Answer Details

Great question! Since you’ll be using the mic for gaming, video calls and podcast-recording in a home studio, you’ll want something that strikes a solid balance of sound quality, background noise rejection, ease of use (USB or hybrid) and potentially room-adaptability. Here are a few of the key criteria to look out for, then I’ll list 5 excellent mic choices you should consider. 🎯 What to look for in a mic for home studio / gaming / podcasting Based on industry guidance: Polar pattern: For gaming/voices in a home room, a cardioid (front-facing) pickup is usually best—it captures your voice and rejects off-axis/background noise. TapeReal +2 TubeBuddy +2 Connectivity: USB is plug-and-play (good for gaming/calls). XLR (or hybrid USB/XLR) gives more flexibility for a proper home studio/podcast setup. B&H Photo Video +1 Background/room noise: If your room isn’t acoustically treated, a dynamic mic (less sensitive to ambient noise) may edge out a condenser. Home Studio Guys +1 Accessories & mounts: Pop filters, shock mounts, boom arms help improve sound by reducing plosives, handling noise or desk vibrations. B&H Photo Video +1 Budget vs future-proofing: Since you’re doing gaming + calls + podcasting, you may want something that can scale (microphone that works now for USB, and later in XLR mode if you upgrade). 🏆 Top 5 microphone picks to consider Here are five solid mics spanning different budgets / feature sets. Depending on your budget in India (you’re in Thane, Maharashtra) you might also check shipping/import/taxes. Shure SM7B ₹40,484 • Ooberpad.com + others Shure MV7 USB/XLR ₹28,651 • Flipkart + others Rode PodMic ₹22,999 • Design Info + others Fifine AM8 ₹4,990 • Amazon.in + others Boya BY‑PM700 Pro ₹7,975 • Boyamic Here’s a little about each: Shure SM7B: This is a top-tier microphone and widely used in professional podcasting, broadcasting, voice-over. It’s a dynamic mic, great at rejecting background noise. If you have a very decent room and interface (gain/pre-amp), this is almost “future studio standard”. Pros: excellent sound, durable, proven. Cons: It may require an audio interface with good gain and might be overkill (and expensive) for simple calls/gaming. Shure MV7 USB/XLR: This is a very strong mid-premium choice. Hybrid USB + XLR gives you flexibility, and the brand reputation is strong. According to reviews, it’s one of the best “all-round” podcast/streaming mics. TubeBuddy +1 Pros: plug-and-play via USB now; upgrade path via XLR. Cons: price is higher than budget options. Rode PodMic: A more affordable dynamic mic oriented at podcasting. If you’re mostly focusing on voice and less on full music-studio use, this is a smart choice. Pros: Good sound for price. Cons: If you do a lot of gaming/streaming with multiple voice sources, might need extra setup (interface, boom arm). Fifine AM8: A budget-friendly dynamic mic. If you’re starting out, this gives you a taste of quality without large investment. Pros: Lower cost, decent voice capture. Cons: May lack some of the build/feature polish of more expensive mics; possibly more sensitive to background noise/less isolation. Boya BY‑PM700 Pro: Another entry level USB or USB/XLR (depending on version) mic; great for video calls, gaming, casual podcasting. Pros: Great value for money; meets basic quality needs. Cons: Room noise may show up more, less “professional” sound compared to premium models. 🧭 My recommendation based on your use-case Since you do gaming, video calls, podcast recordings, here’s how I’d pick: If budget allows and you’re serious about podcasting: go with the MV7 (best “sweet spot”) or the SM7B if you want top tier and are okay investing in an interface/room treatment. If budget is moderate and you want something good now and usable for calls/gaming: the PodMic is a strong choice. If budget is tight and you’re starting out: the Fifine or Boya will serve you well now, and you can upgrade later. Also remember: the mic alone doesn’t guarantee studio-quality sound. The room, mic placement, pop filter/boom arm, and controlling ambient noise matter a lot. As one Redditor noted: “A great mic will still sound bad in a poorly treated room, while an inexpensive mic will sound great in a well-treated room.” Reddit So you might also want to budget for a boom arm, pop filter, possibly some acoustic treatment (or at least reduce hard surfaces/echo in your room) if you want good results. If you like, I can pull up 8-10 more mic options specifically for the Indian market (with approximate Indian rupee pricing and local availability) and highlight which models provide the best value in India right now. Would that be helpful?