Does this budget condenser deliver for vocals? Jon Musgrave finds out
CONTACT WHO: the t.bone WEB: thomann.de KEY FEATURES PICKUP PATTERN: Cardioid FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 30Hz to 18kHz SENSITIVITY: 25 mV/Pa MAXIMUM SPL: 140dB (at 1kHz = 1% THD) A TO D CONVERSION: 16bit/48kHz CONNECTIVITY: USB B port for plug and play connection to a computer ACCESSORIES: Small flight case, shock mount, USB cable, foam windscreen, popshield
The t.bone SC 420 USB Desktop Set is an entry level all-in-one bundle aimed at podcasters. Available in both black and silver versions, it’s the black one I have for review. The package includes a large capsule cardioid condenser mic, low profile cradle, foam windscreen, pop shield, table top stand and USB cable, and comes in a compact flight case, which holds the components in two stacked foam trays. Meanwhile the bundled software includes Steinberg Cubase LE, so you also have a DAW to get started…
At £51, the components are clearly made to a tight budget. Still, the black satin finish is consistent throughout and I had no problem screwing the stand parts together, adding the clip or installing the mic, so it’s fair to say that the manufacturing quality is very good. The hefty metal base even has a thin foam layer to protect the table top, which is a nice touch. Once loaded up with the mic and pop shield, it all feels very stable, and although you can’t adjust the mic height, which is a shame, you can tilt it and also rotate the mic within the cradle. To put it all away you’ll need to detach the stand base, cradle and mic, which I found easy enough, and once done, it all fits neatly back in its box.
The mic incorporates a USB type B socket on the bottom (note, there’s no XLR connection). Meanwhile on the front of the mic is a 3.5mm headphone output, with a soft style mute button just below the headstock. Once plugged up, you’ll find the button glows red and there’s also a blue LED inside the headstock, so the whole package does look pretty good. The mute cuts the mic completely (output and headphones) but leaves your computer output active. In this state, the red LED flashes, making it very clear the mic is muted.
Offers a lot for very little money
The SC 420 USB is plug and play and quotes 16-bit/48kHz operation, although on OS X, I was also able to s
