XLR microphones offer great advantages for streamers, podcasters, and gamers: XLR microphones are extremely flexible for mixing, eliminating the awkward dance of software-based mixing programs and making it easy to record multiple microphones and instruments at once. The XLR mic is a great choice for mixing. There are tradeoffs, of course, and XLR mics are often more expensive than USB mics.

This makes sense, as an XLR setup requires more than a USB setup: many XLR condenser mics do not come with stands, so you need an external interface, a thick XLR cable, and perhaps even a stand.

That's where Focusrite's nearly all-in-one package comes in: the Scarlett 2i2 Studio bundle, which aims to make premium XLR upgrades a little easier, and perhaps cheaper.

The Studio bundle includes the Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen interface, a CM25 MkIII condenser microphone, HP60 MkIII sealed headphones, one XLR cable, and a Type-C to Type-A USB cable for connection to a PC, Includes (almost) everything you need for a solid XLR setup on your gaming PC. All neatly packaged and priced at $280 (£260).

Focusrite is nothing specializing in recording; Focusrite is a well-established brand in the professional audio arena and has been producing quality products. My past experience with their products shows why. They are simple to use, yet technically effective in producing high quality audio.

That is also true of the third-generation 2i2 included in the Studio bundle, which now operates with a single USB Type-C to Type-A cable, including power. The interface is also brighter, cleaner, and easier to navigate than previous models.

The 2i2 has a twin preamp design that allows two microphones to be easily set up for podcasting with this single interface. Each input has individual gain control, which is useful if you have a loud friend on the other end of the microphone, but also ideal if you want to connect an instrument to one input and record a silky voice on the other. Each input has an INST switch, which adjusts some important specifications for instruments, but of more interest to streamers and podcasters will be the AIR switch.

When enabled, the AIR switch replicates the ISA 110 mic preamps found on the Focusrite Studio Console and enhances the high frequencies. This may not mean much to you, but the result will help make your voice pop a little more. It also helps with the clarity of the final recording.

Since the AIR is a completely analog circuit, there is no downside to using it. The simplicity of being able to fine-tune at the push of a button is perfect for my desire not to rely too much on complicated mixing software to get a good sound. And it sounds really good. [2i2 also offers a nice monitor mode for one or both inputs. Since it is completely hardware-based, it has the advantage of cutting out the OBS and streaming feedback loops that can occur with PC-side monitors and desktop audio.

This touches on something very important to me regarding streaming audio setups. External interfaces turn the headache of trying to adjust monitors without affecting the overall stream or the balance of the recording into a single dial.

The external interface also allows you to balance multiple inputs in a short amount of time, with the only difficulty being balancing game audio and your Discord peers. One less thing to worry about before streaming.

When it comes to microphone quality, the CM25 MkIII is as good a condenser mic as you can ask for in a setup of this price. It is simple, functional, and made of all metal, so I trust it will last a long time. Tone is balanced and crisp, but you need to get a little closer to the mic to get the tone you want from a typical USB mic. However, if you need to move the mic away from your face, you may need to increase the gain a bit.

Since the microphone does not have a pop filter, the closer you get to this microphone, the greater the risk that the repellent will cause a peak in the output. This is a problem that can be remedied fairly easily by purchasing an inexpensive pop filter, lowering the gain, or moving away from the microphone, but it does require a little ingenuity to set up correctly the first time you set it up.

I said that the Studio bundle has almost everything you need for a solid XLR setup, but I meant to say that it is missing one important thing. The mics are not free-standing, so a stand or arm is absolutely necessary. So there could be another expense involved in getting the mic into the best shape it can be on Sunday.

My guess here is that many customers will ditch the stand that comes with it and mount the mic on an existing stand or arm. In fact, that is exactly what I do with my CM25 screwed directly to the Rode PSA1 mic arm. Once I remove the included threaded adapter, it fits perfectly. However, for a first-time XLR setup user, the omission of something like the arm makes it a bit more expensive than the $280 price of the Scarlett 2i2 Studio Bundle.

If you can find the Scarlett 2i2 Studio bundle for less than the asking price, you can at least gouge out the savings to get a proper stand and pop filter. I've seen the price drop to £209 in the UK, but in the US it seems to be hovering around the suggested retail price.

At least there is no additional cost for the headset, which the 2i2 Studio bundle covers. The included headsets are a decent pair of reference cans and offer a fairly balanced, if a bit muddy, soundscape. The closed-back design would not be an advantage in this regard. The overall design of the headphones is hardly comfortable and is definitely the least favorite part of the Studio bundle.

You can't go wrong with a basic headset like the Focusrite, but if you're looking for a serious setup, you might want to consider upgrading your earphones.

That said, there is much to like about the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio bundle as a package. Each component offers reasonable value and is very competitive with competitors such as Rode and Shure. The quality is also very high, proving that you don't have to spend more than a regular USB mic/headset combination to enjoy the benefits of XLR

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Finally, if you are looking to save a little cash, it is worth mentioning that there is a $50 cheaper option: the Scarlett Solo Studio. It omits one of the preamps and allows only one microphone or instrument to be connected, but it can be had for $230.