AKG’s new $99 Ara USB condenser microphone is perfect for musicians, podcasters, bloggers and gamers
Image Credit: AKG
AKG Ara is a professional two-pattern USB condenser microphone, that will offer a huge upgrade over your built-in laptop mic or headset.
Coming from the headphone and microphone manufacturer, AKG’s new USB microphone provides pro-grade, high quality sound for streaming or recording without breaking the bank. Sporting a modern design the AKG Ara is built to fit in on-screen.
The high-resolution converters produce 24-bit/96kHz sound, making your speech and vocals crystal clear. With a maximum SPL of 120dB, Ara is also suitable for high-output instruments.
There are just two ports on the microphone. USB-C for recording and a headphone output for monitoring with zero latency. The lower dial adjusts the headphone output. AKG Ara is plug-and-play, requiring virtually zero setup, working across Mac and PC, as well as iOS and Android tablets and phone.
AKG Ara has two capsule mic array modes. The top dial allows you to switch between FRONT, which uses a cardioid pickup pattern to focus on a single voice or instrument, while rejecting sounds from the other sides, or FRONT & BACK, which uses a omnidirectional pattern to capture sounds from all around the mic, when there are multiple people or sounds in the room.
Use the integrated desktop mic stand or mount to a standard or boom mic stand. Also included in the box is a free copy of Ableton Live 11 Lite software to get you started recording and editing. The microphone comes in at $99, AKG’s cheapest condenser microphone, that usually range from $100 – +$1000.