Stream loud and clear with the ROG Strix Magnus microphone

Broadcasting to a wide audience used to require the backing of big media companies and their distribution channels, but not anymore. These days, anyone with a PC and internet connection can stream to the masses. With the right tools, talented individuals can create and distribute content with production values that rival big-budget operations.

A good microphone is essential if you want to communicate clearly with your audience. There’s certainly no shortage of options on the market, but most are designed for professional studios that bear little resemblance to the setups used by streamers. We created the ROG Strix Magnus specifically for streamers and gamers seeking a purpose-built solution that addresses the unique challenges they face when recording in varied and often noisy environments.

Clear sound for any environment

The Magnus uses the same studio-grade condenser capsules as the Blue Yeti and Razer Seiren. The center capsule is activated in cardioid mode, which provides general-purpose recording for a single person. It’s flanked by two additional capsules that are used by stereo mode. Stereo recording captures more depth from the environment as a whole, and it’s perfect for when multiple speakers are sharing the same microphone.

Streamers and gamers frequently complain about microphones picking up unwanted noise from their environment. The problem is that studio mics are meant for recording booths rather than battlestations. They expect you to be sequestered in a silent room lined with sound-dampening foam, not sitting in front of a gaming machine with fans that hum, mouse buttons that click, and keyboard switches that clack. The Magnus filters those out sounds with environmental noise cancellation.

When you activate noise-cancelling mode, otherwise known as ENC, the Magnus fires up all three capsules along with a separate microphone embedded in the back of the body. The additional mic is perfectly positioned to pick up noise from your keyboard and mouse. An internal chip uses input from all these sources to intelligently remove extraneous sounds, resulting in cleaner audio for your audience.

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The spectrum analysis above illustrates the impact of ENC in two scenarios. The graph on the left applies to an environment with only ambient noise, which the Magnus reduces by an average of 30 dB. A human voice is present in the plot on the right, with its frequency range defined by the red box. The Magnus cuts noise by an average of 40 db outside that range and only 15 db within it, resulting in clearer vocals that stand out from the background.

Be seen as well as heard

While sound quality is critically important, streaming has an important visual component. Webcam windows are common on gaming streams, and even podcasters have moved away from audio-only broadcasts and into video. Trouble is, most microphones are so large you end up partially hidden behind them. We made the Magnus compact to let more of your personality shine through.

At just 13 x 9.5 x 5 cm, the Magnus is significantly smaller than popular alternatives. It’s compact enough to easily fit in front of your keyboard, and it can be affixed to typical stands via the 1/4" camera mount in the bottom. We also ship a 5/8" adapter in the box to ensure compatibility with a broad range of mounts. You don't need a hefty boom to support the Magnus, either. Tipping the scales at only 355 grams, it weighs substantially less than the competition.

The Magnus takes visuals one step further with integrated RGB lighting that brings a touch of customization to the exterior accents. You can choose from a rainbow of colors and several effects to get the exact look you want. The lighting is part of our Aura Sync ecosystem, which enables synchronized colors and effects across a full range of PC components, including compatible ROG motherboards, graphics cards, peripherals, and monitors. Aura Sync extends to our upcoming Strix Fusion headset, allowing you to impress viewers with harmonious lighting for everything they can see in the frame.

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More than just a microphone

Convenient controls line Magnus’ edges, making it easy to switch modes, toggle the lighting, mute the mic, and adjust both the sensitivity and volume. There’s even an extra USB port onboard. When the Magnus is plugged into your system via USB 3.0, it acts like a hub and allows you to connect an additional device directly to the microphone. (You can run the mic off a USB 2.0 port, too, but that interface doesn’t provide enough power to fuel the integrated hub functionality.)

A 3.5-mm headphone jack lets you monitor microphone input directly or listen to your system’s audio output. There’s also a 3.5-mm input jack meant for auxiliary devices like musical instruments. Input from the aux line is automatically mixed with the microphone feed to simplify simultaneous streaming. If you’re capturing input with professional recording software, the mic and aux lines appear as separate channels to provide more flexibility for editing.

Everything fits in a carrying case that protects the Magnus during travel. With a detachable 1.5-m USB cable and compact design, the mic is easy to toss into a bag alongside your laptop.

The right microphone for streamers and gamers

Streaming has made stand-alone microphones popular with gamers and content creators, but it takes more than a good condenser to give your audience the experience it deserves. We shrunk the body and implemented noise cancellation to deal with the pitfalls associated with recording in front of your PC, then we added a bunch of useful features to sweeten the package. Attracting an audience and holding their attention is still up to you, of course, but the Magnus gets you off on the right foot.