Podcastage

Elgato Wave Neo Review / Test

Today I review and demo the Elgato Wave Neo, a relatively affordable USB condenser microphone. This offers a warmer and slightly darker sound compared to many of the other USB condenser microphones, a capacitive mute function, EQ, Deesser, Compressor, and Noise Removal plugins, as well as a digital mixer. Buy the Elgato Wave Neo (Affiliate Link) Amazon: https://geni.us/waveneo NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): As an associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info check my FAQ page links below. ...

Neat Worker Bee II (vs. AT2020, P120, 990)

Today i review the Neat Worker Bee 2, a budget condenser microphone. This has no switches or filters, it simply offers a cardioid polar pattern and a slight V-shape sound profile. It has a powerful low end, slightly recessed mid section and a clear top end. It does a sub par job at plosive rejection and the shock rejection also leaves a little bit to be desired, so it would have been fantastic for this to come with a shockmount and pop filter, but at the price, I can't complain too much. RECORDI...

Aston Apex Review / Test

Voicing 1 Comparison: https://youtu.be/00Fl2m_J-q0 Today i review the Aston Apex, a handheld dynamic. This mic has two different voicings giving you different EQ curves, active electronics giving the mic a very healthy output level, and it offers a unique and robust feeling build quality. The sound is either V-shaped or upper mid focussed depending on the voicing you use. I found that it suffered in two primary areas: plosive rejection and handling noise rejection. RECORDING SETTINGS: Interface:...

Audix PDX520 Dynamic Mic Review / Test

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. Fo...

Audix OM3 Review / Test

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 G...

13 Handheld Mics Compared (Audix OM3)

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

Lewitt Connect 2 Interface Review / Walkthrough

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:...

Shure PGA 181 Review / Test

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...

Neat BumbleBee II Review Test

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 grea...

Neumann TLM107 Review / Test

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/4jJ...

Hyper X Quadcast 2 Review/Test

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 m...

Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 4th Gen Comparison

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 ...

Podcastage's Best Music of 2024

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

Podcastage's Favorite Gear of 2024

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 Electr...

Sennheiser ME 2 Review / Test

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 separate...

Fifine AM8 Review / Test

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 prett...

Shure MV6 Review / Test

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 lov...

Shure 565SD Review / Test

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...

Peluso P414 Review / Test

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-b...

Violet Amethyst Vintage Review / Test

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: ...

Warm Audio WA47 Review / Test

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 ...

CAD E40 Review / Test

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 have ...

Rode NTR Review / Test

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: Bidirecti...

Shure Nexadyne 8/C Review / Test

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/8Lh8u9k8...

Shure Nexadyne 8C vs SM58, E835, V7, KSM105, M88, Beta 58a

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 of the others. It has ...

Neumann U87 Ai vs. Neumann TLM49

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 rig...

Shure SM4 Review / Test

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 buil...

How Much Should You Spend on a Mic (PGOA 1.7)

Other Mic Specs to Consider Before Buying (PGOA 1.6)

00:00 - Dynamic Mic Specs (Sensitivity) 02:30 - Condenser Mic Specs (Equivalent Noise / Self Noise, Max SPL)

Different Microphone Tones (PGOA 1.5)

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?