Cloudlifter vs. Fethead vs. SS1 vs. Durham vs. McBoost Comparison (Versus Series)

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Today I compare 5 Mic Activators / Preamps for Dynamic & Ribbon Microphones to improve the output level: Cathedral Pipes Durham, Simply Sound SS-1, Triton Audio Fethead, Cloudlifter CL-1, and Radial McBoost. I test the output level, impact on tone, and impact on noise floor. NOTE: If you only have budget of $75 & Cathedral Pipes Durham is not available then I would recommend the SS-1.
Buy the Triton Audio Fethead
tritonaudio.com/fethead.html
Buy the Cathedral Pipes Durham
www.cathedralpipes.com/zen-car...
Buy the Cloudlifter CL-1
Global: geni.us/clcl1
Buy the Radial Engineering McBoost
Global: geni.us/mcboost
Buy the Simply Sound SS-1
simplysound.co/product/ss-1-m...
00:00 - Intro
00:19 - Devices In Comparison
00:35 - What is a Mic Activator?
01:15 - Build Quality / Features
01:37 - Intro Setup / Baseline
01:54 - Cathedral Pipes Durham
02:20 - Simply Sound SS-1
02:38 - Triton Audio Fethead
02:58 - Cloudlifter CL-1
03:19 - Radial Engineering McBoost
04:28 - Noise Floor / Line Noise Test
05:04 - Thoughts on Devices
05:32 - Recommendations
06:11 - Outro
My RU-vid Kit: podcastage.com/studio
My Favorite XLR Mics: podcastage.com/rev/favxlr
My Favorite USB Mics: podcastage.com/rev/favusb
NOTE (FULL DISCLOSURE): If you purchase an item using my amazon link, it provides me a small referral fee. For more info check my FAQ page links below.
Check the FAQ to see if your question was already answered: www.geeksrising.com/faq
Vote For The Mics You Want Reviewed: www.geeksrising.com/podcastage
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Опубликовано:

30 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 380

@MFsyrup 6 лет назад

THIS IS _THE_ VIDEO THE AUDIOPHILE COMMUNITY NEEDED. NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE CLOUDLIFTER. PAPA BLESS.

@Podcastage 6 лет назад

+HalfBoiledHero FupaTroopas Unite!!!!

@pmAdministrator 4 года назад

You aint a real audiophile, if you dont know about these -- the hell. Calling yourself an audiophile.

@GuiasMaurelChile 3 года назад

Some people don't even know about Cloudlifter and they just turn all the gain on their Sm7b and compress the hell out of it, so you can even hear their neighbour's refrigerator running

@HolyHeartsMusic 2 года назад

i am slightly triggered by the flat eq on the vocal lol :) NO POST! how very dare thee lol

@midboys 2 года назад

I had my ears to the speaker so I lost this one haha

@TheAstrologyPodcast 6 лет назад

Thanks for the volume increase warning at 5:00, it was appreciated.

@Podcastage 6 лет назад

Absolutely. I killed my ears while editing. Thought I'd save everyone else. HAHA!

@joshuamendoza4745 6 лет назад

I came here to say the same thing. How courteous lol

@EA_47_ 3 года назад

I was going to comment the same thing

@mrnoface1348 3 года назад

How can someone give this man thumbs down??? This man always gives you proof of what he is demonstrating.

@roosterross2802 6 лет назад

Yes, this was appreciated and well done. I have never seen all of these devices tested on one video. Thanks.

@aten55 4 года назад

I wish I had these videos when I was first getting into audio equipment. Your advice and opinions echo a lot of engineers/pro audio folk I've interacted with as a musician, and the pacing/time stamp inclusion is super helpful for those getting into all of this. Great work, man!

@ligght 5 лет назад

damn this is actually one of the most helpful videos ive seen in a while. Thank you so much keep up the good work!

@willstewart9728 6 лет назад

Bought the Fethead. Thanks for the recommendation!

@demon-ll9eg 3 года назад

its been 3 years do u still like ur fethead?

@willstewart9728 3 года назад

@@demon-ll9eg Absolutely! I own 3 now. They're all bangers.

