Thursday, November 2nd 2023
SteelSeries Unveils Alias Series Mics Powered by Sonar for Streamers
SteelSeries, the worldwide leader in gaming and esports peripherals, today unveiled its newest franchise and the first microphone solution that's been purposely built for gamers. With over 20 years of design and engineering expertise dedicated to solving problems for gamers and making every gaming session glorious, the #1 premium gaming audio brand introduces Alias microphones powered by Sonar for Streamers. Now "Gamers Finally Have a Voice."
When gamers stream, they get animated, move around their gaming setups and battlestations, shout with unbridled excitement and enthusiasm, narrate gameplay, and tell stories with style and personality. The current offering of microphones on the market does not address these needs and doesn't allow users to be dynamic, while Alias microphones allow for the freedom and true range that gamers seek. Others have introduced microphone solutions that are 4-in-1, but they are a master of none.
Streaming while simultaneously producing ain't easy. News anchors can focus on their broadcast because they have an entire crew to produce it. But streamers usually go at it alone. Three years in the making, SteelSeries challenged the status quo to design a solution for this pain point, creating the ultimate microphone system for gamers and streamers that makes it easier to simultaneously produce and stream. This one-two punch of hardware plus software allows streamers to sound like a pro without being a pro. Now any gamer can sound like they're in a professional studio, just like their favorite pro streamers and content creators.
"For many, gaming isn't just a pastime, it's a passion and a lifestyle, so having the very best peripherals fills a need to make the experience amazing every time," said Ehtisham Rabbani, SteelSeries CEO. "For decades, SteelSeries has been as passionate about bringing innovative, best-in-class products to the market as gamers are about gaming itself. With the launch of our Alias microphones powered by Sonar for Streamers, we are empowering current gamers, streamers, and content creators, and enabling future generations to create great streams and content for years to come."
Bigger sounds better. Alias microphones powered by Sonar for Streamers feature a custom-built 1" condenser capsule that's 3x the size of standard microphone capsules to flawlessly capture each gamer's voice, while a finely tuned cardioid capsule pattern minimizes background noise with a bubble-like capture area. This equates to a sound pattern used in broadcast and recording studios and is the optimal solution for accurate and impactful vocals -- and the only one needed for streaming. Add a custom-built shock mount that absorbs vibrations and allows gamers to get animated during their streams and the sum of the parts is a sleek, streamlined microphone chassis specifically designed for gamers.
To power the Alias microphone chassis, SteelSeries developed a high-performance turbo engine known as Sonar for Streamers that's 3x smarter. This free studio-grade software suite provides gamers with an all-in-one sound studio and delivers everything a streamer needs for audio high-quality production. Streamers can utilize an independent 10-band Parametric EQ with broadcast presets for deeper vocals, audio routing, precision tuning, and mixing, and ClearCast AI noise cancellation to make even the noisiest room sound like a recording studio. Pro software mixing tools like the Compressor and Limiter remove the need for additional audio programs or plugins. Sonar is compatible with standard video broadcasting software (OBS, Streamlabs, etc.) and uses CPU rather than GPU processing to avoid frame rate drops.
By fusing these two entities (Alias microphones and Sonar for Streamers), the ultimate broadcast quality, clarity, and control come together to raise the bar for gamers and their streams. The Alias series of mics powered by Sonar for Streamers is available in two options:
Alias - Sound Quality and Versatility Combined.
The days of off-the-shelf generic mics that have been rebranded for gaming are over. It's finally here -- a microphone fully dedicated to gaming and streaming. The Alias powered by Sonar for Streamers is the first microphone designed from the ground up specifically for gamers to sound like a professional with a 24-bit/48 kHz broadcast-quality microphone that picks up every detail of a gamer's voice with extreme accuracy. Instantly upgrade streams and content with pure, powerful audio delivery to draw in the audience. To keep gamers informed on the fly, the Alias microphone displays mic peak level information with a 5-stage LED indicator which switches to a prominent red "X" when streamers are muted. Real-time mic monitoring is also possible using wired headphones and the built-in RGB downlight and 5-stage LED offers 16.8M RGB colors to personalize the streaming setup. It's as easy as Plug & Play Say by connecting Alias to a PC with USB. Gamers can conveniently control input gain, mute, and headphone volume, and plug in a Nova series headset with a 3.5 mm cable.
Alias Pro - The Ultimate Streaming Microphone for Gamers.
