When it comes to inline mic activator type preamps, in my opinion there are two standout models. Cloudlifter CL-1

I’ve referenced the regular FetHead for this post. However, Triton Audio also offers FetHead Filter that has an extra HPF feature and FetHead Phantom for condenser microphones. 2. sE Electronics Dynamite DM-1 (Highest Gain) One of the biggest draws of the Cloudlifter is that it does not wildly distort your noise floor. This means you can expect clean gain with little to no added issues caused by adding this mic activator to your recording setup. Specs The no-slip pad on the under panel and book-ends on the casing are clever additions to protect the unit and switches. Overall, the high-quality components and engineering finesse are impressive yet predictable, given Radial’s outstanding reputation. Performance These questions will help you better determine which mic activator is right for you. Regardless of what type of mics you currently own, your gear and needs can always change in the future. Considering where your audio journey is going is essential when purchasing any new piece of gear. Final ThoughtsIt’s worth noting here that the 48v phantom power will come from an existing preamp. This can be confusing – if you already have a preamp which is able to provide the phantom power for an activator to work, why would you need an activator in the first place. Keep reading, all will be revealed! What is an outboard microphone preamp?

With time, podcasters, YouTubers and online personalities started to upgrade their gear and moved from USB mics to standard XLR microphones, the ones that need an audio interface to work. Another way to compare these two in-line mic preamp choices is by asking yourself a series of questions about your gear, process, and ideal price: It can be used for recording in rooms with harder surfaces and higher ceilings (such rooms have challenged acoustics). By using the phantom power voltage of an audio interface or mixer, the Cloudlifter provides +25db of clean gain which boosts the level of classic podcasting microphones such as the Shure SM7B. This means that you can avoid having to crank up the preamps of your interface which risks introducing excessive noise. For live broadcasters, the compact design of this mic activator can make all the difference. By providing a clean boost without complicating it, FetHead allows you to keep things simple while still achieving the most accurate audio possible.

Ultimately, I omitted them because they are not quite as popular or are much of the same. The only exception to this is the Royer dBooster, which is a pricey but top-shelf unit. That said, it’s safe to say assume we’ve covered every mic booster worth contemplating in 2021. Much like the CL-1, the FetHead circuitry relies on phantom power to work. The amplification provided is super low noise, and with a frequency range from 10Hz – 100kHz, the boost received is incredibly transparent. The low noise amplification means that when using a sensitive microphone, the usable dynamic range is extended ensuring any quiet vocals retain high audio quality. It has the capacity of reducing the impedance load on the mic, resulting in improved transient response and the range will be extensible. This is because it can enhance the sound quality of the recordings and want to fix the poor acoustics of the room and has a higher audio gain.

On the test bench Hugh measured the DM1's gain at 29dB — which is slightly more than the specified 28dB — and unlike many similar 'cascade' gain devices, the Dynamite's gain remained consistent regardless of the destination's load impedance. The maximum input level is around -18.5dBu, delivering +10.5dBu at the output (with 0.5 percent THD). Hugh's measurements suggest that sE's quoted frequency response of flat (within 0.3dB) from 10Hz to 120kHz is a credible claim — he found that the frequency response was ruler flat from just under 12Hz (with a gentle 6dB/octave roll-off below that) right up to the limit (and beyond) of the test system at 80kHz. The DM1 introduced a very small amount of additional phase shift at the frequency extremes, but only a few degrees, which is insignificant. Now we know a bit more about the products and have analyzed how they work in a variety of tests, what have we learned? Well, the noise floor on the FetHead is higher than that of the Cloudlifter, however, that is to be expected as the FetHead provides a higher boost overall. It boosts the signal transparently and cleanly, and you don’t have to drive your input gain to the top. In simpler words, if the recordings seem too quiet or turning up the volumes make the outcome noisy, you can use Cloudlifter to streamline the audio output. I’d like to make a casual reference to the MartiAudio Booster, Royer dBooster, Sanken HAD‑48, and a handful of other options that could have qualified as a viable alternative to the CL-1.

FetHead Phantom

But how do these two mic activators hold up in practical application? Well, we have run some tests to determine the noise floor and frequency response of each device. The scarlet all-metal casing houses class-A FETs with gold-plated XLR connectors that yield a neutral and balanced sound. Being a direct-to-mic activator, the DM-1 plugs directly into the microphone thus eliminating the need for a second XLR cord. Performance

Triton Audio has created a powerful little device it’s FetHead (and FetHead Phantom for condenser microphones) that allows an artist of any budget to reach their fullest potential.Dynamic microphones such as this though do require more gain than a typical condenser mic but with gain can come noise and with noise comes more clean-up work in post, so it’s important to select a good preamp with a decent amount of clean gain. The Cloudlifter has a solid fan base and has become one of the go-to gain boosting devices for pairing with a low sensitivity dynamic mic.