Presonus Revelator Review Follow Up - Headphone Port Test + Other FAQs

[@MusicRepo]

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[@TheCatchProductions]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion but not all opinions are of equal value... the value of an opinion is its ability to stand up to criticism.. this video is a primary example of how to follow through with integrity in your ideas and evaluations... once again Jane you are an amazing person and just fascinating in what you produce for the masses to learn from. I need to work out how to absorb some of you by osmosis or something coz your just awesome 😎 🤩x

[@georgemickel6608]

Thanks for the follow-up. The PreSonus Revelator Universal Control software was the reason I dove in. It made my OBS screen recording seamless.

[@louaguado995]

I love that you read your questions and answer them. You inspire me in so many ways! I'm a fan for life. 😊

[@kpflugshaupt]

Hi Jane, thanks for your painstaking efforts! I also found the Revelator's HP output to be noisy. However, I suspect this was due to my using the Beyerdynamic T70p headphones, which are very sensitive and show up any device noise mercilessly. When using less sensitive headphones, the noise is less present, although I imagine I can still perceive it. When you recorded from the headphone output, I suspect this problem would not show up, as an audio interface is not usually as sensitive as some headphones (something about the impedance, I think? Out of my league here...). I suspect anyone using sensitive headphones or IEMs may run into this. Still, as this affects only monitoring and not recording, it's not a big drawback for me. I find the Revelator to be very useful -- I've looked for a USB mic having an omni polar pattern for a while now (for streaming choir practice over Zoom). It's a perfect fit! Cheers Kaspar

[@RC534]

Great that you made this follow up! Actually, I originally wrote my comment on the previous video and also mentioned the headphone output for being noisy there. I had been experiencing this for about two months ever since I bought the Revelator. And then I edited my comment a day later and removed the section on the noise. Why? Well.... because my problems somehow disappeared shortly before the previous video was posted and it took me a day or two to realize that my mic headphone output was suddenly sounding okay. I was at that time rewiring my cabling a bit, attached a boom arm to my K&M desk stand which I had already replaced the included Revelator desk stand with, ran the cabling upward behind the Revelator and also switched out my usb cable for a higher quality one. And then suddenly the noise was gone! A did try to revert my cabling a bit trying to replicate the noise on the port again but couldn't... So I am now 'stuck' with a clean sounding headphone port :-D. I don't know what caused it to suddenly not be noisy anymore, but it worked for me somehow. So trying different cabling, placement of the cables, placement on a alternative stand, looking for sources of interfaces etc. It could be worth a try. What struck me when it was noisy was that when I moved my fingers close to the back of the microphone behind USB port & headphone output the noise would get worse. So I suppose it could have been some kind of interference causing it.

[@MusicRepo]

Ah, the mysteries of technology ... maybe you just turned it off and turned it back on again and all was well. Anyway, thanks for your comment, previous comment, and this one. Interesting stuff.

[@daveevans9809]

Hi Jane. Thank you for the follow up video (and the name check!). I don't want to turn this into a debate but just a couple of things to mention: 1. The mic adapter. There must be some production variation here - I've fitted enough adapters in my time to know how it goes. I do admit I didn't 'force it' and risk damaging something I'd already decided to return. One other point we both missed (and it goes for lots of other mics) - there's no rubber washer or pad to stop the adapter scratching the underside of the mic when you tighten it. Okay ... now to the headphone socket! I listened to your test carefully, and it sounded like you said "and the same recording ...played back through the headphone socket". I don't know the circuitry of this mic but there is probably an A/D converter to digitise the mic, and a D/A converter to let you listen to digital playbacks on the headphones. BUT I suspect there may also be a good old analogue headphone preamp that amplifies the output of the mic before it hits the A/D (unless the path is mic-A/D-D/A-headphones). Playing back a recording via the D/A will be at a much higher level than monitoring the mic direct, and would be at the same s/n as the original direct channel recording (which seemed to be the case). What I don't think you did was take your voice LIVE from the headphone socket and record that as an analogue mic channel, then edit that into your video to let us hear exactly what the headphone socket sounds like when amplifying the mic directly, not when playing back a recording. In any case we need to hear 'dead air'. Loud samples would have masked any background hiss anyway. But I could be wrong... it has been known! And I could have had a 'duff' one. Many thanks again. I think we all learn from knocking these topics about a bit.

