Yes, the Rode Procaster microphone inevitably requires the Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 to enhance the overall sound.
The low-sensitivity design of the Rode Procaster makes it an excellent dynamic microphone. At the same time, it demands a higher amount of gain to reach a decent sound level. The more gain you apply, the more noise and color you introduce to the sound.
This is where the Cloudlifter CL-1 comes in. It reduces the amount of gain you need to provide, thus improving the sound output.
You can also add a RODECaster Pro to get better quality in your audio.
Here we analyze the Rode Procaster mic and why it needs a Cloudlifter.
Related: Shure SM7B vs Rode PodMic.
Contents
How Much Boost Does The Rode Procaster Need?
It depends on how close you are to the mic and your voice level. Specifically, the Rode Procaster mic averagely needs between 50 and 56DB of gain to achieve an acceptable sound level for either broadcasting or recording.
To ensure a clean and professional sound quality, you should use a good quality audio interface to increase the gain. Alternatively, the ideal solution is to use a clean signal booster such as the Cloudlifter CL-1 to amplify the sound before the preamp, especially if you use an entry-level interface.
Related: SE Electronics Dynamite DM1 Vs. Cloudlifter.
Why Use a Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1
The Cloudlifter CL-1 is among the best mic activators for amplifying your sound with transparent gain. You connect it between the mic and audio interface, then provide phantom power to it to start boosting any sound transmitted.
Without such mic activation on a dynamic mic like the Rode Procaster, you will need to increase the gain using preamps to achieve a satisfactory sound level. The problem with preamps is that you also add some noise and coloration to the sound as you increase the gain.
Therefore, you reduce the overall sound quality when using preamps to achieve the right sound level.
The Cloudlifter offers the perfect solution by amplifying the sound before reaching the preamp. This reduces the amount of gain you need from the preamp lessening the noise and color added to the sound.
With a Cloudlifter, you can efficiently boost your sound with up to +25dB of purely transparent gain. Such a boost can improve the sound quality of any dynamic mic, including the budget ones, to sound clear and rich in quality.
Related: Best Cloudlifter Alternatives
The Rode Procaster Microphone
The Rode Procaster mic is designed for broad frequency range applications that demand minuscule disparity. It has a built-in pop filter and shock mount to minimize the effect of plosives and any noise from mechanical transmission hence ensuring the sound is crispy clean.
These features create a low-sensitive mic that accurately captures only the sound directed to it to produce first-class audio even in untreated surroundings. As a result, it is a superb versatile mic for recording and broadcasting. Notably, the mic performs exceptionally well when used with vocals.
Even though the passive nature of the Rode Procaster is its advantage, it comes with a drawback of producing low output. Being a dynamic mic, it does not internally amplify the sound, as in the case of a condenser mic. You need an audio interface with good preamps or a mic activator to boost the sound to the required level.
Related: The Best Microphones For Recording in Podcasting (2023)
Summary
Excellent dynamic mics like the Rode Procaster have an issue of producing low output due to their low sensitivity. To take advantage of such a mic’s richness in sound quality, you will need to boost the sound level using either a high-quality preamp or a mic activator.
Using preamps only does not generate cleaner sound as incorporating a mic activator such as the Cloudlifter CL-1 to your Rode Procaster set up. The Cloudlifter would amplify the sound before it reaches the preamp, hence making the sound need less boosting from the preamp.
Thus the Cloudlifter lessens the amount of gain required lowering the noise and color added to the sound resulting in better sound quality.
