Summary
Austrian Audio is a brand many gamers probably haven’t heard of before. Still, with releases like the MiCreator Studio, maybe they should be a bigger name in the gaming and streaming community. After checking out theAustrian Audio Hi-X65, we had to see how their microphones stacked up against their very impressive headphones.
At this point, many USB microphones on the market produce pretty good audio quality, so the MiCreator Studio has to be pretty special to stand out. Luckily, we have been able to put this microphone through a thorough testing process to see if it is a worthy investment or just another USB microphone. Spoiler alert: It is definitely more the former rather than the latter.
Austrian Audio MiCreator Studio Microphone
The Austrian Audio MiCreator Studio blends a high-quality condenser microphone with an easy-to-use USB interface for a great audio solution regardless of your skill or gear level. Just plug in and start recording in top-notch audio quality instantly. Whether you are recording in the comfort of your home or on the go, the MiCreator Studio is a reliable microphone you’re able to take everywhere.
Unboxing and Setup Process
After getting the MiCreator Studio microphone out of the box, the setup process is pretty simple, thanks to the plug-and-play nature of the microphone. The part that took us the longest during setup was deciding what color faceplates to use. After some debate, we ended up using the black faceplate on the front and red on the back.
While the plates are entirely aesthetic choices, it is nice to have that option in a somewhat minimalist microphone to have a bit of flare. Plus, the magnetic mounting points on these plates are incredibly satisfying and easy to change out in a flash. However, the USB-C cable does have to be removed to replace the backplate.
What It’s Like To Use The MiCreator Studio
After the painless initial setup, the MiCreator Studio is an absolute dream to use, whether on a desktop or a laptop. The included USB-C to USB-C cable makes it incredibly easy to hook up to any computer as long as you have a USB-C port to spare. If not, it works with any USB-C to USB-A cable that supports power and data transfer.
The high and low gain switch on the front allows you to quickly change the gain settings on the fly, although if you are using it without a stand, you will have to hold down the microphone while you change the switch because there is a fair amount of resistance in between each setting. On this same switch, you can also mute the microphone, which is always nice to have on a USB microphone, and because the resistance is pretty high, it is hard to mute yourself with it accidentally.
Just down from the gain switch is the volume jog wheel, which controls the volume and balance of the microphone and the monitor levels if you have headphones plugged into the back of the microphone. This jog wheel is incredibly satisfying to use. However, there is not a lot of fine control, and the jumps between volume levels are pretty big. But if you want to dial in your volume settings for streaming, you can use OBS meters or your recording software for better control.
Around the back is where the MiCreator Studio starts to stand out from the crowd. Here, there are two 3.5mm audio jacks, one for output to a pair of headphones to monitor levels and the other being an in/out jack to plug in another audio source. This can be either the MiCreator Satellite or the MiCreator Y-Lav from Austrian Audio, or it can even be an instrument using the included 3.5mm to 1/8" TRRS cable. This little in/output jack is a game changer for anyone who wants to have multiple audio sources recorded on a computer or even tablet but doesn’t want to have to deal with an XLR interface to do so.
The fact that you can connect a second input to the MiCreator Studio for instrument recording, a podcast interview setup, or even if you have multiple people on a stream together makes the MiCreator Studio so much more versatile than most other USB microphones currently on the market. The only one that offers something similar is the Shure MV7+ with the use of Motiv, but the MiCreator Studio does it all in one piece of physical hardware, making the setup process much more manageable.
During our couple of weeks of testing, the only gripe we ran into was that it was hard to get it in the proper position without a stand. This is due to its small and compact size. It’s not the end of the world though. Even in the high-gain settings, it delivers pretty clean audio, but it is better for solo recording to use in the low-gain setting and have a couple of inches away from your mouth.
Sound Quality
When we first plugged in the MiCreator Studio for our round of testing, we were a bit hesitant about what this tiny microphone could do, but after listening back to the first recording, it is safe to say it blew us away. With proper positioning and level management, this microphone delivers an incredibly clean audio track, even in rough conditions. Being summer at the time of testing, we had fans going at full blast around us. With no EQing or messing around post-recording, everything sounded clear, and it was devoid of that annoying hiss that’s usually there when fans are going during a recording.
Now, the MiCreator Studio doesn’t come with audio suppression like the SteelSeries Alias lineup, so when you flip it over to high gain and move the microphone away from your mouth a bit, that fan noise will be very present. However, as long as you don’t have the volume all the way up, it won’t be overbearing and is pretty easily fixable in post.
After our initial tests, the MiCreator Studio was used for everything from casual Discord calls to professional meetings and even some vocal and instrument recordings. With this microphone being thoroughly run through the ringer, it is safe to say that it is an incredible little mic that is super versatile and will hold up to any task you throw its way. While some USB microphones only serve as good travel options when you are away from your home studio, the MiCreator Studio is genuinely a studio microphone that you can throw in your bag and be ready to record or stream with stellar audio wherever you may find yourself.
Software
Software is always an interesting test when it comes to USB microphones, but instead of Austrian Audio giving you an app that runs in the background where you can mess up levels and EQ and mostly just takes up space, they give you the choice of a free copy of either WaveLabs Cast 2 or Cubase LE. These are two very powerful recording and audio editing software that typically cost $100. While both have a fair amount of overlap with each other, WaveLabs Cast 2 is perfect for general audio and podcast production. In comparison, Cubase LE is ideal for aspiring music producers and composers.
Compared to most software with a microphone, these two options can initially be pretty intimidating. However, as long as you are willing to take some time to learn one of them, they will be much more helpful in the long run than a companion app that you may use once or twice after setting the microphone up.
Is The MiCreator Studio Right For You?
Instead of just releasing a USB microphone for the sake of releasing a USB microphone, Austrian Audio has taken its time with the MiCreator Studio and has released an exceptional microphone that is not really an option with other brands, especially in the gaming and streaming space. Of course, this microphone will not be for everyone, but if you are looking for a studio-level microphone with an easy-to-use USB interface, it is hard to go wrong with the MiCreator Studio.
Because of the price and the feature set, the most comparable microphone on the market right now is theSteelSeries Alias, which we recommend if you are looking for a more hands-off approach to recording audio. The AI-assisted noise suppression means you don’t have to worry about proper mic placement or technique, and it still delivers solid audio performance. However, if you want versatility and a much smaller form factor, the MiCreator Studio is a breed of it right now and worth picking up.
FAQ
Q: Where did the AKG engineers go?
After AKG closed its Austrian factory in 2017, a team of 22 employees from AKG decided to start Austrian Audio to keep the legacy of the original AKG brand alive and based in Austria.
Q: Does a condenser mic need phantom power?
Condenser microphones need phantom power to work, whereas dynamic microphones do not. However, just because condenser microphones need phantom power doesn’t always require a separate power source when connected via USB. The MiCreator Studio, for example, handles its phantom power needs internally and still only needs one USB-C cable for audio and power transfer.