[@daveevans9809]

update: my friend has just tried his and he assures me there's no headphone problem, so my 'get out clause' that mine may just have been a duff one might come in handy! Nontheless I plan to borrow his (I did send mine back) and double check. I'll update this update soon!

[@MusicRepo]

@@daveevans9809 I can't believe I didn't also test the direct monitoring of each mic too. I just didn't think of it. Oops. I was more concerned with checking that the microphone was suitable for using to edit and mix. Anyway, let us know what you think.

[@ZackWenthe]

Dave are you using IEMs to monitor. My IEM gives a lot of hiss to the headphone output. There is a relatively high noise floor and the coupled with the higher sensitivity of the IEM and it’s noticeable. Cheaper headphones or maybe those with a different impedance might sound drastically different

[@kpflugshaupt]

@@ZackWenthe THIS! I hear some high-frequent noise from the Revelator on my Beyerdynamic T70p headphones. But then, these are VERY sensitive. With less sensitive headphones, the noise all but disappears. But still, the same headphones are utterly quiet on a really good headphone output (e.g. the one on my MOTU audio interface). So, I'd still say the Revelator's headphone output is not stellar -- but you may never notice on a less sensitive pair of phones...

[@driza97]

cool video. love the follow up info on the revelator.

[@MusicRepo]

Glad you liked it!

[@rickautry4822]

Thank you for your input. You are quite lovely

[@jorgegalepos]

Jane thank you so much for the detailed reviews on the different options for USB microphones.. I wanted to ask you if you could provide some guidelines for people that's working from home with virtual meetings all day round, and would like to stop using headsets and move to a configuration with microphone + speakers (or monitors, I doesn't fully understand the difference), like an option to reduce the headphones, but not necessarily focused on starting a home sound studio.

[@NeuroPete]

The content of your videos is terrific, but I am also amazed by the quality of the video and the sound. Most videos like this I see the microphone near the person's face. But for yours I don't see the microphone at all. How do you record your sound and get it into your video? Thanks very much. By the way, I've ordered the new Presonus Revelator audio interface, as I already have a good condenser mic that I like. I live in Canada, and it is just being released now here (Sep 1, 2021).

[@MusicRepo]

Hi, thanks, I recorded this with the Revelator, I just set it up on the broadcast female preset and positioned it so it was out of sightline of the camera lens, angled toward me. I record the mic in Reaper running on Mac M1 Mini, and then match it up with the video in post. I use Camtasia but that is something you can do in any video editing software including iMovie. For a camera I have an entry level DSLR (Canon EOS 200D - now superceded by the 250D) and a Sigma 24 mm f/1.4 DG Art Lens

[@NeuroPete]

Thanks so much for your reply and all your other videos too. I've watched several. For this one recorded with the Revelator, I'm surprised the sound quality is so good with the mic so far away. I'm going to try that with my microphone, which is an Audio Technica 2035. I'm recording screen capture videos for software training without my picture in the video, but I was very curious how you did it, in case I might someday need to. Again, thanks for that. Also, thanks for the tip about recording into a DAW, then importing and syncing the sound track into the video. This seems to be the way the pros do it, though I'd hoped for more convenient way.

[@NeuroPete]

I forgot to mention in my previous comment: I want to be able to edit the audio, so recording into the DAW is the best way for me too. Again, thanks.

[@RichThomsen]

​@@MusicRepo Great update - Thanks for sharing these details - on a similar note - when you are recording these videos how do you monitor your audio (or don't you)?

[@MusicRepo]

@@RichThomsen I do test recordings until I am happy with the levels. I don't monitor while recording

[@michaelreed649]

This information is important and well done. I hope you do a comparison between the presonus revelator dynamic vs presonus revelator condenser usb microphones. ;-)

[@federicofigueroa538]

I wonder if the side arm of the Presonus PD-7 could be used with the revelator to provide a better mic stand solution, maybe Presonus is listening and will address this issue

[@MusicRepo]

Interesting ... I see what you mean. (I think it's PD-70)

[@exitar1]

For 8 dollars you can get a ground loop audio isolator works great if you are getting noise from headphone jack...

