Rode XCM-50

The compact XCM-50 USB microphone from Rode has been specially designed as an easy-to-operate tool for streamers and gamers, who only need to connect it to their PC or Mac using the included USB cable in order to get started. The mic, which can be positioned exactly as needed thanks to its stylish swivel-mount, delivers a transparent sound even when recording loud voices and, thanks to its inbuilt 3.5mm headphone output, enables zero-latency monitoring – even when signal processors are being used in combination with the included Windows-based Unify software to optimise the sound of the voices being recorded. In contrast to Rode's X XDM-100 dynamic microphone, which handles loud ambient noises better, the XCM-50 picks up the sound from the side, and both listeners and co-gamers will definitely be able to appreciate the sonic qualities of the condenser capsule, even when the user is further away from the mic.

To allow them to play or stream entirely without distractions, users would do well to add a pair of headphones like the Rode NTH-100, which feature a closed-back design and provide a comfortable fit; anyone whose computer has a USB-A port rather than a USB-C can connect the XCM-50 using an adapter cable like the 150cm-long Rode SC18, which is certified for high-speed USB applications and gives the user a decent range of movement. To achieve optimal results with the Rode XCM-50, it should be placed between 10 and 20cm from the physical source of the sound – the ideal distance can easily be determined when monitoring with headphones. And streamers who want to keep the microphone completely out of shot can add Rode's PSA1+ boom arm to their setup.