How To Set Up A Microphone For Gaming And Discord. How to set up mic for pc gaming

Now that you’ve connected the headset to your computer, it’s time to make sure Windows has properly configured and configured sound levels, etc. First, we need to make sure Windows has the headset selected as the default output device.

Best Microphone 2021

A good gaming headset may have everything you need to chat with your gaming teammates or make video calls occasionally without having to worry that audio from your computer is streaming back to the microphone. But if you want to get into more serious production like streaming or podcasting, you have a good reason to buy a dedicated microphone.

For many headsets, the microphone ranks second to the speakers – after all, hearing quality is important. But when you want to share your golden voice with a streaming or podcast audience, it’s important that no sound is already coming from the headphone speakers, but audio is coming through the audience’s speakers instead. This means you suddenly need a microphone that can match the quality of good speakers. So dedicated hardware is what you need.

The robust, standalone microphone will provide a wider frequency range than the headset’s primary microphone, allowing you to pick up all the nuances in your voice for a richer sound. By having different reception patterns, they can also help reduce background noise that may be coming from your gaming PC or gaming keyboard. Some microphones even allow you to switch between different pickup patterns, so you can focus only on your cardioid voice one day, while the next day you can try to record yourself and your visitor in two-way mode.

With all of this in mind, we’ll help guide you through a variety of high-quality microphones that suit a variety of production environments. So, whether you just want to stream games on the weekends or plan to create a half-dozen podcast series, you’ll be able to find the right mic for the job – click here to find them in the UK.

TL;DR – These are the Best Microphones for Streaming and Podcasting:

Best Microphone for Streaming and Podcasting

Type: 2 x rear electret condenser capsule | Sensitivity: + 6dB FS / PA | Frequency response 50 Hz – 20 kHz | Sampling frequency: 96kHz | Bit depth: 16 bit, 24 bit | Max SPL: 120dB | Polar Pattern: Cardioid, Bi-directional, Omnidirectional | Headphone amplifier: 85 mW into 32 ohms

Whether you’re streaming your games, recording a podcast, or doing both on a regular basis, the Samson G-Track Pro is the microphone you should focus on. This is a really powerful condenser microphone. First, it supports a range of recording settings thanks to three selectable polar patterns. You can focus only on yourself in a cardioid desk setting, talk to your visitor using the bi-directional setting, or just try to collect everything in a surround setting.

Samson G-Track Pro can also handle high quality recordings. It will pick up anything from 50Hz to 20kHz, covering the typical range of the human voice and beyond. It can also deal with loud sound with a maximum sound pressure level of 120 dB. All that sound can be recorded up to 96kHz and either 16 or 24 bit. On the mic, you’ll find a range of simple controls for selecting everything, plus a headphone monitoring jack and even a quarter-inch jack for a second input source.

Choosing a good gaming headset is not a walk in the park – you’ll be amazed at the number of gaming headsets on the market (as well as how many are just plain awful). You really need to go to the higher tier of gaming headsets to find one that has no obvious flaws.

Where To Place Your Microphone

The first thing you need to consider when setting up your microphone is its placement. Some microphones only pick up sound from one direction correctly, so if you have one of them make sure it’s close and pointing towards you. Typically, the grille area of ​​the microphone is the area you want to speak to, so make sure the wider side of the microphone is facing your mouth. It doesn’t have to be directly in front of your face, and positioning it to the side can help reduce unwanted pops and breathing noises. Don’t worry, you’ll have the option to adjust this later depending on how you sound.

Place the microphone on a stable surface that is not too far from your face but does not obstruct your hands while typing or using the mouse. As long as you don’t have noise suppression built in, you can also place it away from the keyboard to avoid transmitting all of your keystrokes and mouse clicks while typing or playing.

