best mics for discord
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7 Best Mics for Discord to Elevate Your Voice in 2023

ByDaniel Thomas Posted on Updated on

Introduction

Whether you’re a gamer, NFT creator, or just love to connect with your community on Discord, one thing is for sure: you need a high-quality microphone to elevate your experience. Sure, visuals are important, but let’s not underestimate the power of crystal-clear audio. After all, who wants to strain their ears trying to decipher what their friend is saying during a heated gaming session or community chat?

That’s where we come in. In this article, we’re going to give you the lowdown on the best mics for Discord. With millions of people logging in every day to connect, collaborate, and play games with each other, having the right microphone can make all the difference. While a gaming headset is great for chatting and playing, a dedicated mic can take your audio quality to the next level.

So, sit tight and get ready to discover the best microphones for Discord that will take your experience from average to awesome.

What are the Best Mics for Discord?

Users getting a microphone for Discord, Zoom, podcasting, or streaming often want one with good audio quality and easy setup. They would prefer a plug-and-play microphone instead of dealing with the hassle of XLR cables and an audio interface.

Therefore, all the microphones on this list are USB microphones, some with the option for an XLR connection.

Here are our top picks for the best microphones for Discord:

1. Shure MV7 – Most Versatile Microphone (US$249.00)

Why would you want this microphone?

You need one microphone with professional studio sound to be used in many applications.

Shure MV7 Black
Shure MV7 White
Shure MV7 Top
Shure MV7 Back
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Overview:

The Shure MV7 is one of the best microphones for Discord in terms of audio quality, flexibility, and controls. It is the USB version of the legendary Shure SM7B used by countless podcasters and is perfect for close-mic situations requiring vocal clarity and a balanced tone.

The Shure MV7 is an amazing USB dynamic mic for anyone looking for a high-quality microphone for Discord that gives good sound pickup and much better rejection of unwanted background noise compared to most USB mics. It also has a similar sound quality to the SM7B, giving a clear sound quality and a warm tone to your voice despite having a narrow frequency range.

A touch panel interface on the microphone offers control over microphone gain, headphone level, monitor mix, and muting. The best part is there is no noise when operating these touch controls since they do not use mechanical buttons, ensuring there won’t be any awkward bumps and clicks midway through your conversations.

The Shure MV7 has a versatile mounting yoke, adaptable for a wide range of microphone stands, and a stylish and sturdy all-metal design. However, it does not have a rotatable knob on the yoke, which means you’ll have to rotate the entire yoke to remove the microphone from a desktop stand.

The ShurePlus MOTIV desktop application also provides simple real-time audio processing in addition to the simple touch panel controls. This user-friendly real-time audio processing application enables you to tweak various mic settings such as gain, add EQ, compression, and limiter to enhance your audio quality.

You can also save your audio presets, mute the mic and adjust the computer playback mix versus the headphone monitoring volume through the software. Although the app interface is easy to navigate, its processing capabilities can greatly improve your audio output.

The Shure MV7 offers incredible flexibility with its USB and XLR connection. You can simply plug the mic into a computer or smart device through USB for a fuss-free setup. But if you want analog instead of digital recordings for better sound quality, connect it to an audio interface like a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 through an XLR cable. The XLR output gives the option for connecting to other analog outboard gear, like compressors. Also, it is possible to provide audio output to two devices simultaneously using the XLR and USB port.

If you are looking for a superb dynamic microphone with an XLR and USB port for streaming, gaming, or podcasting, the Shure MV7 is certainly the best microphone for Discord.

If you’re keen to learn more, check out our full review of the Shure MV7.

Product Info

  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid polar pattern
  • Transducer Type: Dynamic (moving coil)
  • Power Requirements: Powered through USB or Lightning connector
  • Frequency Response: 50 Hz to 16,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity: -55 dBV/Pa (1.78 mV/Pa) @1kHz
  • Max SPL: 132 dB (Digital Output)
  • Output Connection: Micro-B USB / XLR
  • Headphone Output: 3.5mm (1/8″)
  • Weight: 0.55 kg (1.21 lbs)
  • Accessories: 10-foot Micro-B to USB-A cable, black windscreen, 1 m Lightning cable

Features

  • Touch panel for muting, headphone mix, monitoring volume, and gain control adjustment
  • Headphone output for monitoring
  • ShurePlus MOTIV desktop application for audio processing