@rajahsary7187 3 года назад

I was wondering if you knew if it works with ride procaster just to make sure because I’m about to buy it

@willstewart9728 3 года назад

@@rajahsary7187 sure does! We use it on that exact microphone.

@jprmercado 4 года назад

I highly appreciate the “loud sound incoming” warning when you do your noise tests! [Also, it sounded like the CL-1 had the least noise.]

@Ted_DiSanti 3 года назад

Thank you for doing the lords work with all your different types of reviews and whatnot. As a sax player I've been searching for the perfect recording and live sound setup and recently realized I might need a mic activator if I end up going dynamic instead of large diaphragm condenser

@KevinMuldoon 6 лет назад

Great comparison. Very useful to see the alternatives out there.

@sirvatkacreative 4 года назад

Absolutely what I needed to hear!! Thank you!

@seansvoice 3 года назад

The mid-range coloration of the SS-1 is actually very cool for a sharper presence band - especially for we baritones doing lots of commercial and narration work. Thanks for being concise and providing an actual apples-to-apples comparison!

@jimvanm 4 года назад

Thanks for this and all your other fantastic reviews! Two more mic pre-amps that might be worth a look (due to being inexpensive) are the Marti Audio Booster (I have one of these boosting an SM58 into a Yamaha AG06 and would recommend it), and the KIark Teknik CT 1 (which I have never heard/tested, but looks like it deserves a look). They're both much less expensive than the devices in this review, which might be interesting for folks looking for good quality sound on a budget.

@StonebeakProductions 3 года назад

Another stellar comparison! Thanks for putting this together!!

@femalefox66 6 лет назад

Yeah, man. Love these videos. Teach me some stuff! TEACH ME ALL THE STUFF!

@r.lum.r 3 года назад

Huge help, and well produced! Thank you!!

@DocLegendary 2 года назад

Thank you for this fantastic video! I have so many mics but ready to make the jump to the SM7B with my Motu M4.

@oldschooljohnny 3 года назад

Just what the doctor ordered! I really didn't want to get another box that looks like a pedal, this video makes it much easier to choose between the different varieties. awesome!

@MagWasTaken 6 лет назад

This couldn't have been more perfectly timed. I've been looking into a dynamic mic and I knew an activator would be useful from one of your previous videos but I couldn't find anything other than the CL-1.

@LongshanMusic 6 лет назад

finally, a review of the radial mcboost-thank you!

@Podcastage 6 лет назад

Absolutely. It's an AMAZING device, and don't know why I haven't seen any other videos about it.

@LongshanMusic 6 лет назад

exactly, thanks again.

@billkilpatrick3465 6 лет назад

Good job running them. Good, straight-forward feedback.

@cosmicheretic8129 3 года назад

Thanks I just ordered the Cathedral Pipes Durham MKII to use with my Sure SM58 and OG UR22 interface.

@davidevans1420 3 года назад

Thanks, you answered several questions including alternatives to the Cloudlifter and Triton. Not sure if all enhancers are FET electronics like the Cloudlifter and Triton. Good job!

@geertvanbergen3905 4 года назад

Thanks for this video. I just bought the Fethead for € 59. Dutch brand, and I live in the Netherlands. I use it with my Røde Podmic and Scarlett solo

@joeywyatt1048 3 года назад

i have the exact same set up with the scarlett and the podmic and am looking at the fethead. does the pairing work well?

@asce 3 года назад

Kan je me mss vertellen waar?

@timrideout 4 месяца назад

Truly excellent video comparison!

@abeambo123 4 года назад

Thanks for the info! Gonna get the fathead today cos all the stores in Melbourne somehow ran out of the CL1

@AirwavesAmateurRadio 4 года назад

Very nice video and very helpful. Most sounded quite competitive, but I think I'd still give it to the Cloudlifter for the best noise floor. Thanks!

@CinematicSoundDesign 3 года назад

Very effective review. Nice work!

@RayOrtega 6 лет назад

Missed this when it came but thx to the RU-vids, I’m now less ignorant. Good stuff.

@Aaron.Resendiz108 2 года назад

Dude, this was super helpful. I love your video. Thank you so much. God bless you!

