Full Review: Kingston HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset with Microphone Test

Kingston's HyperX Cloud II is an ambitious follow up to their first Cloud headset. Not only are they refining and simplifying the cabling, they're adding a USB DAC while only charging $20 more.

Is the HyperX Team biting off more than they can chew? Let's take a listen to the cans and the mic!


Shop the HyperX Cloud II on Amazon.
More info on Kingston products.

Review: Sennheiser Urbanite XL Headphones- Sophisticated Design, Impeccable Build Quality

Sennheiser impressed last year with their high-end Momentum headphones, and now they're positioning the Urbanite line as their mid-range audio experience.

A unique blend of modern design and incredible build quality, do these cans have what it takes to stand up to more established "FashionPhones" brands? Let's take a listen!



Shop the Urbanite XL's on Amazon.

Review: Cloud Microphone's Sexy 44-A Active Ribbon with Low Cut Filter

Ribbon mics are OLD SCHOOL recording tech, and Cloud has been making terrific mics for years now. Their 44-A represents a fresh twist on the ribbon utilizing phantom power, and a novel low cut filter for spoken word and voice over applications. Let's take a listen!


More info on Cloud products.

Shop for electronics on Amazon by clicking on this link to support our site and reviews at no additional cost to you.

Save 10% on a Loot Crate by using promo code "SGLOOT" at checkout!

Video First Impressions: Noble by Wizard - FR In-Ear Monitors

Taking things up a notch for professionals and audiophiles, we're taking this first look at Noble's FR in ear monitors.

With a switchable driver for accuracy or "full" listening experiences, let's see what a $700 investment gets you in the world of inner-aural headphones.


More info on Noble products.

Review: The R0DE Classic II Anniversary Edition Tube Microphone

We haven't done a studio microphone review for a while, so it's time to come back with a biggie!

R0DE's Classic II is a modern twist on a vintage-y mic technology. Not only that, the Anniversary edition comes in Darth Vader black, and it's pretty sexy. Let's take a look (and a listen)!
Shop the R0DE Classic II on Amazon.
Save 10% on a Loot Crate by using promo code "SGLOOT" at checkout!

Review: The DacMagic XS USB Headphone Amp

It might be little, but this little USB DAC packs a wallop.

Cambridge Audio brings their audiophile expertice to bear on a tiny portable unit designed to imrpove your listening experience while at home or on the road. Let's take a look!



Shop the DacMagic XS on Amazon.

Review: Triad-Orbit Micro 2 Orbital Mic Stand Adapter and IO-R Quick Change Coupler

I loves me some recording gear, and even something as simple as a microphone stand adapter can make me very happy. If it's done right.

I only recently started playing with Triad-Orbit gear, but I'm already very impressed with their accessories and build quality. Let's take a look at one of their ball and socket mic adapters and their quick change system!

For more info on Triad-Orbit products: http://www.triad-orbit.com/
Shop Triad-Orbit on Amazon: http://goo.gl/X37Ij8

Video Review: Blue Microphones' Blueberry "Vocals Mic"

I primarily record spoken word, so it's always interesting using a mic designed for singers. Let's play!


Shop for the Blueberry on Amazon using this link, and you'll be supporting this site at no additional cost to you!

Video Review: Blue Microphones' Kiwi Multi-Pattern Large Diaphragm Condenser

It's finally here!
I got this mic out of the studio long enough to properly review it. It's a beautiful premium experience.



Shop for the Blue Kiwi on Amazon (using this link), and you'll be supporting SomeAudioGuy at no additional cost to you! You can also use the affiliate or donation links to the left to help keep me on the web!

The BEST Demonstration of the Motorola Roadster 2 Bluetooth Speakerphone's Sound Quality Currently on the Internet

Fact.
While writing up my review of the Roadster II for YourTechReport, I scoured the Youtubes trying to find a decent video of the Roadster in action where you could actually hear the audio quality of this little wireless speaker.

Alas, none could be found, so I shot my own! Here I put the Roadster up against my current speakerphone favorite, the Nokia Lumia 900. I was pleasantly surprised...

Shopping for gadget-y things like the Motorola Roadster II, the Nokia Lumia 900, or the Moto Droid RAZR MAXX through my Amazon affiliate links helps support this site at NO additional cost to you!

Review: The Plantronics BackBeat Go Bluetooth Headphones

I've used Plantronics BT Headsets for years to handle my phone calls, but I've never used any of their headphones.

Let's see if the BackBeat Go's are enough to help me cut the cord!

