The HyperX QuadCast™ S is a USB condenser microphone that both sounds great and looks great. The supremely stunning RGB lighting and dynamic effects will add style and flair to any stream or setup and is customisable via HyperX NGENUITY software. The QuadCast S is an all-inclusive mic, featuring an anti-vibration shock mount to help quiet the rumbles of daily life and a built-in pop filter to muffle plosive sounds. Instantly know your mic status with the LED indicator, and simply tap-to-mute to avoid awkward broadcasting accidents. With four selectable polar patterns, this mic’s prepared for nearly any recording situation and features a gain control dial to quickly regulate input sensitivity.
Top 3 USB Microphones
If you create any sort of visual or audio content online, making sure your voice is crisp and clear is very important. Maybe you produce a podcast for your audience to listen too, or perhaps you stream on Twitch, or live broadcast on YouTube. With all these things, your audience can sometimes forgive if you miss focus with your camera, but audio is key to them sticking around.
I have been a long-time YouTube content creator and also created a few podcasts too. Here are my top picks for USB microphones that will deliver on the quality front. All links in this article are affiliate links, they do not cost you a penny extra, but do earn Geekanoids a small commission on purchases.
In top spot is the Rode NT-USB. I should mention that Rode to sponsor Geekanoids, but have not asked me to include their mic in this roundup. This particular mic is my top pick because I have used it for a couple of years now and it delivers great quality audio and is super simply to use. As with all the USB microphones mentioned here, there is no need for an audio interface, you just plug in and you’re ready to go.
The Rode NT-USB features a Large 1" capsule with gold-plated membrane and an internal rycote lyre capsule shock mounting system. It’s ultra-low noise too, so even in those quiet moments you don’t hear the hiss that’s sometimes associated with cheaper mics. There is an on-mic mix control and the NT-USB is also compatible with the Apple iPad. The package includes a tripod stand, pop shield and ring mount.
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Next up is the Blue Microphones Yeti. This is available in a range of colours and is a very popular choice. Not only does it look great, it sounds superb too. I have personally used one of these too and can definitely recommend this for being a very sturdy option with an excellent and very heavy stand. It features a tri-capsule array whereby the three condenser capsules can record almost any situation. There is a multiple pattern selection knob on the back of the mic, where you can choose cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional & stereo patterns. You also get gain control, mute button, zero-latency headphone output.
This is perfect for podcasting, voiceovers, interviews, game streaming, vocals, musical instruments, field recordings, conference calls, and more.
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Last but not least is the AmazonBasics Professional USB Condenser Microphone which I have not personally used, but heard good things about. It's a professional USB condenser microphone with excellent sound quality when recording and zero latency output for clear, instant audio. Ideal for recording vocals, instruments, podcasts, home movies, and more. It features 3 condenser capsules and 4 pick-up patterns: cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo. It also includes a 1.49-m USB cable and an adjustable stand. Sometimes this goes on a deep discount, so can be picked up for a very good price.
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Top 3 Products for Twitch Streaming Pros
Live broadcasting or streaming on Twitch is not only great fun, but can also allow creators to share their passion for gaming (and sometimes other subjects) with really loyal fan bases. Sharing video gameplay online can be quite daunting when it comes to the gear required. Assuming you already have a computer and web camera of some sort, improving the quality of your streams is always very rewarding.
Here’s our top 3 products that will take your Twitch streams to the next level. Of course, this can be applied to other live streaming platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. All links in this article are affiliate links, they do not cost you a penny extra, but do earn Geekanoids a small commission on purchases.
In top spot is a very cool product from Elgato. Their Stream Deck connects to your computer via USB and is a bank of buttons that each contain a tiny screen. The buttons allow you to automate actions, for example “starting a livestream” or “tweeting out a message” and some more complex actions too. The screens are full colour and the clever software allows you to customise them with your own designs, making them easily recognisable. This is a superb piece of kit and very worthy of the number one place here.
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Next up is the Rode NT-USB microphone. I personally use one of these and it is a very high quality microphone that simply plugs into your computer USB port. There are some rotary controls on the side of the mic too that allow you to control your audio and monitor levels. You will also find a headphone port on there too. One really nice touch is the custom shaped pop shield, which will help with your audio quality. This is one quality piece of kit and it must be said that audio is a very important part of your live broadcast, so should not be overlooked.
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Last but by no means least is another product from Elgato. If you have even seen a video or livestream where the presenter seems to be floating on top of their game, they are using a green screen. The software you use allows you to “key” out anything in your camera frame that is green, so that it becomes transparent. You can then position yourself on top of any background, but we often see gameplay presenters on top of the game itself, normally in the bottom corner of the video frame. Some green screens are really cumbersome to set up, but this Elgato Green Screen is pre-tensioned in its own case. Pull the screen up, attach and you are ready in under five minutes. Then when you are done, it packs away easily for storage. This really will help take your streams to the next level.
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