The Alias Pro powered by Sonar for Streamers is a broadcast-quality XLR microphone that picks up every detail of a user's voice with extreme accuracy, while the balanced XLR system with pre-amplifier and 48 V phantom power reduces noise and interference to deliver pure and powerful 24-bit/48 kHz audio. Gamers can supercharge their production skills with the XLR Stream Mixer, a professional-level command station, that brings XLR amplification and audio mixing controls to any PC. SteelSeries introduces yet another first in gaming with an innovative StreamMixer that utilizes two USB ports with Sonar Software to support optional dual PC streaming for content creators. To allow for easy mixing, the Alias Pro features Drag 'n' Drop Audio Routing, where streamers can route and mix up to five audio channels and adjust them individually to craft the perfect experience for their audience. Gamers need fast and easy access to controls and essential audio adjustments like mic gain and mute are at the user's fingertips. Streamers can also customize dial and button assignments to mix or mute specific audio channels and monitor levels and mute status with custom-designed LED indicators while staying focused on the stream. The gain dial lights up from green to red to monitor your input levels while ambient RGB lighting complements the setup.
Gamers no longer have to settle for generic mics. Available at SteelSeries.COM and retailers around the world, the Alias and Alias Pro microphones powered by Sonar for Streamers are available for the following MSRPs:
Source:
SteelSeries
When gamers stream, they get animated, move around their gaming setups and battlestations, shout with unbridled excitement and enthusiasm, narrate gameplay, and tell stories with style and personality. The current offering of microphones on the market does not address these needs and doesn't allow users to be dynamic, while Alias microphones allow for the freedom and true range that gamers seek. Others have introduced microphone solutions that are 4-in-1, but they are a master of none.
"For many, gaming isn't just a pastime, it's a passion and a lifestyle, so having the very best peripherals fills a need to make the experience amazing every time," said Ehtisham Rabbani, SteelSeries CEO. "For decades, SteelSeries has been as passionate about bringing innovative, best-in-class products to the market as gamers are about gaming itself. With the launch of our Alias microphones powered by Sonar for Streamers, we are empowering current gamers, streamers, and content creators, and enabling future generations to create great streams and content for years to come."
Bigger sounds better. Alias microphones powered by Sonar for Streamers feature a custom-built 1" condenser capsule that's 3x the size of standard microphone capsules to flawlessly capture each gamer's voice, while a finely tuned cardioid capsule pattern minimizes background noise with a bubble-like capture area. This equates to a sound pattern used in broadcast and recording studios and is the optimal solution for accurate and impactful vocals -- and the only one needed for streaming. Add a custom-built shock mount that absorbs vibrations and allows gamers to get animated during their streams and the sum of the parts is a sleek, streamlined microphone chassis specifically designed for gamers.
To power the Alias microphone chassis, SteelSeries developed a high-performance turbo engine known as Sonar for Streamers that's 3x smarter. This free studio-grade software suite provides gamers with an all-in-one sound studio and delivers everything a streamer needs for audio high-quality production. Streamers can utilize an independent 10-band Parametric EQ with broadcast presets for deeper vocals, audio routing, precision tuning, and mixing, and ClearCast AI noise cancellation to make even the noisiest room sound like a recording studio. Pro software mixing tools like the Compressor and Limiter remove the need for additional audio programs or plugins. Sonar is compatible with standard video broadcasting software (OBS, Streamlabs, etc.) and uses CPU rather than GPU processing to avoid frame rate drops.
By fusing these two entities (Alias microphones and Sonar for Streamers), the ultimate broadcast quality, clarity, and control come together to raise the bar for gamers and their streams. The Alias series of mics powered by Sonar for Streamers is available in two options:
Alias - Sound Quality and Versatility Combined.
The days of off-the-shelf generic mics that have been rebranded for gaming are over. It's finally here -- a microphone fully dedicated to gaming and streaming. The Alias powered by Sonar for Streamers is the first microphone designed from the ground up specifically for gamers to sound like a professional with a 24-bit/48 kHz broadcast-quality microphone that picks up every detail of a gamer's voice with extreme accuracy. Instantly upgrade streams and content with pure, powerful audio delivery to draw in the audience. To keep gamers informed on the fly, the Alias microphone displays mic peak level information with a 5-stage LED indicator which switches to a prominent red "X" when streamers are muted. Real-time mic monitoring is also possible using wired headphones and the built-in RGB downlight and 5-stage LED offers 16.8M RGB colors to personalize the streaming setup. It's as easy as Plug & Play Say by connecting Alias to a PC with USB. Gamers can conveniently control input gain, mute, and headphone volume, and plug in a Nova series headset with a 3.5 mm cable.
