Cloud Microphones - Cloudlifter Zi - Vari-Z Instrument DI and Mic Activator for Bass/Guitar/Voice - Ultra Clean Microphone Preamp Gain - Variable Impedance Control - USA Made

I purchased the Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator for my audio setup, pairing it with my Shure microphone and the Roland VR-1HD for phantom power. After some thorough testing, I'm ready to share my experience, which has been largely positive with a slight concern.The Good:Powerful Mic Boost: The Cloudlifter CL-1 does an excellent job of amplifying the microphone signal. It's particularly noticeable with my Shure mic, providing a significant and clean boost in gain. This enhancement is crucial for achieving professional-quality sound in recordings and live streaming. I use it for my YouTube channel. I was thinking about starting a podcast by the way.Build Quality and Ease of Use: The build quality is solid, and it's evident that it's made to last. The simplicity of the Cloudlifter is also a plus and it's pretty much plug-and-play, requiring no additional power source, which is a huge convenience. I dont even think you need a additional power such as the phantom although i do hear a difference.The Concern:Interference with my cell phone: My primary concern, and I'm still trying to pinpoint the exact cause, is that having my phone close to the setup and receiving texts or calls causes audio distortion. I suspect this interference might be related to the Cloudlifter, but it's also possible that the Shure mic is picking up these signals. This issue is something to be aware of, especially in a setup where your phone is an essential part of your workflow. I can assure you that once i move my away from the cludlift , the distorsions stop.Overall Impression:Aside from the interference issue, which I'm still investigating, the Cloudlifter CL-1 has been a great addition to my audio equipment. It delivers on its promise of providing clean, amplified sound, which is a game-changer for mics that need that extra boost. The build quality is great, and its ease of use makes it a valuable tool for both amateurs and professionals. Plug and play .Given the significant improvement in sound quality, I would recommend the Cloudlifter CL-1, but with the caveat of being mindful of potential interference from mobile devices. This might be a minor issue or something more specific to my setup, but it's worth mentioning. Overall, I'm pleased with the performance.

I was hesitant buying this for my Shure SM7B. as you probably know this is a very gain hungry mic. But I wasn't very found of spending another $150 on top of me purchasing a $400 microphone. But man am I glad I bought this. I was using a Focusrite Scarlett Solo as my interface when I purchase the cloudlifter and it worked like a charm. 25db of clean gain just like everyone said. EVEN now I use this with my Apollo Twin x. even though the Apollo has more then enough gain to power this mic. I would have to push my Apollo interface to at least 90% which I wasn't very found of doing over time. now with this cloudlifter I can have the gain on my interface to around 60%. All around, it has great sound, easy to use and great build quality. you wont regret this purchase.

Not sure why I hesitated on buying this... I spent $400 on a Shure SM7B, and $100 on a mixer and I thought that would be enough.. Nope! Sound quality still had issues, well thank god I decided to give this a try because WOW! It made a MAJOR improvement to my sound quality! And it was so easy to use! Literally just plug it in and you're done.This little device basically just boosts the volume for your mic so you can turn all your presets down to avoid static in the background. And it did that perfectly!Build Quality: Amazing, has great weight to it and is smooth to touch. It's made in America and it shows, I love supporting American companies too.Value: It's expensive, but if you dump $400 on a mic then you're doing yourself a disservice for not having this! I upgraded my Shure Sm7B from an SM58 and the jump wasn't as substantial as just adding on this cloud lifter.Verdict: This thing is a game changer and gives NIGHT AND DAY difference when using it vs not using it. Excellent quality and craftsmanship. I'm so happy I bought it, it's worth it and if you're on the fence then just BUY IT! You won't regret it!Also I paid for this in full with my own money, this review is my actual thoughts and opinions. I hope it helps you. :)

The Cloudlifter certainly works and works well. You immediately get a raise in gain without any noise and then you only need to raise your gain knob by a tiny bit and avoid the noise floor with some mics. However the price is quite expensive for something that can be done for much cheapter. The Triton does the same thing for less money. I've found the fact that this is a box that connects two separate XLR cables together a great way to just extend mic cables that have been too short for what I needed them for and I needed a gain boost from. For example, I needed this on an RE20 and so I connected two shorter Mogami cables between them and turned two 10' cables into a 20' cable in the process.

I wasn’t sure I needed a Cloudlifter at first—after all, the Samson Q2U is a budget mic, and I’m running it into a Behringer UMC404HD, which already has decent preamps. But I was having to crank the gain up to almost max just to get a usable signal, and that’s when the noise crept in.Enter the Cloudlifter. Hooked it up with a proper XLR cable, turned on phantom power, and boom—instant difference. I can now keep the interface gain much lower while still getting a clean, strong signal. No hiss, no weird background fuzz, just way better clarity and headroom. It doesn’t "change" the sound of the Q2U, but it definitely helps it shine.If you're using a dynamic mic like the Q2U and find yourself maxing out your interface’s gain, this little box is a lifesaver. It’s not cheap, but for me, the cleaner audio is worth every penny.

Mostly using this with ribbon Microphones.Initially, because I was worried that I might accidentally hit them with phantom power and destroy them. So there’s that piece of mind but, it really lets the personality shine through.Likewise, with the sure SM7B.