ART C1USB Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone

If you're a vocalist looking for the classic sound of a FET condenser microphone in a USB form-factor, consider the ART C1USB, a USB mic designed for sung vocals, podcasting, VO, and anything else that applies to the voice. Combining FET circuitry with the ease straight-to-computer recording, the C1USB can come in handy for home-studio use.

Monitor your vocals without latency straight from the mic over the 3.5mm headphone jack. Controls are on hand for headphone volume, mic gain, a -10 dB pad, and a high-pass filter to kill low rumble. Because of the mic's cardioid polar pattern, you won't pick up nearly as much of the room as you would with an omnidirectional or figure-8 mic; this makes the C1USB perfectly suited for untreated home/bedroom studios. A desktop mic stand, a mic mount, and a USB cable are included.

This mic is designed for your voice, whether you use it to sing, podcast, narrate audio books, or record voice-overs. You'll find the FET technology will help your voice sound full, yet clear and polished.

The mic will operate with both Mac and Windows computers, without requiring a dedicated interface, preamp, or mixer.

The microphone makes use of a directional cardioid polar pattern to minimize off-axis sound. This polar pattern naturally, yet effectively tamps down room tone and focuses the audio capture on what's directly in front of the mic, so everyone can clearly hear your voice.

The mic offers a headphone jack for monitoring. Just plug a pair of headphones into the 3.5mm jack, and you'll be able to listen to your broadcast-quality audio in all its glory. A convenient volume dial helps you raise or lower the headphone volume, so you won't have to change the volume on your computer or your recording software to hear audio at your desired level. Finally, the mic offers low-latency blend and mix controls monitoring for your vocals. These come in handy for tracking to prerecorded material: you can use it to adjust the balance between your mic's pickup and the existing mix; adjust these knobs to your liking, and you won't hear any latency as you record.

The mic records audio at sample rates and resolutions up to 16-bit / 48 kHz, giving you the broadcast standard for media playback. When it comes to the digital technology in this mic, you need not worry about recording a substandard sound.

With an included desktop stand, mic mount, and USB cable, you can get up and running right away. Simply place the mic in the mount, attach the mount to the stand, and run the USB cable from the mic into your computer. When you're done, stow the mic in the included pouch for safekeeping.