Shop for the BackBeat Go Headphones on Amazon through this link, and you'll be supporting my site at no additional cost to you!

Review: sE Electronics sE2200a II Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone

I haven't reviewed a multi-pattern mic since I took a look at the AKG C414, so it's time to return to flexible microphones! This review also happily introduces me to a company I've had ZERO experience with in the past, so I'm excited to share my experiences with you fine readers looking for something a little unique!
Let's take a look (and listen) to the sE2200a II multi-pattern mic!



Shop for the sE2200a II on Amazon, and you'll be supporting this site at no additional cost to you!

Review: Blue Microphones' Bluebird Large Diaphragm Condenser Mic

Let's take a quick look at the high end of Blue's entry level lineup! It's a looker, but do you really get that much more microphone for the $100 premium over the Spark?


Shop for Blue Microphones' Bluebird on Amazon, and you'll be supporting SomeAudioGuy at no additional cost to you! Or buy me a cup of coffee using my donation links to the left!

Obsessed with JD McPherson's 'Signs & Signifiers'

I don't cover a lot of music on this blog. When I do, it's usually to bitch about the state of the music industry, or to complain about everything being over-compressed. However, every now and then, an album drops which slaps me in the face. 'Signs & Signifiers' is one such album.

I heard a couple samples off the album during an NPR interview, and bought the album instantly. The concept and execution is just so deliciously retro. McPherson has crafted a near perfect throwback to the sounds of the 1950's, a time before "Rock-n-Roll" had fragmented into R&B, Blues, Rockabilly, Punk, Hard Rock, and Country. A time where you could imagine going to a concert and seeing Buddy Holly, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Ritchie Valens all in the same night.

'Signs & Signifiers' does a fantastic job of paying homage to these classic musical influences, while still presenting us something new. It's not a collection of covers, and it definitely showcases an aggressive modern energy, but the collection of songs included could easily be confused for vintage.  Jimmy Sutton's production work (also the bass player) and Alex Hall's mastering (also the drummer) clearly illustrate McPherson's passion for the musical era.

Lastly, and maybe one of the reasons I'm so drawn to this work, to match the vibe of the music and writing, the trio decided on an analogue style of recording to produce the sound they were after. Watching McPherson bellow into an old school ribbon, and hearing the tape distortion and mic maxing out, it's pleasing. It's what we like about older classic recordings. They've absolutely nailed the technical challenges, merging the benefits of modern producing with the constraints of analog gear.

I'm crazy late to this party, the album dropped the end of 2010, but I'm making up for it by playing the shit out of this CD.


Shop for 'Sign's & Signifiers' on Amazon, and you'll be supporting this site at no additional cost to you!

Book Review: 'Sound Advice: Voiceover From an Audio Engineer's Perspective' by Dan Friedman

I don't do a lot of book reviews. Not because I don't like the books written about VO, but usually because most books read more like histories of our craft rather than accurate representations of the challenges we face doing business in this modern era.

Sound Advice, written by Dan Friedman, is an interesting take on the VO advice book. Dan is now a talent, but he got his start as an engineer, and he still produces and engineers sessions. There's a familiarity with his writing style, as I started out as a talent, then became a director. Out of necessity I started engineering and producing, and I occasionally return to being a talent. You get a very unique perspective on this craft by working behind the mixing console. You get to see what works, and what doesn't.

SA:VFaAEP is a ver competent introduction to VO. Dan covers a wide variety of topics that new people tend to ask me about getting into voice acting. The book is only 75 pages long (with a full glossary), so no one topic is comprehensively examined, but his intent is to guide new performers. Frankly discussing business concerns, technical issues, performance, booth etiquette, and including a primer on home recording, Dan delivers an interesting peek behind the production curtain with a comfortable, casual, anecdotal writing style.

Thankfully, images in the book are also full color. It's always disappointing to flip through a book and see tiny, grainy, black and white images of what the author is trying to discuss. Apologies, as I had this book on my coffee table so long I managed to spill coffee on it...

There's not a lot of down-side here. I do have to make fun of Dan's "affection" for calling Neumann mics "industry standard" safe purchasing bets, but that's largely me just being a fellow gear snob.

If you're an advanced voice talent, while you might not learn a whole lot about your craft, it's still an interesting take on the business of VO. It's a voice we often ignore. You know, that piece of studio equipment that's responsible for adjusting microphones and pushing the red "record" button on the computer? Yeah. That's a person.

And that person talks about you when the talk-back is muted...

