Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 Reviews

David Dault
from Chicago, IL, USA
April 16, 2013Music Background:
Talk Radio

Great with Shure SM7B

I bought the Cloudlifter after reading online in several places that it was a cost effective way to boost the signal going to the board from my SM7B. I could not be more pleased! It worked exactly as advertised, and my microphone sounds fantastic, with no added noise I can hear. I recommend this to anyone wrestling with whether or not to buy a costly preamp for their mic - try this instead!

John
from Saugus, MA
April 1, 2013Music Background:
Home recording studio

Excellent

What more could I ask for. It works perfectly and is built like a tank. I am using it with a SM7B Shure microphone and an Avid C600 interface. No need for a pre-amp in-line. Great Product!

Andrew
from United States
March 5, 2013Music Background:
amateur recording, pro musician

Big things come in small packages!

I have an SM7B and an SM57 and always knew I needed a boost, especially with the SM7B. I had a BOSS VE-20 (vocal processor) which gave me the ability to add gain to mics. It wasn't specifically made to be a mic pre so I sold it to buy the Cloudlifter.

This thing is great!!! I opened the package and said "this is it?" but I plugged it in and was immediately impressed. If you have a mic with a low output, the cloudlifter is the first thing you should turn to.

Victor Tarassov
from Princeton NJ
January 23, 2013Music Background:
Recording/Pro Musician

The Cloud Lifts

I love this thing "Cloudlifter CL-1" I have used it on a Ribbon mic and on my Shure SM 57. On the Shure SM 57 its like having a great mic that really works well with live and recoding. With the CL-1 and my Fishman Solo 220 Amp I can use the SM 57 live with my Flamenco guitars and have great tone tone tone with no feedback. I was able to turn my pickup volume down and just have the tone of the mic. Thanks Mark Magdich x1265 for always helping me out. Buy this is you use Ribbon mics or mic's like the Shure SM 57 Dynamic Microphones. Its my secret weapon.

Jeff
from Roseville, CA
November 24, 2012Music Background:
Broadcasting, voiceover

Silence speaks volumes

Like a lot of previous reviewers, I bought the Cloudlifter CL-1 to pair with an SM7B, and it's been a miracle. Before, I had to max out the gain on my preamp to get a decent level from the mic - now I get a better level and MUCH cleaner sound with half the preamp gain I used to use. The CL-1 is a great solution for small-timers on a budget like me...or anyone else who wants better sound!

Dan
from PA
November 3, 2012

Do you own a dynamic mic? Buy this. Especially if it's a ribbon.

The Cloudlifter will breathe new life into your dynamic mics that lacked enough output for things like vocals or acoustic guitar. It is like taking these mics to another level, since few dynamic miccs have hot output on the not-so-loud sources. Very helpful !

Todd
from IL
October 9, 2012Music Background:
Freelance Musician/Producer

Money Well Spent!!!

This thing is dead quiet yet it really wakes up my low-out Cascade Fathead ribbon mics and brings out the details in the recordings. It doesn't color the sound in any way but it definitely does what it says it will do. I own two of these now and will buy more if needed down the road. Money well spent!

Joe Brennan
from United States
July 17, 2012Music Background:
Producer, Student

Makes recording vocals possible on SM7B and Mbox 3 Mini

Before I bought the cloudlifter it was impossible to record anything with the Mbox mini 3 preamps and SM7B. Now I can record with plenty of gain...simple as that!

George E. Cureau Jr.
from Slidell, La.
May 16, 2012Music Background:
Studio

Lift & Seperate

Lifts my ribbon past the clouds. Seperates my Microphones into something new! Love it, what took me so long to get it.

Wilbur Martin
from Hattiesburg, ME
March 20, 2012Music Background:
radio station

a necessity

I use these at my radio station on RE20s and Sure SM7s - notoriously low-output mics. I was blown away and now won't live without them. They also rocked on a couple of ribbon mics I have around, which I may start using in a production room.

Nathan
from Oregon
March 6, 2012Music Background:
Location Recording Engineer

Gain for Days

Unlike most gear today, the Cloudlifter does only one job. But oh, it does it so well. Powering any low-output microphone that does not require phantom power, it provides a stunning amount of transparent gain, adding no noise. It gives my RE-20 so much power that, out of every other mic in my arsenal, it requires the least amount of gain at the preamps. Will buy another soon.

Matt
from NYC
November 26, 2011

SM7B solution

This product is absolutely amazing. I was running my SM7B through one of the original M Audio DMP3 preamps, and I couldn't get a clean enough signal for my voice and podcasting work. The cloudlifter does exactly what it says it will and boosts the signal with 25db of ultra clean gain before it even hits your preamp. This is a fantastic solution for anyone using a dynamic or ribbon mic with less than adequate mic pres. Buy it and you will love it.

Curt
from Southern Indiana
November 14, 2011Music Background:
Home Voiceover Studio

A saviour for my SM7b

The Cloudlifter CL-1 is an incredible tool that is built like a tank and does exactly as advertised. This thing allows me to find the needed extra gain for my Shure SM7B. Without the CL-1 I had to run my pre wide open with the result being additional unwanted background noise. If you are having problems with your dynamic power-hungry mic then dont hesitate to pick up one of these! VERY quiet and a pro-level piece of equipment!

