If you’re out gigging on your saxophone, or even just recording at home, a wireless sax microphone is a handy piece of kit.
I’m testing the new Cloudvocal Prime Wireless Sax Microphone. Could this be a good option for you?
A while ago I tested the Cloudvocal Wireless iSolo Choice saxophone mic. Today I’m testing the new Prime version which Cloudvocal have sent me. I’m going to compare it to the previous version to see if there’s any difference and to see if this is a better small wireless mic for you as a sax player.
Since I reviewed the Cloudvocal Choice wireless mic I know a lot of my Sax School students have been using it when they play gigs.
Most of my recording is studio based so I prefer to use a studio mic, but if you’re looking for a compact solution, whether to use at home for recording, or for gigging, this could be the answer.
The iSolo Prime Wireless Sax Microphone
In the main case you get a receiver unit with an extra aerial, and the mic with power supply, charging cables and clips. Extra brownie points to Cloudvocal for personalising this mic with “Sax School”! I really like the cases that come with it too.
In the accessory box, there are the aerial and cables. The power supply comes with American, European and British plugs which is really useful.
I like the way the Cloudvocal mic fastens to your sax using these simple clips and velcro. The mic is really light, so it doesn’t move around.
Cloudvocal tell me that for this new model they have upgraded the capsule, which is the recording part of the microphone. So I’m looking forward to testing it.
Comparison
Looking at the new and old models side by side, the main body is exactly the same, but the capsule unit is different. So, it will be interesting to see how it sounds.
The receivers look pretty much identical, with a sturdy metal casing which is great when you’re in and out of gigs.
The older model had 4 built in effects, while the new Prime model has 8 to choose from. There’s a handy list of the effects on the side too.
The Test
I’ve got both mics on my saxophone side by side – listen to how to they sound.
The track I’m playing is “Sweet Harmony” by The Beloved. You can learn this solo, and get the transcription and backing track, inside Sax School.
I also play a jazz standard with no effects and no backing track so you can hear the mic with a clean signal.
Which mic do you prefer?
Check out the 8 in-built effects on the new Prime mic – here I’ve got the level set to half.
- FX 1: Room (reverb)
- FX2: Hall (longer reverb)
- FX3: Arena: (really long reverb)
- FX4: Delay (more level needed here I think)
- FX5: Delay + Reverb
- FX6: Shimmer
- FX7: Har (A)
- FX8: Har (B)
My Verdict
Listening back to the recordings I can hear a definite improvement in the sound quality with the new Prime mic. It sounds fuller with a wider frequency range. There’s always a trade-off with these small mics and they rarely sound as good as a studio mic. But they are so convenient and easy to set up.
I really like this new Prime wireless sax microphone – I love the sound and the extra effects. So, if you’re looking for a wireless mic, this is one you should definitely consider.