512 Audio Skylight Review | Musician Nerd
Updated on Mar 16, 2022
Table of Contents
The 512 Audio Skylight Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone is a newer mid-range vocal microphone that offers a ton of versatility and power. The team at Musician Nerd has spent the last few weeks testing out this microphone for a variety of purposes, and we're excited to share with you our final assessment of the product. Over the last few years, we've seen a rise of microphones catered to the streaming and podcast communities, so with a heavy amount of competition, we're hoping the 512 Audio Skylight can stand out.
512 Audio Skylight Microphone Capsule
If you haven't heard of them, the engineers at 512 Audio have a reputation for building high-quality microphones used by the likes of Michael Buble, Green Day and more. They utilize their industry-leading expertise to make gear that streamlines audio production for content creation. They state their mission is to help creators sound better and connect bigger.
With that being said, we're going to take an objective look when testing out the 512 Audio Skylight. How does it compare to other microphones in the same price range? What stands out the most? Are there any issues you should be aware of? These are all questions that we're going to answer for you in this review.
Why It's Great
The 512 Audio Skylight has many great features that we want to highlight for you. We'll start with what comes in the box. When you purchase your Skylight, you'll get everything you need to set up your studio or workshop. The professional pop filter that they include does a phenomenal job at blocking out Plosives, which refers to the sound the air from your voice makes in the microphone on certain letters such as "P" and "B."
512 Audio Skylight With Accessories
You'll also be delighted to see it includes a shock mount as well, which we've put to the test. The Skylight shock mount is meant to absorb shock, so if you accidentally kick the desk your microphone is hooked up to, the vibrations won't corrupt your audio. What's not included is an XLR cable or audio interface, so make sure you've got that figured out as well before diving in. That being said, after testing dozens of microphones that also include pop filters and shock mounts, the 512 Audio Skylight offers far superior quality accessories than their competitors.
Let's get a little more technical to understand the quality of the sound produced by this microphone. The Skylight uses a Cardioid Pickup Pattern, which is one of the most popular choices for vocals. This means the microphone will only record audio that's fed through the front of the microphone, canceling out noise from the sides and rear. This is especially beneficial to minimize background noise and the echo from your voice off the walls in your recording space.
The 512 Audio Skylight has a full wide-range frequency response of 20Hz - 20kHz. This covers the full spectrum of frequencies that the average human ear can detect. The result, as tested, is audio with really warm silky lows, crisp highs, and a very present mid-range. The natural mid-range makes your voice pop, which is important for podcasts and music.
512 Audio Skylight On Boomstand
You'll also find it has a maximum Sound Pressure Level (SPL) of 144dB, which allows it to record loud sound sources without distortion. If you're looking to bring the Skylight into your home studio, this means that aside from recording vocals, you'll be able to record your guitar, drums, and even a brass instrument (yes, we tried it) with ease. We told you before this is a very versatile microphone, and we meant it.
There's so much more for you to learn about the 512 Audio Skylight, but these are the features that stood out the most. You're getting a beautiful looking microphone that records audio & instruments with ease, now let's talk about every use case this microphone is good for.
What It's Good For
The 512 Audio Skylight was developed with content creators in mind. The last few years have seen a massive rise in content businesses as the younger generation realized how much opportunity there is. As someone who grew up gaming, I couldn't imagine what it's like to do that for a living, but the rise of streaming has brought a whole new segment of professionals doing what they love. However, you'll need a good microphone to get your voice heard.
512 Audio Skylight For Podcasts
Streaming is only the beginning, however. There's been an enormous increase in podcasts, with popular applications like YouTube, Spotify, and TikTok making it easier and easier every year to get your start. The 512 Audio Skylight sounds like it was built for this exact purpose, allowing your voice to come across as full, rich, and present.
Another more niche category that the Skylight would excel in is ASMR. One of the most important factors of an ASMR microphone is a crystal clear audio sample that captures every element of your voice and environment. The 512 Audio Skylight does just that.
While the above points focus on content creation, that's just what 512 Audio is catering towards. That is by no means the limit of the potential of this microphone. I set it up and recorded a few vocal tracks and even a guitar for some songs I'm working on, and they came out great. It adds so much warmth to my voice that I felt like using a microphone was worth double its value.
Like I said in the beginning, this is one very verstile microphone. Whether you're creating videos, working on voice overs, or getting started in your musical career, the Skylight is a suitable choice.
The Downsides
It's not often that we say this, but nothing stands out as a downside. At this price point, the 512 Audio Skylight offers everything they claim, and they do a great job at it. I'm not saying it's the greatest microphone ever & that the audio couldn't be better. However, that's true for all microphones. At the end of the day, if you're recording podcasts, YouTube videos, or even your home studio vocals, the Skylight is an excellent choice for this price point.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- High-Quality Sound
- Fair Price
- Versatile
Cons
Best Used For
- Podcasts & Streaming
- Audio Recordings
Summary
By now, you should have a good idea about whether or not the 512 Audio Skylight is right for you. It's a pretty impressive microphone, and I'm surprised I haven't tried this brand out before now. They offer a few really nice XLR microphones with more being produced as I write this. I love the authenticity of the audio and the professional look of these microphones. It's like having a studio-grade mic set up at my desk while recording audio for a podcast.
If you're interested in a mid-range condenser and the Skylight caught your eye, I highly encourage you to check it out. If you've used it before or any other microphone from this brand, let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We love the feedback we hear from our audience, as it can help us further enhance the quality of our content for future visitors.
Posted on Feb 28, 2022
Streaming Recording
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