@AyushKadam 6 лет назад

I just love ua reviews n ua product tests

@richardwilliams1310 6 лет назад

Cloudlifter Z vs Radial McBoost would be a good shootout test ... Otherwise I like the Triton Audio for its form factor alone, it's compact and works well

@akhilchandrashekar1725 3 года назад

thank you for that warning about the loudness

@stunningcactus978 6 лет назад

Thumbs up all the way. Thank you so much for this video!

@TheActualJae 3 года назад

Awesome exactly the comparison I needed to hear, gonna have to flip a coin between the fathead and the CL1 (I could use some mobility...but the CL1 is definitely cleaner...coin flip time). Thank you!

@Jonny51982 6 лет назад

Something to consider is that the McBoost is the same price point as a DBX 286s and, if you’re going to be in more of a studio setting, as you mentioned that specifically for a McBoost scenario, the DBX is probably going to be a much better option. I say probably because I’m in the market, but don’t have any of these units to offer any definite information - just what I know from research and listening to comparison tests. Thanks for the comparisons. I would have liked to see the Marti Audio unit of the same style as the Fethead brought into the mix, but this video has helped narrow things down for me a little more.

@Alexonscreen 4 года назад

I have a SM7B, plugged in a DTX 286s that goes into a 2i2. Everything is fine, but for the sake of it, would a CL-1 make a difference in noise reduction - keeping the DBX and 2i2 at a lower gain? Or, should invest in i a Motu M2? I know there are different things, but what would you do? Great video, btw!

@BeigeBoy 4 года назад

I wemt with the dbx 286s after watchig urs and booth junkies videos on the Cloudlifter vs. Fethead

@Adegail_ 3 года назад

This video is gold dust. Thank you

@kittytrundle4124 6 лет назад

great vid!

@csgaming7273 3 года назад

Hello thanks for this video you earned a new sub! Quick question, have you tried out the Klark Teknik CT1? It is only around 30 US dollars and I heard that it can be comparable to the big name cloudlifter or fethead. Do you think it is a good purchase or should I go with the cloudlifter or fethead?

@mallorga1965 6 лет назад

Very interesting! Could you do a review of the Crimson Audio Mogaine and the Beesneez Angus?

@MrOSGamer 3 года назад

I know this is an older video, but found the eS DM1 Dynamite on Sweetwater. Would love to see this one tested. The DM1 claims 28db boost.

@moosemuseum1853 4 года назад

Would've liked one more in the test, Crimson Audio Mogaine. But this was awesome!

@CowboyCartel 2 месяца назад

Thanks for the comparison. We were able to produce our podcast without an issue for a while by just bumping the gain in post. We have been testing for a weekly livestream for a few weeks now and it’s clearly time to upgrade. We went with 3 Durham MKII units for cost over the Cloudlifter alone. I think we will be going RE20 over the SM7B, it was not without serious consideration and research. I would love to hear thoughts on an upgraded USB interface. I have been thinking Rodecaster Pro2. Thanks

@roland1313 6 лет назад

another great video...

@alexshdvideo 4 года назад

Thank you for posting! Do you think a Shure SM58 would benefit from any of these or just a descent USB interface like Audient id14 or the new MOTU M4? For extended voice over work do you prefer your SM7B since you don’t have to be right on the mic and have a more gradual ramp regarding location vs the SM58? Just thinking out loud at 5:00am with 1 cup of yesterdays coffee...

@stefaneable 6 лет назад

Nice video!

@jerrys7261 4 года назад

Great video

@Akixkisu 3 года назад

I would love to see a look at the incredibly inexpensive Klark Teknik CT-1.

@Andee... 4 года назад

se-electronics dynamite is pretty good as well, it's the one I'm using

@Jordan_Lockhart 4 года назад

Tossing up between the FetHead and the Cloudlifter, so going to grab a FetHead and I dare say it will do the job for vocals with an SM7. If not, I'll upgrade and always have the FetHead in the future.

@stug77 6 лет назад

Diggin those M40's bro.

