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Today I review the new dynamic mic from Audix PDX520 which is a broadcast dynamic, podcast dynamic, streamer dynamic, or studio dynamic, whatever you want it to be. It has a standard dynamic sensitivity, a darker and smoother sound profile with a slight focus on the mids, and two eq switches to adjust the sound (presence boost & high pass filter).  

Buy the Audix PDX520 (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/pdx520

NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below.

RECORDING S...

vs. 12 Mics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5L5ggn-qkE

Today i review the Audix OM3, a handheld dynamic. This mic offers a bright upper mid and treble region with a tight hypercardioid polar pattern which does a good job at background noise rejection, but a less than stellar job at handling noise rejection. The microphone also has a powerful lowend which can be a little bit over powering in my opinion.

RECORDING SETTINGS:

Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen

Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz

Gain: ~45dB

Boosted...

00:00 - Intro

00:19 - Spoken Word Comparison

04:19 - Plosive Test (On Grill)

05:23 - Plosive Test (3" Distance)

06:26 - Handling Noise Test 1

07:23 - Handling Noise Test 2

08:12 - Outro

Today I walkthrough, explain, test and review the new Lewitt Connect 2 streaming audio interface. I compare it to the Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th gen, test the preamps with the SM7b, demo the D.I. Instrument inputs, test the line level input capability, walk through the clipguard feature, eq settings, denoise capability, and compressor as well. This is an all around fantastic interface for someone who needs a single preamp and instrument input.

Buy the Lewitt Connect 2 (Affiliate Links)
Amazon: https://geni.us/connect2
Sweetwater: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/connect2
B&H Photo: https://b...

Today i review the Shure PGA181 an affordable side address condenser. It is very straight forward with only a cardioid polar pattern and no pads or filters. This mic is more of an upper mid focused sound which gives it a punchy character. The self noise on this mic comes in at 22dBA which is kind of high, but seems relatively inline with the competition LCT240 (19dBA), AT2020 (20dBA), 770 ($20dBA), X1a (16dBA), but it is still on the higher side.

RECORDING SETTINGS:

Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen

Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz

Video & HQ Audio: https://podcastage.com/rev/bumblebee2

Today I'm reviewing and demoing the Neat Bumblebee 2, a budget USB condenser mic that I got for under $30. This offers really great sound quality for the price and leans slightly V-shaped with a supportive bass and low mid section and a bit of a boost in the treble and air. You get a single cardioid pattern, a mute button, a headphone output, and a mix dial for computer playback and zero latency monitoring. At $25 or less this is a great deal. At $60 it has some fair competition but stacks...

Support the Channel: http://podcastage.com/support

Today i review the Neumann TLM107, a multipattern condenser with two high pass filters and two pad options. It has a balanced  bass and mid section and then a treble bump which gives the mic a bit of life. It does sound a touch sharp on spoken word but sounds great for the music applications I tried it in.

Buy Neumann TLM107 (Affiliate Links)

Amazon: https://geni.us/tlm107
Sweetwater: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/tlm107
B&H: https://bhpho.to/4jJ9QDF
Thomann: h...

Video & HQ Audio: https://podcastage.com/rev/quad2

Today I'm reivewing and demoing the Hyperx Quadcast 2, a multipattern USB condenser microphone. This thing offers a nice sound quality, a fairly intuitive operation, a capacitive mute button, and everything you need to start recording. It's a nice improvement over the gen 1 with improved sound quality, A/D and D/A converters and functionality. 

Today I review the Fifine AM8, a budget USB/XLR dynamic microphone that only costs around $50. As mentioned this has an XLR & USB output which can be used simultaneously, a 3.5mm hea...

Today I provide spoken word samples of the Focusrite 18i20 4th gen and compare it to the 2nd gen 18i20 as well as the Universal Audio X8 and the UA LA610 MK II preamp, and Warm Audio WA73 EQ preamp. I also explain why I chose this inteface as the device for my reviews.

Buy the Focusrite 18i20 4th Gen - (Affiliate Links)
Amazon: https://geni.us/18i204th
Sweetwater: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/18i204th
B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/3DLyvHf
Thomann: https://thmn.to/thoprod/596531

As an Affiliate I...

Thanks for an amazing 2024. Simply put there weren't enough reviews to compile a good box throw video, so I figured this would be a fun way to wrap up the year. If this is dumb, let me know and we won't do it again.

