We’re comparing the 7 best microphones that we recommend pairing with the GoXLR audio mixer for live streaming. We’ll also quickly look at the two types of microphones in this group and help you decide which is right for you.
All of the microphones in this article have been around for a while, come highly recommended, have dependable distribution and service, and have a good reputation for lasting a long time.
Quick Answer: The NEAT Worker Bee is highly underrated and offers excellent value, while Rode’s NT1 is our favorite condenser. The Electro-Voice RE20 is our favorite microphone for live streaming, and the Shure SM58 is an indestructible workhorse.
Condenser vs Dynamic Microphones.
The microphones in this article can be broken down into two categories; condenser and dynamic microphones. We’ll take a moment to explain the differences if you’re not familiar with them.
Condenser Microphones
NEAT Worker Bee | Audio Technica AT2020 | Rode NT1
- Very clear and articulate.
- Susceptible to picking up background noise.
- Often require a pop filter (can obstruct your face).
Dynamic Microphones
Shure SM58 | Rode PodMic | Shure SM7B | Electro-Voice RE20
- Often have a built-in pop filter.
- Better at noise rejection (better for live streaming).
NEAT Worker Bee
We think the NEAT Worker Bee is a highly underrated condenser microphone. It has a good, crisp, clear sound with a tight polar pattern, robust low end, and tight top end. However, its size and style can be distracting if the mic is in shot, especially if it doesn’t fit your overall brand.
While not for everyone, we feel this mic offers the best value on this list.
Pros:
- Comes with clip-on pop filter and shock mount.
- Least expensive microphone on this list.
Cons:
- Large size
- Stylized design.
Audio Technica AT2020
We always see the Audio Technica AT2020 recommended in live stream forums. It sounds fantastic for its price, and we love how its small profile makes it easy to sneak into the shot. Also, as a condenser microphone, it produces a really good clean, articulate sound.
It’s a little bit more expensive than the Worker Bee, but it’s still great value for money.
Pros:
- Great value
- Good sound
- Extremely versatile
Cons:
- Needs a windscreen to minimize background noise.
Rode NT1
We believe that the Rode NT1 is the best condenser microphone that you can buy for under $1000. It features an almost flat frequency response and produces a very accurate representation of what it’s recording.
The Rode NT1 is highly flexible, and you can use it to record almost any instrument. If you’re recording in a well-controlled environment, this is the condenser mic to get.
Pros:
- Flat frequency response.
- Optional shock mount kits.
Cons:
- Very susceptible to picking up background noise.
Shure SM58
The Shure SM58 has gained a reputation as the first microphone that anyone should buy. It will last a lifetime, sounds great, and is the microphone that all other vocal mics are compared to. Its low handling sound and built-in pop filter have made it popular with live musicians around the world.
However, for live streaming, the SM58 is lacking in the looks area. It doesn’t look as good on screen as some of the other microphones on our list. Only you will know if that’s an important factor for you.
Pros:
- Great sound.
- Robust and reliable.
- Affordable.
Cons:
- Doesn’t have that studio mic look.
Rode PodMic
The Rode PodMic is newer than some of the other mics on this list, and it was designed with streaming and podcasting in mind. We find that the internal pop filter isn’t as good as we were led to expect.
The PodMic doesn’t sound as full as some of the other dynamic microphones on our list, and the low-frequency response is lacking. This could help your voice cut through game noise, but we feel the PodMic sounds a little thin and underwhelming.
Priced around the same as the Shure SM58, we would pick the SM58 over the Rode PodMic.
Pros:
- Designed with streaming in mind.
Cons:
- Needs a windscreen as built-in pop filter is not enough.
- Thin sound due to its low-end frequency response.
Shure SM7B
The Shure SM7B is a highly recommended dynamic microphone that is a mainstay in broadcast recording studios. However, some people complain that it can sound muffled, while others say it simply has a robust low end.
The SM7B is a professional-grade studio microphone with excellent noise rejection that won’t disappoint if you have the budget for it.
Pros:
- Designed to record vocals.
- Great noise rejection.
Cons:
- Can sound muffled.
- Upper end of most budgets.
Electro-Voice RE20
The Electro-Voice RE20 is our favorite microphone, but unfortunately, it’s also the most expensive. Nevertheless, it’s another professional-grade mic that has many of the great characteristics of the Shure SM7B with the added benefit of more top-end clarity, making it sound a lot more natural.
The improved top-end response means that it is more sensitive to background noise than the SM7B, but it still has good noise rejection. Excellent news for streamers; the RE20 is very forgiving of you moving closer and further away during your broadcast.
Pros:
- All the good bits of the SM7B with more top-end clarity.
- Good noise rejection.
- More forgiving with proximity effect.
Cons:
- The most expensive mic on this list.
- More sensitive to noise than the SM7B.
Best Streaming Microphone for GoXLR Audio Mixer Prices & Specs
- GoXLR Audio Mixer: https://currentprice.io/goxlr
- NEAT Worker Bee: https://currentprice.io/workerbee
- Audio Technica AT2020: https://currentprice.io/at2020
- Rode NT1: https://currentprice.io/rode_nt1_kit
- SMR Shockmount for NT1: https://currentprice.io/rode_smr
- Shure SM58: https://currentprice.io/shure_sm58
- Rode PodMic: https://currentprice.io/rode_podmic
- Shure SM7B: https://currentprice.io/shure_sm7b
- Electro-Voice RE20: https://currentprice.io/re20-black
- XLR Cable: https://currentprice.io/xlr_cable
- Mic Stand: https://currentprice.io/desk_stand
- Rode PSA1 Boom Arm: https://currentprice.io/boom_arm
Best Streaming Microphone for GoXLR Audio Mixer Topics
- 0:00 – Introduction
- 0:40 – Mic Selection
- 1:35 – Current Pricing
- 2:09 – Music Store vs Amazon
- 2:50 – Condenser vs Dynamic Microphones
- 3:10 – Condenser Microphones
- 3:50 – NEAT Worker Bee
- 4:51 – Audio Technica AT2020
- 6:14 – Rode NT1
- 8:02 – Dynamic Microphones
- 9:21 – Shure SM58
- 11:19 – Rode PodMic
- 12:56 – Shure SM7B
- 14:38 – Electro-Voice RE20
- 16:45 – Final Thoughts
