512 Audio Tempest USB-C Microphone Evaluation Score
Summary
The 512 Audio Tempest is a outstanding USB microphone that is an suitable answer for any one seeking a high-top quality microphone devoid of the added trouble of an XLR microphone.
Pros
- Outstanding general efficiency
- Seems professional
- Bundled shock mount
Drawbacks
- Improperly designed desktop stand
I previously reviewed the 512 Audio Skylight XLR microphone and imagined it was fantastic and have ongoing to use it for the earlier calendar year as my most important microphone (not that I will need to use it considerably).
512 Audio are now back again with a more mainstream customer-pleasant selection. The 512 Audio Tempest is a USB-powered cardioid microphone that is great for podcasting, vlogging, or just having your audio to the next amount for Teams/Zoom meetings.
Specification
- Capsule Size: 34mm Big Diaphragm Gold-Plated Capsule
- Polar Sample: Cardioid
- Microphone Obtain: 45dB max
- Immediate Monitoring: Zero Latency
- Headphone Link: 3.5mm Stereo
- Application/Motorists:: Indigenous Help in Home windows 10 and Mac OS (Mojave or higher)
- Incorporated Add-ons: High quality Desktop Stand, difficult mount and shock mount (for mounting on a Growth Arm) and USB Cable
Style and design and Build Good quality
The microphone appears to be great and expert. It sticks to the classic-inspired design that Skylight had, but it truly is a bit a lot less amazing total owing to the lessen value position.
It is bodily more compact than the Skylight, but greater than my Yeti nano (especially with the desk mount).
The desktop stand is a little bit odd, it is pretty lightweight, making use of tripod ft and then a decent duration in its entire body. This raises the microphone fairly large up from the table, bringing it nearer to mouth amount. The difficulty is that the incorporated really hard mount is designed so that the microphone is mounted absent from the vertical axis of the system, shifting the centre of gravity quite much out. It is not a particularly light microphone, if you unintentionally allow the difficult mount dip underneath a 90° angle, then there is a good probability that all the things will topple more than. Even with the microphone tilted upwards, it only takes the slightest knock to send out it traveling. This design also suggests that there is definitely no way you can use the shock mount with the desktop stand.
As opposed to the Skylight, there is no integrated pop filter with this microphone, but the provided shock mount is a lot more than you get with quite a few competing USB microphones.
On the front of the mic are the microphone get manage, headphone achieve regulate, mute button and headphone out.
Within just the caged diaphragm of the microphone is a violet LED.
In Use
With this getting a USB microphone, it is plug and participate in with a built-in DAC and 3.5mm headphone out.
The Tempest has a 34mm gold-plated condenser capsule and has an great high 24-bit / 48kHz resolution.
I have uploaded a standard exam sample, and you will have to forgive my northern drawl. Even though recording this sample, I was acquiring a reroof, so I experienced roofers outside the house hammering and drilling points. As irritating as it was for me, the microphone did not pick up any obvious qualifications noise. My pc is on the desk as well and not fully silent, it sits guiding the microphone.
The microphone handles plosives nicely, even without having a pop filter, and I located the overall sound signature to be hotter and fewer harsh than my usual microphone, the Blue Yeti Nano.
The wobbly desk stand can be problematic when in use. If you knock your desk or the stand right, the microphone will pick up a sizeable amount of that wobble.
Selling price and Alternate Possibilities
The 512 Audio Tempest has an RRP of £159.99 – it was supposed to be readily available in July, but it appears like Amazon US had inventory for a brief time, and it has not launched on Amazon United kingdom nevertheless.
You can search for it on Amazon below.
512 Audio are also launching the twin-pattern Script at a lower rate issue of $119 someday quickly.
It is a aggressive marketplace with a large amount of very good option possibilities.
My comparison microphone was the Blue Yeti Nano which was £95, or its even bigger brother for £115.
Gaming streamers might take pleasure in the RGB-equipped HyperX QuadCast S for £130.
There is also the RØDE NT-USB for £132.
Or, for a far more high priced solution, there is the well-liked Shure MV7 for £180 (however really a little bit additional if you pick the tripod option)
Overall
The 512 Audio Tempest is a excellent USB microphone that is an excellent solution for everyone wanting a large-good quality microphone devoid of the extra problem of an XLR microphone.
The audio seize is excellent quality and a lot more person-helpful than having to get the job done with an audio interface.
The desktop stand is the only authentic unfavorable. It is usable and will tide you around until finally you spend in a little something much better, but it is just terribly made and not some thing I would propose for a lasting answer.
