Basically since I started posting videos with commentary, I've used the same 3 microphones and headsets for nearly every video. They're still on my desk today, and I still haven't gone out and bought new ones. If you watch some of my videos with commentary, you'll notice that I switch up the microphones a lot. In my older videos, I often used this headset and mic:
I didn't have that extra peripheral that gave it volume controls, it was just the headset and the 3.5 jack. I got it randomly as a freebie and decided to keep it to see if it would be good for making videos. In all honesty, it's okay. The audio from the headset isn't bad, but the microphone is pretty horrible. If you ever hear a really sensitive, sibilant heavy microphone that has like no bass, then this is the one I'm using. It is distinct sounding, so you'll know right away. I've tried a lot of methods to de-ess this mic in post editing, but I've never had much luck in fully getting rid of those annoying hisses and ear-piercing "s" sounds. Sorry for your ears if you've watched a video with this; I'm probably not going to use it anymore.
The other mic I used to always use was the given one from this headset:
This is the Razen Kraken V3 Pro. It's significantly more expensive and higher quality than the other one (obviously). This has bluetooth and an auxiliary cable for regular wired use. I almost never used it in the bluetooth mode, since the battery life was pretty shitty. I guess it's because the speakers were decent and because the headset had lights and vibrations. To me, it's completely unnecessary. I guess if you're intensely gaming, but I don't do that, so... When I did use it in the wired mode, the sound was pretty damn good. I used that microphone pictured to record a lot of videos as well. This one has a more bass, sounds higher quality, and even sort of removes background noise. It is way easier on the ears. I lost that pop filter/windscreen a while ago, which sucks, because now it is sensitive to any blowing sounds.
The last--and my favorite--mic is this:
Yup, the Apple Earpods. These things are probably my favorite wired earphones ever. I mean, they're just so damn iconic. They've been out for forever, sound great, and have a microphone with volume controls. I use these more than my AirPods when I listen to music on my Mac or my phone. They're that good. I know that there are more expensive and better quality wired earphones out there, but I don't really care. These are all I need. I've used them in countless videos as well. The microphone is not bad, either. They're about 100x better than AirPod mics. They have a slight bit of background noise to them and they're not the loudest things ever, but it works pretty well for videos. The fact that they're so cheap means I don't have to worry about if they break. These are honestly the perfect gift for anybody who needs headphones or wants a backup pair to just throw in their bag.
Will all that said, I still don't put enough effort/care enough to make my mics sound super professional and crisp. Even if I bought an expensive one (which I just don't wanna do), it would still probably sound like crap. Plus, I like it when the mic comes with the headphones, since I don't have to set up another peripheral in the video. It's quicker to plug in the headset and start recording. Sadly, the Mac mini doesn't have any internal microphone, since I'd probably use that too.
Let me know which mic is the best in your opinion.
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