Microphone XLR-to-USB Signal Adapter - Universal Plug and Play XLR Mic to PC Adaptor for Digital Recording w/ Mix Audio Control, +48V Phantom Power, Headphone Volume, USB Cable - PDUSBPP10

Due to a occasionally noisy environment, I opt to use a pair of IEMs (in-ear monitors) and a WH20 to block the noise from reaching my ears or getting transmitted in meetings. With the right ear tips, a pair of IEMs can passively isolate background sound by 22dB or more. The directional Shure WH20 dynamic mic needs to be about 0.5" from my month to pick up my voice, this distance to signal versus distance to background noise helps to reduce background noise reaching my recording/meeting.There is one problem. The WH20 has an XLR output, and even with the right cable adapter (passive, just wiring), the WH20 cannot be used by any soundcard designed for modern headsets. The Pyle PDUSBPP10 XLR to USB adapter is essentially a USB soundcard with an XLR input for the mic. However, it also has some useful features. It has the ability to monitor the mic input, meaning the signal from mic can be heard via the headphone output. This is essential for me because the IEMs do such a great job that I cannot hear my own voice in meetings, and that feels uncomfortable.The PDUSBPP10 has two analog dials. One for headphone volume, and one for mic/computer audio balance. The headphone volume switch does not relate to the digitally (computer) controlled gain. I maximize the digital gain and adjust the actual volume using the dial. The balance dial is also not independent to the digitally controlled mic gain because the mic signal is tapped before the digitally controlled mic preamp. This is sort of an issue because the WH20 has such a small signal that the mic signal does not show at all.This is why it is important to use a Dynamite DM1 mic premap to amplify the mic signal before it reaches the PBUSBPP10. With the DM1, everything is just right. The mic/audio input balance dial can be right in the middle and I can hear my own voice with the input from the computer perfectly balanced.Another useful feature is a toggle to turn the mic on/off. This is not just a mechanical switch because that can cause a loud pop by electrically disconnecting and reconnecting the mic signal. This button connects to the controller in the adapter and it digitally mutes the mic. Very clean mic on/off, no loud and annoying pops. An LED also indicates whether mic on (blue) or off (green), this is very handy to identify the state of the mic. There is no need to mute/unmute in software anymore, just a simple push of the mute button!The Pyle PDUSBPP10 is also well constructed. It feels quite solid with few plastic parts. The case and knobs are metallic (as far as I can tell), the XLR connector is very solid, as well.All in all, this is an excellent deal that works well. I cannot fault Pyle for needing a DM1 preamp to amplify the mic signal because the PDUSBPP10 is really designed to work with condenser mic that uses a phantom 48V supply (which the PDUSBPP10 does supply and the DM1 requires), and such condenser mics usually has enough signal without a preamp. I am just glad that this combo works, and it works well!

I've been playing since I was 2 years old, and writing/recording/producing since I was 12. In the 18 years I've been doing this, the thing I always dreaded most about recording/producing was dragging my Mbox and all its cables and other gear around with me when micing things outside the studio, especially really basic and stupid simple things like podcasting, or getting a few vocal takes on the go when inspiration hits. It's really impractical.But this little guy from Pyle changes all that. It makes professional, studio level micing mobile. And the best part is it doesn't make you sacrifice on quality and clarity. I'm using a Sterling ST59, and the the 24-bit at 96 kHz audio is crystal clear and jaw-droppingly beautiful.Setup on your PC is a driverless breeze, and this interface shows right up under your audio devices in Windows about 5 seconds after you plug it in. That means you can just open your DAW right up, select the Pyle USB interface as your input, and start recording immediately, right out of the box. It's wonderful!Audio is everywhere, and this interface makes it easy to be there, too, no matter what you're wanting to capture. Try it! You'll love it. Professional's promise.

I need a new mic pre-amp for recording my podcast straight to my MacBook Pro. So when my Digidesign Mbox2 stopped working due to a lack of firmware updates for my Mac, I went looking for a good mic pre-amp with phantom power for my Shure KSM-44 microphone to record podcasts on my MacBook Pro. I expected to spend another $150 to $250 on a unit similar to the Mbox2 but was delighted to find the Pyle PDUSBPP10 as a replacement for $40 on Amazon. I was skeptical but ordered it anyway since it was such a great price and seemed to be ideal for my one-mic podcasting needs.I'm happy to report it works well! A $40 mic pre-amp for my professional mic direct to my Mac that exceeded my expectations. The noise floor is not as low as higher quality pre-amps, but for the low gain threshold I'm using for podcasting, it works quite well.Pros:* Machined Aluminium body is rugged.* Blue/Green LED to indicate when Muted (or not)* 48v Phantom Power for my professional microphone (Shure KSM-44)* Price! Can't be beaten for quality-to-price ratio.Cons:* It's not a high-end pre-amp, so if using gain to bump of the input volume, it's a bit noisy. But it's $40, so you get what you pay for and it sounds WAY better than $40!* Green/Blue LED light toggle is to show when you use the 'mute' button on the device. It would have been better to be Green/Red for denoting "unmuted" and "muted" states so that it would be more intuitive.