Choose HyperX QuadCast S and you will have access to a range of directional patterns to suit almost any environment. Surround recording captures sound from multiple sources over a 360-degree range. The cardioid directivity pattern is ideal for prioritizing sounds directly in front of it, and the stereo pattern is tuned to pick up sounds on either side of the microphone while minimizing everything else. It also comes with a built-in pop filter and an anti-vibration shock mount to avoid the penetration of those bumps or unwanted noises.

If you want things a little more refined, you might also consider raising the gooseneck arm. These extendable and adjustable stands can be attached to the edge of a desk or they can also be freestanding. They will allow the microphone to be suspended in the air, further reducing unwanted vibrations and giving even more placement options.

How To Set Up A Microphone For Gaming

Computers are pretty smart these days, and when you connect a new technology such as HyperX QuadCast S, they will automatically install the appropriate drivers for it. Plug in the microphone via USB, and if you are using Windows, an icon or message should appear in the lower-right corner of the taskbar saying that the driver is being installed. Click the little up arrow to see more icons if you think it’s hidden and want to check the progress.

Once the driver is installed, using the microphone while gaming should be that easy. The problem is that there is a huge range of products that you usually use when using a microphone, including headsets, webcams, and more. To make sure Windows is using the correct audio device, open Sound Settings. To do this, right-click the speaker icon in the lower-right corner of the screen or use the search bar to find Sound Settings.

Here you can set the default output devices (speakers) and inputs (microphone). Since we are interested in the microphone, it makes sense to click on the drop-down menu on the input. Select your microphone, and when you turn it on, check that the “Test Your Microphone” bar moves when you talk to it. If not, you may need to check that it is properly connected and turned on.

If you want to like it here, you can set different default microphones for each of your running programs by clicking the “Application Volume & Device Preferences” button under “Advanced Sound Options”. This is a particularly useful feature when you want to use QuadCast S in-game, but you also want Discord chat to use the Cloud Flight S wireless headset in case you need to get up to eat a snack.

From here on, the mic should automatically work for most games, but it’s always a good idea to open up the in-game settings to check it out. Each game is different, but if it supports a microphone, your audio settings should let you see what device your computer is using, and also adjust whether you are speaking with Voice Activity or Push To Talk. For the latter, you’ll also want to select an easy-to-press key to be able to communicate.

Type: Dynamic | Sensitivity: -56dBV / Pa | Frequency response 75 Hz – 18 kHz | Polar pattern: cardioid

2. Check the Gaming Headset Connectors

Now that you have an idea of ​​the different audio ports on your computer, it’s time to check your gaming headset to see the available connector. What if my computer does not have audio output for the gaming headset? No problem! You can always get an audio adapter / converter from Amazon.

3.5mm headphone splitter (from: Amazon)

For example, if your headset only has one 3.5mm jack, you might get a 3.5mm headphone splitter that lets you “split” the jack into separate headphone and microphone jacks. Or maybe your headset has a newer USB Type-C port and your computer doesn’t have the correct port. As a solution, you can get a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter.

4. Configure Sound Output on the PC

Now that you’ve connected your gaming headset to your computer, it’s time to make sure the audio levels are properly set up for the connected device.

Sometimes setup is automatic, so just put your headset on and play music to test it.

If there’s no sound coming from the headset, you’ll need to manually set it up.

First, make sure your computer has the headset selected as the default audio output device. To do this:

Right-click the sound icon in the system tray and select “Open Sound Settings”. A new window will open.

I go to the sound settings

Sound output settings

Set the headset as the output device

Play music on the computer again to see if sound comes from the headset. If not, you’ll need to test the output to make sure you’ve selected the correct device and that it works as it should.

Select “Open Sound Settings” again, and then click the “Sound Controls” pane.

Go to the sound control panel

I go to the properties of the headphones

Testing the sound output

If you’ve selected the correct device selected for sound output, the sound should be heard through the headset.

As a dedicated chat program, Discord allows you to get a bit more detailed sound settings. To do this, make sure that it is correctly using the new microphone. Fortunately, setup is fairly straightforward.

