Customer Reviews

LightSnake STUSBXLR10 LightSnake USB Microphone cable

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The cable is fine and if you have a good dynamic mic then you can get a good sound from it. I use a Mac and you do have to go into sounds under preferences to set the mic up properly. Otherwise, with garageband it all worked fine. My only complaint is that it is not made clear anywhere on the packaging or website that this cable does not provide phantom power. So you can't use it with a condenser mic. I just wish this was made more clear to me before buying.

I'm been trying to create computer files of spoken announcements that will at least rival those picked up by the high-end mics (Shure SM7UB) at the radio station. Like many audiophiles, I assumed it would require a condenser mic for its fabled superior frequency range along with a pre-amp for phantom power and a pop filter to handle the sibilants and explosives. I started with Blue mics, then tried Behringer, Cad, and several others, with mostly disappointing results. Then I realized that the expensive Shure mics at the studio are dynamic, not condenser, mics and that the most popular mic among all musicians is also a Shure dynamic mic--the Shure SM58 (or SM57, for musical instruments).

Initial results with the LightSnake used in tandem with the SM58, a combination allowing me to convert the XLR connector of the SM58 to a USB connector, are encouraging. The volume, as others have pointed out, is a bit soft, but an inexpensive A.R.T. preamp gave me all the gain I could ask for, providing phantom power should I go back to a condenser mic. To my ears the sounds approach the baritone richness of the Shure SM7B, but I won't know for certain until I get the verdict from the station manager (some of my experiments have resulted in hum or noise that wasn't clear on my end but, after sending it to the radio station, proved to be a problem for air-time use).

The cost may seem a bit high for a cable, but not if it can produce the sounds claimed on behalf of all those mics I had to return. Moreover, it's no ordinary cable. As the name implies, this snake lights up (on both ends) when its fangs strike a profitable vein. Also, if you're a PC person, it comes with Sony demo software; if you're a Mac person, it comes with instructions for use with Garage Band.

Just because Digital Audio Workstations and USB connections are now all the rage doesn't mean that you have to trash all your old band mics. If they sounded good with your Fender amp or Peavey P.A., they should sound just as good with your computer. But you'll need a conversion cable like this LightSnake to find out whether the trusty old equipment is up to the requirements of the new recording technologies.

I am using the LightSnake cable with windows vista for voice commands and the clarity and results i have on all recorded sound is impressive. I also intend to start using it for a podcast and expect excellent results. A close friend is using it for podcasting and the quality is awesome.

This product seems to work on some machines but not all. On an XP w/sp3, the system does not recognize the device and asks for the location of a device driver. Of course this is not available and SoundTech Tech claims that they do not know what device driver the cable uses. They also claim that they cannot find out what device driver is needed as they do not manufacture the Lightsnake, and they do not have authority to contact the OEM. After searching the Internet, it appears that I am not alone with this problem, but SoundTech actually told me to call Microsoft to find the device driver. Not much help here as Soundtech cannot tell me what device driver I should be looking for. Maybe the worst tech support I have experienced in my 30+ years in the IT industry!

I have a Nady StarPower 1 dynamic mic and had not been able to use it for Rock Band on my 360; I tried another XLR-to-USB product and it did not work. I suspect the lack of phantom power is what makes this work with both Rock Band and Karaoke Revolution: American Idol Encore (although it doesn't work that well with the latter; I suspect that's by the programmers' design).

The LightSnake works very well: the lights are particularly helpful when I build up a little static and touch the mic. If the lights go out, I unplug it and plug it back in, and we're back in business - you know exactly when it's working and when it's not.

The cable is a very simple interface. I use a Shure SM58 to an iMac with Garage Band and it works perfectly.

Bought this hoping I'd be able to use one of my XLR mics, especially my wireless, for Wii... Not happening. Works great for Logic, Garage Band, Cubase, all other DAW software I tried with either a mic or into a DI box and hooked up to guitar. Cool looking. Not cheap...

I was so excited when I found out about this product. For years I have been trying to find out how to use a professional mic and other pro instruments with my audio editing software to no avail. This is a simply plug and play product and it works like a charm!

All my recordings have a snowy noise in them. I contacted the manufacuturer and was told "Its unfortunately the nature of the beast". If you own an XLR microphone, you care too much about the sound for this cable to be good enough for you. I returned mine.

My cable arrived quickly, was well packaged, and was just as described. Plugged it in and started recording. Thanks for a great purchase experience.