Billy James
from Charlotte, NC
May 4, 2011Music Background:
Broadcaster, voice actor

WOW

The Couldifter was designed to compliment Cloud's line of ribbon mics, but does an amazing job with garden-variety dynamics too. It really brings out the best in low-gain problem children like the Shure SM7B and EV RE20 and RE27, which need pretty beefy gain . When it comes to ribbons and dynamics, mo lounder = mo better, and the Cloudlifter really delivers.

Charles Minx
from Crescent City, CA
May 21, 2013Music Background:
Operating Engineer.

At last!

Somebody finally invented "wire with gain".

Nick
from Astoria, NY
April 9, 2013Music Background:
Live Sound Engineer & Occasional Recordist

Perfect match for a large diaphragm dynamic

It does exactly what is claims to do, turn phantom power into +25dB of clean uncolored gain. If you have a low output large diaphragm dynamic mic and you find yourself pushing the preamps on your console or interface too hard then this is what you need. Great product.

Greg Malenovsky
from Nashville, TN
March 5, 2013Music Background:
Broadcast Audio Engineer

CL-1 solves long-line issues

I purchased several CL-1s to help with overcoming building electrical noise for several announcer drops for a local NBA team. It worked as advertised, easily giving me gain when needed to rise above the noise level and no PSU or batteries required. It is sturdy and will handle years of abuse in and out of my gear bag.

Jon Sweeney
from Maine
January 22, 2013Music Background:
40 years doing a bit of everything including producing a major symphony orchestra for TV

Best ever!

The Cloudlifter raises my 1960 B&O ribbon mic into the clouds to record heavenly music... and I do mean that literally. I'm recording a collection of Tibetan Singing Bowls, Crystal Singing Bowls, and a crystal harp. Nothing else really works and the sound is indeed heavenly thanks to the CL-1. The best part is that purchase of a Cloudlifter supports Native American industries right here in the USA. That in itself is reason to buy a Cloudlifter.

Eric Hartmann
from United States
November 15, 2012Music Background:
Semi Pro-Musician and Voice Over Talent

Does What It Says

Yup, the Cloudlifter does what it says. Put it in-line, add phantom power, and boom: +25db! Nice and quiet, too. Voiceovers into a SM7B? All good now. This box makes me happy!

Sterling
from Central Florida
June 19, 2012Music Background:
Working Musician for ages, Project Studio Owner

Does What It Says

This device was bundled with an SM-7 and works well . It bumps up the signal nicely and the combination is quiet to boot. The body is a heavy gauge steel and it's solid all around. There's a very cool slot on the box bottom that makes it easy to mount.

Tim
from Cleveland, Ohio
March 10, 2012

Quiet unit; works well with SD 702

I needed a bit more gain with some dynamic mics I was using with my SD 702 digital recorder. My sales rep Ryan Sloan recommended this Cloudlifter.

Great item! It does the job ... giving me the clean extra gain I needed. The small footprint makes it portable. I can throw it in my audio bag with my 702 and it doesn't take up that much more room.

The only caution is that you have to have phantom power to operate this unit. (It didn't work on an old mixer I have that doesn't have phantom power.) But that's a pretty small issue as most devices have phantom power.

I recently got the chance to use it with an AEA R84 ribbon mic. (A fantastic mic, BTW.) The Cloudlifter worked wonders.

If you need a bit more gain ... highly recommended.

Thanks again, Ryan!

Rick Perrotta
from United States
October 11, 2011Music Background:
Hobbyist

Working with pros

I always enjoy my purchasing experiences with Sweetwater. The staff is knowledgeable and very helpful. Several guitars that I have purchased have arrived completely set up, ready to go with no further adjustment. Keep up the good work!

Randy Ross
from Waldo,Oh
July 26, 2011Music Background:
pro guitar/vocal

Outstanding!

Really brings my Sank RCA dx modded Beyer m500 to life.Much easier to get a good level live.No more worries about overdriving the input!

Scott Sundberg
from Spring Arbor, MI USA
March 20, 2013Music Background:
Mr. Muckabout

Just What's Needed ...

Gives the Shure SM7 the oomph it needs to drive lower gain mixers without adding unwanted tonal changes. Hard to beat that! A must-have for your toolbox.

Bob Wood
from Austin, TX
February 9, 2012Music Background:
Voice talent and producer

Does what it is suposed to do

It simply and efficiently boosts ribbon levels. No hum. No anything. Just performance. I detect zero influence on audio quality. This unit simply performs as advertised.

Pat Edwards
from Grove City, Ohio
September 12, 2011Music Background:
Recording Engineer, Guitar player.

Problem solver

Great product, I have a Fat Head Ribbon mic and like the way it sounds but it didn't knock me out on anything except a loud guitar amp (not enough gain). My board has nice pre's with transformers on the inputs, was considering buying $700- $800 pre for this mic until I saw this.
Problem solved, that mic will pick up a mouse in the room now !!!.