Best products from r/Twitch

Hey!
A bit about me before I go on a rant: I'm a professional podcaster. Spoken audio is how I make my living. I've used and tried just about every popular microphone/preamp (XLR & USB) up to about $500 (and quite a few over $500). So to start, what routes CAN you take (you kind of highlighted your options a bit, but I'd like to expand on them).

1. A new headset microphone. Simple. Look HyperX Cloud II or a nice Sennheiser set. They've got really good gaming headset microphones (but very few if any headset microphones are going to sound better than a "real" microphone), and you wont need any extra equipment. The downside is your audio quality will only ever be adequate and the quality of your headphones is tied to the audio quality of your microphone.
   
2. A USB microphone. This is the compromise most streamers make. With a USB-only microphone, the DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) is built into the microphone. DACs typically do two things 1. Convert the signal and 2. Add/reduce/maintain quality. For example, a USB > XLR converter box is $5 on Amazon, but the sound degradation is night and day worse than what you would get from a more serious DAC like a Scarlett Solo or something similar. With a USB microphone, the DAC is built into the microphone itself. Generally speaking, a separate DAC is going to have superior sound quality to an integrated one (in the same way an integrated GPU is almost always worse than a dedicated one) - but there are exceptions, and at the lower price ranges the differences are generally minimal. If you go with a USB microphone, I personally would suggest you skip over the Yeti. The Yeti is a FINE sounding microphone, but it has a LOUD noise floor meaning that computer fans, A/C units, and just about anything else that makes noise will be picked up by that microphone without laying on effects. In the Yeti's favor, it's a REALLY cool looking microphone - but it definitely doesn't punch at or above its weight in sound quality. Again, you can make a Yeti sound good if you have the right room or the technical ability to add a noise gate, EQ, compressor, etc, but it's a lot of extra work. I'll talk about recommendations in a second.
   
3. An XLR microphone. This is the "long-term" play. However, MOST XLR microphones are going to have minimal superior sound quality until you get to microphones at about $250+. With an XLR microphone you'll also need a DAC. A decent DAC (that outperforms the built in DAC of a USB microphone) is generally going to run near the $100 range. Meaning that for your microphone, boom stand, pop filter, and shockmount, you're tied to $150 to stay in your price range. The upside is, it's unlikely you'll need to replace your DAC anytime soon unless you grow into really expensive microphones.
   
    
   
   Types of Microphones:
   

• Condenser: Condenser microphones are generally the most popular on the Twitch streaming community but, in my opinion, they shouldn't be used in most cases. Condenser microphones tend to have loud noise floors and require a room to be treated. They also generally have worse angle rejection (ideally, your microphone isn't catch noise to the side and behind the microphone).
  

2. Broadcast microphone. This is my recommendation. You can lose some of the "shiny-ness" of a condenser microphone, but in most cases it's not noticeably relevant. Comparing ~$250 budget microphones aren't going to have incredibly different frequency responses (again, exceptions apply).
   Recommendations:
   
3. An XLR/USB hybrid microphone - Broadcast: The Audio-Technica AT2005USB is a microphone that has both XLR and USB. Meaning you can start out with USB, get the right equipment with a boom arm/shock mount/pop filter and down the road get an audio interface (DAC) to add some quality to the microphone. The only downside? The microphone isn't especially cool to look at.
   
4. A USB-only microphone. The Audio Technica ATR2100-USB is essentially the same as the 2005, but doesn't have XLR. You save $15. This article is a great source on some dynamic microphones to take a look at.
   
5. An XLR-only microphone. This is the long-term play, but not a bad one. If you see yourself wanting to upgrade microphones and change out gear down the road, this may be the most viable option. You picked a good microphone in the AT2035, but a mediocre DAC (for reasons I discussed earlier).
   
6. Headset: Sennheiser or HyperX Cloud II. Do some research and watch some reviews.
   
    
   
   Sorry for the INCREDIBLY long-winded response. Microphones, for me, make or break streams and just because it's "analog" or "looks cool" doesn't mean that it'll perform well. I also want to add an additional shout out to using a Podfarm or OBS's VST plugins to highlight your voice. Using a microphone "dry" is rarely (if ever) the best way to get the best out of that microphone. Adding simple effects can be the difference maker between making a $50 microphone sound like a $500 one and a $500 one sound like a $50 microphone. Cheers and good luck!

Not a problem at all! Glad to help in any ways I can!

When you are done editing sections of a video together you then have to render the video to stitch all the pieces together and make it a final video. Some of the cheaper video editors don't offer GPU accelerated rendering, so it relies completely on your CPU for the rendering. GPU accelerated rendering allows the software to use your CPU and GPU to render videos, opening up the software to a lot more power. I recently switched from Hitfilm 2 Express (no GPU acc rendering) to Sony Movie Studios 13 Platinum (GPU accelerated rendering) and reduced my renderign time by 75%. A video that would normally have taken me 8 hours (yes that is right) to render now takes 2 hours. The upload to Youtube will depend on the file size after rendering and your internet connection.

I would outline exactly what you want to start with and look at your options. If you are only doing newer games (that allow HDMI) then I would go with the HD60. If you (seriously) plan on doing retro consoles that don't allow HDMI then either go for the HD or an emulator. You could also put more money into a really fancy setup that will do both if you want. That is up to you and your budget.

Let's talk a little bit about how microphones work. They have a bit inside them called a transducer which will convert acoustic energy into an analog electrical signal. There are several types of transducer (condenser, dynamic, ribbon, etc) but they all have the same function. The voltage signal you get from the transducer is analog and very low voltage. In order to use that signal for editing and recording it needs to be amplified. A USB microphone is made up of 3 main parts, the transducer, an amplifier, and an analog to digital converter. The analog to digital convert turns the voltages into binary so that it can be transferred through USB to your computer.

An XLR mic does not have an amplifier or an analog to digital converter. It is simple the transducer and usually a few circuits then it outputs an analog signal through an XLR cable. In order to use this signal you need a preamp. There are several options, you could get Mic converter/Preamp which is basically what a USB mic has inside it. You can get a Tube amplifier which will have a MUCH better amplifier in it and a MUCH better analog to digital converter. It also allows you to control the sound a bit as well. You could get a Mixing board which will have a MUCH better amplifier and converter as well, but will also allow you to adjust some of your settings before the sound goes to your computer. They may look scary, but tehy are actually very easy to use.

The main benefit of an XLR setup is better sound, gain control, and the ability to better adjust and control your sound. With a USB mic you usually get a few small adjustments on the mic (if you are lucky) and then that is the sound you get. Everything else must be done in post processing through a computer program. With XLR you can adjust it how you want and leave it like that (or adjust it on the fly) which cuts down on time since you don't have to do audio editing anymore.

Now to the other real benefit: XLR mics have better components. The AT2020 USB is $130 and the AT2020 XLR is $100. However, the USB version has the cost of the amplifier and converter into the price. So what USB mics do is give you a cheaper transducer in order to make up for the extra cost of manufacturing the USB mic. The XLR mics sound better because they have better transducers inside of them. Also, once you have a preamp and an XLR mic and you want to upgrade it will be easier because all you have to do is buy a new XLR mic. If you get a USB mic now and then upgrade to an XLR (like I did) then you have to buy both components later. If you have the money for it, get the XLR setup now.

Hope that explained some of it. I can go further into details if you have more questions.

I use a Blue Yeti Pro microphone (~$250) with a powered external audio interface (~$100), and a comfortable pair of decent sounding headphones, which is probably overkill if you're just starting out. The mic is on a boom so it's in ideal position to catch my voice when I'm live. It looks like this (link) in practice.

You really don't need to spend that much $$$ though. You can get a good stand-alone usb mic like the Blue Snowball for about 50 bucks. It would almost certainly sound better than just about any headset mic you could find. Here's the thing... when it comes to audio the more you spend the better it will theoretically sound, but it also stands to sound worse if you don't know what you're doing or improperly set up and tune your gear. Something like a snowball fits into a nice middle ground.

The awesome thing is at that point you get headphones that work for you, and your selection dramatically increases when you don't need to worry about a headphone mic. There are plenty of decent USB headphones out there. Or you could go a bit more audiophile and get a compact little headphone amplifier to drive something a bit more fun. =)

Edit: I get questions about my audio setup from time to time so it may help to explain what is actually sitting on the desktop. Keep in mind this is an expensive setup, and it's absolutely not needed to get a very good combination of gear working on your end. Ok, so starting with the microphone... it's a microphone capable of being connected via XLR audio cable to a dedicated audio interface. You see the little box under my main monitor with the black face? That's my audio interface, a little Steinberg UR12. The audio interface provides power to the microphone and allows me to adjust volume/gain/etc before the signal is sent to my PC. Now, to the left of my chair's armrest you can probably see the top of my headphones hanging from my desk. See the cable running from them to the thing with the copper colored thingies on top? They're connected to a headphone amplifier, which is itself connected to an out-of-view digital-analog converter, which is connected to my PC. In my case I run an old school tube amplifier because I'm a bit nutty (and it helps keep the room warm during the winter lol). That's absolutely not necessary. In fact, you can generally connect your headphones directly to your computer. It all comes together... the mic does its thing, the headphones do their thing, the headphone amp and dac do their thing, everything has a job. Hope that helps a little bit.

XLR mics with phantom power for the win! If you're going for professional quality sound, save your money and invest in a good XLR mic.

​

The problem with USB mics like Blue Yeti is the fact that they use the integrated sound on your computer's motherboard. If your motherboard's sound system is older (2 years or older), the voice from the USB mic could sound robotic or it might not capture your entire voice range. This is especially a problem for folks with deeper voices. On older computers, you might sound far away or your voice could break up. If you have a brand new computer, feel free to use a USB mic until you can afford an XLR microphone.


XLR microphones require phantom power. Scarlet Focusrite (https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM) is a good product for phantom power, but there are affordable, good quality sound mixers that provide phantom power as well. Alot of streamers have used Berhinger Xenyx 302 ( https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-302USB-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B005EHILV4) or Berhinger Xenyx 502 (https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-502-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B000J5UEGQ). I personally use Roland VT-3 (https://www.amazon.com/Roland-AIRA-VT-3-Voice-Transformer/dp/B00IGDXK9Q) because it's a voice changer, sound mixer, noise gate, and phantom power all mixed into one machine.

​

For mics, I admit I'm using a cheap Pyle PDMIC58 . (Hey, I got this XLR mic for free with my Best Buy points. I didn't have enough points for a good mic). My problem with the mic is that it's too bright for my voice, and I have a low voice for a woman. I need something that captures my full voice range alot better. I'm planning to upgrade to a RODE NT-1 mic (Not the Rode NT-1A) before the end of the year.

Like others have stated, take your time and do research. Don't rush! Find the mic that fits your voice best. Good luck!

1. Microphone
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK
   
   
2. USB Audio interface Option #1 (Has RCA + 1/4 inch balanced)
   
   This is the golden standard for high quality Mic input as well as output. The audio drivers on the Scarlet models are simply crisp and clear. There are other options that work, but like a bicycle...they all ride different. This is simply the very best without a doubt at your price range. You could easily spend $500-$700 on an audio interface, but for youir streaming needs, this is literally perfect
   
   Note, this is what I utilize for my Stream, and get compliments on the professional audio quality of my Mic almost daily.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56EA/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1525297509&sr=1-1&keywords=scarlett+2i2
   
   
3. USB Audio Interface Option #2 (Has RCA outputs only)
   
   *Next best option, if you do not plan to run to Speak Monitors like KRKs or Mackie's. This will give you the same quality of audio input from your Mic. But if you are planning to use Monitors, the 2i2 above will give you the best output audio quality being that the 1/4 inch is balanced audio.
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56CM/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1525297603&sr=1-3&keywords=scarlett+solo
   
   Trust me. Anyone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to audio, not just streaming...will agree. LMK if you have any questions...happy to help.
   