@StarWarsJay 3 года назад

Hey man. Will the cloudlifter or fethead lower the sound quality in higher quality microphones? In the way you’d ruin an expensive amplifier’s sound say if you connected it to cheap speakers.

@AudioTestsNReviews 4 года назад

I've bought and tested the cheaper MartiAudio back when I had a Rode M1 and for some reason it seemed to boost the "preamp hiss" at the exact same time as the mic signal, regardless of whether I used my Fast Track (1st gen) or Scarlet 2i4, even connected my microphone directly to the Marti and the Marti to the preamp (thus, eliminating the cable). Because of this, the adapter didn't do the job I wanted so I sold it, the next owner of my unit seemed to be happy with it. Now, I use a Shure SM58 and Mackie USB Mixer and am tempted to try a FetHead, but at the same time I'm worried that I'd get the same problem..

@lkjkj5035 5 лет назад

good demo, using laptop speakers they all sound identical....the boost the output units are great while not changing the pattern of the dynamic SM7b. Best of both worlds.

@mattlac3061 5 лет назад

I work in am radio. We use a cloudlifter. some times I do work with our sister station. its fm, they use it in there production studio. but not the live studio.

@taladwhy 3 года назад

Thank you very much, from Thailand

@azadragibnehal2132 2 года назад

Hey, Bandrew! Can you do this comparison again with using your new method to measure preamp noise? I think, everyone would like to see/hear the noise floor with the db meter.

@GrantPmusic 4 года назад

All I knew about was the Cloudlifter. Thanks to your review, I'm leaning toward the Cathedral Pipes one. Cloudlifter had less noise but I'm wondering if the CP Durham is still good enough? I'm thinking so. Thanks for the review.

@Podcastage 4 года назад

Yeah I think the cathedral pipes will be great for most people. I'm just hyper critical in this video to determine the winner.

@AudioSound 4 года назад

@@Podcastage Which is the absolute best in terms of noise floor ? I keep listening over and over again, but I would like your opinion. I listened to your advice at the end of the video, but I would like you to definitely say which is the best, price a non-factor.

@Fabelnegros 3 года назад

excellent bro !!!

@matthiaskrause1155 6 лет назад

Man, I didn't even know that that there are that many mic activators available. I used to use a cloudlifter, but noticed that although it seems to provide "clean" gain in the sense that it does not add noise, it deteriorates the sound slightly. I also found that, with 24-bit recording, I actually never NEED a mic activator to get good quality recordings. I'd rather record at a lower level without the deterioration from the cloudlifter. This refers mainly to an RE20 and SM7B on a Zoom H5.

@tdata545 3 года назад

Hey, someone who tests these products and doesn't clip their mic. Nice. I don' t know, the cloud booster seemed to need the gain higher to register a sound. I've bought it and the dynamite, now buying the triton (since it's now down to 75). The McBoost seems cool but didn't really realise a difference in quality between the load levels.

@danielwylie-eggert2041 Год назад

I watched this video next to a dBfs meter and the volume levels of different segments are all over the place. A louder level makes the audio appear to sound better to our brains (hence the loudness wars} which makes for the results to not be easily comparable. To really compare the characteristics of the preamps they should all be normalized to equal loudnesses.

@JMLRecording Год назад

I think the biggest thing to note was missed here which is which transformer SOUNDS the best. Just like a console or outboard gear, the transformer introduces coloration of audio. I came here looking for that specific information. I'd love to see that discussed. Thanks

@lkjkj5035 3 года назад

very good shootout and info ...thanks. i grabbed the Cloudlifter, its an amazing piece with zero hassles. However the Cathedral Durham sounds the same, imo, for much less. Same concept I guess and from a company who also makes ribbon mic's like Cloud does. The Radial offers knobs and like Clouds Z and others, no thanks! I like the CL-1....and the simple design without bells and whistles.

@designwithdaniel 4 года назад

I didn't like the idea of the XLR socket being 3 times the size protruding from the bottom of the mic arm (in the case of the fethead), so opted for the Cloudlifter despite its inflated price in contrast.