00:00 - Intro
00:34 - #5. Shure 565 SD - 19 NOV 2024
01:44 - #4. Warm Audio WA47 - 22 OCT 2024
03:29 - #3. Art Tube MP - 23 JAN 2024
04:22 - #2. Shure Nexadyne- 1 OCT 2024
06:04 - #1. Peluso P414 - 7 NOV 2024
08:09 - Wrap Up

Video & HQ Audio: https://podcastage.com/rev/2024fav

Today we discuss my favorite audio gear of 2024. I share my favorite microphone that I reviewed this year, my favorite audio interface / preamp I reviewed, and my favorite new production gear that I use in my studio. I would love to hear what your favorite gear of the year is.

As an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Gear Discussed (Affiliate Links):

Neumann BCM104: https://geni.us/bcm104

Lewitt Ray: https://geni.us/lray

sE Electronics X1a: https...

Today we're looking at the Sennheiser ME 2 a relatively affordable lavalier microphone. This offers a brighter character which can be beneficial on the collar or in the center or the chest to maintain some clarity and not sound overly muddy. This mic does have a self noise of 32dBA which is high and the noise can be quite noticeable. Also, you don't get any accessories with this other than the mic clip, so if you want any kind of dead cat or windscreen, you're going to need to buy those separately.

Buy the Sennheiser ME 2 (Affiliate Link)<...

Video & HQ Audio: https://podcastage.com/rev/am8

Today I review the Fifine AM8, a budget USB/XLR dynamic microphone that only costs around $50. As mentioned this has an XLR & USB output which can be used simultaneously, a 3.5mm headphone jack which offers computer playback and zero latency monitoring, a capacitive mute button, and RGB LIGHTS!!! Sound wise I perceive it as slightly V-shaped where the lower & higher frequencies overpower the mid frequencies, but overall it sounds pretty darn good especially considering the price. There is one flaw with this microphone which makes me only kind of...

Today I review the Shure MV6 which is a USB Gaming microphone that costs around $150. The big feature of this mic is the DSP (digital signal processing) which gives you the ability to adjust the microphones tone, add a noise remover, use a digital popper stopper, or add a highpass filter. It also includes auto-level in case you don't want to worry about your level. The sound of it is very upper mid, presence, and treble focused so if you dislike that sound, you're probably not going to be in love with this mic.

Buy the Shure...

Today i review the Shure 565SD, a classic handheld dynamic. This offers acardioid pattern and a very bright treble range which gives you a clearer sound than many other handheld dynamics when you're right on top of it. At a distance I think the boost can be a bit much and sound sibilant and sharp, but for it's designed use case it makes a lot of sense.

Additional Mic Tests: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4Yw-Kx3W0E
Additional Guitar Sample: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhE7hhZ_u78

RECORDING SETTINGS:<...

Support the Channel: http://podcastage.com/support

Today i review the Peluso P414, a mic that is trying to emulate the sound of the original AKG C414 EB which had the same brass capsule as the AKG C12. As you'd expect, it is a very bright and airy mic that gives you a hyper detailed and shimmery top end. This thing has 4 polar patterns, two high pass filters, and 2 pads, a max SPL of 162dB and a self noise of 12dBA.

RECORDING SETTINGS:

Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen

Conversion: 24-bit / 48...

Today i review the Violet Mics Amethyst Vintage (which was purchased after JZ Mics acquired them). This has a cardioid polar pattern, no pad, no filters, and no external mounting included. It is a very straight forward mic that offers a low self noise of 7dBA and has a slightly brighter sound quality to it.

Support the channel at https://www.podcastage.com/support

RECORDING SETTINGS:

Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen

Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz

Gain: ~12:00

Boosted in Post: +6dB

SPECS:

Polar Pattern...

Today I review the Warm Audio WA47, a clone of the Telefunken U47. This mic offers a relatively balanced sound with good bass extension and a nicely detailed treble and air frequency range. I found that it sounds a bit different than the Telefunken TF47 (the closest U47 style mic I have), so I'm not sure how clsoe it is to the actual U47, but ignoring the model number, I think this is a solid sound mic for music.

RECORDING SETTINGS:
Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen
Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz
Gain: ~12:00
Boosted in...

Today i review what I would classify as a BUDGET mic, the CAD E40. This thing has an MSRP of $100, but at the time of review it's on sale for $50 and I bought mine for $30. It offers a super cardioid polar pattern, a 100hz highpass filter and a -10dB pad. The max SPL is a little on the low side at 125dB, but for spoken word applications this should not cause any problems. As far as the sound it offers a very bright sound that I think comes across unsmooth and a bit brittle, and it also can...