Pros

  • Professional, clear, and warm studio-quality sound
  • Has USB and XLR outputs for analog or digital recordings
  • Plug-and-play microphone. Does not require an audio interface when using the USB output
  • The ShurePlus MOTIV software provides simple audio processing
  • Intuitive touch panel controls that do not make sounds when adjusting

Cons

  • No mic stand included
  • Micro-USB instead of Type-C
  • Does not reject plosive sounds well
  • Difficult to remove from a mic stand due to the fixed knob at the yoke
Shure MV7 Black

Shure MV7

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2. Rode NT-USB+ – Best Value for Money (US$169.00)

Why would you want this microphone?

You want to get the most out of every dollar you are paying for a microphone in terms of features and sound quality.

Rode NT-USB+
Rode NT-USB+ front with pop filter
Rode NT-USB+ front
Rode NT-USB+ back
Rode NT-USB+ accessories
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Overview: 

When it comes to audio recordings, Rode is a household name synonymous with audio quality. If you thought the Rode NT-USB condenser mic was great, wait till you see the re-modeled NT-USB+. It is certainly one of the best microphones for Discord for getting professional studio-quality sound at the best possible price.

The Rode NT-USB+, being a condenser USB microphone, has a somewhat flat frequency response, giving it a natural sound. The trebles are crisp and clear without sounding artificially colored like a dynamic mic.

Compared to the older Rode NT-USB, the NT-USB+ has a stronger presence boost in the mid and lower frequencies, and this can be boosted even more with the Big Bottom effect, giving you a full, authoritative tone. However, you don’t want to speak too close to the mic; otherwise, its proximity effect will be overwhelming.

The mic’s cardioid pickup pattern does well in isolating your voice while rejecting unwanted noise from the sides and back. The microphone rejects plosives quite well, and attaching its pop filter only slightly improves the rejection. The pop filter does, however, attach very firmly to the ring mount and does not fall out of position easily.

The Rode NT-USB+ excels at spoken applications like podcasting and voiceovers due to its deep and rich tone, which makes it a great USB microphone for Discord. It also does quite well for singing and recording instruments like acoustic guitars.

On the side of the mic, there is a headphone monitoring jack as well as dials for adjusting monitoring levels and mix controls between the system and mic audio levels. These microphone features come in handy when you want to sample the audio or listen as you are recording the mic input and making any fine adjustments.

Lastly, the big question remains, what functions and features have improved since its upgrade from the older Rode NT-USB microphone? Below are the 3 main improvements in the newer NT-USB+ model:

Upgrades from the Rode NT-USB to NT-USB+
  • APHEX® powered DSP (digital signal processing) that offers advanced audio processing capabilities, including a compressor, noise gate, high-pass filter, as well as the renowned Aural Exciter™ and Big Bottom™ effects. The Aural Exciter enhances mid-range and treble frequencies to sound fuller and more vibrant, while the Big Bottom causes low tones to sound boomier.
  • Upgrade from USB-B to USB-C output for seamless plug-and-play connectivity with a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, and tablets.
  • Built-in Revolution Preamp™ that has an ultra-low noise level even when you turn up the gain. This eliminates the need for boosters, lifters, or external processing.

Product Info

  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid polar pattern
  • Transducer Type: Pressure gradient condenser
  • Power Requirements: 5V @ 500mA (USB Bus Power)
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity: N/A
  • Max SPL: 118 dB
  • Output Connection: USB-C
  • Headphone Output: 3.5mm
  • Weight: 0.54 kg
  • Accessories: tripod stand, pop filter, storage pouch, ring mount, 3m SC29 USB cable

Features

  • High-gain Revolution Preamp™ with ultra-low noise
  • Internal DSP (digital signal processing) with APHEX® audio processing through RODE Connect or RODE Central app
  • Dials to adjust the monitoring level and headphone mix controls
  • Zero latency stereo headphone monitoring
  • Detachable pop filter and tripod stand

Pros

  • Best bang for your buck microphone
  • A versatile and beginner-friendly plug-and-play microphone
  • Deep, rich, and crisp studio-quality sound
  • Many upgrades from the older NT-USB microphone
  • Can achieve a digitally enhanced professional sound through AHPEX® audio processing that is incredibly simple to use
  • The pop filter is compact and screws in firmly into the ring mount, unlike flimsy clip-on pop filters
  • Good for recording music and vocals

Cons

  • Has minor grounding issues where electronic hums and buzzes can be heard at times
  • No gain dial; the gain has to be adjusted in the sound settings
  • No mute button
Rode NT-USB+

Rode NT-USB+

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3. Elgato Wave:3 – Best Microphone for Streaming (US$149.99)

Why would you want this microphone?