AT2020 USB user here! To be honest, when it comes to those range of Mics (AT2020, Yeti, Seiren, etc.), there will be differences yes, but some of the biggest factors in quality will be environment and the settings you tweak through OBS (and possible other third party programs). Really enjoy the AT2020 and I'm a fan of it's more compact size over the dials that come with other mics and from personal taste I find it sounds the best out of the commonly picked USB mics.

I use a Rode PSA1 mic arm that can attach to my desk and a cheap pop filter with a very thin sock over it. I think a shock mount is overkill but personal preference! Don't use one so can't comment on that.

This is the mic arm I use

https://www.amazon.com/RODE-Swivel-Mount-Studio-Microphone/dp/B001D7UYBO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468631589&sr=8-1&keywords=Rode+mic+arm

Price is a bit steep yes, but I got it on a sale. Very good arm. Lots of ways to position, and sturdy!

I've had many compliments on my audio! Feel free to check out my VODs if you would like to hear what my set up sounds like and feel free to ask questions about the AT2020 if you have any!

Ah ok, that's probably the reason. Most built in microphones will not be as good as the microphones you buy in stores/online. They pick up the sounds of your laptop fan and other noises. It's alright if you're a beginner just trying to start but it'll quickly need to be replaced as some people might not even consider following you if there's an annoying sound constantly playing.

Since I haven't heard your microphone then all I can say is that if it doesn't sound like your ears are about to bleed then feel free to use it for starters(test this with a friend or some viewers). But I suggest you get a dedicated microphone for streaming.

----

Microphones my friends and I have used

If you're able to buy a microphone then the ones that my friends and I have experience with are the following:

• Blue's Snowball Microphone
  
  
• Blue's Yeti Microphone
  
  Here's a video that show's off both microphones and an extra
  
  Other Microphones
  
  I've heard that these are also good, though I have no experience with them.
  
  
• Blue's NESSIE Microphone : Review
  
  
• Samson's Go Microphone : Review
  
  
• Samson's CO1U microphone : Review
  
  ----
  
  Some tips for your microphone
  
  I suggest you get a pop filter^[1] for your microphone if you decide to buy one. Then, if possible, you should also get a Shock Mount^[2] but that isn't as crucial as the pop filter.
  
  

1. Pop filters are designed to stop Plosives from being heard when recording. Plosives are puffs of air that emit when saying words that start with certain letters, such as P or B. They can ruin a recording for people that over-exaggerate the begging of some words. Pop filter Example
   
   
2. The best way I can describe a Shock-Mount is a if the mount is a cradle for your microphone. Any bumps or small movements to a Microphone NOT using a Shock-Mount will cause it to be heard in recording, meaning you'll hear all these small sounds in the background. It's easier to just show you what a shock mount does
   
   ----
   
   There's a bit more to recording your microphone, like sound proofing, but that's for another day. I just wanted to give you a list of microphones and some tips that could help you out if you're a new to streaming/recording.
   
   Good Luck! As I said before, if your laptop's microphone doesn't make your ears(or a friends' ears) bleed then go ahead and use it for how ever long it takes you to save up and buy a better microphone. But I suggest you not wait too long if you have the choice.
   
   Edit: Markup
   
   Edit2: Grammar
   
   Edit3: Reworded the first section's title.

Can't go wrong with a Behringer. They're specifically what I use. I originally started with console capture, having both PS3 and 360 so I sprung for the xenyx 802 for the extra channels. This is a list of their small mixers. I know a couple people(larger streamers) Running the 502usb...it seems nice. I'm using a 1622fx atm but that's big. I got it second hand at guitar center, it's fairly safe to check what they might have that's small, you might get something cheaper than online, or something better for the same price, but you ARE taking a chance.

Another option if you're going for a traditional XLR mic(since windows mixer w/ OBS/Xsplit is strong for PC gamers) you can get an audio interface. This basically is a piece of equipment that turns your XLR into a usb device. The Behringer 302usb is just an interface/small mixer that looks like it might be nice to use. There are also things like the babyface that is expensive as shit but absolutely wonderful, or the much more budget focusrite that are both solid devices. These are actually best as you're taking balanced audio directly translated into a digital signal through a device designed to eliminate interference, but they can get expensive.

Good audio costs money, but you can alleviate the cost some. Don't by a snowball...get something you can shockmount and popfilter and boom to eliminate ambient noise...that is if you don't have a good mic yet.

^_^

This combined with an InnoGear Phantom Power Supply works really great as a starter kit. I bought it some weeks ago, and I was really surprised of the quality of the mic. To the price I thought it would be really horrible with all the other things that comes in the package, but it's really great. Works wonders especially if you have a good soundboard on your motherboard. The pop filter is really tricky to put on since it has a weird shape for it's clamp, so I bought this mudder pop filter and it fits perfectly on the mic. If you're on a budget or just don't want to go full ham with your blue yetis or other super fancy mics, then these items can be recommended for an aspiring streamer :)


But it's a really good guide you have made here, thank you! :D

Edit: the phantom power supply is from the uk, so you'll need a converter for it to work with your power outlet if you don't live in the uk. Else any other phantom power supply should work just as fine. There's not an XLR cable included in the kit, but they're pretty cheap and can be found in almost every electronics store or music department.

I don't know much about mics, but I just wanted to let you know my experience(s) with the mic I just bought. I picked up a Samson C01U because it's a lot cheaper than the more popular AT2020 and and Blue Yeti condenser mics.

If you're on Windows 8+ like I am, the default USB Audio Device drivers, the one that will be installed when you plug in an USB mic, isn't as good as it was on Windows 7.

My same mic performs better on Windows 7 because of the gain settings. By default the mic is set to around 50% sensitivity level(gain). If you tried speaking into it on Windows 8, you'd have to pretty much put the mic into your mouth before you can hear anything. One Windows 7, it's still pretty soft, but at least you can see something moving on your recording software.

I have mine currently set to around 96% and my voice sounds good, but it also picks up everything else.. On Win7, to have it sound similar, I can leave the levels at around 80%.

What I do to combat that issue--I've tried searching everywhere for driver help, no such luck--I just use the Noise Gate feature on OBS, or any other software that uses that mic.

Anyways, to get back to your question get a condenser mic. The Rode Podcaster is a dynamic mic, which will most likely pick up more sound than a condenser mic. What the condenser mic does is pickup sound from a 'condensed' area, usually right in-front of the mic, not above/behind/next-to it. Keep in mind, if you do decide to go with a Dynamic mic, it isn't as sensitive as a condenser mic, so it might help with the background noise assuming it isn't too loud. Although, you'd probably have to speak louder than usual for it to be clear.

Also, if your computer can handle it, you can use Adobe Audition to de-noise/de-hiss your audio and output it to your stream/chat software. I've yet to try this method, might try it tonight.

Gonna preface this with I don’t know if a mixer board that you want for that price range is possible, so I cannot answer your question.

If you still choose to read then what I can’t stress enough is not getting a cheap mixer. If you ever plan to upgrade your stream it’s wasted money on a this starter mixer that even if you find you will quickly outgrow or wish you had more options.

It’s better to save money and buy a quality used one from Ebay, I cannot be more happy with my audio setup but it wasn’t cheap. But like quality lighting, and a good DSLR camera, this is not something you will change for years (If ever) and will survive ifnyou decide to do a two PC setup.

I do wish I could link you something in that price range with those outputs and faders instead of knobs but even doing an Amazon search I am not coming up with anything. There are a couple Behringer ones but not with the faders you seek and the quality is nowhere near that of a Yamaha, Mackie, etc. the best I could find was:

Behringer Xenyx 802 Premium 8-Input 2-Bus Mixer with Xenyx Mic Preamps and British EQs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J5XS3C/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ygl6Cb8C45CWN

If you can wait I would highly recommend the Yamaha MG12XU. The quality is superb, I have full dual PC functionality. It’s pretty amazing and you can get one open box/used for 225-250 on Ebay (not including the price of cables/sound cards). I wrote a guide on setting it up below

https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/bjpatc/you_too_can_have_professional_audio_yamaha_mg12xu/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ios_share_flow_optimization&utm_term=control_2

I can give you my setup (it keeps growing each day):
This microphone is plug and play and works wonderfully. I also use Adobe Audition and Virtual Audio Cable to clear any background feedback which makes my voice quality absolutely spectacular in most cases.

If you are looking into a green screen, I honestly recommend just going to a Home Depot store and get a bright green paint. I have realized that the quality of a green screen seems to rely more on the lighting of your studio/setup. To conquer the idea of "perfect lighting" isn't exactly that expensive. I bought a set of the following items on amazon: a bulb holder, a lighting umbrella, a light stand, and a studio quality bulb. Remember these items are just examples but lighting is very important if you indeed plan to use a greenscreen or camera view.

It terms of a webcam, the Logitech c920 is the best bang for your buck in the market.

Headsets can be whatever you wish it to be. I use an old Turtle Beach headset from my Xbox 360 days. It works. If you use a high quality microphone, the quality of your headset isn't too important. If you do plan on using a high quality headset: a surround sound Logitech headset are the best in my personal opinion.

I like to say that my setup is the most ghetto version of a high quality streaming setup. An example of the final product of above hardware and software is here. If you have any questions about these recommendation, be sure to ask. And welcome to the world of home studio streaming!

My current go-to in this price range is a mix of a Yamaha MG10XU mixer or Scarlett Solo interface with a Shure SM57.

SM57 is a really nice sounding dynamic mic for $100, and sounds pretty much equal to the SM7b and 58 in some videos I watched. This fuzzy thing will also act as a nice pop filter for it and is pretty cheap. I've got one of those big round mesh ones and it still lets some heavy Ps and Ts through, so look at some videos if you go that route.

I personally like to tweak with things in hardware, so i'd go with the Yamaha board since it has a ton of features, but if you just want to plug in the mic to something nice then the Scarlett is also fantastic. I've also been using this Neewer arm for about 6 years, and it does the job.

Headphones wise, I've used the AudioTechnica M50x a few times before and honestly they're the best headphones I've ever heard myself. I also see a lot of people praising the Beyerdynamic DT 990s too.

As everyone else has said--always go with the microphone first. Good audio quality is paramount to a good stream. If you're on a budget, I wouldn't recommend getting a Blue Yeti right off the bat. A lot of people think that the Blue Yeti is cruise control for great audio quality, but it requires a lot of work to get it sounding good because it's so sensitive.

I'd recommend getting a cheap dynamic mic as well as an audio interface. Those combined will be about 50 bucks--much more affordable than the Blue Yeti, and will be a lot easier to work with in the long run.

You'll also need a microphone arm, which is also why I recommend a cheaper mic. The Neewer 20 dollar arm is perfect for those starting out--if you went with the Blue Yeti, that same arm wouldn't work as well because the Yeti is just so heavy, and you'd need to buy an adapter because the arm isn't compatible with it right out of the box.

When you're ready to get a new webcam, I'd recommend with Logitech C270. It's only 20 bucks right now and you're able to stream at 720p without any issues. You're a small streamer, so you shouldn't really worry too much about 1080p--especially since even the bigger streamers only stream at 720p anyway.

Hola! I set all this up last year so it’s a bit rusty!

This is a shopping list for an Xbox One mixer setup similar to mine and you may need some help filling in a few gaps and the wiring!

So the idea is to build a setup to be able to use an awesome mic to talk to the stream as well as party chat ‘at the same time’ (which I prefer over using a headset) but to also be able to hear game/chat/PC audio though a single pair of headphones and control their volume levels in one place with ease.

