The new iRig Stream Mic USB is an affordable USB mic that’s really good for DJs wanting to add a microphone to DJ livestreams when streaming with a Mac, Windows PC or even with a tablet.
That’s because as well as a high-quality directional condenser mic, this unit is also a stereo audio interface, meaning you can plug your DJ gear into it too – and with a single USB cable, send a blend of your voice and your DJ performance into your livestreaming laptop etc.
As it sends a single stereo feed to your live streaming computer, you adjust the microphone mix on the unit itself, and it has clear monitoring LEDs to show you your levels, but you can also monitor with headphones when setting up to make sure you’ve got the balance right.
Mic on livestream, but not on recording
One of the big things this solves for DJs who don’t have a direct digital feed from their DJ gear into their broadcast laptop, and therefore who need an audio interface, is this: How do you talk on your livestream while simultaneously recording your performance without the microphone? (For instance, to later upload to Mixcloud in order to preserve a clean copy of your DJ set?)
By using this kind of set-up, your microphone audio only features on the livestream, while you can simultaneously hit record on your standalone unit with a USB or in your DJ software to get a microphone-free version of your performance as well.
While this method has always been possible, having the audio interface and the microphone itself built into one unit makes it much simpler and more elegant.
Other considerations
There are a few downsides to a solution like this. Firstly, you need to turn the microphone on and off on the mic unit itself when you’re using it in order to talk.
Secondly, although the iRig Stream Mic USB is provided with a table stand, you’ll want to get a different stand that holds the microphone closer to your mouth when you’re stood up DJing.
Learn to livestream your sets like a pro: DJ Livestreaming Made Easy
And then there’s the fact that the audio from the DJ controller has to go all the way to wherever you’ve got the microphone via a cable, so you’ll have to be careful to keep that looking neat and tidy – because of course the microphone itself will feature in your livestream on the camera.
iRig Stream Mic USB vs iRig Stream Mic Pro
Note that this version only comes with USB-C cabling, so you’ll need a USB-C to Lightning adapter if you’re using an older Apple device. This is unlike the more expensive iRig Stream Mic Pro, which is similar but has a higher spec and does come with that Lightning cable. However, it costs $70 more.
The more expensive version also has a hi-pass filter to reduce mic rumble, and perhaps more importantly can feed separate signals to the digital device for mic and music – with this version they are mixed down inside the mic itself.
Finally…
For $100, if what I’ve outlined sounds like you, and you’ve been looking for a way of solving this problem, the iRig Stream Mic USB is a simple and cost-effective way to kill two birds with one stone. It’s available now from IK Multimedia.
Phil Morse