Alias Pro - The Ultimate Streaming Microphone for Gamers.
The Alias Pro powered by Sonar for Streamers is a broadcast-quality XLR microphone that picks up every detail of a user's voice with extreme accuracy, while the balanced XLR system with pre-amplifier and 48 V phantom power reduces noise and interference to deliver pure and powerful 24-bit/48 kHz audio. Gamers can supercharge their production skills with the XLR Stream Mixer, a professional-level command station, that brings XLR amplification and audio mixing controls to any PC. SteelSeries introduces yet another first in gaming with an innovative StreamMixer that utilizes two USB ports with Sonar Software to support optional dual PC streaming for content creators. To allow for easy mixing, the Alias Pro features Drag 'n' Drop Audio Routing, where streamers can route and mix up to five audio channels and adjust them individually to craft the perfect experience for their audience. Gamers need fast and easy access to controls and essential audio adjustments like mic gain and mute are at the user's fingertips. Streamers can also customize dial and button assignments to mix or mute specific audio channels and monitor levels and mute status with custom-designed LED indicators while staying focused on the stream. The gain dial lights up from green to red to monitor your input levels while ambient RGB lighting complements the setup.
Gamers no longer have to settle for generic mics. Available at SteelSeries.COM and retailers around the world, the Alias and Alias Pro microphones powered by Sonar for Streamers are available for the following MSRPs:
- Alias Microphone - US $179.99 | EU €199.99 | AP $199.99
- Alias Pro Microphone - US $329.99 | EU €349.99 | AP $349.99
- SteelSeries Boom Arm - US $99.99 | EU €99.99 | AP $99.99
- SteelSeries Sonar For Streamers - Free Download at: Sonar for Streamers
7 Comments on SteelSeries Unveils Alias Series Mics Powered by Sonar for Streamers
Tabletop microphone: not good!
Condenser microphone in a likely untreated room: very poor choice! No matter how much noise reduction you use.
Two buttons and two dials: Am I a monkey? Functions on buttons are the most cool and practical things to have in this use case scenario.
There's no dedicated DSP chip, it uses the CPU... So, what am I paying for?
It's not an SM7b: streamers wants SM7b to show off (not because they have some vocal talent).
that aside, there is no reason of more of these products to exist, they offer nothing and personally its been a long time since i had any respect for Steelseries as a brand.
Those in the know will also tell you that room treatment is far more important to invest in then a microphone or recording devices.
Messing with multiple driver suites also sucks. So if a company has working stuff and makes a complete set of peripherals it's a nice option rather than mixing and matching. Of course though you can always just throwing "PC Gamer" out the window completely and laugh at the farce it is and then go get audio grade headsets, dacs, mics, speakers, driverless mechanical keyboards, MS pro mouse, and a great mousepad and it will perform better than anything "PC Gamer", better build quality, and more + better options. People don't do that though. "PC Gaming" is not actually really about gaming anymore. Hasn't been for years. It's a "lifestyle branding" now in every single area. It's even more lifestyle than apple!
I'm not partial to branding (most of the time), but I still think my ~$100 A7/A7+ and ~$120 7 Nova were great purchases. No overblown bass, no annoyingly-large mic. Clear sound, even if not the most dynamic. Stowable mic, even if not best-in-class. They're also comfy and not absurdly bulky plastic like most things out there. Just an over-all well-made accessory that's doesn't pass it's budget in usefulness imo.
I think the stuff they make is extremely practical (and often cheap if you wait for a sale), very much in the right spot on the price/perf curve.
I think of them a lot like I think of LG (not just TVs but other appliances). They're not the most extravagant pieces of tech in their market, but many of their products cut the fluff (although certainly not in their software), are well-made at their core, and give you just what you need/want for a fair price. I'll probably always be the guy that buys something like a LG, TCL, or a Steelseries, as long as they continue to do that thing. If you're that guy that wants/needs a Sony (or whatever the mic equivalent is), by all means do that. I'd rather save 1/3-1/2 of the price toward my next purchase in a given category, as stuff is always improving to the point that I think that makes the most sense. JMO.