@alan2a1l 4 года назад

Thanks for this terrific side-by-side comparison of the significant boosters out there. The CL-1 had the obviously quietest noise floor, followed by the Fethead. But the surprise, to me, is that the 2i2 at 90%, with NO gain booster, sounded the quietest. I didn't expect that. Isn't that the point of a booster -- to keep you below the noise/distortion range of the pre-amp amplification curve? I can see the convenience of a CL-1 or a Fethead, or the McBoost (if you want gain control on the device) when you have a crummy pre-amp, but your test shows the Scarlett as pretty darned clean at 90%. What am I missing?

@infectropodo 4 года назад

I wonder the same

@grantharlow 4 года назад

I’ve got an older Focusrite LS56 and, once you’re cranking the gain to 90%, the pot controls get super sensitive. Trying to make fine adjustments to your levels becomes increasingly challenging (or impossible). Being able to clean boost the signal in advance gets you better control over the input gain levels. At least, that’s been my experience with the LS56.

@merlottime1794 6 лет назад

Super helpful!

@Happydad54 6 лет назад

VERY well done my friend. You got all my questions on these devices answered! I DO HAVE ONE last question for you. What is the difference between these and an external phantom power device? Would an external phantom power device still work with a dynamic mic like your Share? Thanks!- Duff

@Podcastage 6 лет назад

These are not phantom power supplies. These use phantom power and covert the voltage into gain. You do not need phantom power for dynamic mics.

@astralaudio101 2 года назад

I decided to try the Australian made Beesneez Microphone Preamp for Dynamic and Ribbon microphones. It’s also very good.. It’s another choice...

@HolyHeartsMusic 2 года назад

informative and helpful bro thanks :)

@daroathouk6065 5 лет назад

Hi can you review this one Alctron MP-1? I found it on AliExpress for 35$. I am on a tight budget and I want to know if it can make my Shure SM58 better. Thanks

@jastrel 3 года назад

That was the video I was looking for. Many thanks. Let me know if I am right: for my Samsom Q2U which does not need phantom power, once I connect the FETHEAD (non phanton power one) to my interface, then I have to activate the phanton power supply of the interface??? Thanks again.

@roland1313 6 лет назад

Would love to see a review the Telefunken M1 dynamic, since it is supposed to be voiced similarly to the AR 51. I actually have the M1, and IMHO rear rejection is pheominal-best i've ever used. Please look into it- I'm 'shure' you will find this mic interesting :) Cheers

@saratoga2499 6 лет назад

From the thumbnail I thought this was a vape review lmao

@Podcastage 6 лет назад

Vape Naysh Y'all!

@saratoga2499 6 лет назад

Lol

@suncworm 2 года назад

So I shouldn’t use one of these for a recording setup as an artist? I noticed you said they are for dynamic and ribbon mics

@MisterRorschach90 2 года назад

Now I want to see what would happen if you used the aea ribbon pre with its insane gain for ribbon mics, added one of these activators or another high end one like the royer version, and put that on a high output mic. Is thinking like this how high gain guitar amps were discovered?

@AudioSound 4 года назад

4:35 to 5:02 For the Noise-Floor Test ❤️ Stop before 5:04 if you value your ear drums. 😀

@billymyers4726 4 года назад

Paired with a Rode NTR and it was like butter. Clean boost, with no noise. Shipped from West coast to East in record time. 5 Stars

@ReverseComet 6 лет назад

I think a good idea for a Versus episode would be the Rode Procaster vs the ElectroVoice RE320. They're pretty similarly priced dynamic broadcast mics, so it would be interesting to hear a side by side comparison of them.

@Podcastage 6 лет назад

ReverseComet did you look at my desk top and see the folder I had!? How’d you guess!?

@ReverseComet 6 лет назад

I have my ways Bandrew. I have my ways...

@frodproducer 5 лет назад

Well I learned my lesson.. I decided to cheap out and get the SS1 last week which ended up being a mistake. First time I used it it worked flawlessly paired with my SM7B. I was so excited how amazing the results were. A couple days later I had a few guests coming on my podcast got everything set up before they arrived, plugged in my SS1 to my Shure and....silence. My SS1 went from a "mic booster" to a "mic silencer" I tried it with my other mics with the same result. I contacted Simply Sound for a refund or to send out a new unit, its been two days no response. Time to buy a Cathedral or Fethead I guess...lesson learned

@SMAAAASHTV 4 года назад

Did you plug it in with phantom power already on? They provided a warning about doing that with their new model and said it could damage the unit. Also, could be that phantom power was turned off. Let me know if you ever got the issue resolved.