[@gianky125]

I love your videos! ^^ I've a question: Which is the best mic to buy for an ambient with background noise and a not well treated room? I was thinking about the rode nt1a but I don't know if there's something better. Thanks ^^

[@MusicRepo]

Hi, thank you. If you have a lot of background noise and a poorly treated room, you may get better results with a dynamic mic. Maybe the Rode Podcaster or the Shure MV7 or the Samson Q2U or Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB depending on your budget. Any of those would be good for voiceovers. If you were thinking more of capturing an acoustic instrument, you may not capture all the nuances - and you do need to be quite close the MV7, not sure about the others. Study some reviews to see what people have recorded with them. Hope that helps

[@gianky125]

@@MusicRepo Thank you😊 Sorry I didn't say too much. I've an audio interface and I need i mic for recording acoustic guitar and vocals for songs. So it's really important the quality. I'm around. 200$ or euros.

[@MusicRepo]

@@gianky125 I would recommend calling a good music store and discussing your requirements with them. I'm sure they can recommend something suitable. Good luck

[@diamanteazulado2549]

Thanks for the info.

[@warpathh]

How does the Presonus Revelator compare to the Samson Q2U?

[@yungharambe]

I just ordered this microphone to record acoustic guitar and vocals. Id like to use some cheap in ear headphones to hear myself. Do you have a reccomendation on how long the cord should be to be able to play freely between me and the mic? Sorry im a complete newbie when it comes to recording

[@navarsful]

My major requirement is to teach guitar online but not recording. Plz suggest me some budget gear which I can afford easily and start taking online guitar classes from mobile/laptop. I am so confused between audio interface and mixer, which helps me to take the electric guitar classes online

[@dchkchung]

Jane, what would you recommend for a good headphone unit to jack into the Presonus Revelator? I’m currently using a Beyerdynamic

[@sunnyfrancismusic]

Hi, Thank you so much for creating this video. I’m facing similar issue like others to connect revelator mic to RODE boom arm. Could you please tell me name of mic holder extension you are using in your boom arm?

[@Pissarrio]

In your detailed USB Microphones reviews i dont see a review of AKG Lyra, why?

[@MusicRepo]

I just haven't tested it ... yet. No other reason. I'll try and source one. You're not the first one to ask

[@geocr1]

Hi, I have a Spark amp that allows me to record my guitar to my DAW, I want to also record vocals. Would I be ok using a USB mic like the Revolator, or would you advise adding an interface and a standard mic?

[@djbeatmarshall]

Presonus Revelator Vs MXL 990 ?

[@sritej2156]

I have a question, can I connect the audio interface with mic and guitar to my android mobile phone to take live skype classes? (I don't have a laptop) plz help.

[@dkba52]

thank you for 2:23

[@KB-fw6zo]

Hi! I have a Revelator io24 and the noise problem is occurring when nothing is being played back through the interface. The character of the noise changes with each play and pause, sometimes it's a "distant helicopter" noise, then you play some content and the noise becomes a hiss, then you change the interface sample rate to 96k and it becomes a hiss, then you play content and the noise appears while playing back since there is sample rate mismatch? then you change to 44k and the noise is only present when the interface is idle again. I think the circuitry has a design flaw that makes the headphone jack noisy when not loaded, an antenna/resonator of some sorts. Changing the volume of the headphone output does not change the volume of the noise much, only the frequency (not much pitch) of the "distant helicopter chops". Would't be surprised if the frequency of the "chops" was 50hz (as the mains frequency in Europe).

[@KB-fw6zo]

Actually the most reliable way of hearing the noise is by connecting the headphone output to a headphone amplifier, it is then reproducible on any headphones. Without headphone amplifier it was by far most noticeable on Beyerndynamic T90 250 Ohm headphones with 3m cable, not so noticeable on 55 Ohm headphones also with 3m cable.