Discord offers a lot of options too

Dedicated microphones require more precise positioning and tuning, but sound better than the headset’s microphones by a mile of the country.

If you’re playing on a computer and thinking about the microphone settings, there’s a good chance you’ll be using Discord for voice chat. It’s become quite ubiquitous, and for good reason – it’s very good. There are a lot of things you can adjust in the app’s settings to improve call quality, so click the gear icon next to the microphone and headphone icons at the bottom and go to “Voice & Video”. This site has all kinds of goodies to play with.

Clicking the microphone test button will let you know if you’re hot (or not) and will help you set the volume output. Speaking of volume output, do not move the bar all the way to the right at once. This scale actually goes up to 200% – if it sounds good in the middle, that’s perfectly normal.

The microphone check button is also good for deciding whether to turn on the echo cancellation and noise suppression options in the app. Just turn the test on and listen. Is there a lot of background noise? Is your voice clear? You can restore the default settings by pressing the button at the bottom of the page, so don’t be afraid to mess around with the settings on this page. You never know what can help.

Don’t be afraid to play around

The microphones for the gaming headset are designed to be less fiddling. They are often not terribly sensitive, and even under the best conditions, they won’t sound like studio-quality microphones. However, that’s no reason to just live with it if it sounds like a ’90s windy phone. Much of what I mentioned here will help, but nothing is a silver bullet. Don’t be afraid to mix and match different settings, whether it’s Windows volume and Discord noise reduction, or some other combination.

Most of these settings aren’t that hard to find or reset, so don’t be afraid to mess around if something doesn’t sound the way you want it to.

Of course, you also need a computer. A desktop or gaming PC might be better for intensive editing, but a good laptop will be much more convenient. When it comes to software, there are many professional editing packages to choose from, but for most people, Audacity or even Garage Band should do the trick.

Troubleshooting Windows headset issues

source: Windows Center

Make sure you use the right ports

Is it connected? Have you used the correct port? For 3.5mm jacks it is usually green for output and pink for input, depending on the available sound card. Combine the two and nothing will happen. Newer motherboards come with numerous surround sound ports, so you may need to refer to the manual for more information.

Auto-detection could be playing up

OEM software can get in the way here. If you have software like Realtek HD Audio Manager, try disabling Socket Detection and see if it helps.

Re-installing drivers

If the headset doesn’t work, the problem may be with the drivers. Go to Device Manager and uninstall the drivers for the connected headset. Restart your computer and reconnect the headset so Windows can reinstall it. Yes, it’s a tried and true “turn it off and on” process, but it works.

Select different formats

If you still can’t get anything, try selecting a different I / O format in the properties window (use the headset steps above).

Don’t be muted

Depending on the make and model of the headset, it may operate the controls on the cable. The volume sliders and mute buttons are easily accessible here, but make sure they’re set for use.

Try a different headset/device

To find out if the problem is with the headset (not the computer), try using it on a different computer or device. You can also try connecting a different headset if you have one handy.

Our top headset recommendations

Value Pick

HyperX Cloud Alpha

Solid build quality and sound

HyperX made Cloud Alpha sound great for PC gamers with its dual-chamber driver design for optimal audio quality. They are also built to last a long time. In fact, you could throw them, and they would still sound just as good. Multi-platform compatibility and the price are just the icing on this sweet cake.

The Cloud Alpha has a detachable noise-canceling microphone and braided cable with some mediocre controls on the cable. The controls are pretty lame, but at least it gives you quick access in the game. Overall, not a bad headset for the price.

For Serious Gamers

SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC

Amazing sound and comfort

The Steelseries Arctis Pro + GameDAC isn’t the cheapest headset, but it’s worth the money. The excellent amplifier module allows you to easily manage the device, and the exceptional sound quality allows you to truly immerse yourself in the game.

