Whether I'm contributing voice over to a PC Gamer video, or simply yapping over Discord, my microphone needs to keep up. As a recovering theatre kid, I didn't do all of those elocution exercises for nothing!
So, as we look towards the last act of Amazon Prime Day, I was pleased to see our top pick overall for the best microphone for gaming decently discounted. There's a lot to love about the Shure MV6 USB Gaming Microphone—even with its actually pretty short included cable—but what I love most is that it's now only $142 from Amazon.
While you may be able to take the kid out of the theatre, you can't as easily take the theatre out of the kid. As such, I've no doubt the sturdy desk stand of this mic will be able to weather even my most expressive hand flailing. Add to that an impressive auto level mode in the software, and this dynamic mic is exactly what I need while I move in, out, and shake it all about in the recording booth.
If you've never stepped up to the mic before, our Andy goes into more detail about this latter feature in his Shure MV6 USB Gaming Microphone review. He explains, "Dynamic mics can be sensitive to poor mic technique, like shifting your speaking position or constantly adjusting your distance. To address this, Shure makes use of an Auto Level Mode within its Motive Mix software suite. This intelligently adjusts the gain in real-time to give a consistent volume of sound, jumping in to lower the gain setting if you suddenly yell, and boosting it if you begin to drift away from the microphone or shift in your seat."
So, the Shure MV6 won't just appeal to wriggly performers like me, but to gamers that get really into the action too. On top of that, this mic is also much less likely to blow out what we in the biz call 'plosives' (basically, sounds like 'puh' in 'public' and 'buh' in 'bus'). Helpfully for someone who has a loose grip on her indoor voice at best, it all comes together for smooth, smooth waveforms.
For gamers and those fond of amateur dramatics, this mic well suits. It's easy to set up and leave in-situ on your desk, and the Motiv Mix software is there to offer a hand every step of the way. Andy explains, "Upon plugging in the mic with an included USB Type-C cable and opening the software, you're greeted with a quick tutorial on how best to use it, with a suggestion to keep the capsule six to 12 inches from your mouth for best results. Good advice for most mics I'd say, to get the richest, most focussed sound—especially a dynamic one."
If you're a true audiophile looking for truly professional sound, you may be better served by this mic's big sibling, the Shure MV7 podcast microphone. But if you're just beginning your amateur audio journey—or just fancy upgrading from your gaming headset's crunchy microphone—you'll be well served by the Shure MV6.
👉Check out all of Amazon's gaming microphone deals👈
1. Best overall:
Shure MV6 USB Gaming Microphone
2. Best budget:
Amazon Basics USB Condenser Microphone
3. Best mid-range:
NZXT Capsule Elite
4. Best USB bundle:
Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set
5. Best looking:
HyperX Quadcast S
6. Best podcasting:
Shure MV7+
7. Best streaming:
SteelSeries Alias Pro
8. Best headset mic:
Audio-Technica ATH-M50xSTS StreamSet
