CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone

A well-made, very sensitive microphone with almost no noise

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Victor L.

April 27, 2012

Color: Champagne

A short voiceover test using the CAD U37 through Sony Sound Forge. This is a well made product and, in my opinion, all the microphone most non-professionals will ever need.

1,450 people found this helpful

The only recording mike you'll need

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Wayfinder

December 2, 2014

Color: ChampagneVerified Purchase

At first I was going to give this mike 4 stars because I'm a perfectionist and I've seen better studio mikes. But those studio mikes were expensive; this one is under $50. Therefore, 5 stars. Here's why:

PROS:
* Good quality recording with variable settings on the mike itself
* Very easy to install. No driver software-- just plug it in and it works
* Responsive cyan LED to help indicate power / recording level
* Excellent size. When set on a table it's at just about the perfect height for recording
* Surprisingly good sound quality, especially for a mike this light-weight and low-priced
* Neat little table tripod stand, easy to set up and use
* Comes with generous-length cable

CONS:
None really. Terrific little mike. These are more "be aware of these things when recording":
* This is (as advertised) a studio mike. It is really, really, really sensitive and will pick up all sounds in the room-- including computer fans and a small 10" room fan I had set on low about 6 feet away. Such noise of course can be easily overcome in post-processing using a program such as Audacity (available free on the Net) or other music processing software.
* That said, it has a "bass switch" that provides reduction of background noise by reducing mike sensitivity for some sound levels.
* That said... the bass switch also alters the overall quality of recording sound. This can also be adjusted via post-processing.
* THAT said... it's best to record in an enclosed room using a tablet or laptop with as little fan sound as possible, because this WILL pick up all sound in the room. It's meant to do so to provide distortion-free recording.

For best recording I use this with my Windows tablet (zero fan noise, easy portability and setup). The result is a very effective "recording studio" which does a good job for not a lotta cash. Quality Windows tablets today can be purchased for around $200. So that along with this mike and free downloaded software provides a good recording environment that will suit the needs of many users. And of course it functions perfectly as a high-quality computer mike for Skype or other chat purposes.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
A good-quality voice and instrument recording mike. Solo voice/guitar? Yes. Computer voice mike? Yes but it will pick up background noise. Group mike? Yes, it's a studio mike; it picks up sound well.

WHAT NOT TO EXPECT:
Don't expect $300 + $20 wind screen sound recording from this. It has very good sound recording, but there are better mikes on the market if your budget allows. However if you're on a limited budget and want GOOD results and would like a USB mike that plugs right into your computer, I don't believe this can be beat. I've purchased several microphones and this has as good a quality sound recording as any mike I have purchased.

This isn't a "band" mike. This is for use in "studio conditions" (ie, in a closed environment without background noise) directly plugged into your computer's USB port. Used as an outdoor mike at a concert or such... well I haven't tried that yet. Typically studio mikes are not good for such. Used in live performance: no. The background noise pickup and feedback potential would be immense.

SOLO STUDIO RECORDING:
Because it does pick up external noise you can play it with an acoustic instrument without miking the instrument separately; it will pick up about the same quality and positioning as the human ear. Interestingly this mike seems to work better from 12 inches than the standard 2 to 4 inches that most recording mikes prefer. I got excellent results when recording at 12". At 2" from the mouth the sound is still excellent but one gets the feeling of "really not necessary and is actually too much". 12" or even further seems perfect, which is great news for solo acoustic guitar performers.

This mike would work equally well running an electric guitar through an amp and setting the amp to the side. The mike has such faithful reproduction of sound it should lose little or nothing in the distance translation.

In short, a terrific mike for studio recording. If you're looking for an inexpensive quality studio microphone, this is well worth your consideration.

76 people found this helpful

Great Inexpensive Entry Level Mic

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Tony

February 6, 2015

Color: ChampagneVerified Purchase

Great mic to step up in quality from a cheapo headset mic. Even though this is an entry level mic, it is a great value for the price. If you are looking to start a podcast this is the perfect mic without breaking the bank.

