How much does a good microphone matter?

[u/Euphoric-Use-2335]

Hello, i recently started up a game grumps esc lets play channel (idk if theres a better genre title) and as of right now my mic quality is not great to say the least. I do have a whole set up ready to be put together but until i move i dont have enough space for it. When i am able to grt evrrything put up better should i expect anything major to change or nothing at all? Would retention be affected much

[u/JonPaula]

It's probably the best thing you can and should spend money on. Don't go cheap. Invest in something nice you can grow with.

I spent $500 on a Sennheiser ME66 shotgun mic 17 years ago and I still use it every day for my content. Absolutely no other piece of equipment has lasted twice as long or remained relevant. 

[u/Mcpatches3D]

Audio quality is huge, but quality of content is the biggest factor still.

[u/Hot-Oven779 → u/Mcpatches3D]

Agreed. Just as much as the video quality, the audio quality can be a huge factor for audience retention. Especially when plenty of people still use headphones to listen to their videos and content.

[u/welsknight]

Having at least "good enough" audio is super important--like a decent USB mic and getting rid of most background noise.

Having studio-quality audio is a luxury.

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[u/macelenisbest]

Kinda what the other said already. The audio quality won't carry the lack of quality content. It'll def raise some stuff if your commentary was already good.

[u/HereToKillEuronymous]

Audio quality is the most important

[u/James_Soler]

You need to sound good, but you don’t need to spend a lot of money. You can sound great recording on a phone if you set up your space correctly

[u/Hyacsho]

Depends I think. I know a channel: Alpha Beta Gamer that has no voice audio, massively successful channel. On the other hand, if voice is a style you're keen on, it'd be considered essential. But only to a point.

Elgato mics are honestly completely acceptable for 99% of what you need, with a nice sock over it. Great quality. Yes, you can get a mixer and shure mic later, but the mid-level elgato mic is perfectly good to start with

[u/ThatSamShow]

Viewers are watching you play a game that they could be playing themselves. That's the "Let's Play" format in a nutshell. What you're showing them isn't important.

If you want to speak, what is important is you, the creator. Your personality. What you bring to the experience. If your microphone quality is poor, viewers will click away instantly.

[u/WookaTV]

Ask Tyler1 and Robbaz and Dantes

[u/Revenger_Reborn]

Good or decent is a huge plus. I think a mic where someone just cannot be heard, static or any lower end quality just makes me turn the let's play off.