I used gaming headsets for years, but the built-in microphones sounded awful, so I switched to a Blue Yeti. It worked well for a long time, especially when I mostly used voice chat with built-in noise suppression. Recently, I started using in-game voice chat and other applications, and the microphone picks up a lot of background noise from my keyboard, mouse, dog, and room.
I have tried moving the microphone closer, changing the gain, and switching between polar patterns. Putting it directly in front of my face is uncomfortable and blocks my view, but moving it farther away makes the ambient noise worse. I also have an audio interface and a Shure SM57, although I know that would still need to be positioned close to my mouth.
What setups or software have worked for reducing this kind of background noise without having a microphone right in front of my face?
2 Answers
Try using Krisp as a standalone noise-suppression application instead of relying on voice chat software to process the microphone. Nvidia also offers a similar option. Depending on your hardware, one may work better than the other; Nvidia's processing can use the GPU, while Krisp can use the CPU. Software suppression may be more practical than buying a shotgun microphone or trying to place the mic farther away.
A boom arm is probably the simplest hardware solution. You can position the microphone just off to the side of your mouth so it stays out of your line of sight while remaining close enough to reject more room noise.
I already have it on a boom arm. I had read that it should be roughly six inches from my mouth and positioned near the keyboard and mouse, but that setup still picks up a lot of noise and feels intrusive.
I had noticed both options. Using the GPU-based processing or the CPU-based Krisp app might let me choose whichever has less impact on the game. If neither works well, I may have to consider a more directional microphone.