Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
If you ’re looking for an all - in - one audio transcription package to get your pod / TV casting career up and running , the Vocaster Two Studio is an excellent choice .
Best Prices Today: Focusrite Vocaster Two Studio
If you ’re hearing the siren call of soft money on YouTube , et al , you ask a means of capturing quality audio . The mike in your laptop computer or display is n’t go to swerve it . Sorry .
While a product likeUniversal Audio ’s first-class Volt 276 studio packis a great deal for broadcasters , it ’s designed with the needs and thought patterns of musicians and applied scientist in mind – if you have the expertise , you ’ll be up and running in no time . The less experient will have a adept amount of learn to do , and that ’s where a product like the Vocaster Two Studio come in in . It ’s a compounding of a eminent - quality audio frequency interface , mike , and headphones that feature a design , frame-up , and software experience tailored to the bud subject Almighty .
Design and features
The Vocaster Two Studio is tailored to newcomers to the broadcasting routine . The labeling of the controls lead at proper custom ( Host / Guest ) alternatively of mere functionality ( Mic 1 / Mic 2 ) , and everything is arranged according to how a broadcaster looks at thing .
The Vocaster Two audio user interface is a bus - powered Type - C USB twist , but it ’s atypical in that there are no after part - column inch line story or guitar inputs . These are n’t in particular apt to broadcast medium , so why bother ? That also means mic inputs are pure XLR , not the combo XLR / stern - inch that are so common these day . There is a 3.5 mm stereoscopic picture “ telephone ” ( as in prison cell phone ) input that can operate as a transmission line - in knave . The front of the gimmick has two one-quarter - in stereo headphone jacks on the front , and two balanced ( TRS , Tip / Ring / Sleeve ) quarter - inch outturn for powered talker . That much will be familiar to the pure musical gang .
Taking a cue from theRØDECaster Prothe Vocaster also accepts audio recording via Bluetooth . This is super commodious if you want to record something onto your podcast from a phone without a headphone jack – one might even saynecessarygiven the increase rarity of such jack . There ’s a Bluetooth pair / enable button on the back of the user interface .
Even the labels on the rear of the Vocaster Two follow the podcasting theme. More granular settings may be made in the Vocaster Hub application.
you’re able to see from the image below , that Focusrite is bent on make apparatus and use as intuitive as possible . The Guest / legion labelling reminds me of the old radio broadcast facilities I once habituate . Input from phone , outturn to tv camera – brainy .
I quite liked that the top of the Vocaster that spill towards you , as well as the big honkin ’ infinite - travel circular telephone dial you employ for commute the mic comment levels . surround the openhanded telephone dial is a circular “ halo ” meter evince the master gain , with two semi - round strip just outside the annulus exhibit the stimulus levels for the microphones .
All the dials have exceptionally tranquil and strong - feeling travel , however , I ’m not sure I like the host headphones and speaker unit outturn assigned to the same telephone dial . I might ’ve opt for a third button put speaker loudness to the larger control , or just a fourth node . That might ’ve unbalanced the look of the interface , butc’est la vie . Then again , I have tasks other than circulate in mind .
Even the labels on the rear of the Vocaster Two follow the podcasting theme. More granular settings may be made in the Vocaster Hub application.
Below the rotary dials are six buttons , two for muting the two microphone inputs , two that toggle the main rotary dial between the host and guest mic inputs , and two that “ Enhance ” the sound of each mic remark – more on Enhance in a bit .
The whole top is done in matt total darkness , which looks antic but shows fingerprint quite readily . The bottom has that speckled non-white gray feel which usually signifies recycled plastic . ( It really does in this casing . ) I do n’t love the look , but I sure enough appreciate the idea .
The Vocaster Two is what ’s know in the industry as a 14 - in , 4 - out interface . That first number mull over the total number of monophonic inputs ( a stereophonic system stimulus reckoning as two mononucleosis . ) that the interface presents to the transcription software . The inclination includes both physical ( the two mics , L / R Bluetooth , and L / R Phone ) inputs and virtual ( 4 loopback input , two L / R ) input for the audio generated by political program on your estimator ( streaming , medium instrumentalist , etc . ) .
Focusrite’s Vocaster Two audio interface is tailored for audio broadcasters, not musicians or audio engineers.
Another four practical inputs are actually L / universal gas constant submixes : Video is the intact mix ( all unmuted stimulus ) sans the guest input , and Show is the total mix ( all inputs ) as seen in the Vocaster Hub software . Both save you from take in to make multi - track admixture in your DAW ( transcription software ) . The chart from the user draw list the input signal is shown below .
Speaking of input , the Vocaster will automatically adjust the gain levels of the mic inputs for you . If you ’re Modern to register , this is a prissy bit of handholding . And once you see what the proper grade ( near ) looks like , you ’ll have no problem set or tweaking level manually .
As the owner of a Focusrite Clarett 4Pre ( Thunderbolt ) , I did run into one exit most users won’t – repugnance between the Vocaster Hub software program that is used to change circumstance ( some of which are n’t accessible from the forcible interface ) and my sr. Focusrite Control app . Updating the latter fixed the issue of Vocaster Hub not recognize the interface . Other software saw the port just hunky-dory .
You’ll see all these inputs in your DAW or recording software. 10 individual inputs (5-14), and 4 inputs delivering two handy stereo submixes. Loopback brings in material from other sources on your computer such as a video or audio file being played in your browser.
The included Hub computer software lets you to do everything you may from the forcible port , plus shift the Enhance scope for each channel ( clear , warm , bright , radio ) and toggle the 48 volt phantom world power separately for each channel .
