Hollyland Lark M1 – Wireless Lavalier Review

9.4/10

Hollyland Lark M1 is a very compact set of wireless lavalier clip-on mics. It comes with a charging case and it’s capable of broadcasting both microphone channels independently via stereo 3.5mm output. Both transmitters and the reciever are light weight and minimalistic, yet provide all the vital features such as switchable noise reduction, stereo/ mixed output mode, volume boost and LED status indicators. Extremely small footprint along with an attractive price tag almost makes you…

MaonoCaster E2 (AME2) review – production audio interface for streamers

8.2/10

Maonocaster E2 is a consumer audio interface that offers various real-time effects, high dB gain and a multitude of inputs. It is a viable tool for streamers who want to have fun and entertainment, likewise it can be used for conference calls and other non-professional applications. The effects include sound bank, reverb, pitch shift, auto-tune and denoise. E2 can easily mix together XLR, line-in or even Bluetooth inputs and has a high compatibility with other…

Maono PD400X – USB / XLR podcast dynamic microphone review

8.9/10

Maono PD400X is a budget broadcast dynamic microphone that comes with a USB interface at no additional cost. For the most part it has a natural response, a little bit on the bright side with lots of air to it. The higher frequencies can be further boosted via EQ but even without it, PD400X sounds very crispy, especially for a dynamic mic. Good clarity and high output makes it an ideal choice for entry podcasting,…

9.2/10

Rode Wireless GO II is an excellent miniature professional wireless system consisting of two (2) transmitters, 3.5mm output and an on-board recorder. It is a successor to a highly successful first generation of GO with more features added to it, although the audio quality of both is same. Transmitters or the body packs have built-in mics to get you started, but more often than not, it is used with plug-in lavalier mics. Any generic 3.5mm…

Pixel Finch lavalier mic for iPhone review

8.5/10

Pixel Finch lavalier microphone is a very decent and affordable solution for iPhone and iPad users. The biggest advantage is high build quality and cable length. The cable is a single loop and plugs straight to your phone. It is much more reliable than using any adaptors and extensions required for use with other lapel mics. In terms of sound quality it can be compared to entry lavaliers from mainstream brands, which is notable. Overall…

Fifine K780A – USB Streaming Microphone kit review

8.4/10

Fifine K780A is a bloody cheap full size USB condenser mic that comes as a complete package with all the necessary accessories. Most importantly, it includes a decent boom arm, which alone would cost around $20 plus, not to mention the shipping. This is especially true if you would have to buy all the individual parts separately: the mic, shock mount, a foam, boom arm and a pop filter. So, that’s where most of the…

Maono PM500 – Budget Cardioid LDC Review

9.4/10

Maono PM500 is a very affordable large diaphragm condenser, suitable for streaming, podcasting and home studio recording. It exhibits a uniform response and produces a natural, mellow sound. Unlike most condensers in this price range, it is quite consistent when miking up close and doesn’t seem to be affected by proximity. PM500 isn’t too sensitive and so you don’t have to worry about sounding harsh. Consequently, it is possible to record a clean audio even…

8.7/10

Maono HD300T is a dynamic USB microphone that brings live sound home and packs the best bang for the buck when it comes to vocal recording. It delivers the best traits of dynamics that result in smooth and undistorted sound, saving you from buying expensive equipment such as preamps and digital interface that are otherwise necessary for connecting a dynamic XLR microphone to a computer. This mic comes with handy shock mount & compact pop…

Comica VM20 – budget DSLR & phone, mini-shotgun review

8.3/10

Comica VM20 is a budget miniature shotgun with a 3.5mm TRRS output, which can be connected directly to cameras and cellphones, while other DSLR mics require an additional splitter to work with cellphones in particular. The sounds is clear and natural out of the box, which is also crucial if you intend to record and publish videos using your phone. The low cut and extra gain controls are very handy too. In contrast with other…

Sennheiser e845 review – budget supercardioid

8.1/10

Sennheiser e845 is a budget version of the e945 supercardioid handheld with a less refined response and a slightly lower output. It is still as good in terms of gain before feedback and the supercardioid pattern it offers is as tight as ever. That is why this mic is well suited for noisy venues as well as back vocals where you want to keep the background noise to minimum. The higher end is as open…

AKG Perception 220 – studio worthy budget LDC

8.5/10

AKG Perception 220 is a budget recording LDC microphone used for vocal and instruments. The price of this mic is comparable to that of a USB, which is considered a trash tier as far as recording goes, and yet it is more than capable of a quality performance in a controlled studio setting. It can sound almost as good as 3-5 times more expensive mics with few nuances but usually good LDCs are always pricey….

