For the longest time, the only thing keeping me from starting a YouTube channel has been bad audio. Being a musician and an audiophile, poor sound quality is anathema to me. But I didn’t want to get an expensive studio-quality mic just to spur me to create content. So I turned to cheaper alternatives.
I eventually chose the Dash 7 Ai omnidirectional microphone by Portronics. I’ve bought several Portronics gadgets before, so I went in expecting a product that just works. And it didn’t disappoint.
The whole package came with a receiver, the Dash 7 Ai mic, a USB-A to USB-C cable, and paperwork. I plugged the USB-C receiver to my phone, pushed the button on the mic, and voila! It paired.
I recorded a few trial runs with the mic clipped first to my sleeve, then to the bridge of my guitar, and finally to the amp. I couldn’t believe my ears. It’s as though I was finally privy to a song I could never quite hear before. The mic is also surprisingly well built, and the clip doesn't feel like it's going to break off anytime soon.
The foam filter on the mic is a nice addition, especially for someone like me who tends to put a little too much emphasis on the plosive Ps and Bs. I also felt a little more confident with the sound of my own voice. If the audio was to sound as clear as this, what else could I do? Perhaps narrate a book, recite poetry? My mind was turning.
The receiver on the Dash 7 Ai mic works up to 30 metres. For my use case, this was more than enough. But it’s good to have that extended range if I ever decide to resurrect my old dream of directing a short film.
While an omnidirectional mic was exactly what I was after, I was a little worried that it might also pic up noise from all around. But I was glad to hear no background hum of the fan, the AC, or my laptop at all. And this is even before I enabled noise cancellation.
Rarely did I have to flip on noise cancellation to drown out the TV in the other room. the neighbor’s dog, or the airplane overhead. And it was mostly on point.
For Rs 994 (on Amazon), the Dash 7 Ai mic by Portronics has to be the best-sounding mic out there. Compared to the trashy sound quality of the built-in mic on my phone, the difference in sound is simply stratospheric.
While I may look into getting a real, professional, studio-quality mic once I’ve built up my YouTube empire, for these humble beginnings, Dash 7 AI by Portronics has done the trick.
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