The Hub software is also where you pioneer the auto gain function . flick on it , mouth into the microphone for about 10 seconds , and it will adapt the gain for optimal signal strength , i.e. garish but without distortion . It might be nice to have a remembering map for dissimilar mics , but that ’s a player talking .
Also indicatory of the Vocaster Two Studio ’s focus on broadcast medium is the software big money :
Vocaster Hub lets you easily access the functions of the interface, as well as select what the Enhance button does and automatically set the gain on the microphone inputs.
The Vocaster Two Studio is backed by an unusually long , three - year guarantee , as well as year - circular , 24 - 60 minutes backing .
Performance
As the Vocaster Two Studio is a bundle , the calibre of the mic and phone is almost as crucial as the quality of the interface . If they ’re not up to snuff , you ’ve fiddled away money and the world has more tech waste on its script . While I love the analog - vibe of Universal Audio ’s Volt 276 Interface , I felt it could ’ve done intimately both mic- and earpiece - wise .
Interface
The Vocaster Two sound user interface does n’t have the showy specs ( gain , noise , distortion ) that many modern interfaces claim . specially when compared to my Focusrite Clarett 4Pre and Universal Audio Apollo Twin X – appreciably pricier interfaces . However , in manipulation , it sounded percipient , musical , and pretty much as heavy as those others on my desk . If I had to assign any deficit , it might be in the clarity of the sound field which is a mid - range matter . It would be very , very close however .
What is very detectable is the ton of headroom on the mic remark – far more than the said contender . I ’ll talk more about that in a chip . Also , the Enhance occasion is very obtrusive sonically . I in person preferred the Clean ( no condensation or EQ ) mise en scene , but the compression and EQ were employed effectively on the Warm , Bright , and tuner options . Which you ’ll prefer is a matter of taste sensation , what you ’re tape , the other element in the mix , and the outcome you ’re face for . Overall , I ’d say Focusrite has nicely covered most scenarios and desires .
The automobile - gain function work well , albeit a scrap guardedly ( less addition ) compare to what I ’d dial - in . But there was plenty enough signaling for memorialize . Keep in mind that you ’ll desire to use this feature with the mic positioned as it will be when you really record with it .
The DM14v included in the Vocaster Two Studio pack mimics the sound of a Shure SM7B nicely.
The mic preamps were also practically noise - free . ( Focusrite is very adept with that . ) The Bluetooth connected quickly and input was as clear as the technology can produce .
All in all , while I would n’t call the Vocaster interface a top - tier up unit , its real - life sentence performance match anything priced likewise that I ’ve try out . In trueness , I was in no desperate rush to get back to my other interface , as I ’ve been when prove some lesser interfaces . I also enjoy the aspect .
Microphone and cable
What was even more impressive were the transonic characteristics of the include DM14v programme mic . I like that it has an integrated pappa and sibilance filter ( foam over the speaking ending ) as well as the integrate mic stand mount . There ’s even a male - to - male person adapter / coupler so you do n’t have to mess up with your subsist mount to impound the DM14v .
I ’d be in no hurry to upgrade this mic as it ’s dead - on in the frequency reach of the human voice . The DM14v liken nicely to my RODE NT-2A and Shure SM57/58 ’s , though the RODE , being condenser rather than active , has a different mid - range flavor .
But darn if it is n’t a good thing that the Vocaster user interface ’s stimulation have 70 dB of headway . Plugging the DM14v into my other interfaces , I had to crank up the input dials almost to their limit to get an decent signal . Even my 57 ’s and 58 ’s do n’t require as much gain .
The HP60v headphones that come in the Vocaster Two Studio are decent, if not best of breed.
The DM14v attached to the Vocaster Two ? No problem . lot of signal . That means if you want to expend another extremely low - signal layer dynamical mike such as the Shure SM7B with the Vocaster Two , you wo n’t need a Cloudlifter or similar mic preamp .
I did n’t get to test the smaller SM58 - comparable mic feature with the Vocaster One , but I did hear it in a Zoom coming together with the Vocaster product handler . It sound all right . I do n’t know what Enhance setting he was using , though I noticed some densification . Beyond that , I ca n’t really say .
Though I have n’t talk about its inclusion , the mike cable Focusrite provide is of reasonable timber – supple with right caliber connectors . It also fits snugly enough that I would n’t occupy about it come loose without a rather real tug .
Headphones
The HP60v headphones Focusrite packet are slightly better than those supplied with the Volt parcel , but I ’d still rate them the weakest component part in the kit . The mid - range is a moment more saturated than optimal for musical hearing as it makes it more unmanageable to pick out item-by-item instruments and is tiring over the long haul . However , heavy mid - range can also be good for monitor the speech that ’s part and tract of this merchandise ’s mission .
I ’m also not in love with the six - foot , non - coil transmission line – I find it hard to keep out of the direction . Give me coiled type any twenty-four hours . curl is believably also more difficult to manufacture with recycled or green material . That ’s pure guess , but it does segue into Focusrite calling out that the Vocaster Two use lots of reuse materials . I appreciate that .
I should point out that I ’m using some high-priced and very competent Sony , Marshall , and Edifier planar headphones as the sonic baseline for comparability . The HP60v ’s are perfectly serviceable , if not good of strain . In other words , they ’ll do fine .
Bottom line
I am a sucker for in - tune , on - target products . Instead of merely bundle one of their existing , extremely regarded interfaces , Focusrite created something far more suitable to task . The company ingest innovation discriminative stimulus from survive product , but expanded on the concept to make the Vocaster unique . extolment .
In short , it ’s an excellent starter kit for a decent damage that you wo n’t immediately outgrow . Now the company require to sell a kit with two mics and two pair of headphones . I assure neither the DM14v or HP60v for sale individually . Hopefully , they will be by the time you register this .
