HyperX DuoCast
See price on AmazonOverall Score 7.6 Represents average audio ecosystem compatibility score.
The HyperX DuoCast is a USB microphone with two selectable polar patterns, cardioid and omnidirectional, and supports 96kHz/24-bit recording, featuring a built-in pop filter, user-friendly controls, and a low-profile shock mount. Its RGB glows in a subtle way without having lights flashing in your eyes.
It offers good features, build quality, and lovely sound, but requires the right recording environment for optimal performance, it is a compromise for gamers, streamers, and podcasters looking for QuadCast quality at a lower price.
The HyperX DuoCast is a condenser mic that works by using capacitor plates instead of a coil and magnets. One of the metal plates, known as the backplate is fixed, and the other which is the diaphragm is movable, the distance between the plates adjusts when sound waves strike the diaphragm which produces a change in electrical characteristics HyperX DuoCast is a USB microphone, such microphones are plug and play and easy to use they are also typically affordable, and easy to carry. USB mics are great for making podcasts.
HyperX DuoCast comes with a shock mount, most condenser mics include a shock mount, which is circular and uses an elastic suspension that helps reduce vibrations transferred by handling that can cause audio interference. HyperX DuoCast comes with a pop filter, pop filters are a great tool for improving your audio. These diffuse the pressure of the air coming from certain vocal sounds, e.g., sibilants (s sounds). Thus capturing a cleaner recording without annoying ear-piercing exaggerations.
HyperX DuoCast uses the cardioid polar pattern, microphones that use this pattern have a wide on-axis pick-up area and maximum rejection at 180° off-axis. To further explain, this pattern is more directional and sensitive to the front of the microphone in the on-axis position, and reduces in sensitivity towards the sides and a null point in the back of the microphone. The HyperX DuoCast has the omnidirectional polar pattern, which picks up sound in all directions.
Omni microphones are equally sensitive to sound coming from all angles. You do not need to position them in any particular direction to receive the source of the sound HyperX DuoCast has its lowest frequency at 20Hz, a microphone that can pick a low frequency below 50Hz is good for snares, and toms, or if you're looking for a bass drum microphone. HyperX DuoCast's upper limiting frequency is 20,000Hz, meaning that sound waves at a frequency above 20,000Hz will not be captured.
In an ideal situation, a microphone's frequency response would be a one-to-one reproduction, however, some vibrations are lost during the process and bits of the information never makes it to the final recording. HyperX DuoCast's sensitivity is measured at 501mV/Pa, this tells you what the electrical output of a microphone will be for a given acoustic input. The higher the number, the more sensitive the microphone is.
HyperX DuoCast has RGB lighting, nothing much really to add to your recording but primarily for look and feel purposes, adding visual flair to the mic. HyperX DuoCast has the tap-to-mute feature which allows you to quickly mute the microphone by touching a specific area of the microphone. This is useful during situations when you need to have another conversation say with someone during a recording session that needs not be transmitted.
HyperX DuoCast has a headphone output, this enables you to directly check on the audio quality captured by the mic in real-time, without any perceptible delay. This is particularly valuable in broadcasting, and live performance scenarios where instant audio feedback is key. The HyperX DuoCast is compatible with PS4, PS5, personal computer (PC), and mac.