Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Studio Projects LSM USB Microphone


A lot of studio engineers or musician-composers nowadays would prefer having a conventional microphone for recording and a USB microphone ready in case for quick set-up recordings or even location projects, which meant buying two separate mic units. Wouldn't it be nice to have a microphone which could function as both? That's precisely the main feature of this next microphone on review here at Gizmo Guerilla, meet the Studio Projects LSM USB Microphone.

Same as other USB mics in the market, the Studio Projects LSM USB Microphone could be plugged directly to a computer via USB cable and one could start right away recording with it, but unlike other USB microphones, the Studio Projects LSM USB Microphone also has a mini-XLR output connector so that you could use it as a conventional microphone which you plug to a mixer for analog applications or to an audio interface of your choice. This is such a handy and important feature especially to those who have small home studios or "studio on the run" which is mobile.

The Studio Projects LSM USB Microphone also features a large diaphragm condenser capsule which is capable of reproducing that typical studio sound which can be attained by other recording microphones many times more expensive.


Here are its features:


Studio Projects LSM USB Microphone Features at a Glance:
Color: Black
Large-diaphragm condenser microphone
Cardioid pickup pattern
Features both mini-USB and mini-XLR outputs
Requires 48V phantom power when used over mini-XLR output
34mm "True Condenser" capsule
Offers 16-bit/48kHz recording resolution
Features a K67-style backplate
Has a single 27mm diaphragm made of gold-sputtered 6-micron Mylar

I haver tried testing this mic for only a few minutes and could say that the playback of the recording (via USB) was decent and standard and tried it direct to board as well as a conventional mic and still it was fine. There is of course a slight difference in audio quality, digital to analog, but I couldn't say it was bad. Like most digital recordings, using it the Studio Projects LSM USB Microphone by USB cable produced clearer, sharper and more transparent sound while the analog gave more warmth and the frequencies were more leveled out and shall I say intertwined. It is of course, again, a matter of preference; plus there are tons of effects and EQing that could be done to achieve the sound you want. Then again, I wouldn't recommend too much processing unless the genre of music or the audio project requires so.

Priced at US$179, the Studio Projects LSM USB Microphone is a great 2 in 1 studio tool to have around or bring along.


***A Gizmo Guerilla Music Gear Review

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