Firstly, allow us to apologise. When we originally posted our Neumann Microphone Comparisons 1-3 we promised to bring you Part 4 in August, we definitely didn't mean October 2019 at the time but here we are! We are pleased to (finally) bring you Part 4 - The Public Vote Round up. Welcome to Part 4 of our Neumann Microphone Comparison – in Parts 1 and 2 resident reviewer, Mike Aiton, introduced us to the selection of microphones he would be reviewing over the coming weeks and we gave you the opportunity to listen and vote for your favourite during the Cello, Male Voice Over,...

In the fifth and final instalment of our USB Audio Interface reviews, Phil takes us through the Rode AI-1. The Rode AI-1 interface comes as a complete kit, which includes Rode’s famous and studio-proven NT1-A large diaphragm condenser mic, the AI-1 interface, an integrated pop shield and shockmount and all necessary cables, and a copy of Ableton Live Lite. It is a very good looking kit. The build quality of the interface is very good, with a full metal body. It has a good weight to it so it will stay on your desk when you’re plugging things in. The...

In the fourth of our USB Audio Interface reviews, Phil take us through the Apogee Duet 2. Apogee have always been at the top end of the market when it comes to audio gear. The Duet is no exception and is priced accordingly, and features Apogee’s famous “world-class” preamps and DACs, perfect for an on the move audiophile or musician who wants the best quality mobile recordings. It looks fantastic too, with a brushed aluminium chassis, black glass front and colour OLED display, one rotary dial in the middle and user assignable touch sensitive buttons. As with all Apogee products,...

In the third of our USB Audio Interface reviews, Phil takes us through the RME Babyface Pro. The Babyface Pro is a beautifully designed, feature rich marvel of audio engineering. It is packed full of inputs and outputs that belie its small but perfectly formed aluminium housing. Opening the rugged injection molded plastic box, you get the satisfyingly weighty interface, a USB cable, a MIDI breakout cable and a driver CD. It also comes with a hefty manual – one that I needed to use! A really attractive feature of this interface and something that sets it apart from its...

In the second of our USB Audio Interface reviews, Phil takes us through the Apogee One for Mac. The Apogee One for Mac is a unique and high quality 2 in 2 out USB 2.0 24 bit 96KHz audio interface. For a musician or podcaster needing a small all-in-one bus powered interface it proves to be a great option. This version of the One is designed for use with a Mac, and there is an iOS upgrade kit sold separately. The box contains the One, a breakout cable with 1 XLR input and 1 ¼” instrument input, a handy microphone...

Welcome to our new series, in which we review some of the most popular portable USB Audio Interfaces on the market. We know that this is sometimes a confusing choice for first time buyers so we've tried to demystify some of the features you should be looking for. We've given this task to an impartial industry pro, Phil Haines, who has road tested a selection of cost effective audio interfaces and gives his honest opinion. First up, Focusrite's ever popular Scarlett 2i2... Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 boxed contents The Focusrite 2i2 is a sleek and professional looking unit. The curved aluminium...

Welcome to Part 3 of our Neumann Microphone Comparison – in Parts 1 and 2 resident reviewer, Mike Aiton, introduced us to the selection of microphones he would be reviewing over the coming weeks and we gave you the opportunity to listen and vote for your favourite during the Cello, Male Voice Over, Female Vocal, Acoustic and Electric Guitar Recording Tests. Now in the final part, Mike gives you his overall, in-depth summary of this family of microphones. ‘The Family’ of German Studio Microphones – Part Three (Results) At my Twickenham studio, Mikerophonics, I have been feasting on a spread of some...

Welcome to Part 2 of our Neumann Microphone Comparison - in Part 1, resident reviewer Mike Aiton, introduced us to the selection of microphones he would be reviewing over the coming weeks and we gave you the opportunity to listen and vote for your favourite during the Cello and Male Voice Over Tests. Once again we give you the opportunity to be part of the discussion; we've got more blind testing and your chance to vote for your favourite! ‘The Family’ of German Studio Microphones – Part Two   At my Twickenham studio, Mikerophonics, I have been feasting on a...

Here at ESV we've once again enlisted Mike Aiton to conduct an independent review; this time its the turn of a selection of Neumann microphones. The series is comprised of three parts in total and we'll be publishing these weekly so check back for the next installment; you'll also have the opportunity to be part of the discussion and the results from this will be published in June, Part Four - The Public Vote Round up. So...read part 1 of the full review below, listen to the sound clips and be sure to vote for your favourite! ‘The Family’ of...

Panasonic Lumix GH5S - A videomaker's new best friend? Panasonic Lumix GH5S Since its release in early 2018, the Panasonic GH5S has recieved high praise from creative video professionals around the world for its incredible low light performance, 10 bit 4K Colour 4:2:2 at  60/50/24 fps and improved dynamic range.  When the GH4 was launched it opened the door for many people to gain access to an affordable 4K video camera and it quickly became the de-facto standard for videographers looking to step into the 4K world and seasoned pro's alike.  Panasonic built on this reputation with the release of the...