Coda MB-1 Microphone Booster Review (vs Cloudlifter, sE Dynamite, Cathedral Pipes, Alctron MA-1)

Today, I have the Coda MB-1 in the Audio Hotline Studio! The MB-1 is a microphone booster, aka "mic activator" aka "in line microphone preamp". These devices are great for Dynamic or Ribbon microphones! Especially mics that are gain hungry... cough cough SM7b. The Coda MB-1 gives you an extra 25dB of gain. Most Mic Activators advertise with the term "clean gain". Which basically means it will add the specified amount of dB boost without adding any extra noise to your signal. Now the way these mic activators do that, is by using phantom power. So if you decide you want to pick up one of these mic activators, you will need a device that can supply +48v of phantom power. In this video I use the Shure SM7b, Rode PodMic, Shure SM58 to test out the Coda MB-1 as well as comparing the Coda to other mic activators. Such as: Cloudlifter CL-1, sE Dynamite, Cathedral Pipes Durham and Alctron MA-1. Along with comparing these mic activators, I also show you what these mics are like without a mic activator. ONE THING I DID FORGET TO MENTION: In the Review section / outro, I was using the Behringer XM8500 with the Coda MB-1. So if you have a XM8500 and are looking for an activator, you can use that as a sound sample. Since there are a lot of different comparisons and tests, let me know if you have any questions! Just be sure to check out the testing and audio samples and see if the Coda MB-1 or any of these activators are right for you! Every person has different expectations of audio gear. If the features are what you need, and you like the sound, then it is right for you! Thanks for watching the Audio Hotline! I'll see you Audio Nerds next time! ======TIMESTAMPS====== Intro / Video Breakdown: 0:00 - 1:25 MB-1 GIVEAWAY!!!!: 1:25 - 1:51 Intro Continued: 1:51 - 2:23 Coda MB-1 info and Review Info: 2:23 - 3:11 Setting up and using a mic activator: 3:11 - 4:12 What comes with the Coda MB-1 and Build Quality: 4:12 - 4:40 Coda MB-1 Specs: 4:40 - 5:16 Testing Intro: 5:16 - 5:32 Shure SM7b vs SM7b with Coda MB-1: 5:32 - 6:30 Mic Activator Comparison Intro: 6:30 - 6:44 Cloudlifter vs sE Dynamite vs Coda MB-1 vs Alctron MA-1 vs Durham vs None: 6:44 - 8:24 Noise Floor Comparison (boosted): 8:24 - 9:07 RØDE PodMic vs RØDE PodMic with Coda MB-1: 9:07 - 10:03 Shure SM58 vs Shure SM58 with Coda MB-1: 10:03 - 10:50 Important Test! Does Blue like it?: 10:50 - 11:19 My Review aka MY OPINION (ft coda and behringer xm8500): 11:19 - 13:04 Do you want a mic activator shootout?: 13:04 - 13:26 My opinion continued and My grade: 13:26 - 14:09 Thank you / Outro: 14:09 - 15:04 ================== AS USUAL, GIVEAWAY PARTICIPANTS MUST LIVE IN THE UNITED STATES. IF YOU STILL WANT TO ENTER TO WIN, ANYONE OUTSIDE OF THE US MUST COVER SHIPPING COSTS. ======PRODUCTS IN REVIEW====== *Affiliate Link Below* Coda MB-1 Link: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rk2omc Non Affiliate Link Coda Website: https://bit.ly/3jfms6t Interested in the other Mic Activators? Cloudlifter CL-1: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2O4FEsf B&H: https://bhpho.to/3jff4Ib sE Dynamite: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rolSX3 B&H: https://bhpho.to/3towFCf Cathedral Pipes Durham: Website: https://bit.ly/2MRJmVy Alctron MA-1: Please don't buy it. Interested in the MICS used? Shure SM7b: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cDREeA B&H: https://bhpho.to/3rd2Pia Shure SM58: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cC3MMY B&H: https://bhpho.to/3oLBzWD RODE PodMic Amazon: https://amzn.to/34dIfUL B&H: https://bhpho.to/2JMtZZH​ ================== ======Audio Hotline Info====== Website: audiohotlinegear.com E-Mail: [email protected] Instagram: instagram.com/audiohotline MERCH: teespring.com/stores/audiohotline ========== GEAR I USE TO MAKE MY VIDEOS (affiliate links): ============VIDEO============ Canon EOS R5: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3gNBfnG B&H: https://bhpho.to/2JTS3xx Sigma EF 20mm f/1.4: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KoXsMK B&H: https://bhpho.to/3aeXG3V Sigma EF 50mm f/1.4: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2WllU4d B&H: https://bhpho.to/3oRbXIi Sigma EF 24mm f/1.4: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SPDdZZ B&H:https://bhpho.to/3duayRY Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 L (MACRO): Amazon: https://amzn.to/35KuXQs B&H: https://bhpho.to/2WdcqJ3 Atomos Ninja V: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Ni79Ob B&H: https://bhpho.to/36i2WhA Aputure 120D MKii: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SE0wXg B&H: https://bhpho.to/38pRTV2 Aputure Light Dome II: Amazon: https://amzn.to/39kvKZJ B&H: https://bhpho.to/2Gf1zWc ============AUDIO============ Hercules Mic Stand: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XaHnzK B&H: https://bhpho.to/2Rz4SwS Zoom F6: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oc6FqO B&H: https://bhpho.to/3kTOUu1 Zoom H6: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2MIoBdA B&H: https://bhpho.to/2Rfc3LK Apollo Twin Quad: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2XfwPiU B&H: https://bhpho.to/2NL8gnp Mogami XLR: Amazon: https://amzn.to/2NiXNSp B&H: https://bhpho.to/2NJ5tLi Monoprice XLR (Cheaper XLR Alternative): Amazon: https://amzn.to/2RJBwvp