Tag Archives: condenser

Logitech G Yeti Orb Is a Plug-and-Play LIGHTSYNC-Compatible Condenser Mic

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Adorning your home office/PC gaming setup with Logitech’s lineup of LIGHTSYNC RGB products is an honorable goal on its own. But if you already own a LIGHTSYNC keyboard, mouse, headphones, and computer speakers (to be fair, I really love those G560s!), you’re probably dedicated to the bit by this point. Good news: it’s time to expand your RGB setup yet again. Even if you already have those aforementioned accessories — which work remarkably well together, producing quite the lightshow when synced with in-game visuals via the Logitech G Hub software — you’re still going to need a microphone for your desk. And that’s where Logitech’s newest array of LIGHTSYNC-equipped Yeti microphones comes in.

The Logitech G Yeti Orb — and, separately, the Yeti GX — are Logitech’s newest desktop mics, ditching the old Blue brand in favor of Logitech G. Both use cardioid pickup patterns, which is optimal for recording a single speaker, but the Orb is a condenser mic whereas the GX is a fancier dynamic mic, and the latter is a bit more expensive as a result. That said, it sounds like no matter which of the two you get, Logitech’s newest microphones are gorgeous thanks to their LIGHTSYNC RGB integration, and both are easy to install and set up thanks to their reliance on a single USB-C cable.

Designer: Logitech

The Yeti Orb condenser mic is the lower-priced of the two new Logitech mics, and… it’s quite cute. The rather small, orb-shaped microphone stands upright on its packed-in mini tripod, making it perfect to stick on top of a desk alongside a laptop. The mic design itself is cut in two by a matte ring, which features the RGB-backlit “G” letter candidly positioned on top. According to Logitech, this is a carbon neutral design, made with “a minimum of 74% certified post-consumer recycled plastic by weight.” Moreover, Logitech claims the packaging itself is sustainably sourced from FSC-certified forests.

Several reviews of the Yeti Orb condenser mic indicate the audio quality on it is notably clear for the price, with Tom’s Hardware calling out its budget-friendliness at an MSRP of $59.99. The software itself sounds easy to use, especially if you’re already familiar with Logitech G Hub. All you need to do is plug it in, and then you can get started customizing your lighting and audio preferences. It even comes with several voice presets through the integrated BLUE VO!CE mode, which gives you control over the Yeti Orb’s acoustic calibration — even allowing you to do silly things, like apply special effects to make your voice sound extra deep or ethereal.

The post Logitech G Yeti Orb Is a Plug-and-Play LIGHTSYNC-Compatible Condenser Mic first appeared on Yanko Design.

Teenage Engineering’s CM-15 condenser microphone looks right out of Apple X Braun’s design playbook

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Looking somewhat like the spiritual successor to the Braun T3 radio and the classic iPod, the CM-15 is Teenage Engineering’s latest device to fit into its music-tech ecosystem. The condenser microphone boasts a design so clean it looks like it was made by Jony Ive himself, with an all-metal design, a compact body, and a whopping 1-inch condenser diaphragm on the inside to give you the most crystal clear audio capture ever. Offering a combination of 48v phantom-powered mini XLR, USB-audio interface + preamp, and 3.5 mm line output (with an internal battery), the CM-15 works with a wide range of devices including directly with your phone/laptop, or even with the company’s TX-6 handheld mixer and OP-1 synth if you’re looking to make music or record audio/podcasts on the go. The CM-15 is compact enough to fit into your bag or even your pocket. It comes with a tripod stand adapter, and even has a flip-out kickstand if you want to keep your setup frugal… and you’ll probably want to, given that the microphone has a whopping price tag of $1199.

Designer: Teenage Engineering

The condenser microphone’s design screams sophistication, with a simplicity that’s difficult to ignore. It has two controls and three ports – that’s it… but boasts compatibility with a wide range of interfaces and devices, and has the ability to record everything from studio drumsets to ASMR-style voiceovers. This is, thanks to the microphone’s massive 1-inch diaphragm, which seems unusually large when compared to the mic’s own diminutive size. The condenser offers a super-cardioid pickup pattern, making it great at capturing sounds on the front while isolating sounds coming from the side and canceling sounds from the back.

A switch on the side lets you power the microphone, while another one on the back lets you choose your gain level depending on what you’re recording. Set the gain to zero for loud sounds, and for softer, more delicate audio, adjust the gain to the II position to capture even the faintest of sounds. Meanwhile, the mic supports three types of output – a phantom-powered mini XLR, a USB-C with its own power supply, and a 3.5mm out that’s supplemented by the CM-15’s own built-in battery. What’s rather spectacular is that the CM-15 supports all three outputs being used simultaneously, allowing you to send recorded audio to three interfaces at the same time.

The elephant in the room, however, is the microphone’s staggering $1,199 price tag. Priced much higher than most other condensers, the CM-15 costs about as much as the iPhone 14 Pro, although that shouldn’t come as a surprise considering that the iconic OP-1 synth itself is priced in the $2,000 ballpark. However, I’m nobody to judge if you’re an audiophile with a deep pocket and an appreciation for iconic minimalist design. The CM-15 is listed on the Teenage Engineering website but won’t go on sale until ‘this summer’, according to the site.

