Bring Your Mics to Life and Capture Every Detail

Like all Cloudlifters, the CL-X dramatically increases the sensitivity of your microphone, in order to fully capture the nuance and detail of the source. It is typical that many of the most incredible sounding microphones are the ones that need the most gain. Ribbon microphones, as well as dynamic and even tube mics can be difficult to amplify, even when you have high-gain preamps. Previously, it has been difficult to capture very quiet sources with these mics, without hearing noise generated by the preamp being driven into its upper gain range. Now, with the CL-X you can reach for the microphone that you love for its sound and tonal characteristics, without the limitation imposed by the gain requirements.

Transformer Love

Audio transformers have played a pivotal role in capturing sound since the early days of broadcast, multi-track recording, and even with today’s large format recording consoles. Transformers can elicit more of the feeling and punch of the source material, capturing the natural sonic characteristics in a manner both dynamic and responsive in nature.

In partnership with CineMag, we began with the simple quest of innovation… creating the ideal transformer as if we were designing a modern recording console. It had to be ultra-clean, have very wide bandwidth, and provide desirable dynamic responsiveness for today’s most demanding applications. From the very first moment we heard the CL-X transformer integrated into the Cloudlifter’s ultra-clean gain stage, we knew we had landed on something really special. The beauty and dimension of this wonderful transformer, amplified by the award-winning Cloudlifter circuit produced exactly what we had hoped: ultra-clean gain with transformer love.

Compatible With Dynamic, Tube, and Ribbon Mics

Dynamic Mics: With both higher sensitivity and lower gain requirements, you’ll hear the character of your dynamic mics like never before. Try a dynamic mic on high volume sources such as a snare drum or a guitar amp with the CL-X's output attenuator engaged to hear that touch of transformer mojo, or use your dynamic mic on a soft source which would have been hard to capture without more sensitivity and ultra-clean gain the CL-X provides. The results can be jaw-dropping, unlocking a whole new spectrum of possibilities!

Ribbon Mics: The CL-X with ribbon microphones will deliver output sensitivity similar to the best condensers while retaining that coveted sound that defined the golden era of recording. Now, low level sound sources can be captured with ease, taking advantage of the beautiful tone and clarity that only a quality ribbon mic can capture.

Tube Mics: With the CL-X, tube mics come to life, leaving the noise behind while unveiling the feeling and richness of the true sound.

All Gain is Not Created Equal

The ultra-clean gain of the Cloudlifter coupled to your preamp offers a sound that removes not only the noise, but unwanted coloration and frequency degradation that occurs in proportion to the amount of gain provided at the preamp or interface. Even with a preamp that imparts a desirable coloration, Cloudlifters open up a different sonic option by having more of the mic’s natural character sitting upfront. Now, with the CL-X you can reach for the microphone that you love for its sound and tonal characteristics, without the limitation imposed by the gain requirements.