You want a microphone that can manage all your audio sources in one digital audio mixer for streaming.

Elgato Wave 3
Elgato Wave 3 front
Elgato Wave 3 back
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Overview:

Are you a passionate gaming streamer who’s tired of dealing with annoying clipping while screaming in excitement? Do you also want to add soft background music on Spotify to entertain your audience while playing? And what about talking to your teammates on Discord without your viewers hearing them?

You might also want to add cool effects like compression, EQ, and robotic voice to your mic input. But handling all these input sources seamlessly on one digital audio mixer and channeling them to your streaming software seems like an impossible task.

Well, not anymore! Introducing the Elgato Wave:3, the ultimate solution to all your streaming needs. With this USB microphone, you can easily achieve high-quality audio with advanced processing features and seamless control over all your input sources.

You can rest assured that you’ll get good audio quality as the Elgato Wave:3 was developed with the audio technologies company Lewitt.

The Wave:3 is a condenser USB mic with a flat frequency response and a very balanced sound quality compared to other USB mics. It keeps your voice crisp and clear without adding any coloration, there is little sibilance, and the low ends are not muddy. This makes it a great mic for long streams, as neutral-sounding tones are easier on the ears. This also means you will lose a little of the bassy, authoritative tone.

This USB mic has several controls, such as a multi-functional dial at the front adjusting the headphone monitoring volume, gain control and mic vs. system mix. There is also a capacitive mute switch at the top of the USB mic that does not make any clicking sounds when you engage it.

The Elgato Wave:3 is packed with features for streaming, such as its exclusive Clipguard technology. This anti-clipping feature is a real plus for any live streamer who loves screaming or talking in an unbearably loud fashion. It intelligently detects when the mic input is peaking and reroutes the signal to a path with a lower volume, and this keeps the input sound clean without clipping, no matter how much you scream.

The one feature that makes the Elgato Wave:3 stand out as one of the best microphones for streaming is the Wave Link mixer software. This software allows you to mix up to 9 audio input sources (including the Wave:3) in one virtual panel and output the final mix to your headphones and to the live stream.

You can add audio input channels such as a browser playing some Youtube LoFi, your Spotify app playing your favorite playlist, your Discord server for communicating with your teammates, and even a second (or third) microphone for guests on your stream.

The volume for these audio sources can be independently adjusted or muted for your headphones and stream audience. There are also thousands of VST plugins like EQ and reverb that can be added to the input channels to give them some added sound effects.

While the Elgato Wave:3 has so many awesome streaming features, I have a couple of gripes with it.

Firstly, even though the desktop stand that comes with the Elgato Wave:3 provides a quick and easy setup for the USB mic, it is a little too short. A boom arm is a better choice to allow your mic to set up at an optimal distance to your face to reduce background noise. 

Secondly, the body is made of plastic and feels cheap. And lastly, the shock mount and pop filter are sold separately. This is quite disappointing because they fit so well with the microphone that I wish Elgato would throw these accessories into the package at a slightly higher price for the microphone.

But I’m willing to overlook these minor issues, as this is still one of the best microphones for Discord and one of the best equipment for streaming.

If you’re keen to learn more, check out our full review of the Elgato Wave:3.

Product Info

  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid polar pattern
  • Transducer Type: 17 mm electret condenser
  • Power Requirements: Info not available
  • Frequency Response: 70 Hz to 20,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity: -25dBFS (min gain), 15dBFS (max gain)
  • Max SPL: 120dB (140dB Clipguard engaged)
  • Output Connection: USB-C
  • Headphone Output: 3.5mm stereo
  • Weight: Mic & U-Mount 280 g/Base 305 g
  • Accessories: 2.5m USB-C cable, mic stand, boom arm adapter

Features

  • Anti-clipping Clipguard technology (turned on by default)
  • Wave Link streaming mixer that blends up to 9 input channels (including the Wave 3 USB mic) and creates two separate output mixes for you and your audience
  • Input channels in Wave Link can be equipped with third-party VSTs
  • Multi-functional dial for adjusting gain control, headphone monitoring volume, and the mix between the mic and system audio
  • Zero-latency headphone monitoring
  • Capacitive mute switch