@michaelparson-mcnamara782 5 лет назад

Great review. Bruce Swedien has stated a number of times that his MJ mic was an original Shure SM7 not an SM7b like are available nowadays. According to BS they are quite different mics.

@Podcastage 5 лет назад

Michael, You're absolutely correct. I apologize if I misspoke or was just completely mistaken in the video. I have been eyeballing used SM7's online so I could do a comparison, but I've heard both that they sound very similar, and that there's a big difference. Not sure if it'd be worth the steep price tag they ask for the vintage stuff. Would be interesting though. Would also be fun to throw an SM5 in there too!

@michaelparson-mcnamara782 5 лет назад

No need to get overly concerned! I just wanted to share the info. With a good preamp, some of those old dynamic mics can be great on some vocals. I miss having my RE16, RE20 and would love to try out the SM7b and Beyer M88 at some point. I

@michaelparson-mcnamara782 5 лет назад

I've always wondered if removing the plastic shield in front of the diaphragm and/or changing the transformer would make it more like the original. There certainly are lots of mods available for the SM57, so why not the SM7b?

@perspectivadedireita.3275 4 года назад

Fethead: Good price, good quality, best design

@michaelmao6180 4 года назад

The size wins it.

@troyisMD 3 года назад

Yeah, and you need less wires since you plug it into the mic and not between the microphone and the interface.

@jamalforprez8396 5 лет назад

So this basically makes it louder and cleaner?

@everope 4 года назад

Not if your mic preamp is already low noise and you use a short cable.

@demon-ll9eg 3 года назад

@@everope is 3 meter considered as a short cable?

@masterspin7796 6 лет назад

Very good!

@andrewherbein9882 6 лет назад

Why did you give your gain setting in percent instead of decibels? You said that the half gain setting have half the audio. Would it be happy the gain which is significantly less than half the level?

@toxicity7081 6 лет назад

Hey brandew can you do a revies of the 'Maudio interface'?

@amenkhancp1549 6 лет назад

@senzayyzone 3 года назад

The fethead ia a technology added with most neumann mics so go for it they are low on noise both

@upmedia360 Год назад

Hello! Thanks for this excellent video. I would like to know, if I have 4 mic (fduce) and a Behringer Xenyx Q1204USB mixer, do you recommend that I buy 4 of these? one for each microphone?

@gochurra5702 Год назад

Thanks a lot !!!

@hobbyrx2267 6 лет назад

Good job

@MarkBreton 4 года назад

Question for the crowd, why are broadcast mics (I have a rode procaster) made so heavy and large?

@randallhelton6011 5 лет назад

Which would you use for passive ribbon mics?Specifically an MXL R144

@Max-122 4 года назад

Hi, lately I heard about Klark Teknik CT1. Did you try it? What do you think about? It costs little money but I don't have idea if it's worth... would be great your opinion about it

@kerrickjustin82 3 года назад

Will this work with a condenser microphone such as the baby bottle SL?

@zip7806 5 лет назад

FETHEAD sounds the best

@randyab9go188 6 лет назад

Just got a SS-1 two days before your review came out. I haven't had time to hook it up yet, but I hope mine does not have the same issues your unit does.

@Podcastage 6 лет назад

Keep in mind, I'm being insanely nitpicky, and the audio was boosted +12 dB. While talking and during silence, I doubt it would be noticeable. I just think if someone hasn't purchased one they should take that into consideration. You'll be fine.

@randyab9go188 6 лет назад

I am picky too. I'm be of those weirdo's that rap the side of speaker cabinets to see if the box is dead or resonant. I hate hearing the speaker cabinet adding to the sound. The best sounding high-end I ever heard was from a set of Dukane Ionovac tweeters. Lookup Ionovac on Google. They were a plasma discharge speaker made in the 50's to 60's.