I have to say, I am completely new to XLR microphones. I dabbled in podcasting, directed voice overs, and streamed games to friends… all while using USB microphones. Aside from the price range, USB microphones are easier to set-up. Plus, they are more portable.

One of my multi-hyphenated friends, who loves streaming on Twitch and recording voice overs for content, introduced me to XLR microphones. I was at his place one time for a content shoot when I used his gaming set-up. 

I played Genshin Impact on his PC and streamed it for fun while catching up with some of my friends on Discord. My friends quickly noticed my improved audio compared to the usual. 

I also tried doing audio samples for some of my projects using my friend’s microphone, and I loved the sound quality. He lured me into purchasing one, and he explained the benefits of investing in a high-end XLR microphone with the words: “when you experience it, there is no turning back.”

To be quite honest, I was unbelievably convinced to make the switch.

For a time, I was checking out XLR microphones in tech stores to check the perfect fit for me. I’ve seen some mics with such complicated set-ups, and I am not a fan of those. I just need a quality one. 

Thankfully, I met the guys from SteelSeries at last year’s Electronic Sports and Gaming Summit, and they offered me their latest audio rig — the Alias Pro.

SteelSeries has a reputation in the gaming community so I was ecstatic to have my first-ever device from the brand. Most of my friends own Steelseries headsets and they’re pretty satisfied. 

Their product prices are quite reasonable, although I think the Steelseries Alias Pro is really on the hefty side.

Classy and high quality design

The thing about the Steelseries Alias Pro is that it’s not just any XLR microphone. Upon opening the big orange box, I immediately saw the two main components: the mixer and, of course, the mic with stand. It looks uncomplicated compared to the others I’ve seen, so it’s a plus for me as someone who lacks patience with setting-up my devices.

While unboxing the whole thing, it’s noticeable that the Steelseries Alias Pro is made of high quality material. The microphone itself looks premium and elegant with its black matte body which would neatly blend in a black PC set-up. I know a lot of friends who would dig this aesthetic. 

However, I am a fan of mics with RGB lights, so this one looks quite boring to my liking. The mixer has RGB lights, though, so that may be a compromise.

Seamless set-up

Since I am used to USB microphones, it took a while for me to figure out the set-up.

Thankfully, the instructions aren’t hard to follow and Steelseries has lots of resources –from the manual to online video guides.   

The mixer has no fuss and just easy to use. There’s a gain knob on the left which gives a green light signal when the pick-up audio is good, then it changes from to red when the pick-up is bad.  

On the right is the volume knob. I liked that it has a bigger size than the gain knob because when I’m in-game, I know which is which even if my eyes are glued to the screen.

Below the knobs are two buttons: one for muting and unmuting the mic, and the other is for the speakers.

For the ports, the Steelseries Alias Pro has two USB-C ports at the back of the mixer for connecting to up to two PCs (helpful for those with a two PC set-up). 

The main con with having XLR microphones – and probably the reason why most people hesitate to switch – is the complicated set-up. But honestly, the Steelseries Alias Pro is easy to install.

A streamer’s dream

After a few weeks of using this device, I really feel that it’s a good steal for hardcore streamers and gamers.

The audio output is very crisp and clear, and the bass sounds are good. I am biased to devices that puts emphasis on bass sounds.

The Steelseries Alias Pro comes with Sonar, a free software which allows users to easily customize their audio experience with presets for the most popular games today. 

Whether you’re playing Valorant or League of Legends, Sonar has different presets tailored-fit to the requirements of each game. You can also create your own depending on your preferred settings.

Streamers can easily adjust their game audio so the background music won’t overpower their voice. This is especially useful when you’re talking to co-players in-game. Of course, it would be a pleasant watch to your viewers as well. 

One of my favorite features is the spatial audio, which gives an effect that is similar to a surround sound. This is also customizable via Sonar, so you can control the distance or the loudness of sound depending to your liking for every game.

More customizations

Sonar also has tools for mixing sounds for several audio inputs and remixing them in one audio output. This is good because there is no need to run/install OBS — Sonar can do it for you. 

I did a test stream on both Discord and Facebook, and it works well. My friend, who convinced me to switch to XLR, was very impressed with the audio output as well.

The Sonar software also features Clearcast AI noise cancellation, which brings more focus to the speaking voice. This is a very helpful feature in omitting extra unnecessary noises (e.g electric fan sounds, motorcycle riders from afar). 

Below is a raw audio record with enabled Clearcast AI noise cancellation:

On the other hand, here is a sample audio when I disabled this feature:

I find this feature very useful for recording audios I need for my corporate work, since I don’t need to use another app to clean the background noise.

However, there are instances that I don’t quite like it, but of course this is subjective. For example, I still want to hear the sound of my keyboard while playing a game. The Clearcast AI somehow omits the sound of mechanical keyboards, so I turn this feature off sometimes.

Bonus feature: ASMR recording

I love consuming ASMR content, so now that I’ve upgraded my microphone, I sometimes create some ASMR audios for fun. I do it when I’m bored, or when I’d just want to flex how good my new mic is to my friends.

The sound is rich and very detailed, so I figured Alias Pro is also something voice actors would want to use. However, remember to turn off the Clearcast AI noise cancellation when recording an ASMR, because it omits “whisper” sounds.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

While the device is quite pricey, it’s a great investment for streamers, especially those with additional hobbies and careers that require high-definition audio. 

For casual gamers and the general public, though, I honestly think the Alias USB microphone would suffice. But if you have more cash to shell out, then why not.

I also recommend the Alias Pro to professional voice actors, since the additional features (especially the noise cancellation and Sonar software) would help reduce editing time. The voice quality is topnotch, 

The Steelseries Alias Pro XLR microphone retails for PhP 19,555, while the Alias USB microphone costs Php 11,000.