Pros

  • Good audio quality that sounds balanced and not overly boosted in any of the frequency range
  • Many incredible features for streaming, such as the Clipguard technology, Wave Link mixer, and capacitive mute switch
  • The Wave Link virtual mixer is a powerful audio tool for streaming
  • Plug and play microphone
  • Very good value for the price
  • The microphone is simple to use (but not Wave Link)

Cons

  • The plastic body feels cheap
  • Short mic stand
  • Accessories like the shock mount and pop filter are sold separately
  • Wave Link might be a little confusing to set up for the first time
Elgato Wave 3

Elgato Wave:3

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Why would you want this microphone?

You want the safest choice for a microphone, something that has been tried and tested by many.

Blue Yeti front
Blue Yeti back
Blue Yeti side
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Overview:

It’s hard to do a review for microphones for Discord without covering the classic Blue Yeti, the grandfather of USB microphones. This USB microphone, just like the Shure SM7B, is easily one of the most recognizable microphones on the internet, with thousands of content creators using it.

The Blue Yeti is a great USB mic for many situations, whether podcasting, gaming, or streaming.

When unboxing the Blue Yeti, your first impression is how robust it feels. It is a heavy mic, after all, weighing 1.55kg (including the desktop stand)! The mic looks modern and trendy and comes in 3 aesthetically pleasing colors, with navy blue being the classic color.

The Blue Yeti might not deliver a professional studio-quality sound with its small condenser capsules, but it does offer crisp and decent audio quality. If you’ve ever used a cheap in-built computer microphone, you’ll be thrilled with how much better your voice sounds on this USB mic.

It is still a great USB microphone for Discord, Zoom, or chatting with friends online. Your Discord friends will be floored by how much clearer and crispier your voice sounds compared to the average online chatter. However, you can further improve its audio quality with the right Blue Yeti settings.

One of the key microphone features of the Blue Yeti is its tri-capsule array that allows you to switch between four pickup patterns – cardioid, stereo, omnidirectional, and bidirectional. These pickup patterns are fantastic for switching between recording yourself, two persons, or a group of people which usually requires several microphones. But you would mostly stick to the cardioid polar pattern if you are mostly using this USB microphone for Discord, Zoom, or streaming.

The front of the Blue Yeti has a mute button with an indicator light to show that it is powered on or a flashing light when it is mute. There is also a gain dial and a headphone volume dial.

Another stand-out feature of the Blue Yeti is its audio processing software, the Blue VO!CE software. This powerful suite of vocal effects and modulation tools lets you modify your voice in real-time, giving you endless options to keep your audience and friends entertained. You can choose from EQs, noise reduction control, compression, noise gate, limiter, and even explore presets that make your voice sound like a robot, chipmunk, or classic AM radio announcer.

Plus, the Blue VO!CE software is compatible with any Yeti family condenser microphones (including Yeti, Yeti Nano, and Yeti X) as well as Logitech gaming headsets.

If you’re keen to learn more, check out our full review of the Blue Yeti.

Product Info

  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo
  • Transducer Type: 3 x 0.55 in (14 mm) condenser capsules
  • Power Requirements: 5V 150mA
  • Frequency Response: 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz
  • Sensitivity: -47 dBV/Pa (4.5mV/Pa) @1kHz
  • Max SPL: 120dB
  • Output Connection: Mini-B USB
  • Headphone Output: 3.5mm
  • Weight: 0.55kg (1.55kg including the desktop stand)
  • Accessories: USB cable, mic stand

Features

  • Multiple pickup patterns – cardioid, bidirectional, omnidirectional, and stereo mode
  • Gain control dial
  • Zero-latency headphone monitoring with volume control dial
  • Mute button
  • Enhanced Blue VO!CE broadcast vocal effects

Pros

  • Simple and easy-to-use microphone
  • Very recognizable
  • Four polar patterns selection which gives flexibility for different situations
  • Practical USB mic features like gain control, headphone volume dial, and mute button
  • Blue VO!CE audio processing software provides tons of effects
  • Discord Certified

Cons

  • Decent but not the best audio quality
  • It might be a little bulky
Blue Yeti front

Blue Yeti

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