I don't need sound going out to my PC as the Cap card is getting that from the Console via HDMI.
Streaming Xbox to PC then the WORLD!

Xbox – hdmi into a cap card in the PC Avermedia live gamer hd
http://www.amazon.co.uk/AverMedia-61C9850000AE-Avermedia-Live-Gamer/dp/B007SRYAPO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1447858313&sr=8-2&keywords=live+gamer+hd
This grabs the game audio and that’s that bit done, stream using OBS and boom!

Here's is my shopping list for party chat:

Mixer

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-802-Premium-8-Input-Preamps/dp/B000J5XS3C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415150891&sr=8-1&keywords=behringer+mixer
Headset Buddy (Real name, I didn’t make that up!)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Headset-Buddy-Adapter-PC35-PH25-Computer/dp/B002D41HKS/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1421341934&sr=1-3&keywords=headset+buddy

Xbox Chat Thing:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Xbox-One-Stereo-Headset-Adapter/dp/B00IAVDOS6

Cable from Buddy to Mixer:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hosa-CMP159-Stereo-Breakout-10-Feet/dp/B005HGM1D6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415150937&sr=8-1&keywords=hosa+cables

Cable from Mixer to Buddy!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HosaTech-CMS-105-3-5mm-Stereo-Interconnect/dp/B000068O35/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447857349&sr=8-1&keywords=3.5mm+TRS+to+1%2F4+inch

Xbox Mixer(s)

Astro Mixamp (I use)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ASTRO-Gaming-3AM99-HBU9X-975-ASTROGAMING-MIXAMP/dp/B004L6C6BK/ref=sr_1_4?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1447856882&sr=1-4&keywords=astro+mixamp

Earforce DSS (an option!)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Force-Channel-Dolby-Surround-Processor-Mac/dp/B003O0KICS/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1421378828&sr=1-1&keywords=dss1

Ground Loop things:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Headphone-Ground-Isolator-Filter-Stereo/dp/B00INV5LB6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_23_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41-9H3Hc3mL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=1TTNMJANJDTK26VVSAE7

Although I have used these ones because I didn’t see the ones above!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AV-Link-201-086-Skytronic-Isolator/dp/B000NVWB9O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1447857227&sr=8-1&keywords=Ground+Loop+Isolator

Mic wise any XLR mic is fine!

Here is a link to a image i found that kinda helps piece it all together! http://imgur.com/UYaQQUZ

Here is a quick vid of my setup, happy to help if i can! http://www.twitch.tv/drunkiemunkie/v/26306849

Heres is my latest Xbox One vid with party chat but it picks up the Public Lobby if they speak!
http://www.twitch.tv/drunkiemunkie/v/31799799

dM

First off, it is so amazing that you want to support him, even though you aren't sure what it is. A good mic is probably the first thing I would get. It doesn't have to be expensive either, this one is very common and is of much better quality than a mic on a headset. https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Snowball-Condenser-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B006DIA77E/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=usb%2Bmic&qid=1574866095&sr=8-7&th=1

A webcam is recommended, but a microphone is more important. That said, if you do want to get him a webcam, this is a good one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JH8T3S/ref=twister_B07XFGW1NZ?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

Other than that, there isn't much else needed besides a computer that is good enough to stream. I really hope he gets popular, and it is very nice to see a parent supporting their child's goals. Have an awesome day!

listen to me and tell me using audition to reduce background noise is bullshit. it's not, you just have to know what you're doing. http://www.twitch.tv/grandstaryoshi/v/27950653 (this link is used as an example of audio quality, not advertisement.)

what i do, for those curious/wanting to do the same:

• in your microphone's preferences, set its levels to 75, + set the default format to 2 channel, 16 bit, 48000Hz. http://prntscr.com/9bagtn
  
  
• using adobe audition, open a multitrack, then go into your audio hardware settings and set the default input device to your microphone, and set the default output device to your default audio device (for me, that would be my headphones.) http://prntscr.com/9bag9u
  
  
• do the same to track 1 of the multitrack (you can delete any other tracks, you only need this one.) http://prntscr.com/9bah80
  
  
• in the effect rack, add a single-band compressor and a parametric equalizer. http://prntscr.com/9bahkh
  
• single-band compressor settings: http://prntscr.com/9bahzp + parametric equalizer settings: http://prntscr.com/9bai9z
  
  
• click both the little R and I icons in track 1 of the multitrack. this will make the microphone output to the selected device, in this case, my headphones. http://prntscr.com/9bajgp
  
  you may see i also have two other effects, dynamics processing and an echo. dynamics processing basically evens out audio levels, bringing quiet sounds up and loud sounds down. i use this for various other things, but not for cutting out background noise. it actually brings that out more. and the echo is just for fun, really. :P
  
  a couple of things about this setup. one, i run my microphone audio, as well as any other stream audio, through my headphones and only use one channel in OBS, the desktop audio source, and then give that a 5db gain boost within OBS, that way i'm able to know and balance my own audio levels rather than having to constantly ask chat if audio levels are okay. hearing yourself during stream takes a bit of getting used to, but it's super useful in the long run. if you don't want to do this, you can run it through a virtual audio cable and set that as your output device in audition, then set that up as your microphone source in OBS.
  
  also, i HIGHLY recommend getting a mic arm. the one i use cost me $20 on amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Suspension-Scissor-Built--Female/dp/B00AK7SKL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449483500&sr=8-1&keywords=neewer+broadcast+arm), and came with a shock mount. i also don't recommend pop filters unless they're attached to the shock mount out of personal preference, as i've found clamping shock mounts to be super clunky and in the way, especially for streaming. i prefer to use a windscreen (although get one bigger than the one i have. it doesn't cover the entire mic, and more importantly, the actual part you speak into. i just keep it there until i get a bigger one.).
  
  and the advice about keeping the microphone close to you is very sound. 6 inches, no more than a foot.
  
  any questions, feel free to ask.

Ok well I won't explain everything in mine because it's a little over the top, but that's because I recorded music before I got into Twitch so I already had all my equipment. But what it essentially is a dynamic mic w/ XLR cable -> audio interface w/ USB cable -> computer. Here's the cheapest possible setup I could find on Amazon:

Shure PGA48 w/ 15' XLR cable: $40

Behringer Xenyx Q502USB: $60

Neewer Suspension Boom Stand: $14

total: $114

Do keep in mind that this mixer only has one pre-amp, meaning you'd only be able to plug one mic into it. If you wanted to plug in more than one mic (for instance if you have a friend coming over or something), you'd need a different mixer with more preamps. But yea my setup is essentially the above, just with more expensive stuff haha

If you wanna hear what my setup sounds like (getting a setup like the one above would get you a similar sound), here's a short highlight to see what it looks and sounds like (I chose this one to highlight the fact that you can move the mic around): https://www.twitch.tv/kvyngaming/v/106103644

Note how even when I grab the mic and move it, you barely hear anything. That'd never happen with a condenser mic.

The AT2020 is a great mic, but it can pickup some vibrations without a shock mount, but you can fight a lot of that with a compressor or a noise gate in OBS. If you are wanting to go a tad cheaper on the mic, but still have good audio, you can go with the Blue Snowball ICE. Its a very solid mic for $50 although its USB, not XLR. The snowball is also driverless so you can use it on your console for party chat too. Also, if you are at a desk, this mic arm is rather nice and its going for $14. I use it for my Razer Seiren Pro (which is hefty) so it can hold a lot of weight and not droop.
https://www.amazon.com/NEEWER-Microphone-Suspension-Scissor-Stand/dp/B00DY1F2CS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1493648844&sr=8-2&keywords=desk+mic+arm

As for what you have listed specifically, This is great for an "intro to great audio" setup. Also on what Vacancygames says about condenser mics, 100% true, but OBS has a build in background noise suppressor you can find in the audio settings. It works wonders for my Seiren which picks up every...little...thing...

> Even hardware suggestions would be great

Get a rode boom arm for his mic, its a pretty expensive arm for it but its sturdy and never let me down.

> if theres anything to boost his viewers

Don't worry about stuff like that. You can re-tweet his stream on Twitter and talk to your friends IRL about his stream to get attention to his stream.

> He did make a comment about needing a better audio set up if he wanted to stop relying on his roommates

My friend TG has a professional help website with a Do It Yourself guide: https://www.audio.support/

Hope this helped.

Try this (Blue Yeti Mic) and this mic stand

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These might look a little like his buddies. But the mic is very recommended from streamers and such, I personally us it and it is great. If he likes his headphones then a new mic would be another step to improve his audio.

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I would say that I am not sure this is ideal for him, just trying to help as much as I can based on the original post!

​

EDIT: This is a cheaper mic made by the same company that is also a great option. Best of luck!

I did the same research just yesterday. Based on the Amazon reviews, this is what I came up with:

1. Samson SP01: Although it is out of stock at the moment, this shock mount will work perfectly for the AT2020, as mentionned in the reviews on Amazon.com.
   
   
2. niceEshop(TM) Studio Microphone Mic Wind Screen Pop Filter: A cheap, but apparently very able pop filter. Again, this is according to the reviews.
   
   3-a. RODE PSA 1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm: This is a more expensive, but probably better built, and reliable option.
   
   3-b. Neewer® White Broadcasting Studio Microphone Suspension Boom Scissor Arm stand: A cheaper, probably less reliable (at least according to the reviews) bet for a microphone arm. With a name containing so many adjectives, surely it's not that bad, right? Kappa
   
   Good luck with your endeavour, I know I'll need it. XD
   
   Edit: All the reviews come from Amazon.com as opposed to Amazon.ca for a larger pool of data.

One way to help is with a mic boom, you can get the mic closer to your face, further from the keyboard, and because of how mics like the AT2020 and the Samson Meteor (the mic I use) record, they record out like a cone, if the keyboard is below the mic it becomes more of a background noise.

Another option is getting a keyboard that is still mechanical but does not use MX Blue switches. MX Blue switches are the loudest switches for mechanic keyboards, there are ones like red that give a little less resistance but are quiet, I believe brown is the quietest, also the hardest to find. A custom keyboard like a Ducky has them, and also still has back light.

Another quick fix is to put the mic on something soft like a folded hand cloth, socks, etc. Sometimes the mic picks up a slight thud from typing, having it on something like that works. However, the best fix is to go with a mic stand / boom, and I know the AT2020 fits well into one of the shock mounts.
http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Broadcast-Microphone-Suspension-Scissor/dp/B00AK7SKL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417559941&sr=8-1&keywords=mic+stand+shock

Another option is setting up filters, there is one with the Reaper plug ins, and VB Audio Cable, that allow you to edit where your mic picks up sound all along the sound scale (hi to lo) However, it does add a delay and I found a slight mechanical ting added to it. I went with the mic stand and it fixed much of my problems, especially since you can lower your mic gain and that reduces the background noise even more.

I hope this helped a little.

You have a couple of options. These are the things you will absolutely need:

1. A capture card - For PS2, I highly recommend this one. It is the best SD USB card for the price.
   
   
2. The right AV cables. For a sharper image, use S-Video instead of the yellow composite video. For S-Video, you'll need a cable such as this one You don't have to use S-Video, but if you're going to stream, I recommend it.
   
   
3. A powered splitter - This is to take the video from the console and pipe it to two different sources, your capture card and your TV. I have two of these splitters and they work wonderfully. You will only need one. It is a one-in, four-out splitter, so two of your outputs will remain unused unless you have another source you need the video to go to.
   
   
4. AV cables to go from the outputs on your splitter to the TV and capture card. For the connection from the first output to your capture card, you can use a standard male-male S-Video cable. For the second output that goes to your TV, it just depends on what kind of TV you have. If you're playing PS2, I recommend using a higher-end CRT, in which case you can just use male-male composite cables. If you TV has a native S-Video port, then just get a second male-male S-Video cable.
   
