Maono PD100X mic and G1 Neo audio mixer evaluate – “Not a gamer necessity, however a beginner streamer’s dream”

• Handy starter bundle that is a easy plug-and-play affair
• Easy to make use of and really transportable
• Not crucial necessity to have in case you’re not a streamer

Today’s peripherals have made it simpler than ever to create content material based mostly solely on gaming, and with its steadily rising lineup of substances for newbies and audiophiles alike, Maono seems to have set its sights on dominating a very good chunk of that market. 

The Maono PD100X and G1 Neo bundle are straightforward to make use of and actually beginner-friendly for anybody who’s trying to be a content material creator in any capability, coupled with the loud-and-proud RGB lighting that proves Maono is aware of its viewers all too nicely. But do these actually add worth to a gamer’s on a regular basis package?

Look and really feel of the Maono mic and mixer

Much like its predecessors, the Maono PD100X waves the flag of gamer geekdom with its unapologetic RGB lighting. This time round, Maono has chosen to chuck subtlety out the window, opting as a substitute to coat the entire physique of the USB/XLR dynamic microphone with frosted RGB lights you may toggle by way of a tiny button on the backside. The remainder of the mic is held collectively by a built-in windfoam versus the removable one from the PD200X, which is a pleasant contact given how simply the windfoam typically got here off on the older mannequin.

The mute possibility, nevertheless, has been changed with a contact button that is vulnerable to unintended touches, in my expertise, which is why I nonetheless choose the tactical really feel of the particular button within the earlier fashions. The remainder of the controls are nonetheless so simple as they need to be, with the 2-in-1 knob that controls each the mic achieve and headphone quantity, in addition to the USB-C port beneath the mic together with the useful 3.5mm headphone jack. 

I additionally actually appreciated the truth that the PD100X now comes hooked up with its personal stand which you could both use as a desktop accent or mount onto a increase arm relying in your setup. Due to house constraints, I typically choose having my mics mounted on a increase arm, however I additionally admire the pliability of utilizing my mic propped up on a desk when the necessity arises.

As for the G1 Neo audio mixer, it is an lovable thingamajig that provides all the fundamental wants a content material creator may need in a no-nonsense bundle. The buttons are good and huge and each tells you precisely what it does, plus quantity sliders and achieve/reverb knobs and, in fact, all of the RGB lights a gamer might ever need. It could not have its personal battery pack, however its transportable measurement and easy USB-C connectivity nonetheless make it handy to lug round on the go.

The measurement of the buttons makes it really feel a little bit bit like a toy, to be trustworthy, however I suppose that is a design selection to forestall by chance muting your self throughout a match or urgent the Voice Changer whenever you’re narrating a podcast documentary. The grips beneath the mixer are good and steady too, and whereas the buttons aren’t essentially the most comfy to press in my view, the sliders are good and clean, they usually glide together with a satisfying really feel.

Maono PD100X mic and G1 Neo audio mixer efficiency

Now, a mic is a mic, and Maono is understood for offering value-for-money efficiency with its merchandise. Its lineup of microphones proves that you do not actually need to interrupt the financial institution to get professional-sounding audio high quality, and its Type-C connectivity makes it painless whenever you’re utilizing the mic in your cellular machine.

The identical is true for the PD100X, and I like the way it’s as soon as once more again to having you place your mouth on high of the mic fairly than in entrance like within the Maono DM30RGB. It’s gentle sufficient to hold with you but in addition hefty sufficient to maintain it steady in your desk, and you do not want any intricate setup or set up hoops to undergo simply to get it up and working. 

Still, I could not get the Maono Link cellular app to work with my cellphone, regardless of switching to totally different units and cables. The program works completely on my laptop computer although, which is odd given how the telephones might detect the mic however the app merely would not begin.

For the G1 Neo audio mixer, nevertheless, not everybody may be aware about how this stuff work, so let me stroll you thru the ports on the again for a little bit bit.

Essentially, the mixer helps you to tinker round along with your voice, music, and audio output with the easy contact of a button. With the G1 Neo, you may plug in your XLR mic, or you may select to make use of headphones with a built-in mic as your audio enter. There’s one other devoted port for headphones alone with out the mic if you wish to use each individually. The AUX IN port is for plugging in an exterior cell phone supply for background music, which it’s also possible to join by way of Bluetooth on the mixer. Additionally, the audio output could be linked by way of a speaker.

As for streaming itself, you should utilize the USB-C port to attach your cellphone, and eventually, the facility supply can also be by way of a separate USB-C port. With all these, you may stream in your cellphone or in your PC, and use one other cellphone as an enter supply for background music.

The mixer itself has 4 preset buttons you may customise so as to add personalised tracks – you may program amusing observe, for example, or file your personal canned voice immediate or intro and play it with a faucet of a button. The different buttons on the mixer allow you to cut back background noise, change your voice, monitor your personal mic enter, and management the RGB lighting. 

What I like is that you do not have to be a rocket scientist to determine methods to use these buttons both, because the useful instruction guide tells you all it is advisable to know in a jiffy. What’s mindblowing right here is which you could simply use all these results with no additional software program wanted – simply choose your streaming platform, then plug, play, and podcast (or stream). That’s it.

What’s the enchantment?

Now, you may be pondering that you simply will not actually have a lot use for an audio mixer in case you’re not trying to create content material, do dwell streams, or file podcasts – and also you’re proper. For me, as a non-streamer, an audio mixer is not a necessity – it isn’t going to make voice chat simpler or extra handy for me throughout multiplayer matches, and actually, it should solely take up the restricted actual property round my desk. While a mic is certainly a should, a mixer will not be.

Still, having it round affords the nifty possibility of doing fast voiceovers or perhaps creating content material even privately or for pals, which, given how straightforward it’s to make use of the G1 Neo, is definitely welcome. I notably love how the SideChain possibility mechanically lowers the amount of the background music every time I discuss, though I do have a little bit of a difficulty with the Direct Monitor and Loopback choices. They let me cut back undesirable echoes and nonetheless hear myself converse, however the monitoring positively leaves room for enchancment given the odd reverb I might nonetheless hear. 

The stars of the present, nevertheless, are the RGB lights, which – given my easily-attracted-by-lights nature – is already an enormous plus. Of course, now that the PD100X wears its RGB lighting all through its entire physique, it would simply be too loud for some individuals, and in case you’re not trying to blind everybody round you with all of the dazzling colors, choosing the extra refined look of the PD400X may be your greatest wager.

If all that sounds prefer it’s precisely your cup of tea although, the Maono PD100X and G1 Neo bundle is now accessible for buy from the official web site at $119.99 or your native equal.