Jack Wallen/ZDNET
I like good microphones and I’m always wary of gimmicks. So when I was sent this mic and told that it used sensor-based technology to precisely adapt to speech level, tone, and distance from the mic, my first thought was, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
It only took me 60 seconds of testing to believe it! This Lewitt Ray microphone is impressive in a way I never thought possible. But before we get into that, here are its specifications.
The three takeaways from the Lewitt Ray microphone
- The Lewitt Ray (with Aura technology) retails for €350.
- This mic can automatically detect your distance and adjust levels accordingly, ensuring consistent sound throughout the entire recording.
- The Lewitt Ray may not have the warmth of a much more expensive mic, and due to its current popularity, it may be difficult to obtain.
Technical characteristics of the Lewitt Ray microphone
- The “Mute by distance” feature allows you to set a specific distance which, when reached, automatically mutes the mic.
- Distance detection to keep your voice at a similar level.
- Dedicated mute button.
- 1″ true condenser capsule with 8 dB(A) self-noise.
- Can withstand levels up to 131 dBSPL.
- Fully analog signal.
- Gold-plated 3-pin XLR connection.
- Powered by 48V phantom power.
- Cardioid pickup diagram.
- Ready for recording.
- Price of €350.
The box contains the microphone itself, a magnetically attached pop filter, a windshield, a stand, and a bag for the microphone.
First of all, it’s an XLR connection microphone, which means you can’t plug it directly into a computer. Instead, you need to connect the mic to an external audio interface and then plug it into your computer via USB-C. One of these audio interfaces is the Lewitt Connect 6, which costs €300. You can also use a cheaper interface like the $115 Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 which I’ve used for years to act as a bridge.
The feature I was most interested in is the Aura technology, which automatically adjusts the level and pitch of your voice based on the physical distance between you and the mic. The mic’s press release explains that it’s like autofocus in photos, but for your voice: “You can move naturally in front of the mic, and your sound [de la voix] will remain the same. »
To test it, I connected everything to my MacBook Pro, attached the mic to a stand, and sat down to see how it worked. Many podcasters struggle to understand how distance affects sound. They move closer to the microphone or further away from it, and each time, their sound becomes louder or quieter. It’s very embarrassing, and I’ve heard it too many times.
My test setup for the Lewitt Ray mic. Jack Wallen/ZDNET.
The Lewitt Ray solves this problem and does it much better than I expected. After pressing the record button, I leaned over the mic and moved back about two feet, without ever changing the level of my sound. I was immediately surprised to see that the volume indicator didn’t change. On any other mic these levels would have dropped as I moved further away, but not on the Ray.
This fact alone blew me away.
Now, I’m not going to tell you that the Lewitt Ray sounds better than my CAD E100S mic. It shouldn’t, since it’s an entry-level mic. The CAD E100S was much more expensive and has remarkable warmth, whereas the Lewitt is a little clinical for my tastes. But the downside is that my DAC can’t detect my distance, so if I move away from the mic the volume drops, and if I get too close (without lowering my volume) the levels can clip.
That’s not to say the Lewitt’s sound is mediocre. This is not the case. In fact, the sound I got from the Lewitt was very, very good. Be careful though. If you’re in a noisy room, you’ll find that the further away you are from the mic, the more background noise it picks up. The reason for this is obvious: the further you are from the mic, the more the Ray increases the recording level. In the same noisy room, if you stay close to the mic, it will pick up less background noise.
I did a test in my office, where I hung a curtain to reduce noise, but also where there is an aquarium of more than 208 liters. When the curtain is drawn, my DAC barely picks up the sound of the aquarium (and the fans that power the lights).
In a quiet room with good acoustics, this mic really shines. If you take your podcasts seriously, you’re probably already recording in a room with low background noise.
Purchasing advice for the Lewitt Ray microphone
If you find that the recording levels of your podcasts vary because you can’t stay a consistent distance from the mic, this Lewitt Ray might be the perfect solution for you. Sure, you might need to boost the bass in post-production to get a little more warmth and depth, but not having to spend hours adjusting inconsistent volume levels makes this mic worth its money. weight of gold.
Remember, if you go for this mic, you’ll need to have an interface that allows for an XLR connection, otherwise you’ll find yourself in trouble.
Source: “ZDNet.com”
