MAONO AU-A04T USB Podcasting Microphone with Microphone Stand Kit, Black

I got this for Zoom. I find the included tall stand and pop filter very useful for that. It's a superb value package overall at £29.99 and seemed to suit my needs better than the more expensive but smaller Razer Seiren Mini v3 (which is the 24-bit model,) despite the lack of mute button.The most effective orientation is pointing downwards at an angle towards me with the Maono logo upwards, and the stand off to the side between keyboard and monitor. That means the keyboard and my speakers are in the dead zone of the cardioid polar pattern and the microphone is as close as practically and conveniently possible to me without being in the frame to maximise volume.The included shock mount isn't particularly effective partly because the elastic cord it uses is too stiff and tight -- if that could be replaced with more flexible rubber it would be fine.Current versions of this model have a Realtek ALC 4050 chip rather than the pre-pandemic ALC 4042 that most YouTube reviews are based on. It was tweaked to be louder for people using the microphone at a distance of a couple of feet from them rather than a few inches, with the consequence that it easily clips and distorts you if you get over excited with it in more of a podcaster than a zoom caller position. That isn't a problem for me, though. I still find the volume a bit low and would welcome a gain knob to turn it up further, in fact.Even though there are no controls on the mic, there is more control available on a Mac than might be obvious. You can use the MacOS Audio Midi Setup app to change the sampling rate to the maximum supported 192kHZ 24-bit and boost the input volume from -4dB to -2dB. That seems to make it a lot clearer and emphasises higher frequencies more.Unfortunately, the very useful-seeming new Maono Link software is not compatible with this model, only with the latest AU-A04E version (which, presumably, has a different chipset again).There is a firmware update utility available for Windows which returns the responsiveness to something more like the original ALC4042-based version for those who want to record with it right up to their mouth. That isn't me, however.

I was a bit skeptical. When I bought this, as the price would indicate it's not of decent quality but I'm very surprised, the microphone is well packaged, three layers of foam in a cardboard packaging so is well protected for delivery, out of the box I could already feel the quality, the base and stand are metal and it's quite heavy so stops the mic from toppling, the stand is height adjustable, the mic itself is easy plug and play no messing round with software to get it working, and also works on your phone with an OTG adapter, whether it be Android or IOS it works I've tried both so well worth the price tag, I'm very pleased with the purchase so far,

My last review was incorrect, the software mute switch built into the laptop was playing up - again.

The media could not be loaded. I was looking for a microphone for my videos and voiceovers for my Youtube channel and I wanted something that quality-price ratio was according to my budget.I am a total beginner in technology, especially for microphones, but the Maono microphone caught my eye because of the hardware. I usually record in front of a table and I was tired of having a bad posture because my previous mic was too small and not high and with Maono microphone, I like the way you can adjust the height and I don’t have to suffer from back pain. This microphone has good quality regarding the materials as is made of steel and iron. You can feel the weight of the item when the box arrives at your home!Another aspect that I like from this microphone is the way that eliminates background noise, especially when your neighbours upstairs have two noisy children all day long and when you live near to the train station and listening to the train's whistle every few minutes.I found the microphone useful and very easy to use. I used it in Macintosh and Windows. You just need to plug in the cable to the USB port, and it is ready to use. I use Adobe Premiere Pro for my voiceovers in my videos and I have found the sound smooth, I can notice the difference from any microphone I have used. Also using the pop filter avoids the sound of the p’s or es’ coming from my tough accent.The setup for this microphone was easy I was following the instructions, which are in English. Another aspect that I like is the base is heavy, it is made from iron, and I find it useful as well as the shock mount, especially when you have an unstable table.In conclusion, if you are looking for a perfect microphone condenser, I would recommend this one. It is perfect for podcasting, voiceovers, streaming on Youtube videos, or lives.

Our son very pleased had so many issues with headphones with mike bought this it's great nice & clear just what he wants for pod casting & gaming very sturdy and packaged in a excellent box 👍👍

The media could not be loaded. So Prior to this I've been using the AU422... I think that mic is brilliant value for money, however it was missing one thing - a line so you could monitor your voice through analogue voice input.The quality of this mic is Crazy - but don't take my word for it - check my unboxing and review video.The difference in quality is literally night and day! It looks complicated but it is very easy to set up and has brilliant Background Noise Cancellation.It's perfect for streaming, Youtubing and doing the odd podcast. There is no Manual Microphone Gain so that you can't change your levels on the fly.The Recording Quality goes up to 24bit 192Khz which is immensely clear!Stay tuned for a Video review - alternatively, you can find my Youtube on my Amazon Reviewer Profile and search my Youtube channel for the video review of this product.

When recording, the sound is very quiet. I tried to find the volume control on the microphone, I did not find it, the sound on the computer is at maximum