The Cloudlifter Might Not Be SO Bad after all... (Part 2)

After shooting my first video on the cloudlifter and posting my discoveries, I decided I need to test it under different circumstances to come to a better conclusion about how effective it is at improving the signal to noise ratio.
Todays results are interesting yet again!
Watch Part 1 of these cloudlifter videos here:
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[@spinlightstudios]

I’m thinking we need to make a list of situations where the cloudlifter works great and where it doesn’t - so leave a comment and let everyone know your experience with the cloudlifter, make sure to tell us which preamp/interface you use it with.

[@garagestudioguy]

We have quiet vocalist in our band. She uses the Cloud Lifter to boost her vocals for a live performance. The dial on it provides more vocal clarity as well.

[@spinlightstudios]

That’s awesome it works well for you!

[@DUDEDUDE33]

Thanks for the followup! I, like many others bought the cloudlifter for the sm7b. I currently can use the Audient ID14 or the SSL 2+. Could you please tell me how I should go about testing the noise levels? Do I just set the same gain and let it record silence and then compare?

[@spinlightstudios]

Yeah just record yourself speaking or singing into your sm7b with and without the cloudlifter - make sure to record some silence after your take too. Try and match the level as best as possible. Even in your daw Play back the two examples adjusting the faders or gain of the Audio region until they sound as close as possible. Then you can with just pop on some Headphones and crank them up and play the two piece of silence from with and without a cloudlifer and listen to the noise. Hope that makes sense

[@1loveMusic2003]

Ya they are noisy. Getr the SM7db it uses phantom power so it's cleaner boost. Same mic as 7b but Don't have to push pre-amps too hard.

[@alexedgeproducer]

For me, I use a cloud lifter to get more gain on a SM7-B, when I want to distort it/make it really saturated with my pre-amp. If I try to do that without the lifter it doesn't get very saturated. But there is no way in hell I would pay what they're charging for a boost box hahaha. Get a £30 Sub Zero boost.

[@johnviera3884]

just get a good dynamic microphone

[@spinlightstudios]

The sm7b is fine with a decent preamp. Honeslty never had a “need” for a cloud lifter - I just bought it cause it was cheap and thought it would be fun to test out.

[@johnviera3884]

@@spinlightstudios way overpriced. you can’t even tell the difference in a blind test.

[@spinlightstudios]

@@johnviera3884 oh for sure, I mean I got the cloud lifter for less than half price, wouldn’t buy one full price personally.

[@gomahome]

Is it right setup ? Apollo Solo > Focusrite ISA ONE > Cloudlifter Z > SM7B

[@spinlightstudios]

Yes that is how you would set up the chain!

[@komobabo]

Honestly I don’t use them even on soft dynamic mics. I did not notice really anything that really made anything better or so much volume I could not get from a good preamp or stacking comps. This is just my experience. I have one in the studio somewhere but recently I have been doing guitars and vocals with a clone of an AKG 414 and they sound amazing IMO.

[@spinlightstudios]

Yeah, feels pretty hit and miss to me!

[@McArthurRose77]

Moral of the story, avoid the sm7b! ;) I have loads of mic’s in my studio and can’t seem to enjoy that mic on anything.

[@spinlightstudios]

Honestly - the hype behind the sm7b is strange - thousands of better mics out there 😂 definitely not in my top choices when I track vocals

[@manuzid6837]

IM using it with audient ID24 +sm7b run like pro

[@spinlightstudios]

That’s great to hear. Maybe we need to start a list of interfaces + preamps that it works good with.

[@DrProgNerd]

Cool of you to do this follow up - the next day no less. It speaks to your credibility. The question is: does it stay in your studio - or does it get sold?

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks, felt like I needed to dive deeper into it. I think I’ll hold on to it for now. Especially in the phoenix preamps it makes the sm7b cleaner, so might be handy! If the Apollo twin was my main way of tracking - it would be getting sold 😂

[@matthewblake2258]

interesting video thanks

[@spinlightstudios]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@Awakeinthedreamofme]

I doubt most people are cranking the gain up to hear what’s going on with the noise floor. If you have a preamp and can just use the gain on it, why spend another $150 on something else. Either way, I’m calling it the “noise lifter” from now on (j.k)

[@spinlightstudios]

Im only cranking it so its easy to hear so you don’t have to turn up your headphones/speakers haha but the noise becomes noticeable in long gaps between talking or when you hold a chord on a guitar and as the notes fade you begin to hear the fuzzy air. Especially after compression noise becomes an issue if it’s loud enough. It did clean up the standalone preamps - more so the phoenix preamps than the great river - I think when you’re chasing top quality that little bit of percent can make the difference - but I haven’t had an issue tracking with my sm7b through these preamps with out a cloud lifter, so it’s not really world changing to me anyway! Not sure “noise lifter” would sell well haha

[@stevewoodyt]

Such wonderful information to have. Great job. Excellent production. Keep it up!

[@spinlightstudios]

@@stevewoodyt it’s not nitpicking - it’s testing out a product to see if it actually makes a difference and is worth dropping the dollars on 😇

[@stevewoodyt]

@@spinlightstudios ok

[@brownsnakestudios277]

Well I was thinking it was rushed… and a drummer playing a guitar whew, had me worried! Good to see you did this video! Your cred is safe buddy!

[@spinlightstudios]

Ohh it wasn’t rushed - that video took a long time to make. With all the edits etc But even after doing this one the fact remains the cloudlifter is hit and miss! Loads of people would have had the same experience I had with the Apollo - but I figured I have a few more options to explore with my preamps and another interface so I better test those out too 😂 now to never speak of cloudlifters ever again. 😂