Best gaming mics

If you spend an inordinate amount of time on the computer, chances are good that you play at least one multiplayer game. Whether it’s a MOBA, first-person shooter, or indie game, you’ll definitely want a decent mic to be able to coordinate with your teammates — but you don’t need professional equipment to do that. Here are the best gaming microphones on the market for Discord, VOIP, or in-game chat.

You may notice that this entire list contains some pretty cheap mics, and that’s no accident: unless you’re recording professionally, there’s no need to overspend here. You just need a mic that’ll work relatively okay, right? Why not save some cash for the next Steam sale?

Why is the Elgato Wave:3 the best gaming microphone?

The Elgato Wave:3 is one of the best microphones around because of its “set it and forget it” interface: all you have to do is plug it into your device’s USB input, and you’re ready to record.

This condenser mic affords just the cardioid polar pattern. While this is limiting in some ways, it’s also the most versatile pattern. You can place the microphone virtually anywhere on your desk, and it will register your voice. The front of the chassis communicates a few things: microphone recording status, headphone status, and whether the mic is muted or enabled. Tapping the top of the mic mutes it. A gain knob protrudes from the housing, so you can adjust volume levels at a moment’s notice.

Unlike other software we’ve used, the WaveLink interface is exceptional, especially for streamers. This digital audio mixer is neatly designed so you can quickly organize your audio sources. A virtual audio mixer gathers different programs from your browser windows and combines them, along with your microphone recording, into a single audio source.

The Blue Yeti X brings high quality to a stream-friendly setup

Blue’s mission is to make your recording experience as efficient and streamlined as possible with its USB microphones. The Blue Yeti X brings a “four capsule” condenser array, which allows for high-quality recordings in a variety of pickup patterns. It also updates the Yeti’s physical interface with a single knob that can adjust gain, metering, and blending. It offers live metering via LEDs — perfect when you’re streaming and need a quick indicator of how you sound.

The Yeti X offers four recording pattern modes, allowing you to choose which one best suits your given situation. Cardioid is ideal for podcasts, as it allows you to record sound that is immediately in front of the mic. Stereo mode acts as one would expect: recording sound from the left and right channels simultaneously to provide a better illusion the listener is in the room with you. The omnidirectional mode will record 360-degree sound, and bidirectional will record sound from the front and rear regions of the microphone.

Basically, the Yeti X straddles the line between being a recording or gaming microphone and can cover you for either. Turns out being a Twitch streamer makes you need to have something for both — how convenient. The Blue Yeti X offers almost as much versatility as the Yeti Pro for $80 less.

The V-MODA BoomPro X can turn headphones into a gaming headset

Another boom mic, the V-MODA BoomPro X, uses your headphones’ 3.5mm port to make your regular headphones a gaming headset for around $50. Not bad, all things considered, and there are no messy adhesives. If you want to convert your headphones back, all you have to do is simply yank out the BoomPro X and replace it with the original cable.

Unlike the original BoomPro mic, which has an omnidirectional pickup pattern, the BoomPro X has a cardioid pickup pattern. It has a narrower pickup field, which makes it great if you share a space with someone. You can change the mic shields to customize the look of the mic, which can be useful if your office bought the entire team BoomPro X mics and you want a quick way to differentiate yours from your office mate’s.

The HyperX QuadCast offers the best sound with a built-in pop filter

HyperX is known for putting out high-quality gaming peripherals, and the QuadCast is no different. It’s pricier than a lot of this list, but this mic offers really great sound in an easy-to-use package that can cover a lot of bases.

If you’re in the market for a gaming microphone, this is a great option, but the QuadCast will cover your podcasting or recording needs, too. Its gain knob makes adjusting sensitivity intuitive and easy, and you can even set its polar pattern, switching between cardioid, hypercardioid, and bi-directional. Plus, its built-in pop filter will help you avoid rogue plosive sounds spiking the mic.

The Razer Seiren Mini is a great pick if you want something compact

Rounding out this list is the little Razer Seiren Mini USB microphone, which boasts a sleek design, intuitive UI, and an affordable price of just $49. It doesn’t have many features, but that makes it easy to focus on the task at hand.