   
5. A PC that can handle streaming - I know this sounds vague, but you wouldn't believe how many people attempt to stream even SD consoles with a GV-USB2 on laptops pre-2010. When OBS or XSplit is open and streaming, your processor will be in use. If you do not have a decent processor, streaming will bog your PC down.
   
   That's about all I can think of. It's daunting at first when you're trying to imagine how everything would be set up, but I promise it's not as difficult as it sounds. If you have any other questions, just reply here and I'll do my best to answer.

No. You should, however, get yourself an audio interface. And even then you don't need to spend a lot of money, but it will sound far better than just connecting it through an XLR to 2.5mm or USB cable. I use this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EK1OTZC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bQLJDb5GAFJCH. It works great with my Sennheiser e835, has gain control and direct monitoring, as well as a switch for phantom power. All you really need in my opinion.

I actually got my mic setup for ~$60 including that, XLR cable, and a little tripod because I found the mic itself sitting around in my house from when my brother used to record himself playing music. Pretty satisfied!

So two options:

1. Emulators. Personally, don't love them as they are not always they best and I enjoy the genuine feel of the game on the console. It's easy to get a PS2 to usb controller for the PC and Emulators do allow you to sometimes stream at a significantly better quality than directly though the console (HD Texture packs, Mods, etc.)
   
   
2. I would recommend this capture card: https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Game-Capture-HD60-PlayStation/dp/B01DRWCOGA/ref=sr_1_3?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1543023009&sr=1-3&keywords=capture+card
   
   I personally use it myself and it's the simplest version of "plug-and-play" I've ever seen. Never had any problems, amazing customer support and just general reputability. The price can be a bit steep so if you're trying to save a bit more:
   https://www.amazon.com/AGPtEK-Capture-Video-Recorder-Support/dp/B01MYWBG1I/ref=sr_1_9?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1543023009&sr=1-9&keywords=capture+card
   
   It does it's job, is effective but some of the reviews maybe need your consideration.
   
   Hope this helps and best of luck with your PS2 games (MGS3 is God-tier IMO)!

Hey!

I use this: https://www.amazon.com.mx/Blue-Microphones-Studio-Professional-Recording/dp/B00N624FPA/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1541438813&sr=8-12&keywords=yeti+microphone and https://www.amazon.com.mx/Logitech-Webcam-Resoluci%C3%B3n-FullHD-1080p/dp/B006JH8T3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541438855&sr=8-1&keywords=camera+logitech

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I wouldn't bother with a streamdeck just yet. I use OBS Streamlabs and it has a deck a bit like that, that you can use in a smartphone. And it's free =D

​

Besides hardware, the best advice I can give is to be consistent and stick to a time and day of week. Select when and try to not skip his stream dates. And also, build community. Social media works great for that and small things, like learning the usernames of the people that watch him, so that he can say hi when they come. =)

How much of a budget are you looking for to spend on that Webcam? Because I can tell you right now, it probably doesn't exist. What you can do, and what I use on my Mac, is get a USB mixer, like this one, and a XLR microphone, like this one and an XLR male to XLR female, because that microphone comes with a XLR female to male 3.5mm jack only (and no it won't plug into your computer and work fine, it needs power provided by the mixer). This should run you less than $80. And it will work as a separate microphone from your webcam when you plug it into your Mac. On ElGato, choose the microphone input as USB Audio Codex when it's plugged in.

On the mixer, you have 2 channels: the XLR input, and a left and right channel through RCA inputs. There is also a left and right RCA out for speakers, and a 1/4" Jack out for headphones. There is also a USB assign to line, but you don't want to use that because it will make your computer audio go to the mixer and out the monitor and RCA outs, and you can not input at the same time to the computer. You can adjust your gain for the microphones separate from the line 2&3 RCA inputs, I keep mine a little more than halfway. And you can plug an extra audio source for music, like a phone or iPod, in through the RCA jacks (using an RCA male to 3.5mm male) and adjust that separately, and then you can boost the master output of both of those, I keep mine about 60-70%).

Edit: Or, I just thought of this. Get a usb sound card, the ones that are like $6 and have a 3.5mm jack for headphones and another for mic. Then, you can choose this as USB microphone in ElGato. But, I still think my first option gives you better quality and more control, and the benefit of adding that extra audio input through an outside source, at a reasonable price.

if your hope is to use two microphones in the same room, you will want to be looking at dynamic microphones rather than the more common condenser microphones.

condensers will pick up background noise, dynamics will not. the ATR2100 is a great choice because it's affordable, has both USB and XLR connectivity, and sounds great for the price.

dynamic mics like these will sound best when positioned as close as possible to your voice, but they're the only choice if your goal is ambient noise bleed. there are definitely better dynamic mic choices available, but not at this price.

If you want a mic upgrade, you shouldn't be looking for a headset mic. I can, however recommend a good headset with a surprisingly high quality mic, if that's what you're into. I must also mention that it's extremely comfortable. HyperX Cloud

If you're looking for a good starter mic for a budget, I'd try the Blue Snowball Alternatively, the Blue Yeti, but be warned that this mic is very sensitive to background noise. If you're in a noisy area and plan on speaking directly into the mic, I'd like to recommend my personal favourite and the mic I'm currently using, the AT2020.

Be careful, because the AT2020 does require phantom power, so you'll need a mixer that supports at least 48v.

**
Feel free to PM me about audio stuff! Good luck!*

nah man, thats a great webcam, most people have webcams on 720p anyway, plus it has the added feature to crop you out of the background as well if you cant afford to get a real greenscreen set up. as for mics, most people roll with the blue yeti as the best recommendation as the gain can pick up your voice at any distance as well as have a mute button. downsides being that its a usb mic and "pro" streamers usually go xlr, but for us where streaming is a hobby it works just fine. Also, you need to buy a boom arm (https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Microphone-Suspension-Broadcasting-Voice-Over/dp/B00DY1F2CS this is what I use) with a decent shock mount because the mount it comes with is garbage picking up all the taps or any shaking. Cheers and good luck streaming! hope this helps.

blue yeti not needed it's expensive. my mic is 30 dollars and with tweaking it can sound decent or pretty good Neewer NW-700 I have a power supply with it and it's highly recommended. Neewer 1-Channel 48V Phantom Power Supply. for other good or decent mics look up condenser mics. or alternative common twitch mics. the reason behind why i'm saying what I'm saying is alpha gaming check this out and your understand. how to set it up is gaming career within obs. hope this helps. total about $50 vs blue yeti $100+. unless you can afford it I'd go with $50. good luck and hope this helped

Hello!

These setups are using what's called a capture card. The way it works (in most simple cases) is a signal comes from a console, goes into a splitter, then one of the outputs goes to the TV, another to the capture card.

There are many many MANY video standards and when it comes to capture you're most likely either going to be working with composite, S-video, and HDMI. There's YPbPr and RGB too but you're most likely not going to use those.

For composite / svideo (pretty much all home consoles up from the 1990's (where most used RF) until the mid 2000's): I'd recommend the GV-USB2.

Sadly I don't do much HD capture so I don't have any resources for that.

So you get your console, split the signal into two using some of these (and something like this for s-video) have one output going to the TV for the yellow/s-video (video) and audio (red and white).

Here's a visual I made for a friend a few years ago, very similar.

Then there's the capture software, sadly I really can't go to in depth in this small reddit post. Some people like doing all the image processing necessary right in OBS, some people (like me) use amarec because it allows better control over the image.

Sorry this is rushed, can't really write too much right now. I found this video which seems to have good information.

My capture set up is huge now (multiple consoles modded for better video, matrix switches, component (not RGB because SCART is mad expensive) setups) but I'm just gave the bare essentials for how I started streaming on my consoles.

Hope this helps, let me know if you have any questions

I highly recommend the Logitech C920 which is $60 but I think it's worth it. By far the best webcam I've used and probably will ever use. 1080p, 60 fps, the lighting and quality's great, and the picture's pretty wide.

Can't help with the technical stuff, but if you're looking for a fantastic mic, you gotta go with the rode podcasters.

http://www.amazon.com/Rode-Podcaster-Booming-Kit-shock/dp/B007NN0WPU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1396075240&sr=8-3&keywords=rode+podcaster

But if you're going for something more budget, a blue yeti is another great option :)

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B002VA464S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396075288&sr=8-1&keywords=blue+yeti

Hope this helps!

I can't help you with a recommendation on mic as I'll be looking to replace my Yeti but I can warn you the Yeti picks up on a lot of noise. To get my audio close to what I wanted it at I had to set up some sound editing software and run a virtual audio cable through it. Then I had my friend who knows a bit more about audio set up some filters to clean up background noise/echo/audio levels. From what I hear dynamic mics are much better for picking up your voice without pulling everything else in the neighborhood.

As far as arms go I use: https://www.amazon.com/NEEWER-Microphone-Suspension-Scissor-Stand/dp/B00DY1F2CS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1492649645&sr=8-3&keywords=mic+arm

its cheap and it gets the job done. About the length of an arm shoulder to hand. Easy to set up and I couldn't be happier. I put it on the side of my desk and it lets me suspend my mic right out of the view of the camera but near my face. With the default stand I couldn't have my mic on my desk otherwise it would shake and create all kinds of loud noises.

Desk arm mic stands are pretty dope and cheap. I have this one and it has worked well enough for how cheap it is.https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Microphone-Suspension-Broadcasting-Voice-Over/dp/B00DY1F2CS/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=desk+mic+arm&qid=1564619752&s=gateway&sr=8-7

Extra xlr cables are always nice to have around. A pop filter is also nice, though you probably need one with that dynamic mic you'll be using. Headphone extension cables can be nice depending on how things are set up on your desk, and how long your headphone cable is. The Focusrite Solo also only has a quarter inch headphone jack, so if you don't have an adapter you could pick up one of those

https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-6-35mm-Female-Stereo-Adapter/dp/B01D82XXGO/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_267_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=SQ828YGS55DGEP084TVVOverall you should be good though!


Edit: Also any kind of adapter to hook up the RCA outputs on the back of the Solo to your pc speakers if you have some too!

If you want to future-proof your setup, go with something XLR based, and later down the road you can upgrade and replace stuff on the cheap.

I personally use an AT2020-XLR on a cheap mic stand that comes with a shock mount and built in cable (gets a bit squeaky after a few months of use, but only when fully retracting it), piped through a phantom power supply and an XLR to USB cable

A really good mic to go with would also be the ATR 2100 as it is both XLR and USB. It's a dynamic mic, so background noise won't be much of an issue. The price point is great, and it would be easy to expand on later. I personally have no experience with the mic, so take that as you will.

Every condenser microphone picks up a lot of unwanted noise, because condenser capsule is very sensitive and designed for work in studios, closed recording room with acoustic foam everywhere.

If you are really concerned about extraneous noise, look for good dynamic microphone. Most of them would require some audio interface with it, but there is a good exception like Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB. https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4

Just keep in mind you MUST keep it close to your mouth for effectiveness. Why? Well, that goes because of your issue - you want lower sensitivity (because of babies), so you should provide mic with stronger signal from your voice. (There is a nice bundle on Amazon with boom arm and pop-filter included https://www.amazon.com/Technica-ATR2100-USB-Microphone-Desktop-Filter/dp/B01MSQFIRE/ref=pd_cp_267_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01MSQFIRE&pd_rd_r=5895S5TMA83ENRWN0BQM&pd_rd_w=dJXdO&pd_rd_wg=m0AAH&psc=1&refRID=5895S5TMA83ENRWN0BQM )

I would highly suggest getting a Dynamic mic. I have used a condenser mic in the past, and I had the same issue as you with white noise and it hearing every possible noise in the house. Currently I use the atr 2100 by Audio Technica. I picked it up for $100 and have not regretted it since. It comes with both a usb cable and an xlr cable (if you use a mixer, which i also suggest getting.)
Edit: http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4

I use a mixer, to mute my mic, for the moments when someone barges in my room or i have my parents yelling at me from outside my door. Its also a great way to change the levels of your mic (for example the highs and lows. I currently use and suggest the Yamaha ag03 as it doesnt take up a huge amount of space and has a perfect amount of space for a single pc stream setup and ive made it work for two pc's. http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-AG03-3-Channel-Mixer-Interface/dp/B00TY8JE60

Hope this helps and good luck on your search for a new mic!

