Entering the world of recording may seem daunting, but there has never been a better time to do so. There are many decent USB microphones for novice podcasters, and even solid professional units are a bit more reachable than they once were. However, recording is a very expensive endeavor, and one can be ruined. It is completely possible to buy the wrong equipment and get caught saving money to solve the problem; For example, many people buy the extremely good Scarlett 2i2 USB microphone interface, and try to match a microphone that needs a batch more gain than it can provide. That's where the Cloud Microphones CL-1 Cloudlifter comes into play.
What is Cloud Cloud CL-1 Cloudlifter?
In summary, Cloud Microphones CL-1 Cloudlifter boosts your dynamic microphone correctly without forcing you to throw away your USB Interface: it's what's called a preamplifier: something that increases the microphone's signal before it reaches the interface (literally, " pre "+" amplifier "). If you have noticed that your recordings are very quiet or that the increase in gain makes them very noisy, you need a preamp like the CL-1 Cloudlifter.
This small box connects to your microphone and USB interface to increase the gain by 25dB.
This product exists mainly because there is a strange idea that you need a high-end microphone like the Shure SM7B or Electro-Voice RE 20 to get good sound recordings, and that just is not true . While they are incredible microphones, each step of their recording must be managed properly. If not, you will not get the results you want.
The Cloudlifter CL-1 rescues people with incompatible equipment by squeezing all possible voltages from their computer by using the phantom power of the interface (that 48V button on the front). When you activate the phantom power, CL-1 Cloudlifter will convert that to approximately 25dB of gain without adding as much noise as the gain dial would. However, keep in mind that the power available for your interface is limited by your computer: if you are not using a port that can carry enough current, you will run into problems.
Who should use Cloud Microphones CL-? 1 Cloudlifter?
This product is specially designed for people who want to record, but who are using incorrect microphones for their equipment. The truth of the matter is that not everyone needs a Shure SM7B: it is very likely that you are not using the equipment that can best be combined with it, so the CL-1 Cloudlifter is an excellent way to ensure quality recording while you're & # 39; The CL-1 Cloudlifter monitor is perfect for someone who just needs a microphone, or as a temporary solution for a preamplifier or more complete interface.
It may seem that you are saving for a better DC interface or rack unit.
Rough, or that I call readers because they do not know what to buy, but I do not. Sometimes, you can only afford one piece of hardware that you want to keep for the long term, and a good microphone is usually what people are looking for. However, that is really putting the cart before the horse. Microphones of all kinds have come a long way, and there are many affordable options that work fantastically well for around $ 100. For example, the Shure SM58 comes to mind.
Low levels need more gain to fix, and if you have a high-end microphone, you might have to deal with this if you are using a USB interface. [19659006] The CL-1 Cloudlifter is perfect for someone who just needs a microphone, or as a temporary solution for a preamplifier or more complete interface. However, you may not even want to update if you are not trying to coordinate a complete multi-speaker podcast: this unit works really well on your own.
Does the Cloud Cloud CL-1 Cloudlifter work well?
When you turn on the phantom power on the Scarlett 2i2 it will power the CL-1 Cloudlifter, and it will give you 25dB of clean gain to play on your recording.
The measure of whether or not a preamp is good is that you:
- get an appropriate level of gain (read: "volume") in your recordings
- you can not hear any audible noise in those recordings [19659020] If your preamp meets the criteria, it works well. I should know, since I've been using one in the Podcast SoundGuys from Episode 3 onwards. While any recording will need some adjustments here and there to be perfect in everything you want, a preamp like the CL-1 Cloudlifter will ensure you do not have to damage your tracks too much if you have a power hungry microphone [19659002] Should I buy Cloudboard CL-1 Cloudlifter?
While the CL-1 Cloudlifter is a product of a certain niche, it has its uses for someone who may not have an outlet for a DC – power amplifier or preamplifier. Also, it will be helpful if you are in the place or you need to clear your desk a bit. At about $ 150, it's not cheap, but neither is buying a more powerful interface. If you could not resist the temptation to get a high-end microphone and now you need more juice: consider the CL-1 Cloudlifter as a solution to your energy problems.
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