Score: 7.5/10 | MICROPHONE | STREAMING | PLUG-AND-PLAY
“Its size and audio output quality has made it the perfect addition to my low key stream setup.”
As a streamer, one of the most important pieces of hardware to invest in is a good microphone. Along with wanting something that’s state-of-the-art, you also have to factor in budget, what sort of setup you have and what you’re going to use it for. Up until recently I’ve lived with the struggles of using stock standard microphones when streaming and creating videos. My voice was way too loud at times and the audio quality was pretty harsh. That’s until I got my hands on the Razer Seiren X Condenser Streaming Microphone. It’s been a godsend in regards to the quality of my video content and streaming. Beforehand I hated hearing my own voice and now I can’t get enough of it, and my audience is starting to enjoy it as well.
So what is a condenser microphone you ask? To put it simply, and without drawing up a complex diagram, these sort of microphones are generally found within a studio setting. They’re a lot more sensitive when picking up sound compared to dynamic microphones resulting in a much sharper and clearer audio output. It’s amazing how this kind of technology can also be brought into the home at an affordable price without compromising in quality.
Straight out of the box, I was impressed with its size. Its sleek compact design means it can be easily stored out of the way when not in use. The base and stand feel sturdy and durable enough to continue standing even during the biggest of knocks to you desk. The Razer Seiren X is even shock resistant to buffer out any unwanted audio output if such an occasion occurs. And when it comes time to use it, simply plug it into a USB port. There’s no installation or fiddling around required. And it’s already compatible with popular streaming programs like OBS, Streamlabs OBS and XSplit.
At first I was immediately happy with the results. But of course this was because I’d been so used to my own scratchy recordings in the past. After using the Razer Seiren X more and watching back on my stream VOD, I was extremely satisfied with the audio output. Even though I was barely talking directly into the device. After seeing many streamers using mounted microphone stands that would sit directly in front of their face, I was concerned that I’d need to install this sort of setup as well. My voice however was still coming through very clearly, and the microphone was sitting no more than two feet away from me completely out of view from my camera. It’s just another example of how subtle and discreet the Razer Seiren X can be for your own setup. One flaw I did notice however was even though my audio output sounded fine during my own stream, it didn’t in someone elses. Watching a friends stream VOD featuring myself coming through via Discord, my voice sounded echoey. Whether this has to do with Discord itself is uncertain.
The microphone isn’t the only thing that stays subtle. Noises coming through the microphone are picked up from a tighter range. The Razer Seiren X uses a Supercoid pickup pattern. So noise coming from directly in front of the microphone are picked up while everything else gets muffled out. However this isn’t to be confused with blocked out. During a test recording where I specifically tested the noise range, softer noise subjects from the front were clear as day compared to coming from the opposite direction but were still slightly there. However during another recording, I noticed the microphone still picked up a bird tweet from outside. Condenser microphones are more sensitive, unfortunately it doesn’t mean your voice will be the only audio output. The Razer Seiren X just tries to make sure your voice gets priority in clearly making it into your videos and/or stream.
Along with great hardware capabilities, the Razer Seiren X also comes with versatility I’ve never noticed in the microphone market. In the past I’ve bought hardware for my console but learned the hard way that it wasn’t PC compatible. Not every headset or microphone works this way but the Razer Seiren X is versatile enough to work with the Playstation 4. And just like the PC, it’s plug and play. This means streamers or video creators who only have a Playstation 4 to work with can also take advantage of high quality condenser microphone technology. You can even get it in the signature Playstation blue and black colour scheme. However I don’t fully recommend it in a regular home console setup. I tried out the microphone in my living room whilst being seated away from the TV with the microphone placed on my tv unit. My voice was picked up but it’s definitely not the quality I want while communicating with friends during multiplayer. As its full name suggests, the Razer Seiren X Condenser Streaming Microphone is more so recommended for a more intimate streaming setup.
Whether you’re just starting out as a streamer or in need of a new microphone, I highly recommend the Razer Seiren X. Its not without its flaws, however the size and audio output quality has made it the perfect addition to my low key stream setup.
I give the Razer Seiren X Condenser Streaming Microphone a 7.5 out of 10.
