Looking for additions/edits to my mic/gear recommendations

[StrudelMan]

19 minutes ago, The Flying Sloth said:

Let's break this down a bit.

Okay, so does every interface with multiple outputs and inputs.... This isn't special,

Yes, and it's also why streamers use voicemeeter...... or just control the routing through OBS itself. This isn't something special.
Voicemeeter doesn't drop out randomly and makes perfect sense to use if you set it up properly, I just dislike it because I have hardware solutions, speaking of hardware solutions you could also substitute the GoXLR for a mixing desk and retain all (literally all except perhaps effects depending on the board and even then VST) the functionality while not relying on consumer hardware that (likely) won't last.

Well yeah, it's just that differentiating your stream from that 99% is most often accomplished with instruments which requires more inputs, so if you're happy to just stream to nobody of course one input is fine but if you want flexibility and points of difference from other low level streamers more is certainly better, besides, at the price mixers and interfaces with more inputs are clearly a better choice. 

 

I agree, sometimes convenience is worth it, but this isn't a recommended gear list for streamers, it's a recommended audio gear list so the Streamdeck isn't going to make the list either.

Modern CPUs aren't even close to being fully utilised in most games, videogames are still GPU bound for the most part and you can afford to give up some CPU cycles so it's not huge, in fact, it's not even small.

Yes, so does every interface and many mixers, besides, ASIO really is just about latency so unless you're tracking audio on it it really doesn't matter...

Well, no, you just made my point for me, it can all be handled with macros at a much lower price and much higher quality, again, I'm not saying it isn't a useful AIO solution for some who don't have the technical ability to set something up themselves (or would rather just buy an AIO solution) but it just isn't anything special for the money and given that my gear recommendations are based on value for money I can't justify including it. As for being the only option, not even close, Rodecaster Pro, MiNiSTUDIO CREATOR US-42 Oh, and literally every USB mixer too......

Because of the fact that this is a value oriented audio gear list and not a 'gear streamers might find useful' list the GoXLR will not be added, it's fairly obvious that it might be useful to some streamers but it's also obvious that the value just isn't there compared to other options in a similar price range (that also didn't make the list) like the Tascam Model 12, Presonus StudioLive AR16c, Alto Live 2404, Zoom LiveTrak L-12 and even the directly competing Rodecaster Pro.

Yes, other mixers/interfaces create multiple audio devices, but no other mixer/interface can do what the goxlr does (unless its the elgato wave, but thats something else altogether) without voicemeeter. Voicemeeter also requires virtual audio cables in order to fully be able to do everything the goxlr does. A mixing desk is not a fair comparison, as it is a) a desk, which makes it immediately impractical for most everyone on space constraints alone, and b) costs more than the goxlr

 

CPU usage is huge, especially in competitive games where a cpu upgrade can net 10-50 more fps (even in titles like cod, which are gpu bound, but still show noticeable performance gains with a better cpu). And while 10-50 fps is minor on its own, in the larger picture, it can mean the difference between 120 fps and 240 fps, which is a significant difference.

 

I have no clue how instruments will help you differentiate your stream? I have never once desired nor required more hardware audio inputs, as there is only one person streaming, and any "guests" would be connected through discord. Even a stream like MrGregles, which is basically as advanced as it gets, especially from an audio perspective, has only one microphone, because there is only one person, MrGregles. His instruments are connected through this obscure technology, known as MIDI. If you want differentiate yourself, having a high production value ain't it, chief. Whilst a high production value is good (and should be something you have anyway), it doesn't give you viewers. Funnelling a following from other platforms like Youtube is.

[StrudelMan]

@The Flying Sloth What would recomend in order to replicate the functionality of the GoXLR in professional hardware, since that is what you recommend? 

[The Flying Sloth]

43 minutes ago, StrudelMan said:

A mixing desk is not a fair comparison, as it is a) a desk, which makes it immediately impractical for most everyone on space constraints alone, and b) costs more than the goxlr

The mixing desks I mentioned in my last comment are around the same price....
Sure they're larger but they also have far more functionality.

44 minutes ago, StrudelMan said:

CPU usage is huge, especially in competitive games

Of course it is but most games still aren't multi-threaded to the point where running stuff in the background has a meaningful defacit on modern processors with 12-16+ threads. 