Buy Sound Advice on Amazon
Buy Sound Advice from AuthorHouse

Review: Blue Microphones' Spark Large Diaphragm Condenser Mic

The entry level microphone market is pretty cut throat.
There are many genuinely good options between $100 and $300. Blue Microphones certainly wont make your task choosing any easier, as they're partly responsible for giving us so many good options. However the one area where your selection quandaries are easily answered is style. Blue delivers THAT in spades...



Shop for Blue Microphones Spark on Amazon, and you'll be supporting SomeAudioGuy at no additional cost to you! Or buy me a cup of coffee using my donation links to the left!

Microphone Porn! Blue Microphones Spark and Bluebird Mics

I'm finishing up my reviews for each mic, but in the meantime I thought I'd tease you guys with some screen grabs from the shoot I did.

Enjoy!

Video Review: Blue Microphone's Yeti Pro

I've spent the last week playing with the most advanced USB mic on the market.
Was it enough to change my mind on USB mics?
Watch the vid to find out!



Support SomeAudioGuy!
Shop for the Yeti Pro on Amazon, and you'll be supporting this site at no additional cost to you!

The MOST Fun You'll Ever Have Reading a Review of an Office Shredder...

For all our talk about Voice Over being a business, I often find it's those business-y elements which get passed over for all the sexy talk about microphones and performance. What about filing your taxes? What about managing your invoices?

What about protecting your sensitive information?

Yup. In my role as gadget reviewer, it's time to talk about some office equipment. I’m not totally nerding out on you guys though, because this particular piece of office gear just so happens to mulch up your documents in a very satisfying way…

Shredders aren’t something you think about when you’re younger and ruining your credit (like I did in college), but as you get older and start building some real purchasing power, you suddenly get hounded with offers, pre-approved, on a near daily basis.

You also might be dealing with sensitive personal information that you don’t want falling into the wrong hands. I’ve been pretty paranoid about that since my identity was stolen, and they didn’t even do anything cool with my ID! They used it to get a job at McDonalds… Who does that?

The Swingline Stack & Shred 80x is more than happy to oblige your personal paranoid tendencies!

The S&S80X is a large sucker, at least it’s big compared to our old crappy shredder. It belongs under a computer desk, in a near permanent place of honor. The S&S can shred manually via a top slot, or by a top loading tray, where the shredder gets its “Stack & Shred” moniker, and it earns its “80X” by being able to tackle 80 page jobs at a time.

This thing will tackle staples, paper clips, credit cards, even CD’s! you start looking for things to throw at it. You start thinking of starting a new gadget destruction site like “Will it Blend” (FYI, the Droid RAZR isn’t thin enough to be fed through an S&S80X).

Features are pretty great. The unit has automatic jam recovery, reversing and re-shredding until it completes the job. This is pretty handy, as you’ll be shredding quite a bit to fill the Swingline’s five GALLON capacity bin. A recyclable bin liner is included, and you’re supposed to buy more bin liners, but honestly I just kept reusing the included one to transfer to paper grocery bags.

Perhaps my favorite “feature” is how quiet the unit operates. Our old shredder would screech through individual pages. The S&S80X surely isn’t silent, but creates a nice rumbling sound. The kind of rumble which lulls you into a comfortable confidence that no one will apply for a fast food job using your social ever again…

To put it to the test, my Wife and I took out our bags of mail with sensitive info in them. Yes. Bags. Quick side note, Chase, Citi, and BofA send me DAILY offers for credit cards. DAILY. I’ll NEVER do business with you. STOP SENDING THEM!

Anywho, over the course of one afternoon in front of the TV, we took care of mail that had been building up for a year.

The S&S does not like having different kinds of paper shredded together, like glossy inserts next to newsprint style paper. The only times we had to manually clean up jams was during mixed paper shreds like that.

We also managed to get the unit to over heat three times. That’s REALLY impressive since this thing is not supposed to be run full time for a whole day. Our old shredder would lock up after about 30 minutes of constant use. The S&S80X wrapped up our shredding like a champ.

This is an easy recommend folks. In two years we replaced our low end shredders three times. Which is about what you would pay for the Stack & Shred, and suffer a LOT less hassle to boot. This really is a great addition to a home, small home office, or even a small office work group inside a larger company.

AND, I made it this whole review without making a TMNT joke...

Shop for Swingline Shredders on Amazon, and you'll be supporting SomeAudioGuy at no additional cost to you!

Getting My Paws on Blue Microphones' Yeti Pro

Got a nice little surprise today from my friends at Blue Microphones.

They sent me out a Yeti Pro to review.

I've only opened the box so far, but I still thought I'd tease you guys and gals.

A full review will be coming soon...