Blue Snowball iCE – budget USB mic review

6/10

Blue Snowball iCE is a stylish, entry USB mic with an attractive price tag. Unlike the similar-shaped Samson Meteorite, it is not as blatantly hot and it has a detachable USB cable with a solid Type B connector. The midrange is by far superior and technically, it produces a much more accurate sound than the former. However, there is literally nothing but midrange. It sounds thin and dark at the same time, and it also…

Cyber Acoustics CVL-2004 Rainier USB mic review

6.8/10

CVL-2004 from Cyber Acoustics is a fresh and valuable addition to the USB microphone market. Reminding a lot of Blue Yeti, it offers similar features and performance with one major difference – price. At the time of writing, CVL-2004 is considerably cheaper, and despite certain shortcomings, the value for money is just excellent. To name some of the features, this mic provides zero-latency monitoring via 3.5mm headphone socket, flexible volume and gain controls and switchable…

Samson Meteorite USB review – cheap, small and hot!

5/10

Samson Meteorite is a cheap USB mic with a small footprint, compatible with Mac and PC. It also works for IPad when combined with a Lightning USB adaptor, which is not included by the way. However, an obscenely short and flimsy cable creates limitations, so it’s hard to justify using it for anything other than a MacBook or a laptop. Samson says the mic’s pickup pattern is cardioid but that’s a lie. Meteorite has a…

AZDEN EX503 Omni-Directional Lavalier Microphone Review

6/10

Azden EX503 is a cheap omnidirectional lavalier, ideal for home use and super low budget production. The quality is about decent: it may not be as crisp and clear as to capture all the inflections of speech but it still sounds intelligible and doesn’t make your ears bleed badly. There are issues with static noise –Rode smartLav+ and especially Giant Squid Audio Lab are way better in this respect. This is due to low sensitivity,…

CAD e70 Review – Dual Capsule Pencil mic

8/10

CAD e70 is an excellent quality pencil mic with interchangeable omni and cardioid capsules. Very natural sounding, it is crisp and has plenty of air with a nice sparkling flavor. This mic also features fine low end, which really nails the sound of an acoustic guitar. Not thin, not too deep, and just about right to handle the most instruments. There are of course exceptions: if you want to achieve warmer and richer sound, you’re…

8/10

Sennheiser e835 is a budget mic of above average quality that has a very distinct wide cardioid pattern. As such, it offers minimum proximity effect and it’s quite forgiving if the talent goes a bit off axis. This mic is very easy to handle and it will be ideal for presenters, churches and other non-critical applications. It can produce quite clean, unobtrusive and intelligible voice as long as you don’t push it to the limits,…

8.2/10

AKG D5 is a cheap but rugged supercardioid mic. It offers similar but slightly superior sound to Shure SM58. Tighter pick up pattern also gives it more flexibility to deal with gain before feedback. This mic can thus be considered as a more viable, cheaper alternative. However, it does suffer from the same disadvantage, which is the lack of detail. When comparing to more advanced handhelds, D5 may kind of sound inarticulate but as a…

Audio-Technica AT2035 Review – Best Affordable LDC

9/10

AT2035 is an inexpensive back electret condenser from Audio Technica that boasts pretty clear and balanced sound with low noise floor. This mic is a veeery good tradeoff between price and quality and hence, an ideal choice for home studios where budget is a factor. AT2035 has cardioid polar pattern and large diaphragm that actually works for both vocals and instruments. Having said that, the essential features of pad and low pass make it an…

Shure MV5 Review – Portable USB microphone

7.8/10

This device reminds us of legendary ‘Elvis Microphone’ except it is digital… and, it is packed with new features! Shure MV5 is a solid USB mic that boasts very decent quality at reasonable price (probably the best in up to $100 category). It is portable and highly compatible with Windows, Mac, iPad, iOS, iPhone and Android. Although it may lack the clarity of more expensive mics, the difference is not that huge. On a positive…

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budget

Hollyland Lark M1 – Wireless Lavalier Review

MaonoCaster E2 (AME2) review – production audio interface for streamers

Maono PD400X – USB / XLR podcast dynamic microphone review

Rode Wireless GO II review

Pixel Finch lavalier mic for iPhone review

Fifine K780A – USB Streaming Microphone kit review

Maono PM500 – Budget Cardioid LDC Review

Maono HD300T Hybrid USB/XLR Dynamic Mic

Comica VM20 – budget DSLR & phone, mini-shotgun review

Sennheiser e845 review – budget supercardioid

AKG Perception 220 – studio worthy budget LDC

Blue Snowball iCE – budget USB mic review

Cyber Acoustics CVL-2004 Rainier USB mic review

Samson Meteorite USB review – cheap, small and hot!

AZDEN EX503 Omni-Directional Lavalier Microphone Review

CAD e70 Review – Dual Capsule Pencil mic

Sennheiser e835 Cardioid Dynamic Review

AKG D5 Review – Supercardioid Dynamic

Audio-Technica AT2035 Review – Best Affordable LDC

Shure MV5 Review – Portable USB microphone

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