Reddit reviews AKG PERCEPTION 170 Professional Instrumental , 7.40 x 3.50 x 11.30 inches, Sliver Blue - 3101H00410

I have had great success with the AKG Precision 170, recording in my rehearsal space. I use them as overheads in a 4-mic setup (kick and snare mics).

If you give me a few minutes I'll put something up from a practice session.

Edit: Here's a sample from when we were tracking drums for some demos. Raw tracks, AKG 170s used in an X/Y overhead.

Edit: Most of this post assumes you have a "line in" available on your computer. Most desktops have this already, not sure if laptops do if that is what you game on. Also, the Mackie Mix8 would be better if you plan to use voice chat because you can use the aux send for voice chat.

What mic you need really depends on what you're doing. Some great streamers get by with just a headset mic. Some people have $600 microphones and don't sound wonderful.

If I had $200 and was just starting streaming, I would start small, and do a lot of research. Get to know the basics like the difference between dynamic mics and condenser mics. Understand what phantom power is. Learn the difference between unidirectional, omnidirectional, and cardioid microphones.

If you want to get into pro audio, which it sounds like you do, I would recommend you should opt for a small mixer, maybe something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Mackie-Mix-Mix5-5-Channel-Mixer/dp/B00ND1K8T6/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1485752991&sr=1-4&keywords=Mackie+Compact+Mixer

I would recommend a mixer rather than an interface (such as a Scarlett Solo) because a mixer ultimately gives you more options. The Scarlett Solo is a beautiful device, I have one, but it's good for one voice optionally paired with one instrument, each on mono channels. That small Mackie mixer, which is about half the price, lets you have one voice paired with two stereo channels. Right now I'm sporting a 14-channel mixer I picked up used for $125, and it has more options than I need. Interfaces are supposed to have amazing analog-to-digital converters, meaning the sound they capture is more accurate, but I feed the "main out" from the mixer into a "line in" on my PC and I notice no appreciable difference. I am not an audiophile, though. To do that you'd need a cable like this:

https://www.amazon.com/TNP-Premium-3-5mm-Audio-Cable/dp/B01CNMSRA2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1485755363&sr=1-2&keywords=6.25mm%2Bmono%2Bto%2B3.5mm%2Bstereo&th=1

Pair the mixer/interface, whichever you go with, with an XLR microphone. I'd recommend starting small. This dynamic mic sounds decent for a realllly low price:

https://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM48-LC-Dynamic-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002D0HY4

It's what I currently use. It's kind of a dumbed down SM58. I started with a Sterling Audio ST55, because GiantWaffle uses that and I think his stream sounds great. It turns out my house is super noisy, so the ST55 which is a condenser mic picked up crazy amounts of noise. All the running computers in the room, the air conditioning, pets running around, people talking across the room, people stomping around upstairs, you get the idea. GiantWaffle didn't have that problem because he uses sound dampening materials in his studio, and keeps noisy stuff far away from his microphone. I tried out the SM48, and it works better for my environment, but if I had known better a couple years ago I probably would have bought this instead of the ST55:

https://www.amazon.com/AKG-PERCEPTION-Professional-Instrumental-Microphone/dp/B00167QUWI

A friend of mine has it, and it sounds amazing. It has similar sound qualities to other condenser mics, but it doesn't pick up nearly as much room noise.

I'm sure the AT2035 is great. It's a condenser mic, so it can pick up really quiet sounds, and it likely picks up a huge range of frequencies resulting in a super full-sounding voice. Just make sure if you go with this one that you streaming in a quiet room. Also, it needs phantom power, so make sure that the mixer/interface you're using can support it.

Be sure to buy an XLR cable. Some microphones don't come with one.

Pop filters are cool, but aren't strictly necessary, especially if you aren't singing.

Scissor arm mounts are nice if your desk can accommodate them. Remember you get what you pay for. A normal mic stand will work alright if you have enough room for it.

I should also mention the AT2020, Blue Yeti, and even the Blue Snowball sound great. If you simply want to plug, play, and forget with no options after that, they will suit your needs. Some headsets also have pretty good microphones on them, too. Like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-PC-350-Special-2015/dp/B015ZKJIYI/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

Good luck!

Check out either of these https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020USB-PLUS-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B00B5ZX9FM or https://www.amazon.com/AKG-PERCEPTION-Professional-Instrumental-Microphone/dp/B00167QUWI

Small diaphragm mics placed near the soundhole will help reduce ambient and background noise so the focus is more on what is coming straight out of the hole. I personally prefer pencil style mics for this. and fyi I play black metal so really the only acoustic stuff I do is for short little intro's and interludes so I'm not exactly and "expert" but that's my two cents

Edit: I also own a blue yeti for PC gaming and I sometimes use it to do awful clippy distorted vocals, and like others said it's good for scratching together ideas, but not "studio" "recording" quality