Cloudlifter
Posted: 20 Jan 2018
The Cloudlifter is a device which can turn any non-phantom powered microphone (dynamic, ribbon) into a phantom powered one. This causes a gain boost which means your pre-amp needs less gain, resulting in possibly less noise.
I tested it using my Shure SM57 with a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, a rather cheap setup with possibly not the best pre-amp in the world, but found out that the Cloudlifter even INCREASES the noise.
I tested it 2 times using different cables and different mic placement. Both test proved me the Cloudlifter didn't improve the signal at all.
I also noticed that with the Cloudlifter the signal became more prone to picking up computer noises (from my MacBook Pro and iPhone).
The first part of the test is without the Cloudlifter, the second part is with the Cloudlifter. The jump in noise level should be obvious, if not: check your ears!
How I performed this test:
- I placed my SM57 above my iPhone
- played back a 440 hz test tone on the iPhone
- recorded this while I measured the input level (-35 dB)
- the input gain on the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 was all the way up (maximum)
- I then removed the iPhone so the SM57 would not pickup any computer noises and kept on recording the noise for half a minute
- I then put the Cloudlifter in between the SM57 and my Scarlett 2i4, put the iPhone back in place on exactly the same spot
- I activated the 48 volts for phantom power
- played back a 440 hz test tone on the iPhone
- adjusted the gain to make sure the input level was -35 dB (thanks to additional phantom power the input gain didn't need to be turned all the way up)
- I then removed the iPhone so the SM57 would not pickup any computer noises and kept on recording the noise for half a minute
I removed the test tones from the original recorded clips and increased the recording level about 40 dBs. Both clips are 100% balanced using the test tones. As you can hear the noise increases when using the Cloudlifter. It should be the other way around but I found out this not to be the case.
I tested it using my Shure SM57 with a Focusrite Scarlett 2i4, a rather cheap setup with possibly not the best pre-amp in the world, but found out that the Cloudlifter even INCREASES the noise.
I tested it 2 times using different cables and different mic placement. Both test proved me the Cloudlifter didn't improve the signal at all.
I also noticed that with the Cloudlifter the signal became more prone to picking up computer noises (from my MacBook Pro and iPhone).
The first part of the test is without the Cloudlifter, the second part is with the Cloudlifter. The jump in noise level should be obvious, if not: check your ears!
How I performed this test:
- I placed my SM57 above my iPhone
- played back a 440 hz test tone on the iPhone
- recorded this while I measured the input level (-35 dB)
- the input gain on the Focusrite Scarlett 2i4 was all the way up (maximum)
- I then removed the iPhone so the SM57 would not pickup any computer noises and kept on recording the noise for half a minute
- I then put the Cloudlifter in between the SM57 and my Scarlett 2i4, put the iPhone back in place on exactly the same spot
- I activated the 48 volts for phantom power
- played back a 440 hz test tone on the iPhone
- adjusted the gain to make sure the input level was -35 dB (thanks to additional phantom power the input gain didn't need to be turned all the way up)
- I then removed the iPhone so the SM57 would not pickup any computer noises and kept on recording the noise for half a minute
I removed the test tones from the original recorded clips and increased the recording level about 40 dBs. Both clips are 100% balanced using the test tones. As you can hear the noise increases when using the Cloudlifter. It should be the other way around but I found out this not to be the case.