We like the Razer Seiren Mini for its sleek, unobtrusive design that works well for streamers who don’t want a mic to take up half of the frame. The mic stand that attaches to the bottom of the Seiren Mini is an odd height and will likely be shorter than you expect (15cm/6in), but you can also attach it to a third-party boom arm.

The sound quality isn’t as good as some of our other picks mentioned here, but that’s likely due to a high noise floor from cheap electronics. Still, it sounds much better than your average laptop microphone and will take your gaming and streaming up a notch for a little money. You don’t need a pop filter with the Seiren Mini as you do with other USB microphones, so that saves you a bit of cash, too.

The best gaming mics: Notable mentions

• Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP: This USB mic has onboard mixing controls, an internal headphone amp, and records 16-bit, 44.1/48kHz audio.
• Beyerdynamic Fox USB: This mic has helpful onboard controls, 24bit/96kHz audio, and a forgiving polar pattern, making it easy to record audio that can be easily edited later on. The main drawback is its price.
• Blue Yeti Nano: With its cardioid and omnidirectional polar patterns, 24-bit/48kHz recording quality, and compact design, the Yeti Nano can do a lot for not much cash.
• HyperX SoloCast: This mic fits pretty much the exact same niche as the Razer Seiren Mini. It’s $10 more expensive, but it brings comparable audio quality, a more versatile stand, and a built-in mic mute sensor you can tap.
• JLab Talk PRO: This one’s a little pricey at $150, but it backs that price up with a nice build, easy-to-use controls, multiple polar patterns, and good sound. The Talk PRO’s onboard controls mean you can do a lot with little effort, and its 192kHz/24-bit audio means you can easily use it for recording as well as gaming.
• JOBY Wavo POD: A competitor with the Blue Yeti Nano, the JOBY Wavo POD is an easy-to-use mic that works as soon as you plug it in, and records 24bit/48kHz audio. At $99, you can choose from a cardioid or bidirectional pickup pattern, and it comes with a pop filter. This is another cheap option streamers and gamers may enjoy.
• Movo UM700: Released as an all-around mic to compete with the Blue Yeti line, the UM700 offers a bunch of polar patterns and solid audio, plus it’s easy to use. For $100, this is one heck of a deal.
• ROCCAT Torch: This is one of the more unique gaming mics around for its mixer base that allows you to select the polar pattern, toggle the mic on/off, control the volume, mute the mic, and adjust the gain.

What you should know about the best gaming microphones

Some gamers are content using a headset that has a good built-in microphone. However, if you’re looking for a detached gaming microphone, here are a few things to look out for.

What other hardware does a gaming microphone require?

Knowing what you need in a gaming microphone is important for setting expectations. Quality is important, but if you’re not building a recording studio or a streaming setup, the main goal is clear communication. A lot of gaming microphones prioritize the mids and highs in ways that sometimes aren’t accurate but are meant to make voices sound clear.

If you’re setting up a streaming station, springing for something with more studio-quality sound might be worth it. There are all sorts of things to consider on that front, too, like what kind of microphone you’d like to have and what kind of environment you’ll need for recording.

Depending on what your needs are, you’ll need to figure out what kind of mic you want, as well. If you’re sitting at a desk playing games, a mic with a cardioid or hypercardioid pickup pattern is probably best. Those varieties do well when what they’re recording is positioned directly in front of the mic.

Do gaming mics work across platforms?

Depending on what kind of setup you have, your needs will probably change quite a bit. If you’re gaming on a PC, a USB mic is probably your best bet. You don’t need to spring for an expensive XLR mic and audio interface. Ultimately, simpler is better.

If you’re gaming on a console, things are a little more complicated. The PlayStation 4 can handle either 3.5mm or USB solutions. The Nintendo Switch can handle them, too, but USB mics will only work while in docked mode. Of course, there are also the particulars of your setup to remember — a detached wired USB mic might not be the most convenient pick if your console of choice is across a den or living room.

How do you control a gaming microphone?

Pay attention to what kinds of buttons and switches mics have. Almost all of that stuff can be controlled on your computer or console, but it’s always faster to reach over and flick a mute switch than to alt-tab and find the menu option.

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Frequently asked questions about the best gaming mics