Unfortunately there is a big time delay when wanting to monitor the mic with headphones. If you need to monitor yourself, buy a mic that plugs straight into the mic jack and not the USB port. I took off one star for this.

Personally I don't need a monitor myself when recording so this mic fits my needs well. I thought I'd mention it though.

UPDATE: I built out a little nook in my closet with some acoustic foam. This mic records even more great now!!! This is a fantastic mic to get in to recording voice or youtube videos.

36 people found this helpful

TURN OFF AGC TO DECREASE SENSITIVITY!!!!

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Twizz

March 24, 2016

Color: ChampagneVerified Purchase

This Microphone is everything you could wish for in an insanely affordable price. I have quite a few more expensive non-usb condenser mics and this rivals all of them! This is great for podcasts, voice overs, and capturing single take music sessions (singer and acoustic guitar for example) It would be a little hard to do multi-track recording with this, due to the latency. ASIO4ALL might remedy some of that issue, but I have not tried it yet.

If you are finding this mic too sensitive, even with -10db on, one HUGE improvement you can make is to turn off the AGC (Automatic Gain Control) settings in your volume panel. Do this in Windows 7 by:
1. Right click on your speaker icon in the taskbar and go to recording devices.
2. Find Microphone "USB PnP Sound Device" and double click it
3. Go to custom tab and uncheck AGC.
4. You can then use the levels tab to get a good volume. For voice over stuff, I kept it under 10 still.

This mic is wellllll worth the money!!!

8 people found this helpful

It's awesome. I used the included stand for years

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eduncan911

December 16, 2017

Color: ChampagneVerified Purchase

I've been using this for many years now since I bought it. Figured it's time for a quick review as I have filled out others recently.

It's awesome. I used the included stand for years. but recently have switched to a mounted boom. The extremely long USB cable has been awesome to to use not only for the mic but also for charging various devices over the years.

Note that it does pick up the faintest of noises, like my 1 year old talking up a storm downstairs and in the kitchen pretty far away the point I can barely hear him. In return, it does pick up whispers extremely well.

Some tips:

- Be sure to tune the buttons accordingly (keep the bass flat for podcasts and voice overs, as you want the bass in your voice).
- Keep the pop filter (http://amzn.to/2yIhmXz) at least 6" away from the mic.
- It does pick up too much ambient noises, even though the sound is not directed at the front of the mic.

I'm using it with this microphone stand: http://amzn.to/2AVEJTu
And this pop filter: http://amzn.to/2yIhmXz

2 people found this helpful

Didn't Work Well With Windows 7

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Most recent customer reviews

A. Meyer

I bought this microphone because it had great reviews, but it didn't work well with my OS...for thr few moments that it did "connect", it was way too sensitive, even with...Read more

Published 3 days ago

Vivarant

Worked Great Until It Stopped Working

Seems I can't use this microphone anymore since an update with Windows, or the drivers or whatever. If i connect it to a USB port it disables all sound to my computer and will not...Read more

Published 11 days ago

H. Marshall

Lot of bang for buck

I'm no audio pro, really just needed something to record with when messing with guitar chord arrangements and lyrics. Scratch-pad stuff. This fits the bill great.Read more

Published 13 days ago

Michael Leahy

This microphone just plain works well

I've searched for a microphone that does a great job but doesn't cost that much more than the hundreds of cheap mics available everywhere. This one does the trick.

Published 20 days ago

Bernadette

Fantastic and Inexpensive Condenser Mic

I've had this microphone for recording covers for about four years now and it still holds up. If you're looking for an inexpensive first mic, I would recommend this one.Read more

I loved this microphone, I'm very satisfied

Starlyn Taveras

Appears to be an good low cost mic

Tredrick

Appears to be an good low cost mic. Been using for years. Have purchased other CAD products based on this mics performance.

I should have bought something a little bit more expensive for the quality. This was just okay. Not the best.

Cece Lang

Not the best.