There’s rather a lot to be stated about comfort in relation to equipping a house studio or content material creation suite. As we speak’s media atmosphere strikes quick – and to that finish, your setup must be responsive, simply understood, ergonomic, and extremely handy. At a second’s discover, Rockstar Video games may surprise-release one of many largest online game trailers of the last decade. Your deadlines are usually tight, so that you want loving content material creation companions that may be deployed at a second’s discover, whether or not that’s to hop on a dwell stream, document a podcast, or voice a TikTok explainer. To that finish, the newly-released Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone Streaming Set is an extremely helpful buddy.
Recording setup
The Streaming Set package deal comes with a standalone Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone, in addition to a sturdy mount that simply attaches to desks of all sizes, with an adjustable clamp. The stand has a number of factors of articulation (six main joints) and slots to carry the microphone cable, to make sure a clear and simple setup. Notably, the bottom level of the arm has free-flowing articulation, in order that it capabilities as a swing so that you can simply information your microphone backwards and forwards.
For my specific desk setup, the articulation and swinging mechanic labored like a dream. When not in use, the microphone simply swings right into a desk nook, permitting me to retain my house, whereas additionally having the microphone hooked up, and able to go when wanted.
The stand can also be very robust, which suggests this setup barely wants adjustment in any respect. As soon as I had my positioning sorted (the microphone has front-side audio pickup), the stand sturdily retained this selection. As well as, the setup is so strong that tremors of every kind – bumping a desk, shaking the stand – doesn’t affect the microphone in any respect. Even after a sudden shock, it barely bounces in any respect.
That comfort of design extends to the microphone itself, which is a strong and compact receiver that almost suits into the palm of your hand. It’s not solely glossy, it’s additionally quite simple to make use of – with simply three setting knobs and one button to cope with.
Deceptively easy
When establishing the microphone, you don’t have to know something about audio recording, which is a significant boon for anybody on the lookout for their first microphone, or simply one thing easy to maintain audio recordings sounding crisp and clear. The principle button on the microphone is a mute with a transparent color warning for comfort, and the knobs management a easy array of settings – headphone quantity, audio combine, and achieve management by quantity (aka voice quantity).
The achieve management might be essentially the most helpful of those knobs, because it means that you can alter the amount of your voice, with a yellow warning mild popping on should you’re too loud (though you actually must shout to harass this microphone). I discovered the center setting excellent for audio pickup, primarily based on my distance from the microphone, however simple adjustment means you possibly can guarantee your voice is all the time being picked up on the proper quantity, and with the correct emphasis.
The mixer button didn’t determine into my plans a lot, though I can see that it will show helpful for these needing to steadiness audio tracks. It’s designed to steadiness your microphone with plugged-in gadget audio, and would work neatly for these planning to stream or chat to pals utilizing the gadget. For my functions – aka recording TikToks for GamesHub – the mixer didn’t get a lot use, and was firmly set to prioritise microphone recording over gadget enter.
Splendidly, the training curve right here was virtually flat. You plug within the microphone by way of USB-C (and I did must swap laptops for this, as my work laptop computer doesn’t have USB-C enter), mess around with the settings, choose the proper audio enter, and also you’re good to go.
My first order of enterprise with the Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone was to document a TikTok evaluate Murderer’s Creed Nexus VR – and I used to be pretty blown away by how crisply my audio got here out without having to tweak something, and even placed on a pop filter.
Sound high quality
Earlier than getting my palms on the Sennheiser Profile USB for evaluate, I used to be recording TikToks utilizing an iPhone 14 Professional Max, as a matter of comfort. Audio typically got here out sounding grainy and tinny, and my voice lacked bass in a means that made it sound barely greater and (to my ears) extra annoying. I knew this to be the case, however aimed to sacrifice audio high quality for time comfort.
The Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone solved this difficulty totally. Audio recordings with this mic are utterly crisp and freed from background noise, with glorious isolation of person voice. It’s not overly boomy (explosive-sounding), even in shut proximity, and it largely ignores the pops and hisses of ‘sss’ noises as you discuss. Consequently, you get clear, crispy audio with minimal fuss – which is uncommon for an out-of-the-box microphone.
Utilizing gadgets up to now, I’ve all the time wanted a pop filter and a wind muff to make sure sounds are correct, however you possibly can seemingly get away with not utilizing these further equipment with the Sennheiser Profile USB. It’s your decision to make use of them for added surety, however in my time recording with the gadget, I by no means had a difficulty with too-loud voice hitches or pops. It’s nice at balancing dialogue, with a stage quantity produced in recordings.
If something, its bassy tones aren’t as impactful as they may very well be, and its noise isolation may very well be extra focussed on voice to cut back the slight echo of recording in an open room – however these are nitpicks within the grand scheme, and didn’t overly concern me. For a microphone of this entry-level worth level – it’s round AU $239 | US $129 standalone, and ceaselessly does all the way down to round AU $190 – its audio is easy and excellent. (The Streaming Set is priced round AU $269-349 | US $179.00, for reference.)
Comfort guidelines
When recording your content material, essentially the most interesting function of any setup is comfort and affordability. The Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone Streaming Set marries these options with a robust dedication to high quality, making your complete package deal really feel very worthwhile.
It’s low-cost to assert a tool can change your life, however I can actually see this microphone making my life a lot simpler, with its useful recording setup now permitting me to make TikToks sooner, and way more conveniently. In a world of rapid-fire content material, having that benefit is essential.
5 stars: ★★★★★
The Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone Streaming Set is out now in any respect good know-how gear shops.
12/05/2023 01:51 AM |
A Sennheiser Profile USB Microphone was supplied for the needs of this evaluate. GamesHub has affiliate partnerships. These don’t affect editorial content material. GamesHub might earn a small share of fee for merchandise bought by way of affiliate hyperlinks.