Today i review the Rode NTR, an active figure-8 ribbon microphone which has a really healthy output so you don't have to worry about your preamp that much. This gives you a very classic sounding ribbon tone with an insanely robust bass and low mids, a slightly more neutral mid section, and then the treble and air are tame but not overly so.

RECORDING SETTINGS:
Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen
Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz
Gain: ~12:30
Boosted in Post: +4dB

SPECS:

Polar Pattern: Bidirectional

Freq Response : 20Hz - 20...

Today i review the Shure Nexadyne 8/C, a handheld dynamic. The mic has a cardioid polar pattern with good off axis coloration, it has a controlled lowend and a dominant upper-mid and treble boost which allows it to sound less muddy when your lips are on the grill. However, when you're farther from the microphone the low cut and high boost can make it sound a bit unappealing. I also found that it didn't do a greatjob at handling noise rejection.

Additional Guitar Sample: https://youtu.be/8Lh8u9k8exI
Additional Mic Tests: https://youtu...

Video: http://podcastage.com/rev/nxn8c-comp

This is a supplemental demo to my full review of the Shure Nexadyne 8C (http://podcastage.com/rev/nxn8c). The 8C is a handheld dynamic that seems to be primarily designed for stage use where you are going to be close micing with your lips touching the grill. So I wanted to demo how that sounds compared to a number of other options.

TONE

I found that the tone of the mic with the lips on the grill was quite nice compared to a lot...

Video: https://youtu.be/241Yn_IKJRA

Should you get the Neumann U87 Ai or the TLM49? I don't know what you should do, I'm not your dad! But in this video I provide spoken word samples, background noise tests, distance tests, as well as electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and singing tests, and then I share my opinions. I hope this helps you understand the differences between this microphones sonically and in the spec department so that you can make a more informed decision if either of these is right for you.

Recording Settings
Interface...

Today i review the Shure SM4, a new offering in the $200 price range. The mic is very straight forward with a cardioid polar pattern and no pads or switches. This is a brighter mic which controls the bass, has a neutral mid section, and then a dominant boost focused in the treble and air frequencies. I found that on some S's they could sound a bit sharp on this mic, and also the self noise is a bit high at 17dBA compared to the competition. The accessories are all nice and effective and the build quality is great.

00:00 - Dynamic Mic Specs (Sensitivity)

02:30 - Condenser Mic Specs (Equivalent Noise / Self Noise, Max SPL)

00:00 - Understanding Different Frequencies
01:35 - Reading a Frequency Response Graph
03:33 - Different Microphone Tone Samples
05:38 - What Tone is Right For You?

00:00 - Intro
00:18 - Demo of Polar Patterns
01:27 - Discussion of Polar Patterns
04:00 - Which Pattern is Right for You?

Which polar pattern is the best option for your situation of online content creation. In this episode I demo cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-8 (bidirectional) so you can hear the polar patterns and then discuss which pattern is the right option for your situation.

Which mic type is right for your content, studio mics, large diaphragm dynamics, condensers, cavaliers, headsets, shotgun mics, in this video I discuss 4 common mic uses and share my thoughts on the best mics for those uses.

On episode 1.2 of PGOA, I talk about the differences between Dynamic and Condenser microphones, share what I believe to be the pros and cons of each, and then spent a lot of time discussing and demoing the contentious topic of “Do dynamic mics reject more noise than condenser mics”?

THE DIFFERENCES

Condenser microphones are active and will require phantom power, while MOST Dynamic mics are passive and do NOT require phantom power (there are very few active dynamics that will require phantom power.)

Condenser microphones also typically have a much higher sensitivity (or outp...

On episode 2 of PGOA, I discuss the differences between XLR and USB microphones and which connection may be the best fit for your project. If you just want simple and easy to use, then USB may be the proper route to go, but if you want more versatility, control, and options, and you have the budget; XLR will serve you well.

Should you get an XLR or USB Microphone?

This can be simplified to a single question: Do you want a simple plug and play device (USB), or do you want a more versatile, more...

Why does microphone selection even matter?