The post Teenage Engineering’s CM-15 condenser microphone looks right out of Apple X Braun’s design playbook first appeared on Yanko Design.

The iRig Stream Mic Pro lets you professionally record your own podcast with just an iPhone

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The audio tech company’s heavily known for making products that democratize music production by letting you use software and hardware along with readily available devices like iPhones and iPads. The iRig Stream Mic Pro opens yet another avenue for budding podcasters to record crystal-clear audio for everything from podcasts to streams, videos, and even professional music production. The condenser microphone comes with 4 switchable polar patterns for all sorts of recording settings, a hi-pass filter that lets you instantly cut out rumbling sounds and other noises, and an audio interface that supports connecting a host of devices like keyboards, mixers, turntables, soundboards, etc. The microphone can be hooked to anything from a studio setup to a laptop, iPad, or iPhone, giving you the freedom to either scale up or scale down your setup, depending on the need.

Designer: IK Multimedia

The iRig Stream Mic Pro comes with a gold-sputtered ½” electret condenser diaphragm that allows it to record in pristine quality, but even supports the ability to choose between four polar patterns – cardioid, omnidirectional, figure-eight, and stereo, based on the space you’re recording in and the elements around you. A central knob forms the most noticeable element of the microphone’s design, doing multiple things from letting you cycle between patterns to controlling gain, headphone level, monitor mix, and even the high pass filter.

The iRig Stream Mic Pro is a little more than your average microphone. Sure, it matches up to some high-grade condenser mics in its capabilities, but what really sets it apart is the fact that it’s practically an entire studio inside a microphone. You can connect it right to your smartphone and begin recording, but if you’ve got more on your mind, the Stream Mic Pro lets you push boundaries. An aux input lets you hook your mic up to audio input devices like a keyboard, turntable, soundboard, or smartphone, and have the audio mix right into your recording. A headphone out lets you play with the levels too, allowing you to tune up your vocals or the audio playing from the input device. The Stream Mic Pro’s built-in audio interface gives it the ability to connect various devices to the mic without requiring any additional gear. The final recording then can be sent to your DAW on your phone, tablet, or laptop, saving you the trouble of requiring expensive gear and a technician.

Want to have better control over your master recording? The iRig Stream Mic Pro offers IK Multimedia’s groundbreaking Loopback+, letting you not only add music from your phone or tablet to your recording or stream but even route the mic signal into a separate app to add reverb, EQ, or noise-reduction before sending it to apps like TikTok or Instagram, which don’t normally let you process audio or add background music. This effectively gives you studio-level control in your social media apps, setting your content miles apart.

The mic comes with an ultra-portable design that cuts your need for additional gear in half. It connects to tripods or mic stands using a threaded mounting system at the back, and hooks to your smartphone, tablet, or laptop via USB-C (or lightning for your iPhone). The mic records in 24-bit at 96kHz, and offers a choice of stereo or multi-channel mode. The microphone connects to your device, working right out of the box without any extra software, and an MFi certification means you can even charge your iPhone while using iRig Stream Mic Pro to record with the (optional) DC power supply. The iRig Stream Mic Pro starts at €169.99 ($185.4 USD) and ships with a 2-year warranty.

The post The iRig Stream Mic Pro lets you professionally record your own podcast with just an iPhone first appeared on Yanko Design.

At just $91, the RODE NT-USB Mini is the the best budget podcasting microphone you can buy

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Without getting into the deep end, audio equipment can be a tricky business. The usual problem with audio gear is that its price tag is almost indicative of its quality. The higher the price, usually the better the quality, and the lower the cost, the larger the compromise on your end result. The RØDE NT-USB Mini is changing that notion. With a price tag that’s nearly half as expensive as a pair of Airpods, the NT-USB Mini is a small, powerful, studio-quality condenser microphone that’s easy on the ears, eyes, and the wallet.

There are a lot of things the NT-USB Mini gets right just off the bat. With a USB interface, the microphone becomes instantly compatible with laptops, and doesn’t require any mixers or additional equipment like phantom power sources. Just plug the mic in and you’re ready to go. An in-built Pop Filter helps cut down on any sudden popping sounds (known as plosives), keeping your recording sharp and clear, while a volume knob built right into the mic’s design lets you work the mic’s amplifier levels. Designed for studio as well as out-of-studio use, the mic comes with a threaded base that attaches to studio mic-stands, but has its own dedicated desk-stand inside the box for podcasting and indie recording purposes. The desk stand features 2-axis swiveling to help position the mic exactly how you want it, and right at the bottom is a flat, magnetic base that allows the microphone to hold its place, preventing it from accidentally being knocked over. Pretty neat, huh?

Made for streamers, gamers, musicians, podcasters, professionals, and basically everyone who wants to create audio content, the NT-USB Mini is the perfect piece of gear to turn that small space you call a desk into a literal recording booth. Pop an adapter on and you could even connect the NT-USB Mini to a tablet too!

Designer: RØDE

In A Flash

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I love the structural design of the Condenser Flashlight, which is crafted from flexible materials. The reason behind this is to add flexibility, making it easy to grab the flashlight and even control the contours of the light beam. Simple physics and clever thinking!

Designer: Guangbo Wang

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(In A Flash was originally posted on Yanko Design)

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