Mario’s Mic of the Month

This month’s microphone was brought to my attention by Warren, our Ontario sales representative. What a great microphone choice to feature given the current need to collaborate remotely and the importance of being clearly heard while doing so. The Audix USB12 is a good choice for voice capture and even more so if looking for a visually unobtrusive solution. Its 12” (30cm) gooseneck brings the capsule closer to the speaker, resulting in very clear sound reproduction. It also reduces unwanted noise such as paper shuffling or objects being handled on a desk.

The USB12s superior quality can immediately be perceived due to features such as its heavy metal base. Its mass combined with rubber feet allow excellent decoupling which minimizes the transmission from surfaces of noises like typing on a keyboard. The switchable 150Hz high-pass filter can further optimize the quality of vocal pickup depending on the application. On the base of the USB12 there is a single button for On-Off configuration, Push to Talk or Push to Mute functionality. A blue LED lights up when the microphone is on and picking up sound. Finally, thanks to its 3.5mm audio output on the back, the USB12 can serve as a complete USB audio interface. The USB12 comes with a cardioid polar pattern condenser capsule suitable for general use. But for more specific needs, a hypercardioid capsule as well as an omnidirectional capsule are available as an option to further minimize sound coming from the top and/or sides, or conversely to offer a homogeneous pickup regardless of the presenter’s position.