The mic that you choose to record with is one of the biggest contributing factors to the final audio quality of your recording (your environment and proper setup are also HUGE factors but we’ll cover those later). This choice will impact the tone of your recording (i.e. is it Bright, Dark, or Neutral), how much reverb is picked up, and how much background noise is picked up (i.e. Air Conditioner, Fans, Keyboard, Annoying Neighbors).

NOTE: This is the kick off episode of the new series titled PG...

Audio & Video: https://podcastage.com/rev/mk300

Today i review the Miketek MK300, a relatively affordable multi pattern condenser mic with a -10dB pad and 100hz high pass filter. I would classify this mic as a bright and clear sounding mic with a pretty heavy focus on a treble and air focus while still exhibiting good bass extension. 

RECORDING SETTINGS:
Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen
Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz
Gain: ~12:00
Boosted in Post: +7dB

SPECS:
Polar Pattern: Cardioid, Figure-8, Omni
Freq Response : 20Hz - 20khz
Se...

Today i review the sE Electronics X1a, a budget studio condenser microphone. This offers a cardioid polar pattern, -20dB pad, and 100hz high pass filter. The sound is more on the neutral side compared to it's direct competition with extension into the bass, neutral clear mids, and a slight bump in the treble and air frequencies. At the time of review the mic costs $100 and at this price it offers a tamer top end than it's competition.

RECORDING SETTINGS:

Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen

Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz

Gain: ~12:30<...

Today I walkthrough, explain, test and review the new Heirtage Audio i73 Pro 2. I compare it to the 18i20 2nd Gen, compare it to a BAE 1073, test the preamps with the SM7b, demo the D.I. Instrument inputs, and walk through the software.

Buy the Heritage Audio i73 Pro 2 (Affiliate Links)
Amazon: https://geni.us/i73pro2
Sweetwater: https://sweetwater.sjv.io/i73pro2
B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/4bLkftd
Thomann: https://www.thomannmusic.com/heritage_audio_i73_pro_2.htm?offid=1&affid=2060

RECORDING SETTINGS:
Mic: Neumann U87 Ai

Today I review the Rode Lavalier II which is Rode's more recent Lav release. It offers a good build quality and a ton of great accessories. The noise is 27dBa but for a Lav, that's not the worst. The sound when used on the collar or on your chest can be kind of muddy and low detail compared to the competition, but if you get the mic away from your body so the front of the mic faces your mouth you can get a bit more top end into your recording.

Buy the Rode Lavalier II (Affiliate...

Today i review the Shure SM27, a studio workhorse or all-purpose cardioid condenser microphone. Features wise it offers a -15dB pad and 2 high pass filters. The sound has a bit of a bump in the bass, and then a presence and treble boost, with a slight boost in the air which gives it a brighter sound. It also leans slightly on the sibliant side so for sibilant voices it may not be the best choice.

Buy the Shure SM27 (Affiliate Link)
Amazon: https://geni.us/ssm27
B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/4br7bZR

Video & HQ Audio: https://podcastage.com/rev/d2pp

Today I review the Behringer D2 Podcast Pro, an XLR and USB dynamic mic that costs about $130. This offers a headphone port, an XLR port, and a USB output. On mic you have a headphone volume control as well as a mic mute button. Conversion wise you can record up to 24-bit/96khz, but playback seems to be limited to 16-bit 48khz. I find the sound to be lacking in the low-end with a less aggressive upper frequency range which leads to a more mid focused sound. <...

Today i review the CAD M179, a relatively affordable multi-pattern condenser mic ranging from Omni to Cardioid to Figure 8 or anything in between. The mic gives a slightly more V-shaped sound with a high frequency boost and deep extension into the bass frequencies.

RECORDING SETTINGS:

Interface: Focsurite Scarlett 18i20 2nd Gen

Conversion: 24-bit / 48kHz

Gain: ~12:00

Boosted in Post: +7dB

SPECS:

Polar Pattern: Cardioid, Fig-8, Omni (anyhthing in between)

Freq Response : 10Hz - 20khz

Sensitivity: -36dB

Self Noise: 11BA<...

In Q&A episode 3 I discuss my ultimate 5 microphone collection, podcast habits/trends that I find incredibly annoying, what mic and interface I'd select if I was starting over, and what band/albums inspired me to pick up a microphone.

00:00 - Ultimate 5 Microphone Collection
07:31 - Annoying Podcast Trends
10:59 - Interface & Mic to Start Over With
13:57 - What Band/Albums Inspired me to Pick Up a Mic?
16:51 - Conclusion