Blue Yeti is a mic you will see a lot of people talk about, including myself. I have one and love it. as for headset I'm using Bose Noise Cancelling headphones, they are a bit spendy but amazing, especially for shooters.

Camera wise, a Logitech C920 is an excellent choice, and not too expensive either.

I'm glad to see that you are researching it out and spending some time thinking about it. That's the right first step! I don't have experience with other mics to speak of, but I'm pretty happy with my purchases and what I'm able to do with them. So, some more food for thought:

• MXL 770 Cardioid Condenser Microphone $78
  
• Neewer 40037799 Scissor Arm Stand $32
  
• Behringer Q502USB 5-Channel Mixer $60
  
• MXL WS-002 Foam Windscreen $19
  
  I've since also added some additional toys for effects and fun:
  
  
• iRig PRE
  
• XLR Y-Splitter
  
  Here's a video I made showing what I'm doing with all of this: http://youtu.be/PDmhV3079RI
  
  
  And if you have a budget you're trying to work within, just stick to that and don't worry about the little differences between a slightly more expensive setup and what fits within your budget.

I think it all depends on your current setup concerning desk real estate and how you use your mic. I picked up a very cheap boom arm (~$20 CAD on amazon) just to clear up some space for my mouse/keyboard. That being said, it did help filter out some vibration sounds and the convenience of being able to easily move my mic to and from is really nice.

I'd happily recommend a boom. If not for the removal of vibration sound, than definitely for the convenience of mobility and added desk space. Note: I also use a Blue Yeti.

I use a Blue Yeti for my streams. It's slightly above what you're budgeting, but the sound quality is fantastic. That said, I imagine some of their lower end stuff would also work great for your needs.

Money can be a factor, but don't really expect to make any right off the bat. I've been streaming for more than 6 months and haven't made a dime. The donation box is there, but I view it as something that will happen if it happens. Otherwise I don't let the lack of donations bother me. I forgot about it actually...

Popular games like League are EXTREMELY hard to get noticed in, because it takes so long to make it to the bottom of the list, where you start as a new streamer. So, you end up with very few people even finding your stream in the first place.

I can't necessarily say how long it would take to reach 100 concurrent viewers per stream, but for reference, I've still not managed to break double digits. Granted, I jump game to game because my stream is mostly just about dicking around and having goofy conversation.

Partnerships are kind of an open ended thing. Twitch recommends having 500 concurrent viewers per stream before you apply, but from what I've seen and heard, that number is high. They take a lot of things into consideration when you apply for the partnership. It's not just about viewers.

If you want legit advice, don't start a stream with the intention of making it big. It takes an insane amount of work and patience. Just enjoy the process and see where it takes you.

Perfect! Ive just done some research and I wont need a USB version will I, so i will go with the cheaper one.(https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000J5XS3C/ref=dp_cerb_1)

Yes I would like to use it for my game chat, I have thought about this and think it would just be best to use a webcam mic or something similar. Please tell me any alternatives.

Thank you so much for the response.

Oh I just picked up this right here the other day: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QJOZS4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It is around the price of the Blue snowball mics (maybe ten bucks more) but it sounds so much better in my opinion. check out some reviews, nice deep rich satin tone. I love it!

Alright so after looking around a bit, I think something like the the Elgato HD60 Pro would work quite well.

I'm a little confused on the how this and other capture cards work though, and I want to make sure that I'm going about this correctly.

So I have a dual PC setup - Gaming PC, Encoding / Streaming PC. Here is how I am picturing this scenario:

1. Gaming PC DOES NOT have a capture card installed on it. It pushes out 1080p60 video by duplicating my gaming PC display to my GPU's second HDMI port. Gaming PC's job is done at this point - all it does is play the game and send video out to the 2nd PC.
   
2. Streaming PC DOES have capture card installed. It receives the 1080p60 game video (along with game audio) via capture card on the HDMI port.
   
3. Microphone is connected to Streaming PC.
   
4. Streaming PC is running OBS, where I have all of my video / audio sources added - my various chat / donation overlays, game sound / video imported via the capture card, microphone, etc. Everything is mixed and tweaked here.
   
5. Streaming PC puts it all together and encodes it with X.264 encoding. I'll be sending out 1080p60 @ ~10mbps to YouTube (since they allow higher bitrate / resolutions than Twitch, and most of my viewers are there).
   
   End result: crystal clear 1080p60 with minimal quality loss that gets transcoded by YouTube to 720p, 480p, etc, so that viewers can stream it in the quality of their choosing depending on their internet speed. The idea being that this is good enough quality that people can view the 1080p60 later on and not be bothered by the video quality.
   
   For reference, my computers -
   
   Gaming Rig
   
   

• i5-6600K OCed to 4.4ghz
  
• Water Cooled GTX 980 ti
  
• 32 GB DDR4 3 ghz RAM
  
  Streaming Rig
  
  
• Generic refurb PC with i7-4770K
  
• PCIe capture card that supports at least 1080p60 and can simultaneously stream and record. Probably the one I listed above, unless there's a better option or that one has some limitations that I'm not aware of.
  
  Does this look correct?
  

Hahah so not that then. what about this? Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone, saw it being recommended in the comment section of this post and online reviews seem to have an overall positive review other than that one person who had their mic malfunction in the first month. Hopefully that was just a defect lol.

Hmm, yeah, I'm a bit hesitant about spending much money on anything I build just in case it 'd fail. $1k is the most realistic option is it?

Hahah, yeah I'm currently based in ye good ol' Oz. and oh cool thanks :) I've looked up a how to guide to making your own PC and it really does seem to definitely be time consuming :( I think I'm sadly better off purchasing the Trident 3 (GTX 1060 i5-7400 8GB 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD Windows 10 VR Ready) based off of this review's comment since I'm not confident at all with this working well and I just really want to game already tbh :') but damn. they don't ship to aus and the ones that are available here cost twice the price in the US so nvm. but I did find this so for $499 I get a bulldog chassis, hydro series H5 SF CPU Liquid Cooler, SF600 600-Watt 80 Plus Gold Power Supply, Gigabyte Z170N-Wifi Motherboard. I'm not sure if it's worth it or not but I think it's pretty good for someone like me who's not great in building.

I'm more or less following this guide but damn in Aus it more or less nearly added an extra $100 on every item there.

SSD Corsair Neutron XTI 480GB $279

Corsair Vengeance LPX CMK16GX4M2B3000C15 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 $219

MSI NVIDIA GTX 1070 SEAHWAK >$600

the i5 you linked $304 + Shipping AUD$28.68 = $332.68 but then if I paid an extra $70 I could get Intel Core i7 7700 instead.

Win10 $269.00

would result in an insane amount of $499+$279+$332.68+$600+$219+$269=$2198.68... So it's more expensive than this MSI Trident 3 i7-7700, 8GB DDR4 SODIMM, 256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD, Geforce GTX 1060-3GB ITX, WiFi, BT4.2, Win10 Home

The ram is just 8gb but I think I can upgrade it in the future if need be. SSD could be replaced easily too.

And nearly / just $200 short of this MSI Trident 3

MSI Trident 3 Arctic White Compact Gaming Desktop, i7-7700, 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 SODIMM, 256GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD, Geforce GTX 1070-8GB ITX, WiFi, BT4.2, Win10 Hom

The difference between the arctic and the other one is that the arctic's GTC is 1070 and has twice the ram. Everything else is the same.

I don't have a whole lot of experience with webcams to be honest, but I've heard really good things about the Logitech c920. Amazon has them here for $70 with Prime shipping.

Hope that helps.

Mine was a hint on how it really is assembled anyway, you can replace my focusrite with any usb interface that's similar, replace the mic with anything smaller (your mic would suffice) and the rode psa 1 you can go for cheaper options, but eventually I'd definitely suggest for the long run the Rode.

Let's say like you chose your mic that you picked,
$20. XLR cable, idk probably like $5 right, a $5 mic stand, and a usb audio interface like this one maybe (https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-Audio-Interface-1-Channel-UM2/dp/B00EK1OTZC/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=usb+audio+interface&qid=1555119398&s=gateway&sr=8-3) , $40 you're probably looking at $70 for the whole setup. That could work for sure

Without the USB interface you'll need a USB based microphone

Hey,

"I wish to start streaming during my free time and upon asking for suggestions on about doing so, some people suggest I get a special type of mic and that my computer meet specific requirements before attempting to stream."

Yes, you don't have to have a top-of-the-line-sucks-your-dick condenser microphone. You can easily stream with a very inexpensive mic and some audio testing. Thought my personal recommendation would be one of these babies:

http://gaming.logitech.com/en-gb/product/g930-7-1-wireless-gaming-headset

More inexpensive option:

http://www.amazon.com/Plantronics-GameCom-380-Gaming-Headset/dp/B00B1KJWE8/ref=sr_1_1/187-2581044-6446855?ie=UTF8&qid=1418907135&sr=8-1&keywords=plantronics+gamecom+380

Blue Yeti's are popular among streamers:

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B002VA464S

When it comes to streaming and computer specs, above anything else, streaming is VERY CPU intensive. It's highly advised a powerful/separate CPU to stream. A 2.7 dual core processor may not be enough to stream and game on at the same time, I don't know enough about your computer to say.

A great way to do it would to be to use an old capture device like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00428BF1Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IpABCb992NSQJ

It has essentially no lag so you could play it in your streaming software, but if you really wanna get down and dirty with some old games, you could get a video splitter along with that and plug it into an old monitor, haha, but I imagine you won't be going pro neccicarily with a cheap sponegbob plug and play game - that being said, that's a rad niche you've got there, sounds like it'd be a really fun time!

Please do yourself a favor and get an AT2020 or 2035 XLR. Most people that have been doing this for some time will tell you, get a mic that will last. Don't go the upgrade path. In the long run if you go from headset mic to yet/snowball then eventually upgrade to XLR and a mixer, you're spending unnecessary money. Spend the little bit now to get the end game, and use it for years! Enjoy the high quality the whole time!

​

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=sr_1_9?keywords=xlr+usb+audio+interface&qid=1555079970&s=gateway&sr=8-9

The link above has a bundle of frequently purchased together with the AUI and XLR Cable for $150

https://www.amazon.com/Microphone-Anti-Vibration-Suspension-Diameter-46mm-53mm/dp/B01LY7QM1N/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=at2020+boom&qid=1555080248&s=gateway&sr=8-3

This is a pop filter and shock mount for $14

https://www.amazon.com/RODE-Swivel-Mount-Studio-Microphone/dp/B001D7UYBO/ref=sr_1_3?crid=CUJDIZ6156GX&keywords=rode+boom+arm&qid=1555080384&s=gateway&sprefix=rode+boom%2Caps%2C151&sr=8-3

This Boom = $100 (Worth it)

This is the boom arm i have that was recommended to me, I've had lower quality ones that didn't work out well and you don't want to know what its like to have almost $200 of equipment dangling on a $15 boom let em tell you. You also don't want to use the desk mounts as from my experience they don't provide the quality that booms do (so much noise every time you move your mouse or get animated and bump your desk slightly. Ive had this boom 3 years and love it still, great investment.

