement over the standard Yeti, but if you’re working to a budget the original model is still worth considering.

Best XLR mic: Audio-Technica AT2020

• Warm, precise sound
• Professional, almost anonymous appearance
• Allows entry to the complex but powerful XLR ecosystem

The AT2020 is a popular entry-level XLR mic, offering the possibility of extremely clear audio if you’re willing to put together the necessary equipment to get it running. All that comes in the box is the mic, a bag and a stand adapter, so you’ll need to provide at least an XLR cable, a stand and an audio interface or mixer that provides at least 48V of phantom power. Once all of these components are in place, your reward is warm, crystal-clear audio that’s ideal for recording podcasts or video voiceovers. It’s worth noting that the AT2020 is fairly hefty and skews towards ‘professional’ rather than ‘gamer’ in the looks department, but that’s no bad thing.

Runner-up: Blue Ember

The Blue Ember is a strong alternative pick, bringing the traditional audio quality of the Blue Yeti into a slimmer form factor that takes up less space. It’s also half the price of the next-cheapest Blue XLR mic, the Spark, making a better option for content creators at the beginning of their journey. Like the AT2020, you’ll need an audio interface that provides at least 48V of phantom power and a stand to get started – so here’s one recommendation.

Best audio interface for streamers: TC-Helicon GoXLR / GoXLR Mini

• Simple all-in-one audio interface and mixing solution
• Convenient assortment of ports, faders and buttons
• Reasonably priced, but buying individual components can be cheaper

The GoXLR is the most convenient all-in-one audio interface we’ve tested for streamers, offering 48V of phantom power to XLR microphones and up to 70dB of gain to drive almost all mics on the market. While the GoXLR is more costly than a simpler audio interface of equal quality, the added convenience of the hardware controls like faders, buttons and knobs on this unit is substantial. Combined with the system performance benefits of accomplishing your mixing and routing via hardware rather than software, and you’re left with a convincing package.

The impressive audio hardware and controls are backed up by a powerful – and even somewhat intuitive – software package that allows microphones to be dialled in and various processing to be done to keep your voice sounding just the way you want it. You can also adjust how audio is routed to any of the unit’s multiple USB audio devices. For example, you can set your game to one audio device, your mic to another, your chat to another and so on. You can also set up various fun voice effects and samples, if that’s your style. Finally, the lighting is also adjustable, which makes it a nice visual accessory as well.

While the original GoXLR is impressive, the smaller GoXLR Mini offers much better value to money. The ports and processing hardware remain unchanged on the Mini, although you do lose out on the sample and effects controls from the right hand side. Honestly, these are the least important parts of the unit, so they’re a very acceptable sacrifice given the substantial difference in price.

Best headset mic: Antlion Audio ModMic USB

• Industry-leading audio quality, available in 3.5mm, USB or wireless versions
• Can be added to almost any gaming headset or headphones
• Requires a small amount of initial setup

The Antlion ModMic has long been recommended by tech insiders, and after testing out the ModMic Uni, ModMic USB and ModMic Wireless it’s easy to see why – this family of mics sound better than pretty much every headset microphone on the market. Each can be installed on pretty much any set of headphones, using a small piece of adhesive. The bulk of the mic can be removed as needed, leaving just the small magnetic base you stuck on behind, and there are a couple of replacement bits of adhesive in the box if you want to move the mic to a new headset in the future.

Where the microphones differ is largely to do with how they connect to your PC or console. The ModMic Uni comes with a 3.5mm jack, like the ModMic 4 and ModMic 5 before it, while the ModMic wireless uses Bluetooth AptX Low Latency good for about twelve hours between recharges. The ModMic USB is the most advanced model, with a USB connection for PS4 and PC that allows Antlion to roll in their own sound processing to improve aural performance.

If you’re on a budget, the lower cost ModMic Uni is the best choice, as it provides substantially better audio quality than any headset mic we’ve tested. We also recommend it for Xbox, or PC users with headphone amps or advanced sound cards. For PS4 or PCs with on-board audio, the better sonic performance of the ModMic USB makes it a worthy upgrade. Finally, the ModMic Wireless pairs best with wireless headsets, allowing you to recharge both headset and mic together while retaining a fully cable-free connection for gaming.

Best cheap USB mic: Blue Snowball Ice

• Excellent audio quality for the money
• Plug and play USB operation
• No physical controls or added features

If you’ve only got $50/£50 to put toward upgrading your recording setup, you’ll get the most bang for your buck from the Blue Snowball Ice. This older desk mic provides surprisingly good audio quality, more than enough for recording voiceover for a video or starting your streaming career. It’s also easy to use – just plug it in and hit record, with no software or additional equipment to install. However, you do lose out when it comes to features compared to the more expensive recommendations on this list, with only one recording pattern on the less expensive Ice model.

Frequently asked questions

What accessories are useful?

Rather than relying on the short stands included with many USB and XLR microphones, a proper adjustable arm makes it easier to position your microphone so that it picks up your voice without taking up too much of your screen (if you’re playing a game) or your camera’s point of view (if you’re streaming). When adjusting your arm, take your microphone’s style of address into account. Side-address microphones, like the Blue Yeti, work best when you’re speaking into one side, while top address microphones should be pointed directly at your mouth. We used a Blue Compass arm and Radius 3 shock mount for testing these microphones, but there are many other options available at a range of price points.

Pop filters and wind shields are the next accessory you should consider, as they reduce the impact of plosives – sounds like p and b that are harsh on the ears if they are recorded by a bare microphone. Pop filters and wind shields are normally mounted onto your mic or boom arm, and need to be positioned between you and your mic to be effective.

For XLR mics, you’ll also need an audio interface and an XLR male to female cable to hook up your microphone.

Is it better to use USB or XLR?

If you’re just going to use your single mic at your PC, then a USB microphone is ideal – it’s plug and play, with no extra equipment needed. XLR mics need to be connected via an audio interface, but these allow you to include other audio equipment like multiple microphones or mixers. If you’re just starting out, USB is the way to go, while XLR may be a better choice for dedicated content creators that want room to grow into more advanced setups. You can also split the difference – pick up an XLR mic, but use a simple XLR to USB adapter until you bring in a proper audio interface.

Which platforms can I use these mics on?

The USB mics mentioned above will work pretty much out of the box on Windows, macOS and PS4, while XLR mics will need to be connected to an adapter or interface with a USB output to achieve the same goal. The Xbox One doesn’t support USB mics, unfortunately.