If you want high-quality audio that’s still flexible enough to do fun stuff with, then you need an audio interface and XLR mic. Why would you need an audio interface for gaming streaming then? You could definitely get away using a USB microphone, and there’s a reason that the Blue Yeti is ubiquitous on the streams of hobbyists and pros alike.īut by that same token, there’s also a reason audiophiles swear by XLR-connected mics and baulk at the claims of more expensive USB options. “Condenser” mics are more sensitive to noise than the “dynamic” XLR-connected microphones people usually opt for when streaming, since dynamic mics are better at leaving out the background intrusions that come up often in a gaming stream like a PC fan or clacking mechanical keyboard.ĭo you need an audio interface for gaming streaming? In this regard, it’s also worth noting that the included microphone with the Focusrite Studio Bundle is a condenser microphone. But if your budget stretches to the extra couple of hundred it would take to pick up one of the more popular XLR microphones and a fancier set of headphones, there’s no point paying for what you’d upgrade anyway. However, you would get nowhere close to snagging a better pair of cans and plusher microphone within the ~£70ish you’ll save opting for just the little red box, so if you don’t have a suitable set of over-ears or an XLR-connected mic already, or plan for this to be the only audio outlay you make, it’s not an actively bad deal. In terms of value in the Studio Bundle, despite coming in a big exciting box that genuinely would make a fun gift regardless of the very practical nature of the product, the included monitor headphones and microphone in the Focusrite Studio Bundle aren’t the best, so you could consider picking up the interface on its own if you’re buying for yourself. Even with more premium options, like the aforementioned EPOS B20, the included audio software with USB mics can leave a lot to be desired and here you can just focus immediately on putting together something that works for you. This is where you can really see that Focusrite is more geared towards music recording than streaming, because what you do get with the Studio Bundle though is a load of free plugins and starter recording workspaces - great if you’re playing music, less so if you want squeaky clean audio for your stream.īut on the flip side, although it’s a lot more work, you could see this as an opportunity to create a more customised sound suite for yourself - the whole point of getting an XLR is having a professional level of flexibility after all. It’s when you get to implementing things like noise reduction that the proprietary audio suites you get with something like the Yeti X or EPOS B20 give you a simpler pathway than diving into third-party solutions. In terms of connecting a Focusrite Scarlett to your computer and hooking up a microphone, it’s just as easy as anything else, just with one extra layer. However, in my experience, this isn’t as much down to the hardware as the software included with the products. It’s easy to categorise USB microphones as the simple, “plug-in-and-play” option and paint XLR as the more professionally-focused, granular alternative. While the bundled extras are quite utilitarian - the monitors aren’t nearly as comfortable as the best headsets around - the audio interface is great and the microphone is good, despite not having the really simple and streamlined software of USB-connected competitors. With a relatively accessible price point and a feature set that actually works for a lot of different use cases, both the Solo and 2i2 in the Scarlett series are easy to recommend.īut just in time for the gifting season, they’re now available in the Focusrite Scarlett Studio Bundle, which packs in either the 2i2 or Solo with an XLR microphone and pair of monitor headphones for a comparable price to premium USB microphones. They might not be the flashiest piece of tech you can add to your desktop setup, but an audio interface unlocks so many interesting audio opportunities, that it might just be one of the most exciting - if you’re a total nerd, that is.ĭespite being a little bit more expensive than the real bargain basement options, the Solo and 2i2 in the Focusrite Scarlett series are easily some of the best audio interfaces you can pick up as an enthusiast.
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