Total: $265+Taxes includes..

AT2020

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Audio interface

XLR Cable

Pop Filter

Shock Mount

You will need one of the following items:

Elgato HD60 Pro (installs into a PCI slot on your motherboard) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014MQIVPS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_4N0PDbVVFBAJ9


Elgato Game Capture Card HD60 S - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DRWCOGA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JP0PDb2P0NCJ3

I personally have a Elgato HD60 Pro and I love it. Works great for recording my consoles.

Either of these options will do. Good luck 👍🏻

> Why are video games important to you? What's your favorite video game memory?

Getting lost in a fantasy that we cannot normally experience is an amazing feeling when the game is made well. My favourite memory(s) is playing Final Fantasy 9 for the first time, it's one of my favourite games of all time, I fell in love with the storyline and the characters and it's the game that made me want to pursue a career in game design.

> What's your favorite snack?

Not really a snack, because I'd be so fat if I ate these all the time, but Lindt Chocolate balls are so damn tasty...

> What are you asking Santa for this Christmas?

A pretty decent mic, currently looking into this one.

> If you were a pizza topping, what topping would you be?

A pepperoni, or maybe some smoked chicken. Mmm...

> What's your biggest goal in life?

To become a fairly decent streamer with a good enough following who come back time and time again for my personality, not just the gameplay. (I'll get there one day! :D)

> Where are you from?

England, UK.

This is what I use. It is a little bit over your range but not a ton. I use it with the usb plug directly into my pc. If one day I upgrade to a mixer it also has an xlr output. You would need a separate stand and you do want it fairly close to your mouth to get the best audio but for the $. Keep an eye out, I bought mine on sale for $62. A lot of people recommend the blue yeti but it picked up way to much background noise for me. Audio-Technica AT2005USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007JX8O0Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wPUOAbG9NMC1Q

I used a Audio-Technica AT2020 for a year before I upgraded. Honestly its a great microphone.
I paired it with a newer microphone stand which is like 15 bucks and also a pop filter. I was very happy with the results.

Mic: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006H92QK

Arm: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DW3ZT76

Pop Filter: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00946ZJN4

Your best bet is to save up a little more and buy a stand alone mic that will last years.

This mic you can connect via a usb and xlr. Once you buy this and save more money up you can buy a cheap mixer/preamp to connect this to. It will make your mic sound a lot better.

https://www.amazon.com/Technica-AT2005USB-Handheld-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B007JX8O0Y/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Audio+Technica+AT2005USB+Handheld+Dynamic+Microphone&qid=1565335068&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-3

Scroll down and buy all 3 of the frequently bought together items for under 90 bucks. The arm, windscreen to put on the mic, and the mic.


When you're able to save up more money you should buy a preamp/mixer and use that xlr cable to plug into it. Here is a cheap one for down the road:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-502-Premium-5-Input-British/dp/B000J5UEGQ?ref_=Oct_BSellerC_11974871_&pf_rd_p=86c5a16b-d588-5ae0-b0bf-f9999489ccdd&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=11974871&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=40F5EHBSEKR7GBG77VK3&pf_rd_r=40F5EHBSEKR7GBG77VK3&pf_rd_p=86c5a16b-d588-5ae0-b0bf-f9999489ccdd

If you want to cancel everything out then you should definitely go with a dynamic microphone. It's the kind of mic that they use when giving interviews on convention floors and stuff like that.

I recommend either the AT2005 or ATR2100. One of those paired with a scissor arm and a pop filter and you're all set :)

As far as a mic. You have a lot of options. You can go with a USB connection. Which is a reasonable option with good quality in products like Blue Yeti or going with a much better studio quality mic like MXL or even Audio-Technica however going with the studio mica I have listed you will need an audio interface. Like the scarlet or Yamaha

I'm not too sure on what else you could do TBH. If you're already using noise gate. The blue yeti is a pretty sensitive mic and not one that I would recommend. You could always try selling the yeti and going for a different mic. Maybe an XLR Shotgun. You can get one under 100 including the phantom PS. I may add some links to this reply

Edit:
Audio Interface:
https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1517463363&sr=8-1&keywords=Behringer+UMC22

Microphone:
https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-centimeters-Uni-Directional-Microphone-Camcorder/dp/B018DYTFUU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1517463442&sr=8-4&keywords=neewer+shotgun+XLR

Those are under 70 USD. I've used the Audio interface in the past and it's actually really good for its price.
You may need to look for a different stand, or maybe figure out a way to keep it pointed towards you while you play your games ect.

Hope this helps

Yeah I know obviously this is a day after we spoke but after doing some more researching this is what I will be getting

• Focusrite Scarlett Solo (2nd Gen) USB Audio Interface
  
  
• Rode Procaster Broadcast Dynamic Microphone
  
  
• RØDE PSM1 Microphone Shock Mount
  
  
• Pop Filter Widescreen
  
  I am also looking for a mount for the microphone similar to THIS!
  
  However I don't want to spend that price on something I can get a lot cheaper, however I do not want to get a extremely cheap one such as a £10 one due to them most likely not last long, is there something in the inbetween which would be good for the type of set up?
  
  and is there anything I don't need which I have listed?
  
  Sorry for all the questions, I do appreciate your help

1: personally, i use a Logitech C920. It's really nice, but also overkill since you don't need to put out 1080p video from your cam to have good quality. It's on sale currently on amazon though.

2: i just started using an Audio-technica AT2020 and so far I love it. They make a usb version of it as well.

3: My green screen cost me $18 bucks for a 6' x 10' screen. I would make sure that you get a green screen made from muslin fabric.

I use the AT2020 USB with a cheap desk-mount spring arm and a shock mount. I noticed that most tend to prefer this desk-mount, but you can find cheaper alternatives that will do just fine. I also purchased a third-party pop filter that fits over the mic. You can also get a generic clip-on pop filter that will work just as well. Very clear and crisp audio.

The AT2020 was a gift, so I had no say in the selection. For more control over the audio, I would have preferred an XLR microphone and a USB-out mixer. With the AT2020 USB, I have to double-check my microphone levels in Windows before streaming, because other applications will occasionally change them.

The other option you may want to consider is if the mic has an aux connection so you can plug headphones directly to the mic and self-monitor, such as the Blue Yeti (listen to yourself speak). Some find this helpful, but to each their own.

Hey there dude,

You're going to want a mixer for that. The quality of audio going from audio out on one pc to mic in on the other will sound terrible, and most likely cause some ground noise loop problems.

If you're not looking to spend any money, I would recommend checking out NDI. It's an OBS plugin that would allow you to send your game video and audio over to your streaming PC over a wired network connection. As long as both your PC's are hardwired to your network, you're good.

Here is a permalink to another thread where I explain how NDI works, and how you can learn about it. In this thread i'm talking about VR, but the process would be the same, just capturing normal game play instead of VR.

Alternatively, you could spend as little at $60 on a mixer to make what you need happen, if you decide to go that route. Good luck!

Thanks! Is this a good option please? https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-UMC22-Computer-Audio-Interface/dp/B00FFIGZF6/

It’s not from their Xenyx range but it’s still a Behringer and it’s USB powered which is a big plus for me. It has the gain controls :)

As someone who does a halo marathon stream once i year, i'll tell you its not cheap. But it can be done. The best results come from using four Elgato HD60 Pro's (http://www.amazon.com/Elgato-superior-technology-hardware-encoding/dp/B014MQIVPS) going into one PC. With four webcams and four microphones at each station. To ensure that there is no feedback from the tv's make sure each station has headphones. For software I use XSplit to stream and Ankhbot to monitor chat.

If this is the route you go, remember to buy long enough hdmi cables that will go from your xbox's to your pc and back again.(Input/Output) As well as POWERED USB hubs for all the mic's and webcams, and long enough USB extensions to reach those.

Hope this helps!

(Also consider switching to a different weekend, PAX South is this weekend. And that might take away possible viewership)

For video I already have a HD PRO WEBCAM C920 and for audio I have a Samson Meteor Mic, but since I'll be duo streaming with a roommate, I'm not sure what I should go for.
what do you think about the SteelSeries Arctis 7 ?
I have a cherry mx red keyboard with o-rings, I'd like something that will pick up the less ambient noise possible.
I have a budget a bit above 1k € since I'll probably be able to sell my i5 4670k / Gigabyte GA-Z77X-UD3H / 4x4 GB Corsair Vengeance 1600 MHz CAS9 / 2 x MSI R7950 Twin Frozr III for a bit.
Not sure how much I could sell this old hardware, but since ram is more expensive, and the I5 isn't bad, the 7950's could probably go around 70€ each and the MB maybe around 70€ as well, not really sure.
I also have a green screen, maybe not top quality, but with some testing it might work, I'll probably have to buy some lights as well to have a better chroma key quality.

I think the Wii U should output an HDMI signal, but for older consoles like the N64, I've heard great things about the GV-USB2. Most N64 speedruners I know use it. It's (relatively) cheap too! $35 USD on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/DATA-connection-video-capture-GV-USB2/dp/B00428BF1Y. I believe it's imported from japan.

If you have a lot of background noise! I recommend using ATH2100 dynamic mic (http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4) And it's also a mic under $60!! Check out the videos of people reviewing them and compare the sounds vs others! It has incredible clarity, that your viewers will enjoy!

I have both the AT2020USB and the Racksoy Boom Arm.

Microphone (and pop filter):

• It works great, I have never had a problem with it. The audio quality is great. I don't have other condenser microphones to compare them with though, as it's my first of its kind. (Previously only used headsets).
  
• The Microphone will pick up the mechanical keyboard, however, an easy fix for this for streaming purposes (in obs) is to add a noise gate. My Close Threshold is -95 dB and Open Threshold is -5 dB. Now I actually have no idea what I'm doing. But the microphone will only 'activate' when I talk and it wont pickup the mechanical keyboard as it's not loud enough to activate it. But it will still be heard if you talk and type at the same time.
  
• I don't have a pop filter for my microphone, and I never bothered. People have not complained about any annoying P-, S- and etc. noises.
  
  Boom Arm:
  
  
• For its price, it's alright. I can't complain. It gets the job done. But the handle (where you screw it together) is a bit awkward to deal with. I did fiddle with mine a bit, but it might be a bit loose. So just be wary of that. But the metal is quite easy to bend so it can be squeezed together to be firmed up.
  If you have money to spend, look into the RØDE PSA1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm. It's a lot more expensive compared to the Racksoy, but it's a quality purchase, in my opinion.
  
  I hope this helps. I can't help you with your mixer question as I have no idea about it. :)
  

This is pretty much the universal standard in boom arms. If you are willing to spend a few extra bucks it is considered by many to be the best boom arm available. Cheers!

£28.99 is $38.57 American, and it's on Amazon US for $49.93. So yes, it would be a better deal, but only if you A) can get it, and B) don't have to pay much in taxes and shipping.

Honestly, I'd just wait for it to go on sale in the US too, and it looks like the price is trending downwards, I'd expect Amazon.com to have it for $40 or less by the end of the year

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Logitech-Widescreen-Calling-Recording-Desktop/product/B006JH8T3S

I was hoping you'd pop up, Ferret!

Can you make any suggestiong of a Decent XLR microphone?

Also I checked on the interwebs but there does seem to be a 502USB? all i could find was a 302USB: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-302USB-Xenyx-Input-Mixer/dp/B005EHILV4/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1413228732&sr=1-1&keywords=Behringer+Xenyx+usb

Appreciate your response :)

EDIT: just found this, any good? : http://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-C-1-Studio-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B000CZ0RLK/ref=sr_1_2?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1413228978&sr=1-2&keywords=XLR+microphone

I still haven't upgraded much in just a little over a year of streaming, but there are many things that I would love to upgrade.

