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.
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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.
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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.