46 minutes ago, StrudelMan said:

I have no clue how instruments will help you differentiate your stream?

Doing something other people aren't differentiates you, I'm not sure how this is difficult to understand, pianos, guitars and other instruments will require more inputs, sure you can set things up through MIDI but then you lose the onboard sounds and controls you find on the keyboard you're using. And that's just if you only want to play keyboard, guitars and anything else require more inputs. As for Gregles, you do know he's building out a full studio space with pro gear right now?..... 

50 minutes ago, StrudelMan said:

If you want differentiate yourself, having a high production value ain't it, chief. Whilst a high production value is good (and should be something you have anyway), it doesn't give you viewers. Funnelling a following from other platforms like Youtube is.

If you don't have a following elsewhere you have to do something different, if production value didn't help grow a following then people like the Doc and Sushidragon wouldn't have grown anywhere near as large as they have. Production value is important, though, perhaps not as important as identity but this isn't a conversation about marketing, this is a conversation about PRODUCTION........

19 minutes ago, StrudelMan said:

What would recomend in order to replicate the functionality of the GoXLR in professional hardware, since that is what you recommend? 

Again, I never said the GoXLR was a bad device, only that it isn't great value and my recommendation list is based on value. First of all I don't think you need to replicate the functionality in order to stream well, a UMC202HD is a great interface on a budget to use for streaming, but if you did want to replicate it you could easily add some macros with a MIDI control surface and you're almost all the way to replicating the GoXLR, or simply use a mixer, send each program to a different output and then route that back in through each input channel and voila, not only have you replicated the functionality but you've done it cheaper and with a bunch more inputs should you choose to use them.

I don't mean for this to sound rude but in the end, it's a recommendation list based on value and I've repeated that over and over. I'm not going to add a single input interface with some macros to the list at a price well above the 8 channel interface I recommend... That's just not good value.

[StrudelMan]

@The Flying Sloth I understand that it is based on value. And afterall it is your recommendation, and at the end of the day it is your call. If it is truly better and cheaper, then I will consider swapping my goxlr for a better solution. Admittedly, a lot of stuff is beyond my knowledge (adat? wut?), and if there is a better way to do it, that is cheaper as well, than I will do it. However, looking over your recommendations and such, I do not see a clear replacement (for the mixing and dsp and faders). So I would get a umc202hd and a fethead, and then how would I send the applications into a mixer (which would have faders for each), and then output a chat mix, a stream mix, and a headphone mix? 

 

[The Flying Sloth]

1 minute ago, StrudelMan said:

Admittedly, a lot of stuff is beyond my knowledge (adat? wut?), and if there is a better way to do it, that is cheaper as well, than I will do it. However, looking over your recommendations and such, I do not see a clear replacement (for the mixing and dsp and faders). So I would get a umc202hd and a fethead, and then how would I send the applications into a mixer (which would have faders for each), and then output a chat mix, a stream mix, and a headphone mix? 

I'm not telling you to change your solution and I never said the GoXLR was a bad device, if it works for you that's great.

As for other options,
You wouldn't use the 202HD and a mixer, you'd use the mixer alone or the 202HD with a MIDI control surface (either standalone or on a MIDI keyboard) running macros for the virtual sliders in OBS/Windows. Admittedly neither solution has DSP beyond the onboard mixer effects but you can run VSTs in OBS with very little overhead (like the REAPER free plugins) so I consider that a non-issue. Like I said earlier, I don't think you have to replicate the functionality of the GoXLR but if you wanted to you could fairly easily.

As for ADAT, it's an optic fiber connection (the same as TOSLINK) that you can use to add extra inputs and outputs to your interface. For instance, my interface, the UMC1820 has 8 mic inputs and 8 distinct outputs but I could use two optic fiber cables to add an ADA8200 via ADAT for another 8 inputs and another 8 outputs. some interfaces like the RME Digiface USB are ADAT only meaning all IO options come from the ADAT devices you choose to add.

[The Flying Sloth]

[UPDATE : Added larger explanation on the downsides of USB mics based on the replies of Myself and Derkoli on a recent thread]

 

If anyone ever thinks of some more stuff to add consider this an open invitation to respond here or privately message myself, if you can explain why it should be included it will be added and credited to yourself.