Actually, just yesterday, I ordered a new mic. The Samson C01 from a cheap Excelvan BM-800 I got over a year ago. Would have gone with an AT2020, BUT I just don't have the budget to get that, especially while still trying to save up for an Xbox One. Only reason I'm upgrading the mic is because there's been an annoying buzzing in the background for the last few months, and it just recently started bypassing the noise gate!

Other upgrades I'd like in order of importance are:

• Xbox One
  
• Elgato HD60 Pro - Because my Avermedia is starting to fail me
  
• Upgrade PC - i7-4790k, new MB, new/more RAM, new case, and SSD.
  
• New Peripherals - Headset, Keyboard, Monitor.

You mention budget, but haven't said anything about how much of a budget for a camera. That said, C920 is what most people use and recommend, as well as myself. Right now it's on sale for $50 at most places. Can't go wrong with that. It's also compatible with the iMac and Macbook.

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Widescreen-Calling-Recording-Desktop/dp/B006JH8T3S/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1542197646&sr=1-1&keywords=c920

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpage.jsp?st=c920&_dyncharset=UTF-8&id=pcat17071&type=page&sc=Global&cp=1&nrp=&sp=&qp=&list=n&af=true&iht=y&usc=All+Categories&ks=960&keys=keys

​

As for the mic, if you are streaming via the PS4, you can still chat in game. However, since you're streaming via the HD60, that chat will be picked up and sent to the stream as well.

I-o DATA USB connection video capture GV-USB2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00428BF1Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bWaECbY4GMA30

Looks like the price has gone up a little bit, but still not bad for under $40. Just keep in mind that you'll want a powered composite splitter with any composite capture device so you don't get screen dimming/muddy picture. There's a radio shack branded one on Amazon for $20 that splits 1 to 4, which is excellent for me because I play a lot of light gun games on stream and the Guncons require composite video to work.

A condenser microphone is going to pick up mouse/keyboard sounds no matter how directional it is. I originally bought a Blue Yeti and was shocked by how much environmental noise it picks up, this is not a viable option for most people.

Instead what you should do is get a dynamic cardioid or supercardioid microphone. Not a lot of these exist with a USB connection but the ones that do work extremely well. I recommend the Audio Technica ATR2100-USB (alternative version) or the Samson Q1U if you can't find the AT, they're difficult to get in Europe for some reason.

Either of these will serve the purpose of the average streamer much better than the microphones you are recommending.

I use the AT2100USB and it works very well.

Mixer is hardware. It allows you to plug multiple devices into one "source" that you can then listen to. I'll put a link to a good starter one below. H.264 is still the best way to encode which is all CPU driven so adding a GPU won't help you unless you are going to use NVENC or AMD encoding via a GPU.

Another question, are you a partnered streamer? If not, you won't always have transcode available so streaming at 6000kbps will limit the amount of people who can watch you. Streaming at less than 6000kbps on a 1080p60 stream will make it look pixelated. This also matters on the type of game. If you're playing an RTS like civilization where there isn't a lot of movement on screen you can get away with a lower bitrate at 1080p but if you're playing games with a lot of fast movement you're better off streaming at 720p60 at 3000kbps because then even mobile users can watch you if they are in a decent signal area.





https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-502-Premium-5-Input-British/dp/B000J5UEGQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1550249364&sr=8-5&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=behringer+mixer&dpPl=1&dpID=51GyTA4WTHL&ref=plSrch

Could use more info on your current setup equipment wise. I think the easiest way to do what you want is to get a cheap mixer like this one. You just split the output and route it to both computers.

It might also be possible in software with something like synergy. http://synergy-project.org/

I have a $20 behringer xm8500 mic and u can get a behringer $40 usb interface and it sounds pretty good. My vod from yesterday is my first stream with this mic and it sounds the same as a $100 shure sm58

Edit: I originally had an audio technica at2020. It was too sensitive for me so I got a shure sm58 based on reviews. Then people were saying you can get this behringer mic for $80 less and it sounds the same. I did and I am happy with it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002KZAKS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EK1OTZC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You mean this guy, right?

http://www.magewell.com/pro-capture-quad-hdmi

Those aren't outputs - those are inputs. That card can take up to 4 HDMI sources. Camcorder, Gaming PC, Console etc. Essentially, what we're currently doing with 2 capture cards, you can do with one with that card. For you, you would only need a capture device that has 2 HDMI inputs, but our stream the Quad is attractive since we can display co-op content much easier if it all were to go through one card (camcorder and 2 gaming PCs going into the magewell).

As for the SC-512, the daughterboard is a passthrough. Essentially, if you didn't have the passthrough, in order to play the game you're capturing you would either have to play it from within your broadcasting software or use a splitter to split the HDMI sources connection so it goes to both the SC-512 and a monitor.

Here's the splitter we use: http://www.amazon.com/ViewHD-Powered-Splitter-1080P-VHD-1X2MN3D/dp/B004F9LVXC

Even with passthrough, you will need a splittler anyway for the PS3 and PSTV due to HDCP in it's digital signal. You could capture the PS3 via component, but the PS3 is prone to ghosting with its component, so I'd avoid it.

Depending on how sensitive you are to frame delay playing from the broadcasting software might not be an option. The SC-512 has an average 10-12 frame delay, if that, but I can tell and it throws me off - other people might not notice.

You could use an external device if you have some sort of mixer (Not necessarily this one).

If you had trouble figuring out VoiceMeeter, this is essentially the same thing but hardware.

Best of luck,

• BurntToasTJ

I love my Blue Yeti! Sounds great - decent price. There are a ton of reviews online showing it off too! (https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Yeti-USB-Microphone-Silver/dp/B002VA464S)

I have an Audio Technica ATR2100-USB mic.



http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4



It's a good mic with USB and XLR ports as well as a headphone port. The XLR port allows for a mixer if you were looking into adding one into your setup, but if not, the USB port is always there. Also has a switch for if you're paranoid and like to make sure your mic is muted. Lastly, because it isn't an omnidirectional mic, it's WAY more selective with it's hearing. It mainly captures what is in front of it. Very little to nothing at all from the back and just a bit around it from close objects. Definitely doesn't capture my vacuum of a PC.

Thanks for the advice everyone...Yeah...anything over 100 is out of budget, I don't even k ow if I can use a stand-alone mic on the laptop as it only has the earphone slot, but been reading that I can modify that it settings to be mic In?

Was looking at something like:
A) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B075D9KM4Z/ref=sspa_mw_detail_1?psc=1

B)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B006DIA77E/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1520641403&sr=8-9&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=microphone&dpPl=1&dpID=410G%2B2Ul%2BzL&ref=plSrch

C)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B079N9DKMQ/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?psc=1

£30ish would be my budget at the moment.

Main priority is getting the money together for the pc. (And again I'll probably call on help for that lol)

Any of them 3 three any use?

You could probably come out pretty well with these:

Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro

Something like this for your PS2

And something like this for your Wii

When I was shopping for mine, I got a lot of recommendations for this. I was surprised at the price, but pretty amazed at the results.

Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p Camera, Desktop or Laptop Webcam https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JH8T3S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_V.HNyb8HGJ3GF

Heres what I use for streaming.

Camera : logitech c920 https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Widescreen-Calling-Recording-Desktop/dp/B006JH8T3S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491446015&sr=8-1&keywords=C920


And mic: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01142EPO4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Both are wonderful. :) I recommend if you get this mic that you use a sponge cover for it.

Well you could always just use your headset and a standalone mic. I can't think of any streamer who uses a standalone mic and speakers because the issue of feedback is kinda hard to solve. If you are set on using a standalone mic and speakers then your best bet is to get a cardioid microphone. These types of mics are designed to only pick up nearby sounds from a certain angle so you could possibly avoid feedback with one. Some good cardioid mics are the AT2020 and the Blue Yeti

I have a similar setup (Behringer 502, different XLR mic and different headphones (no mic). Here's what I do and it works flawlessly.

• Mic -> Channel one (XLR) of the 802
  
  • https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=4754
    
• PC Line Out (Green hole) -> Channel 3/4 of 802
  
• Game audio if using console. (from TV or PS4 controller) - > Channel 5/6 of 802
  
  • If using PC games, ignore this \^\^
    
• Main out -> PC Line In (Blue hole, I think)
  
  • 3 x https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=601040
    
• Headphones -> Phones on 801
  
  • https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=115&cp_id=11509&cs_id=1150901&p_id=4791
    
• Tablet, phone or second computer with twitch open -> 2 Track Input (this way you can hit the "2TR to Ctrl Room" button to monitor the actual stream on twitch.)
  
  • https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5597
    
• The mixer I have: https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-502-BEHRINGER-XENYX/dp/B000J5UEGQ
  
  ​
  
  ​
  
  Everything is fed through the mixer.
  
  IF USING ELGATO and a PS4/XBOX/other external system:Turn down the audio from the ElGato in OBS. All audio will come from "Line In (High Quality Audio Device)" or something like that. You'll have to add some delay to either the video or audio in OBS to get video to sync with audio. (I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but can get them later if you like.)
  
  What I love about this setup is my mic, my game (Ps4) and my PC sounds (steam, spotify, etc..) are all on separate channels and what I hear in my headphones is exactly what's being streamed. There's none of this sudden realization that after an hour of playing my voice has been too low on stream, but sounds fine to me.
  
  Edit: added examples of cables
  
  Edited again: to clarify the use of ElGato, if needed)

Yes. This is the exact one I ordered. They have a cheaper one that doesn't have the built in cable, but having the cable is nice since I have an XLR mic :

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AK7SKL4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_MA4zzbXEG4VBH

Edit: Ha! Just noticed I ordered it exactly two years ago to the day!

I'm going to look more into the ATR2100 or another dynamic mic.


The Behringer U-Phoria you mentioned earlier is just $30 on Amazon right now. From the review it seems like it's pretty decent assuming that you get a functional one (and if not Amazon has good return policies). I'm guessing the scarlet one is much better but not sure if its 3 times the price better.


Edit: or were you referring to the other u-phoria thats $60. And here's the $30 one

Yes.

I recommend the Logitech C920. It's used by almost every streamer, including myself, and I am very happy with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Webcam-Widescreen-Calling-Recording/dp/B006JH8T3S

Currently using an AT2020 and this microphone suspension arm :

http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Broadcast-Microphone-Suspension-Scissor/dp/B00AK7SKL4

Not sure if it ships to Australia or where it may be in stock but if you can find it hopefully it is pretty cheap. Not a perfect fit really for the at2020 and took a bit of effort just to get in but the yeti seems like it would be even harder to mount (which is why I bought the at2020 in the first place as well).

I have the best seller desk stand from Amazon. It's a nice stand but sometimes I wish I just bought a standalone one as finding a good place to anchor it on my desk has been difficult.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00DY1F2CS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1486926211&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=mic+stand+desk&dpPl=1&dpID=41fRgSaVgtL&ref=plSrch

First off, I appreciate the reply. From a budget standpoint, I am now debating about snagging a webcam like a Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 and calling it a day or purchasing the full version of SparkoCam and using the D90. I wish SparkoCam wasn't $60 for the full version. I will test out the D90 with the trial version as well to see if there is a timer on the video.

1. Are you using LGP livestream engine?
   
   
2. Component is shoddy on ps3 in the end I ended up buying a splitter which strips HDCP. I have only owned it about a week and it seems to work a treat, ca't common on longivty however, hoping it will last a long time. http://www.amazon.co.uk/ViewHD-Port-Powered-Splitter-1080P/dp/B004F9LVXC/ref=sr_1_36?ie=UTF8&qid=1397124298&sr=8-36&keywords=HDMI+splitter
   
   
3. If you need more help just reply :D

If you're planning to do PS3 over HDMI you can just get something like this to bypass the HDCP. It works perfectly well for me.

