With the rise of the independent creator, bridging the gap between talent and technology has never been more important. We look at one new studio solution promising quality for the pro and simplicity for the creator…

A considerable amount of audio content being produced today begins life in the creator’s home, and this revolution is driving a whole new generation of products that distil ease of use and a quality audio experience into one piece. Of these, the USB mic promises the ultimate form factor for creators.

The USB Mic

Up until recently, anyone recording or streaming from home looking for pro quality sound needed a rig consisting of at least a mic, an XLR lead, audio interface, USB lead, and a pair of headphones or monitors to add to their DAW of choice. The arrival of the USB mic instantly reduced the amount of gear creators needed by putting the first three items into a single entity, with many trusted names kitting out their existing affordable condenser mics with USB and headphone ports, plus simple level control on the body.

…For Now

While this form factor has served small scale creators well for the last 10 years or so, as times change, so do the expectations of the market. The USB mic as we know it may have been stoically reducing clutter in the studio, but creators are now beginning to outgrow its utilitarian ethos.

PreSonus Revelator Dynamic

A new generation of USB mics can now offer things like on-board DSP processing and comprehensive app-driven routing and monitoring for creators who need audio that is ready to share straight out the back of the mic... PreSonus’ foray into this market comes in the form of their Revelator Dynamic which marries USB mic convenience with the de rigeur ‘end-fire dynamic-on-a-stick look’.

The mic has a few tricks up its sleeve including support for bus-powered Chromebook and Android operation along with iOS and iPadOS alongside Windows and MacOS operation. Because the simple effects presets run on the mic itself, streamers can go anywhere and take their studio sounds with them. PreSonus describe it as:

• Professional bus-powered USB-C-compatible dynamic microphone for vocal recording, podcasting, streaming, vlogging, gaming, and more

• Designed for your voice: Custom-designed dynamic microphone capsule provides vocal clarity and superior off-axis rejection

• Professional sound made easy: Professionally crafted Presets make you sound like a pro with a single click. You can also create your own custom presets to share, save, or produce on the go.

• Customizable mixes: Integrated mixer with two dedicated loopback audio channels to add backing tracks, Skype calls, gameplay audio, and more!

• Onboard processing: Effects processing lets you polish your sound with reverb, compression, EQ, and fantastic Voice FX — all built into PreSonus Revelator Dynamic

• Desktop stand included: PTS-1 extendable desktop mic stand included

• Loud and clear: Headphone output with volume control and zero-latency monitoring

• Studio-quality sound: 96 kHz / 24-bit operation for pristine audio recording

• Recording Software included: Complete recording solution featuring Studio One Artist DAW recording software and Studio Magic software bundle including music tutorials, tons of sound samples and virtual instruments.

The Best Mic?

By taking the already successful USB mic paradigm and rebooting it for creators, the PreSonus Revelator Dynamic delivers a whole lot, and for around £160/$199 it costs a great deal less than buying a comparable dynamic mic, lead, and interface in its place. Throwing on-board effects and comprehensive mobile device support into the equation as well starts to make other options look less attractive too. That its sound is perfectly up to scratch could seal the deal for some.

One of its nearest comparable alternatives, the Shure MV 7, offers more advanced features for more money such an additional XLR output, but for many this will be redundant when USB interfacing is there. With very few competing systems offering what PreSonus Revelator Dynamic can, it’s hard to see what else can equal it at the moment for value for money.