How To Make A Quiet Microphone LOUD - Mic Booster Showdown!

I personally think these are all outstanding options (that’s why I own them), but if I had to pick a favorite it would be the FetHead simply because of the versatility that comes with being able to connect it directly to your mixer or interface.

If you've got a favorite signal booster/mic combo, share it here!

Does the boost also help with hiss? My Podmic is very noisy with hiss.

For budgetary reasons, I went with the Klark Teknik mic booster CM-1 (works GREAT with my PodMic). Though it isn't in-line, the $26 I paid last week to buy it used on ebay means that the extra little patch cable was still well within budget and it works AWESOME for my rode PodMic! :) SO MUCH less noise

Saved me $150 cause at Minute 1 when you reminded me that I had to turn on phantom power for it to work. Thought mine was broken and was about to go buy a cloud lifter. lmao

Thanks for this great video. I hit the thumbs up and subscribed so I wouldn't feel like one of the 35,000 freeloaders who got something for nothing.

Use a boost to get the Moost, come on now xD

Which one you suggest for live singing

You got a like just for “Boost…… the signal” 😂

There is a version of the FetHead that delivers phantum power to your mic too. It's called the FetHead Phantom. It costs twelve Euros more. The normal FetHead clocks in at 63€. Why you want it? There are older condensor mics around that sound incredible but have a farely low signal output.

I have to ask.. now my comment and question has got nothin to do with the video.. "sorry".. , but I see the Bass Guitar and Electric guitar and yet.... I can not seem to find a video where they are being played.. Why is that?

PS. Love your videos. Easy to listen to. Great overall quality.

And here I was thinking I was going to have to buy a preamp.

I mean......you would think buying an audio interface thats sole job is to use mics would be sufficient enough

Its ridiculous that u have to buy all this crap just to run a mic

I have a soundcraft mtk 12 that is insanely quiet via the usb output with a condenser mic, Im actually thinking about sending it back and getting a tascam model 12, but alot of people told me id need a booster for my condenser mic with that too since the max gain is only 50db, which means id need to crank the gain up nearly all the way for good levels, which would introduce alot of preamp noise, the problem is, i dont know what kind of amp id need for a condenser. Any ideas? I had a yamaha mg10xu that pushed condensers and dynamic mics HARD well below half gain, its kind of unreal these 500-800$ mixers honestly kind of suck... Anyways, Any input or advice on a booster i could use? (im using a AKG p120 mic, but other condensors are quiet too)

Learned a lot about microphones from your video, thx Tom!

Condenser mics pick up every sound, even one's I can't hear, like the AC compressor on the roof, my clothing when I move, etc. It was intolerable, so I switched to an MXL BCD-1 dynamic mic and love it. I will get one of these boosters shortly to help.

Very helpful video, thanks!

Today I bought the FetHead. I asked the guy for it in a music store and he said “is it for the SM7B?”… he was right 😂

Great video, thanks.

Such a great and informative video

Awesome video, Tom! I purchased the shure mv7x and the focusrite scarlett solo. I am very happy with my purchase however I do notice that my sound, in comparison to my guests, when I interview them on zoom, sounds a little noisy. So now I am considering a booster. These all seem like good options. Many thanks and Blessings!! -John

Thank you so much!

How to turn $15 worth of components into $250. How to make profits LOUD.

Holla
I love this guy lmao

I search for Klark Teknik Mic Booster CT1 but you whats recomend? Klark Teknik Mic Booster CT1 or Coda (really like the sound of this in the video), and what is the diference of Klark Teknik Mic Booster CT1 and Klark Teknik Mic Booster CM1?

really useful instruction for beginners, as me. Thanks.

I guess I'm buying the fethead cause I really want a good amount of gain but don't want to spend that much money. I wanted the CloudLifter but too much money.

FINALLY!!!! someone broke down into laymen's terms for us that dont have a degree in sound design...... I would like to ask though, can you please maybe make a tutorial of how to set plugins for the wave xlr. I copied a couple of profiles for streamers that had a voice similar to mine(very deep but muddy) but it doesnt seem to be working for me. I dont understand noisegates and eq very well. id appreciate if you would consider doing this.

This video was definitely helpful got a microphone that was too quiet so I’ve been looking for a booster

As a new sound guy, I just bought the PodMic w/ an Audiobox Go to connect it to my computer. And only after I noticed that the output of the mic was basically 0, I had to put my audio interface all the way to 50 to be able to hear something but then the other issue is that you get an horrible hiss in the background. So guys if you buy this combo (or with the focusrite solo) you'll most likely need one of these as well (I personally fell for the Fethead Germanium as it is very good and still under a 100 euros in france)

I am currently using an RE20 into the original MicPort Pro, which is all the way down with good gain (phantom power off of course). Would appreciate advice on whether a FetHead might help any noise or whether I should leave it alone. Thanks.

Sm 7b sounds so much muffled compared to the Earth Works

With the rcp 1, and the sm7b, do we need a cloudlifter?

Hey what's the microphone arm you were using in this video

Dang, I can't use the stealth one because my microphone is on a small tripod-like stand that I move around and stuff. So it's too low for it to plug in.

You completely explained every and all questions I was wondering about signal boosters....Thanks Tom!!!!.....

Thank you for an excellent video! It helped me pick the FetHead and save some money :)

Hey, Tom. I have the PodMic, and I use it with my Klark Teknik Mic Booster CT-1, but it annoys me how it looks. I can't connect it directly to my Focusrite, so I need to have it plugged into the PodMic. Can I use an additional XLR cable to have the booster not visible in my shots?

Apparently this is not something that’s needed according to Julian Krause.

Js its probably better to try and put the boosters as close to the microphone as possible in the signal chain. so if using the fethead you should try and plug it into your mic rather than into the interface. This is because otherwise any interference picked up along the xlr cable will be boosted by the fethead. if you plug it in to the mic then the interference will be picked up after the signal and won't be boosted so will be comparatively quiter. XLR cables are balanced but even still best practice is to have these added on the microphone side.

what if i plug the mic signal booster into the condenser mic??

Excellent comparison, very useful.

I know this is an older video, but I've been watching a bunch of your stuff lately and this one brought up a question: How did you ultimately remove the branding on that Rode PSA1+? It looks a lot better than the attempt you showed in the review video, so I'm really curious because I'd like to do the same thing.

5/24/22 Just purchased the Klark Teknik CT1 Mic Booster. It arrives tomorrow. Thanks for all your videos. They really help a non educated audio guy like myself. 😁👍🎙🎤

I need to get my mic louder before it reaches my recording device (which has lots of self noise). My preamp has plenty of gain, but I can't use much of it without clipping. Would a booster help, or also make it clip?

Had to come back this episode. My First choice of booster was Dynamite that I bought in December. But like in Many things related to audio stuff I have bought also The Fethead And also The klark teknic ct1. My favourite one seems to be The fethead altough The Dynamite packs a huge punch.

Got the Coda for $89 same day shipping… I wanted to order the $43 CT1, but sold out. For the patch cable, would it be male to male, female to male?

What about the SE Dynamite?

Thank you so much for these videos! You’ve made starting my podcast so much easier.

One thing to watch out for when connecting any of these is the length of cable between the mic and the mixer/interface. If your cable is introducing any noise, the booster will also boost that noise. The closer to the mic, the better.