There are many USB microphones on the market for streaming and podcasting. Naturally, big names like Shure and Rode, which have typically existed on the prosumer side of audio, have moved into the content creator market by offering top-quality recording gear at somewhat more affordable prices. 512 Audio is one such company, and it is now offering the Tempest microphone, which is a USB mic for podcasting, packs pro audio know-how into the more wallet-friendly Tempest microphone.

I guess the idea is that if they can make a microphone good enough for Green Day (open in new tab), it should be good enough for the real killer podcasts.

There is something about the looks of Tempest that attracts me. It is simple and sophisticated. The cylindrical, all-black metal enclosure covers a 34mm large diaphragm gold-plated capsule with an old-school studio microphone aesthetic. When connected, a blue LED ring appears on the capsule, giving it just enough character without being overbearing.

As you can see from the test recording, the Tempest does a great job of cutting through the background noise in my office: the hum of my RTX 3090 (open in new tab) equipped gaming PC and AC unit, which my work and Discord calls It tends to get into my work and Discord calls.

My voice was crisp and clear on the recording. In fact, it was so clear that I could tell I had a cold. Sickness aside, listen to how the Tempest sounds compared to some of our favorite mics, especially high-end mics like the Shute MV7 podcast.

Prosives handle quite well without a pop filter. However, if you are looking for versatility, you may be disappointed because this microphone has only one polar pattern (unidirectional). We have seen similarly priced mics like the HyperX Quadcast (open in new tab) mic with four polar patterns. If you are streaming with multiple people in the same room, more polarity patterns will give you more recording options.

The package comes with a standard desktop stand and a low-profile shock mount, giving the microphone some versatility. The shock mount comes in handy if you are the excitable type and have a tendency to bump into your desk while streaming. I typically use a boom arm because of limited desk space, and the setup was very easy.

The desktop stand is probably my least favorite aspect of Tempest. Once set up, the Tempest never felt stable. The only way to prevent it from tipping over was to angle it in a funky way. Using a shock mount makes the mic too heavy for the desktop stand to support, and it is almost impossible to use a desktop stand and a shock mount together. To get the most out of your microphone, invest in a good boom arm.

For the same price, there is the Elgato Wave 3 (opens in new tab). This is a very useful digital mixer for streamers and comes with a fairly solid desktop stand. Again, for those who just want a good sounding mic and don't care about anything else, this is not necessarily a deal-breaker. But for streamers and other content creators, it's not a good idea to constantly worry about whether the mic is going to fall over at any moment.

The Tempest from 512 Audio is one of the most impressive sounding USB mics I've used in a while. Capturing clean, warm audio, it's a great choice for podcasters and musicians looking for a solid mic for $160, but don't expect too much from the stand. It doesn't have the flexibility or features of other mics in this price range.