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Category: Audio

  • Senal MC 24 ES: a sleeper shotgun mic for creators

    The verdict

    A sleeper shotgun mic for creators who want clean, directional audio without luxury-brand prices — it runs around $160 and is often cheaper.

    What’s good
    ✓  Rich, natural vocal sound
    ✓  Hypercardioid pattern focuses on what’s in front and rejects the sides
    ✓  Selectable 180 Hz high-pass filter to kill low-end rumble and AC hum
    ✓  Compact 7.1″ brass body — mounts on-camera fine
    Worth knowing
    ·  Needs 48V phantom power over XLR — best with a 32-bit float interface
    ·  For the cleanest sound, position it just out of frame
    ·  B&H sent this mic for review

    I ran it straight into the Lumix XLR2, and the whole review is recorded on it so you can hear it for yourself. A great pick for talking head and beyond.

    Where to buy

    Senal MC 24 ES XLR Microphone

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    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Kopul Studio Elite 4000 XLR cable: Neutrik ends, any length

    The verdict

    A high-quality XLR cable you can get in almost any length — Neutrik ends, a braided shield, and it stays flexible despite 98% shield coverage.

    What’s good
    ✓  Neutrik connectors — among the best XLR ends you can get
    ✓  Braided shield, dual conductor, 98% coverage for great RF rejection
    ✓  Stays flexible; a Velcro wrap is included out of the box
    ✓  Available in odd, hard-to-find lengths
    Worth knowing
    ·  B&H sent this cable to review

    Being able to get an in-between length without soldering my own or jumping to a 50-footer is genuinely handy.

    Where to buy

    Kopul Studio Elite 4000 XLR Cable

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    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Kopul 3000 XLR cable: durable, flexible, and colorful

    The verdict

    A durable-yet-flexible XLR cable with Neutrik ends and a ton of color options — the orange makes a ceiling drop easy to spot.

    What’s good
    ✓  Durable but flexible jacket
    ✓  Neutrik connectors
    ✓  Lots of colors and lengths (this one’s 25ft in orange)
    ✓  Velcro wrap included on the cable
    Worth knowing
    ·  B&H sent this cable to review

    Color-coding a cable that runs down from the ceiling is a small thing that saves your head — and there are plenty of fun colors to choose from.

    Where to buy

    Kopul Premium Performance 3000 XLR Cable

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    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.

  • Pig Hog braided instrument cables: overbuilt and reliable

    The verdict

    A longtime favorite instrument cable — braided, overbuilt, with a right-angle plug on one end and a straight on the other, plus a great warranty.

    What’s good
    ✓  Right-angle plug on one side, straight on the other
    ✓  Heat-shrink keeps the internal connections solid
    ✓  Braided, overbuilt and high quality; easy to coil
    ✓  20ft here, with other lengths available
    Worth knowing
    ·  No tone issues to report

    Pig Hog cables have been some of my favorites for years — great performance and a great warranty.

    Where to buy

    Pig Hog Braided Instrument Cable

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    Some links are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.