SteelSeries has earned a reputation for its high-quality gaming headsets and has now entered the gaming microphone market with two versions of its new Alias microphone. I am testing the SteelSeries Alias Pro, an XLR microphone, and the Stream Mixer interface in this review. A sister product, the SteelSeries Alias, is a USB microphone with an integrated interface.
JBL is synonymous with sound quality, and they’ve just released a boatload of new devices to keep your music pumping in 2024! Whether it’s true wireless earbuds, over-the-ear headphones, portable speakers, party speakers, or even microphones for podcasting — they’ve got it all!
Audigo Labs is a San Fransico-based company founded in 2019 by drummer and former Tesla engineer Armen Nazarian “after being frustrated by the lack of simple to use, high-quality sound recording solutions available to content creators.” The Audigo wireless microphone works as an extension of your iPhone to greatly improve the quality of your recordings, be they in your studio or backyard.
I was completing my review of the Lume Cube Mobile Creator Kit when I got word Lume Cube would soon release a new version. I put the review aside and waited for the Lume Cube Mobile Creator Kit 2.0 to arrive; I’m glad I waited because it is an impressive upgrade. Let’s take a look.
I’m a fan of in-ear monitors and have two pairs of custom in-ear monitors (IEMs) I’ve reviewed and continue to enjoy using. Both sadly lack a microphone and, as a result, are only good for listening to audio. The new Antlion Audio Kimura Duo changes all that with excellent IEMs and an integrated microphone for calls and video, and it’s available at a shockingly low price.
Anker has become a household name in the world of electronic accessories by selling well-made, reliable, and cost-efficient products. Whether you’re using an Anker portable battery, 3D printer, docking station, or one of their Eufy or Soundcore devices, Anker’s offerings never fail to impress us. Here are some of the products they were showing this week in Vegas.
Harman and its subsidiary brands consistently deliver some of the best audio products on the market. Whether it be headphones, wireless speakers, home audio, or portable audio, there’s something for everyone. Some of the latest audio products we have to look forward to this year from Harman brands include the new Mark Levinson No. 5909 wireless headphones and new headphones, speakers, and a gaming microphone from JBL.
Cameras and microphones have become part of daily life for many of us during the pandemic. While most external video cameras have built-in microphones, they’re usually only slightly better than using the microphone integrated into a laptop. Unfortunately, the best external microphones are often rather complicated to use. However, the AKG Ara microphone is an excellent dual pattern USB mic, and it’s easy to use.
Shure makes some of the best microphones on the market, and their portfolio just got a bit bigger. They’ve just introduced two new microphones, the Shure MV7X Podcast Microphone and the Shure MV88+ Stereo USB Microphone. Each serves a different kind of creative and, if past experience with Shure microphones holds as I expect it will, both will be awesome.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been testing the Movo MA5L; it’s an omnidirectional condenser microphone that plugs into a Lightning port so that it will work with iPhones and older iPads. It promises to make your Zoom calls sound a bit clearer for the person listening, but there is a major caveat that you should consider before purchasing this particular model.
As a podcaster, having a microphone that can do “a little bit of this, a little bit of that” regardless of the circumstances is ideal. Whether you have an audio interface or simply want to plug it into your computer, the Samson Q9U Professional Broadcast Microphone is a mic that truly grows with you.
It seems more and more people have started a podcast during the pandemic, and with apps like Clubhouse, Stereo, and Zoom, it’s been made even easier to connect to your community. But how do you do it without spending a fortune on the setup? The answer is with the Shure MV7 Podcast Microphone and Shure AONIC 4 Sound Isolating Earphones.
Whether you’re a streamer on Twitch or starting up a podcast on Anchor, you’re going to need a great microphone. The Shure MV7 Podcast Microphone was made to take recording and streaming to the next level; it’s their first Hybrid XLR/USB Microphone.
2020 has given us a lot of time to reflect, complete goals, and even find new things to do with our time. One growing trend has creatives starting podcasts. September 30th is International Podcast Day, and there’s never been a better time to get started. No matter what platform you decide to publish your show on, all podcasts have to start with the proper equipment, and I think these are some that are worth checking out.
It’s been a while since we had a regular Gear Diary podcast but, when we did, we all used microphones from Blue. One of us had a Blue Yeti while two others used a Blue Snowball. All of them worked perfectly. We’ve been discussing starting up the podcast again, and, if we do, I’ll be using the Blue Yeti X.
As a podcaster, I’m typically of a simple mindset — Absolutely no USB Microphones. They are a hindrance when recording as well as editing, picking up every single noise possible. But MXL’s AC-404 USB Conference Microphone actually surprised me; here are my thoughts.
For the past few years, I’ve been trying to increase Gear Diary’s presence on YouTube. Sure, we are approaching nine million lifetime views but that’s not enough. But do make a decent video requires a good microphone. I’ve tried a few, but MXL Podcasting APS Bundle promises to make it even easier.
At my first CES, I carried a huge backpack with a mirrorless camera and tons of gear. It was a lot. Thanks to the Shure MV88+ Video Kit, my iPhone is now a powerful tool for capturing video on the go. It is light, relatively affordable and, in combination with my iPhone and Shure’s free apps, it gets the job done!
Being a podcaster, I’ve learned that a good microphone is hard to find. You can search any group, any forum, and someone will suggest the Blue Yeti Mic as a starter microphone. But what if I told you that while USB microphones are great, Blue Microphones offers better microphones that are more versatile, that will grow with you over time?
Alright, let just get this out of the way now: If you’ve ever attempted to podcast using a USB Microphone, it’s not the greatest experience you will have. Sure, a USB microphone may be most convenient, but with the Blue Ember XLR Microphone, you can have complete control as you record your audio.
Shure’s new MV88+ Video Kit is an all-in-one on-the-go video system. At $249, it includes a digital stereo condenser microphone, a Manfrotto PIXI tripod, phone clamp, mount, Lightning and USB-C cables. Just plug it into your iPhone or iPad, and you have a mobile studio no matter where your travels might take you.