The drivers inside the SteelSeries Arctis Pro + GameDAC cups are more than good enough for gaming, and the microphone handles communication with your teammates. This is a high-quality Hi-Res certified gaming headset that is worth considering.

Entry headset

Plugable Performance Onyx HS53

Affordable PC gaming headset

Plugable has created an inexpensive $ 50 gaming headset that is worth considering, even if you don’t want to save on audio.

The design suits the Astro family, with large cups that cover the ears and nice, large, comfortable memory foam cushions. The mic isn’t retractable or detachable, but it does have a nice trick where it automatically mutes itself when you flip it over from the side of your head.

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Some people like the choice of a gaming headset and headphones. However, if you’re on a tight budget, your only option will be choice. So what would you choose?

The Gaming Headset

At their simplest, headsets are headphones with an attached microphone.

However, gaming headsets are a different matter entirely – at best, they will strive for clear communication, noise isolation, immersive audio, greater comfort, and often use colorful sound designs to ensure an enjoyable gaming experience.

Gaming Headset Buying Advice

Choosing a good gaming headset is not a walk in the park – you’ll be amazed at the number of gaming headsets on the market (as well as how many are just plain awful). You really need to go to the higher tier of gaming headsets to find one that has no obvious flaws.

In addition, the marketing terms used to describe gaming headsets can be quite overwhelming.

So how do you pick the best gaming headset?

• Comfort
• Sound quality
• Durability
• Cost

Comfort

Comfort comes first with a gaming headset. Given the amount of time you intend to spend on your next adventure, which is unknown, it is essential that the headset you choose not to burden you.

Choosing a good gaming headset is important as it can give you an edge or it can also lower the level when gaming.

To judge a gaming headset based on comfort, you can start by carefully examining the materials used to make the earcups and headband. A material like shape memory foam is better because it conforms its design to the shape of the ears. Thick but soft earpads can also be a sign that you should pay attention to when choosing a comfortable headset.

In addition to the material, you should also check the headset’s design to make sure it offers good levels of adjustment and the overall weight shouldn’t be too heavy to wear on your head for long hours

How crazy would an uncomfortable gaming headset be on your head? Gaming headsets for people with larger heads can be a good idea if you feel the headset clamps are too tight on a large head.

This is obvious; a comfortable gaming headset is a MUST.

Sound Quality

The audio quality of the headset is another feature that you should check out on a good gaming headset. Your gaming headset should be just as important as your gaming graphics.

Unlike regular headphones, gaming headsets provide wide surround sound, making your virtual game realistic and realistic. Some headsets or gaming headphones always have simulated surround sound.

For players who play FPS games, simulated surround sound is important as it can help you locate enemy positions quickly. A headset or headphones with powerful bass is also a must-have for FPS games. This is because the sounds of explosions or shots come to life.

Another useful feature of some gaming headsets (even budget gaming headsets) is noise canceling. Thanks to the use of an external microphone, any external noise is reversed, which eliminates it. This feature is useful for games that require your full concentration, so you can play without being distracted by the real world.

Durability

When you decide to get a pair of gaming headsets, expect them to wear them for quite some time. Some manufacturers often ignore the build quality and supply cheap, low-quality gaming headsets. This usually means you will be purchasing a replacement headset in a few months.

The Headphone and Mic Combo

V-Moda Crossfade Headphones with Boom Pro Mic | Shawn Zipay

The combination of headphones and microphone means you get regular headphones and an external microphone that can be plugged into the headphones for a better gaming experience.

Unlike a gaming headset, with headphones you need to buy both good headphones and a good microphone in case you need them.

With that said, I am going to cover the guide on how to check out the best gaming mic. For headphones, you can check out our detailed headphone buying guide.

Gaming microphone Buying Advice

V-Moda BoomPro microphone | Reviews of Z

• Microphone form factor
• Unidirectional, bidirectional or omni-directional microphones
• microphone communication

Microphone form factor

The microphone aspect ratio can be divided into two distinct categories: a detachable microphone or an external microphone.

