Podcast Gear and Podcast Audio is HERE! …New Media Gear

The sE Electronics models USB1000A and USB2200A.

In my best movie-trailer voice, the script would start “…in a world of USB microphones”.

Not too long ago, USB mics were the domain of cheap “computer” type accessories that we would find on retail shelves, delegated to shrinkwrap, or the tell-tale sign of quality that we all know hangs from the dreaded pegboard hook.

Times certainly have changed and USB mics have grown up very quickly. sE Electronics is a well respected mic company. I’ve used their products in Studio1A before, but this time I had an opportunity to try their USB2200A. The mic is nicely constructed and attention to detail is obvious in the nicely polished capsule/mount and the white-finish body.

It was a bit odd seeing the familiar XLR on the bottom of the mic, while just above it lies a mini-USB connection, 1/8″ headphone jack (for real-time USB monitoring) and a loudness pot for adjusting headphone monitoring levels. In addition, there is a 10db pad, low rolloff filter and an “A/P” switch. This mic allows you to adjust output level (in USB mode) for the Apple or PC platforms.

I initially tried the mic in USB 2.0 mode. The quality was very crisp and definitely the best USB sound I had heard. The output was still just a bit low on my PC, but this is an issue common with every USB mic I’ve tested. The USB port can only supply 5 volts DC at a maximum of .5 amps. …that simply isn’t a lot of power to punch a large diaphram amplifier, analog-to-digi converter and headphone amplifier all at once.

When I plugged in my familiar XLR cable to the USB2200A, it came alive with a nice crisp high end and smooth lows. For my voice, this mic just seemed to fit nicely, even without a blast filter. I could easily put this up against any high-end studio condenser and come out smiling.

At a street price of $399 (MSRP $499), this isn’t a trivial purchase, but it does offer an excellent studio solution that is also at home when an XLR can’t be found.

Check out the USB2200A from Sonic Distribution USA.

Best,
MarkJensen

Filed under: Podcasts