Streaming setups are inherently difficult is there are a lot of variable to consider, so I totally get it!

​

You CPU should be fine, its an 8 core processor. My wonder here is, because I did some research and it seems that with that particular capture card this seems to be a common issue. I also know that I already asked this but if this ("Game Capture HD60 S (Video)(#01)") is an option for a video device, this would be the one you want to use.

​

Photo for reference <-- This is from OBS Studio, but the settings should be very similar.

​

• I would also lower the cpu cycle presets by going to: SLOBS settings > Output > at the top select drop down menu and go to advanced > scroll down to encoder (probably X.264) > scroll down to "CPU Usage preset" > move it to ultrafast.
  
• On the same page, check to see if the rescale output is selected. If not, select it and rescale to 720p.
  
  ​
  
  Are you also seeing the choppyness on the stream end? **Edit, I just looked at your vod that shows the new capture card, and I can see that the video just stops. Interesting......
  
  ​
  
  It also seems that these USB driven capture cards tend to pitter out after a while of stream use, I would recommend if you can to grab an HD 60 PRO, its an internal capture card and I have yet to see any frame loss issues and I have it capturing a second computers audio and video (Not and ad, just personal preference :) ).
  
  ​
  
  Here is a link to a thread that has some other step by step detail:
  
  Link 1
  
  ​
  
  If something doesn't make sense, feel free to DM me and I can have you send some screen shots of your specific SLOBS settings and I can see what you are working with!
  
  ​
  
  ​
  
  ​

Logitech C920 is considered to be one of the best at $50. Does 1080p30fps with a 12mp sensor which is great for a facecam. The mic is also pretty good, but since most streamers will want a boom mic it's kind of a throwaway feature for a cam.

If you feel that you just can't live without 1080p60 then the C922 can do that, but it's not worth the bump in price (costs 2x as much).

https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Widescreen-Calling-Recording-Desktop/dp/B006JH8T3S

Yeah the HD60S or the HD60 Pro if you wanna put it in your PC. Or if you really wanna get fancy you can go with the 4K60 Pro for the 4K quality goodness!!

HD60S: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DRWCOGA/ref=emc_b_5_t

HD60 Pro: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014MQIVPS/ref=emc_b_5_t

4K60 Pro: https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Game-Capture-4K60-Pro/dp/B076ZQBN6R

Although it does say that the regular HD60 can capture in 1080p60 as well. I have the HD60 Pro in my PC and have a PS4 Pro and it works fine

I use the Blue Snowball with this boom arm attached to my second desk that my tower sits on: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DY1F2CS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02

And this pop filter: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AOH1O6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01

The pop filter is flexible so gives a little I just secured it to the boom arm with velcro and black bands.

The Snowball is just fine if you are on a budget and what something that sounds clean. I use it for streaming and Youtube vids. It does tend to pick up my keyboard, but I have a mechanical keyboard so that's gonna happen lol.

I used this video as a reference and you can also hear the quality of the mic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZCxtaqzvgA

I highly recommend a similar setup to mine, you might spend a little more but it's well worth it!

here are the links

Microphone: MXL 990

Mixer: Behringer Q802usb

Boom arm Neewer Boom Stand

Pop Filter: This one

Here's my headphone/standalone mic set up:

Headphones: Sony MDR-7506. They are some of the best in the business.

Mic/soundcard/mixer?

Xenyx1002fx (mixer)

AT2020 (XLR Mic)

Soundcard

How much you spend, really depends on how committed you are to streaming!

GLHF
Z

I use a studio mic arm, it's pretty darn pricey but for me it was a really useful investment. Here's the amazon link if you're interested

Well... I can honestly say that's a new one for mic preference. Bravo?

As far as a mount, that mic is light enough that you can pretty much use anything. There's a bunch of identical entry-level scissor mounts, all with the same design/clamp, like this one (hell, there's even one for a couple bucks more that comes with a pop filter). I use this for my own desk setup with an NTG-2, works alright, just know that it has its quirks and can't support anything over maybe a pound without overloading the friction plate.


inb4 PSA1 recommendations for a Disney mic.

Can vouch for the snowball it's a nice starter mic. Make sure you have available 2.0 ports though. When I first installed I had connected to 3.0 and it worked fine for about a week then my followers report no voice over the weekend and I spent 2 hours uninstalling drivers ect ect. Would also recommend these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000H18RYS/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1474991061&sr=8-11&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=blue+snowball+microphone

Mic and pop filter set:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01L5W4KQG/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1474991116&sr=8-10&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=blue+snowball+microphone

Full set:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00P0Q753O/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1474991116&sr=8-14&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=blue+snowball+microphone

Rode mic arm:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001D7UYBO/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474991268&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=rode+mic+arm+stand&dpPl=1&dpID=41RQ2Uw-XML&ref=plSrch

> topics could include - different types of mics - mixers demystified - how to use EQ to improve the sound of your voice - what is compression and why you need it ...etc.

I could totally go for this. I'm getting a mixer and would love to know how to utilize it fully as I have a basic knowledge of what to do.

Mixer: Behringer XENYX502 5-Channel Mixer

There is another good cheap microphone that I use myself, I think it is a great option, Neewer NW-700 It comes with boom arm, pop filter, and everything you need. It does require a 48 watt phantom power supply which you can get with a Bundle with the mic or buy one separately. Though one thing I would recommend is a different Pop Filter as the one that comes with the microphone can be very annoying.

If he is using a second pc to capture his video (hdmi)(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004F9LVXC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

ex: console/pc => splitter => stream pc
=> tv/monitor

I have found is super useful. What this will do, is split the video stream to two devices, so he can run his games on one screen and send a duplicate to his capture card. It only does 1080p but most streams are 720p with some exceptions.

There is a 4k model as well if he is streaming in 4k (https://www.amazon.com/ViewHD-Advanced-Splitter-Support-VHD-0102N/dp/B00AL61OOO/ref=pd_ybh_a_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=PDP9TXCVMN6G07MC5FF8)

80$ will get you a good setup(i have the same mic just different arm and foam ball) https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4 Look at the "frequently bought" section underneath to see arm etc. This mic is great for area where there are other people around. It wont pick up any background noise. Prefer it over the Yeti for the setup i was using.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DY1F2CS/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_jc1FwbH3RR3AA

I have this and it doesn't wobble unless I move it and it's loosened. Very sturdy and has a screw extension so it can fit more than one size. I use it with my Samson meteor mic. Best for the money!

MXL BCD-1 dynamic mic - £103

Behringer UMC22 - £48

Desk mount boom arm w/shock mount - £13

XLR cable - £6

Total cost: £170

I own all these (minus this particular XLR cable) and they are great. Even the cheap boom arm that I though would fail has held up for more than a year and still works great.

Since you have the budget, if you have the floor space available, I'd also recommend getting a floor stand for the mic boom rather than using a desk mount. Even with a shock mount, desk mounts have a tendency to transfer vibrations from anything that hits the desk (set a mug down too hard, bump your knee, etc.).

Haha, wow I just asked Kalikovision64 p much the same thing about this:

>ATR2100

Yeah I agree, I wouldn't use it via hub. Looks like the laptop has three USB 3 ports so use one of those directly. I haven't tried the Magewell but I really like my Elgato HD60S (https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Game-Capture-HD60-S/dp/B01DRWCOGA) which will use the same configuration /u/lemurofdiablo describes.

Don't waste your money on the PSA Just buy these two items

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DY1F2CS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001H5KP0M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have 0 feetback to my mic from the desk, and the stand works GREAT

You'll need a capture card like the elgato HD60s: https://www.amazon.com/Elgato-Game-Capture-HD60-PlayStation/dp/B01DRWCOGA

You'll connect that to your PC over a USB 3.0 port like this:

Switch -> HDMI -> HD60s Input -> HD60s USB C output -> PC USB3.0 Input.

That will get the video feed from your console to your PC. After you have that working you'll want to connect an additional HDMI cable to the output of the HD60s and hook it up to a monitor to play the game on.

A mixer at your mic split to both PC will work. With that mic you might want a good mixer anyway. https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-502-Premium-5-Input-British/dp/B000J5UEGQ Most small mixers will have 2 outputs. You can also use virtual solutions like Vban, Virtual Audio Cable, and Voice Meeter banana to pickup the mic and bring over to the stream PC. https://www.vb-audio.com/Voicemeeter/ These come in handy because there's often other stuff (discord, games, music, etc) that you might want to pickup from your game machine and mix differently before they end up in OBS.

Then I'm not sure. I've used XLR interface boxes before but never done phantom power into a converter. I'm not super experienced so take my advice with a grain of salt but I would recommend just getting an interface box. I've used one like this before and it worked well. https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UM2-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00EK1OTZC/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1517946265&sr=8-3&keywords=xlr+interface

Judging from the price fluctuation, at least on Amazon, it looks like you must've gotten yours when it was on sale. You're very fortunate!

Thanks for the reply!

Is there a major differece between the Samson Q2U and the Sm58 or E835 in terms of sound quality. I was also looking at audio interfaces and I found the Behringer UMC22 ($50) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FFIGZF6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1 and was wondering if it was a good choice for that price?

I'm unsure how easy it is to fix that lack of grounding, but I purchased an ATR-2100 and I love it so far.

I'm late to the party but I strongly disagree with your microphone suggestions. A condenser microphone is going to pick up mouse/keyboard sounds no matter how directional it is. I originally bought a Blue Yeti and was shocked by how much environmental noise it picks up, this is not a viable option for most people.

Instead what you should do is get a dynamic cardioid or supercardioid microphone. Not a lot of these exist with a USB connection but the ones that do work extremely well. I recommend the Audio Technica ATR2100-USB (alternative version) or the Samson Q1U if you can't find the AT, they're difficult to get in Europe for some reason.

Either of these will serve the purpose of the average steamer much better than the microphones you are recommending.

Go with the classic Shure SM58. Use a bit of compression so it brings your speaking voice up and your shouting voice down. Use a boom stand like this to mount it. Dynamic mics don't work very well when they are far from the sound source so make sure the mic is close enough and use a windscreen like this one.

Audio interface if you need one

Ideal mic distance

I started with a Blue Snowball and ac920 logitech camera it was good quality at a good price. The Logitech C615 is another good camera at a lower price.

Snowball (49.00)
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Snowball-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B006DIA77E

ac920 (61.99)
https://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Widescreen-Calling-Recording-Desktop/dp/B006JH8T3S

For retro games not supported by my avermedia LGP I use the I-o Data GV-USB2 ($40 on amazon) .
You might need some splitters to get the video to the TV but those should be pretty cheap.
(I guess one thing worth noting is the drivers are on a japanese disc but if you put it in your PC and open the installer you just click the left button)

If you want a pretty cheap and surprisingly good one, the GV-USB2 works exceedingly well. I've tested NES, SNES, PS1 and PS2 on it using S-Video and it has looked great in all of them. It's not as great as a Framemeister, but then it's 10% of the cost of a Framemeister.

If you don't have a ton of room around your desk, I've found this to be a GREAT solution... I'm using it to hold an AT2020 and it's rock solid. http://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Broadcast-Microphone-Suspension-Scissor/dp/B00AK7SKL4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414249617&sr=8-1&keywords=microphone+boom+arm

FYI the atr2005 mic is 100x better (Is USB and XLR, sounds better, smaller and cuts out back ground noise) and its $10 cheaper! https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2005USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B007JX8O0Y/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1499790415&sr=8-10&keywords=audio+technica+atr2100

PS. there is also the atr2100 which is even cheaper at $69