the t.bone SC 420 USB Desktop-Set: What’s it?
The t.bone SC 420 USB Desktop-Set is an entry-level, all-in-one bundle aimed toward podcasters. Accessible in each black and silver variations, we’ve got the black one right here for evaluate.
The bundle contains a big capsule cardioid condenser mic, low profile cradle, foam windscreen, pop defend, tabletop stand and USB cable, and is available in a compact flight case, which holds the parts in two stacked foam trays.
In the meantime, the bundled software program contains Steinberg Cubase LE, so that you even have a DAW to get began.
At £51 the parts are clearly made to a reasonably tight price range. However, the black satin end is constant all through and we had no downside screwing the stand elements collectively, including the clip or putting in the mic, so it’s honest to say that the manufacturing high quality is excellent.
The hefty steel base even incorporates a skinny foam layer to guard the desk prime, which is a pleasant contact. As soon as loaded up with the mic and pop defend, all of it feels very steady, and though you possibly can’t alter the mic peak, which is a disgrace, you possibly can tilt it and likewise rotate the mic inside the cradle.
To place all of it away you’ll have to detach the stand base, cradle and mic, which we discovered simple sufficient, and as soon as completed, all of it matches neatly again in its field.
The mic incorporates a USB kind B socket on the underside (observe, there’s no XLR connection). In the meantime on the entrance aspect of the mic is a 3.5mm headphone output, with a comfortable type mute button just under the headstock.
the t.bone SC 420 USB Desktop-Set: Efficiency and verdict
As soon as plugged up you’ll discover the button glows pink and there’s additionally a blue LED contained in the headstock, so the entire bundle does look fairly good. The mute cuts the mic fully (output and headphones) however leaves your pc output lively. On this state the pink LED flashes making it very clear the mic is muted.
The SC 420 USB is plug-and-play and quotes 16-bit/48kHz operation, though on OS X we had been additionally capable of set it to 44.1kHz, which is useful.
In the meantime, setting mic achieve and output stage will depend on how your pc handles plug-and-play gadgets. Utilizing OS X and Logic Professional for instance, the mic achieve is offered on Logic’s channel strip, in addition to through the principle OS X Audio/MIDI driver, whereas the output stage follows the system setting.
Importantly, there aren’t any on-body stage controls, so it’s necessary to know how settings are made in your platform.
The SC 420 USB has a cardioid pickup sample. We discovered this to be very broad, which implies transferring off-axis will not be a lot of an issue. However on the draw back rejection of extraneous room noises will not be nice, with the rear rejection restricted to larger frequencies.
Sonically, the mic sounds fairly brilliant and we additionally discovered it turned fairly sibilant once we received in very shut.
That mentioned, at a typical distance of about 10 to 15cm it delivers a fairly balanced crisp sound with some good proximity. What’s extra the dual-layer pop defend does an excellent job of eradicating plosives.
Total if you happen to keep in mind the constraints raised, the SC 420 USB desktop set can ship first rate outcomes and provides loads for little or no cash.
MusicRadar verdict: This desktop mic bundle contains all you want to get podcasting, and when used with care will ship completely acceptable outcomes, so in case your price range is restricted it’s excellent.
the t.bone SC 420 USB Desktop-Set: Specs
- Pickup sample: Cardioid
- Frequency response: 30Hz to 18kHz
- Sensitivity: 25 mV/Pa
- Most SPL: 140dB (at 1kHz = 1% THD)
- A to D conversion: 16bit / 48kHz
- Connectivity: USB B port for plug-and-play connection to a pc
- Extra options: headphone output with direct monitoring, mute button
- Equipment: small flight case, shock mount, USB cable, foam windscreen, pop defend and tabletop stand
- Measurement: 186(l) x 54(d) mm
- Bundled software program: Cubase LE with 23 VST audio results; HALion Sonic SE 3; Groove Agent SE 5; Over 5 GB of sounds and loops
- CONTACT: Thomann
