Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set: Podcaster’s delight

Would-be podcasters—or anybody who desires to create high-quality vocal recordings—have traditionally had to decide on between the pliability and excessive constancy of an XLR microphone, and the convenience-with-compromises choice of a USB mic. Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set goals to vary all that by providing a complete reasonably priced recording setup in a single field with out sacrificing audio high quality to get there.

What’s the Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set?

Sennheiser’s Profile Streaming Set is comprised of two items: A mid-sized dynamic USB-C microphone able to creating high-resolution 44.1Hz 24-bit recordings, and a microphone arm with a desk clamp. This kind of recording setup has been widespread in radio stations since effectively earlier than the digital period, however the Profile Streaming Set’s all-in-one answer is interesting, particularly given its modest $199 price ticket. For those who’re solely considering a high-quality USB microphone, Sennheiser presents the one from this set for $129.

The microphone has three buttons on its entrance aspect, and a headphone jack beneath it. These buttons grant easy accessibility to widespread changes akin to acquire (recording quantity), muting or unmuting the mic, and managing the quantity of sound fed by means of the headphone jack quite simple. The built-in headphone jack ought to show particularly useful for people who find themselves new to recording because it’ll permit them to right away hear, assess, and handle audio points earlier than creating a complete recording. This might save a newbie lots of time.

Establishing the Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set

I used to be impressed that Sennheiser managed to sidestep a lot of the issues I’ve had with each USB and XLR microphones hooked as much as an audio interface previously. I used to be capable of unbox, connect, and join the microphone to my pc in underneath 5 minutes. Sennheiser’s microphone screws instantly onto its arm, which is available in a single piece. The microphone arms I’ve used sometimes come both unassembled, or require tweaking to get the best degree of rigidity, with out which the microphone’s weight will make the arm drop. None of that was a difficulty with the gadgets on this set. The arm clamped onto a kitchen countertop—extra on that later—and provided a shocking degree of management over the microphone’s place.

Sennheiser features a USB-C cable within the field, however I opted to hook up the microphone utilizing a shorter one for the sake of comfort. I applaud Sennheiser for together with an extended cable, which is usually vital relying on one’s recording setup, however I want it additionally included a shorter one. On the same be aware, Sennheiser might have improved each the aesthetics and total usability of this set by together with a USB-C cable with an L-shape on one finish. This may permit a podcaster to snake the cable down the microphone’s arm utilizing the built-in succesful administration chips—to make their setup look much less cluttered. Because it stands immediately, the sleek-looking microphone and arm are marred by the inclusion of a cable that awkwardly juts out the again aspect. The selection between a thicker longer cable with extra kinked cords, or a shorter one that won’t match within the microphone arm’s slots appears like a hole one. I’m glad Sennheiser targeted on audio high quality over aesthetics, however the latter nonetheless counts.

Utilizing the Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set

Due to the Profile Streaming Set’s simple setup course of, I used to be capable of start testing the microphone nearly instantly. My pc—a 13-inch MacBook Professional—immediately acknowledged the USB microphone, and I used to be ready to make use of it throughout Google Meet calls with my workforce, in addition to making native recordings by means of apps like GarageBand or Voice Memos. My recording wants are very gentle today, however I nonetheless appreciated how straightforward this gear was to make use of. Usually, establishing a recording session takes longer than vital resulting from a missed setting or flipped swap, however that wasn’t the case right here. The one time I ever had an issue creating recordings was once I switched USB-C cables throughout testing and didn’t understand the brand new twine might solely be used for charging, not transferring knowledge. With that minor glitch apart, it was easy crusing.

The intuitive nature of Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set makes it an interesting suggestion for individuals who need lots of the identical options present in an expert recording setup with out the fuss and muss. I by no means discovered myself ready the place the Profile Streaming Set didn’t meet my wants, and the discover in audio high quality when in comparison with the microphones constructed into my MacBook Professional have been instantly noticeable and stark. I’ve a comparatively low voice, and the microphone was capable of seize an distinctive quantity of element with out over-modulating (a type of distortion). The standard of your recordings will rely in your microphone placement and extra importantly the room it’s in. For those who’re recording in a sq., sparsely-decorated, the sound of your voice will bounce off the partitions, hit the mic, and change into audible in your recordings.

For those who’re recording audio in a room with a lot of stuff on the partitions, particularly delicate objects, this gained’t be as a lot of a difficulty. I made a decision to arrange the Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set within the open kitchen of rental with an enormous plate-glass doorway behind me, and a big sofa to the right-hand aspect. This was a difficult surroundings, however only a few folks have the posh of a devoted recording area, or the choice of hanging up acoustic panels in all places. On the whole, the microphone labored effectively even on this troublesome setting. There wasn’t an abundance of room noise—save for the heater when it got here on—when no one else was within the room. For those who’ve held off on getting nicer recording gear as a result of there’s no area in your house for a studio, we’re assured you’ll get the outcomes you’re on the lookout for with this mic.

I’ve had sufficient expertise with microphones to know the best placement to seize my voice finest, besides I used to be stunned on the audio high quality from this comparatively cheap piece of kit. My colleagues picked up on the distinction between Sennheiser’s mic and the one constructed into my MacBook Professional instantly, though seeing the microphone gave issues away.

So, who ought to by the Sennheiser Profile Streaming Set

Sennheiser has made the expertise of audio recording utilizing this gear so easy that we will advocate it to simply about anyone. Whether or not you’ve by no means sat behind a microphone, have been counting on the mic constructed into your headphones, or have already established your self within the podcasting area, we will’t see you being disenchanted. Our nitpicks, like the shortage of an L-shaped USB-C cable, may be fastened for underneath $20, and are far outweighed by the professionals.

The flexibility to have a full recording setup you’ll be able to take anyplace may be very interesting to anybody who travels typically for work. For those who pack rigorously, there’s no purpose why you shouldn’t take at the very least the microphone that’s a part of this set with you to lodge or convention rooms throughout work journeys. Podcasters who don’t need their viewers to note a dip in audio high quality whereas they’re away from their important setup may even discover rather a lot to love with this set.

For $200 you’re not going to discover a higher compact, all-in-one answer to creating skilled voice recordings underneath difficult circumstances. We will solely hope that different firms can take a look at what Sennheiser did right here and comply with go well with, creating a fair better incentive to make gear on this value vary even higher.