The detachable gaming mic is ultra-portable, suitable for gamers on the move.

With an external microphone, you can use it not only for gaming. You can use a YouTube microphone (if you are a YouTuber). One thing that keeps me away from external microphones is that they’ll be visible all the time, making them more distracting.

If you need a recommendation for a gaming headset with no or detachable mic, check out this article.

Unidirectional, Bi-directional or Omni-directional mics

Most of the gaming headset microphones are unidirectional; that is, they only accept sound from one direction. This is quite beneficial as other players on the other side will not hear other sounds from your house.

A two-way microphone, sometimes referred to as Figure 8, is a type of microphone that picks up sound from the front and rear equally, but not from the sides. In games, bi-directional microphones are preferred as the transmitted sound is richer than unidirectional microphones.

Thanks to the omnidirectional microphones, the microphone records everything in 360 degrees. An omnidirectional microphone can come in handy if you keep changing your position while gaming. Omni-directional microphones would not be good if used in noisy environments as they record everything.

Microphone Connectivity/Compatibility

There are two main types for connectivity: wired and wireless. Wired microphone connections can be further broken down into other input categories such as USB, 3.5mm jack, etc.

XLR is one popular option that also lets you experience better sound quality, but most modern gaming mics will likely be USB mics.

To increase the microphone’s compatibility with the current configuration, you can purchase an adapter that will allow for an even higher microphone compatibility threshold.

If you want things a little more refined, you might also consider raising the gooseneck arm. These extendable and adjustable stands can be attached to the edge of a desk or they can also be freestanding. They will allow the microphone to be suspended in the air, further reducing unwanted vibrations and giving even more placement options.

Audio filtration

OBS, and thus Streamlabs OBS, offer extremely powerful functionality directly from the audio mixer tab in the application itself: filters. Various types of filters are available, ranging from gain and noise gates to VST filters. These can produce great results when properly set up and are available by clicking the Mic Input Settings gear in the Mixer Panel.

Gain is a simple filter with a simple purpose: it makes the microphone appear louder than it really is. Increasing this too far can be very detrimental to the sound quality and clarity, so be careful with overdone settings. However, with a few subtle tweaks, any quiet mic will be heard loud and clear.

Noise Canceling is a fantastic tool for removing small, continuous background noise that could otherwise ruin your audience’s audio experience. The noise gate is similar in that it also aims to get rid of unwanted background noise. Both prevent sound below a certain threshold from entering the stream. The latter may be a bit more difficult to find the first time, and will need to be adapted to your own environment.

A compressor filter is an extremely useful tool if you are prone to getting too crazy. Essentially, this prevents the microphone from popping out and blowing up the eardrums in viewers’ ears during “hot” moments. Again, this filter will take a personal touch, but it can be worth it if you don’t contain your emotions well in the mid-game. This filter is incredibly powerful, and it’s worth delving into if you want a professional touch in your audio stream.

Last but certainly not least is VST. This stands for Virtual Studio technology and is used by both amateurs and experts to get the best sound possible. There are a whole litany of free VST plugins available online that anyone can try, anybody can supercharge their audio no matter what their hardware is.

Step up and stream

If you want to take your gaming experience one step higher, the Turtle Beach Elite Pro TAC offers microphone monitoring and background noise reduction right on the device itself. Made for professional gamers, this audio controller is an easy way to amplify your audio stream, featuring a variety of EQ settings, Superhuman hearing, DTS 7.1 surround sound, and easy-to-access controls for on-the-fly setup.

The gaming headset is a powerful tool that cannot be taken lightly as your favorite streamer uses professional studio equipment. You don’t need professional equipment to start streaming or get great results, and a high-quality gaming headset – such as the Turtle Beach Elite Atlas – has everything you need to start your streaming career.

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