Looking for a new microphone

[Köhvwezd]

Alright, I'll start this by saying that I am NOT an audiophile. My Essence STX serves me just fine, it's noticeably better than onboard, but that's as far as I'll really recognize. I'm not looking to get amps or DACs or any other console-size boxes on my desk, because I do not have the physical space on this desk for all that stuff.

 

I'm looking for a new microphone mostly for gaming, TS and Skype. My current mic is a 15€ piece of junk that makes a buzzing sound so loud that I have to yell to be heard over it. As such, I really need a new one, because my throat is very sore, especially during winter

 

I suppose my choices are really limited to USB or... anything that plugs into an Essence STX (a 1/4" AFAIK)? My budget is around 200€, which should be plenty, since I'm not exactly planning on doing professional music recording or anything of the sort. As long as I can have a clear voice transmitted over the interwebs. It's really awkward to end these threads abruptly, so this is the end ->.

[WoodenMarker]

Where are you shopping? 

Something like a blue snowflake would be decent. 

 

If you use headphones, you can get a modmic 4.0

[H4X3R]

Blue Snowball? Good mic for ~ 60 Euros. For 100ish Euros the AT2020 would be ideal. Anything more than the AT2020 is not really justifiable in your use case scenario.

[ZetZet]

Modmic is better option if you have noisy environment and Snowflake, Snowball, Yeti or AT2020 (In order) are better in quiet environments.

[Guest]

Blue Snowball or Yeti.

 

Can't go wrong with Blue products really especially for the price.

[Köhvwezd]

Blue Snowball? Good mic for ~ 60 Euros. For 100ish Euros the AT2020 would be ideal. Anything more than the AT2020 is not really justifiable in your use case scenario

I considered the AT2020, but the USB version is 160€, perhaps a bit too much, even if I have a budget of 200€, and the regular one doesn't plug directly into an STX AFAIK

 

 

Where are you shopping? 

Something like a blue snowflake would be decent. 

 

If you use headphones, you can get a modmic 4.0

 

Modmic is better option if you have noisy environment and Snowflake, Snowball, Yeti or AT2020 (In order) are better in quiet environments.

 

Blue Snowball or Yeti.

 

Can't go wrong with Blue products really especially for the price.

Since Blue products come so well recommended, I think I'll have to go with one of them. It's a tossup between the Snowball and Yeti really. I much prefer the looks of the Yeti, but is the difference in quality justifying almost double the price tag (66€ vs 122€)?

[ZetZet]

Since Blue products come so well recommended, I think I'll have to go with one of them. It's a tossup between the Snowball and Yeti really. I much prefer the looks of the Yeti, but is the difference in quality justifying almost double the price tag (66€ vs 122€)?

Snowball has a worse stand and picks up more noise. If you have a mechanical keyboard and hammer it when playing you might hear it really well in the recording.

For general speaking and voice communication tasks the price difference is not justified in my opinion.

[Köhvwezd]

Snowball has a worse stand and picks up more noise. If you have a mechanical keyboard and hammer it when playing you might hear it really well in the recording.

For general speaking and voice communication tasks the price difference is not justified in my opinion.

Ech, I've got a mechanical keyboard but it shouldn't really be a problem. As long as it doesn't make an annoying electrical hum it's fine for me. Thanks!

[WoodenMarker]

Since Blue products come so well recommended, I think I'll have to go with one of them. It's a tossup between the Snowball and Yeti really. I much prefer the looks of the Yeti, but is the difference in quality justifying almost double the price tag (66€ vs 122€)?

They're both rather large unlike the Snowflake. Be prepared to clear out some desk space if you do go with the Snowball or Yeti. I don't think they're worth getting over the cheaper and more practical snowflake for what you're doing.