Side by Side Comparison of: MXL vs Focusrite vs Behringer

Very pleased

This microphone delivers perfect quality audio for podcasting or voiceover work. As with any microphone, your surroundings affect the overall quality, but in my DIY VO Booth, this mic delivers every time!

I love this mic I have a song on iTunes and amazon that's I recorded on it search "Fat Meech" it's a good mic got it paired with a focusrite

As many of you stated before, I was extremely hesitant to buy a mic that was only around $80 but I decided to try it anyway.. let me tell you.. this is the best mic I have ever had! I've purchased more expensive mics in the past and nothing comes close to this one! Extremely clear and easy to use! I fully reccomend this product!!SIDE NOTE: The pop filter sucks however, so you might wanna invest in a better one. It's not very flexible

Great Product

This arrived very fast and is a very clear saounding mic. It is fantastic for home recording of vocals....It is a condenser Mic so it is not so great for recording a band

I'm glad I bought this unit, especially for the price. Head phones are perfectly fine for a beginner. And the mic does its job. You'll want different mic's for different things but this will get you going.I talked with various people that are familiar with other recording software etc. and said heck with it, I just need to get started. The software installation is clunky on Windows. There are various secret keys etc. But once I got it up and running I was in good shape. Took me another 2 weeks to be able to lay down and edit some tracks with any proficiency. But just like anything else the more I play with it I have some aha moments and it gets faster, easier and better every time. This is definitely a stepping stone platform, but honestly if you didn't know there was anything "better " out there you could record everything through this thing and you'd be happy as a clam.

Focusrite has been making quality audio products for years. When I was looking to add a simple solutions to my Mac for recording from high quality XLR mic's that needed phantom power, I started looking for a Focusrite setup. I din't need a full blow professional solution that would cost a fortune, but I wanted something I could trust to produce high quality audio recordings. the Scarlett Solo series was at the top of my list, and I could not be happier.The build quality on the Solo is very nice. A re aluminum housing with a dark grey faceplate for the dial snd inputs. The volume knob doesn't offer much resistance, but it is smooth across the range of volumes.The Scarlett Solo's are USB powered with makes them a good solution for portable use as well as a cleaner desktop setup.The XLR input produces consistent phantom power and great sound quality. I mainly us it for recording my podcasts, but it would be a great solution for home studio music production as well. I have not used the instrument line in, but I have no reason to expect it would not work extremely well based on the rest of my experience with tis unit.The Direct Monitor functions work perfectly as well. This is where you can have your recording from the mic set to play live through the monitors you are wearing during recording. I can hear no perceptible lag or delay from what I am speaking to what I hear in my headphones.The Scarlet Solo is definitely a no-friills, simple solution without a lot of bells and whistles. What is lack in features, it makes up for in ease of setup and use, and great sound quality.One other benefit of using this as your PC's sound interface, is the ability to hook up studio monitors or other speakers that require an RCA connection. You can plug the right/left RCA connectors directly to the back of the Scarlet Solo without the need for an audio adapter.Over a year in, I still love my Solo and would gladly replace it with another Focusrite unit should the need ever arise!

What an amazing product. I bought this audio interface package for staring up my own youtube channel and for gaming. I can say that I was absolutely blown away by the clarity theis mic and audio interface provides. Whenever I use it for voiceovers I never have to edit the audio post production because the audio is already crystal clear. It honestly sounds like I am talking to someone right next to me when I listen to the audio that I recorded, it is that good. At this price range, it knocks all its competitors out of the park for the performance. The headphones that come with the package are also amazing. I expected to listen to the headphones once and then never use them again since they are not the main part of the package. I was so suprised to find out that the headphones sound great with low bass and great highs. I have never been more confident in an order before in my life. I would buy these again in a heartbeat.

Product works exactly as intended - great quality, very handsome brushed aluminum finish, 4 rubber pads under each corner to ensure it grips the table, and a nice smooth motion when you turn the dials.Whenever someone asks me "I want to get a nice microphone but I don't understand XLR, audio interfaces, etc", I just tell them about this product and it's all they'll ever need. I've yet to have one complaint regarding any defects, quality loss or lack of features. It's exactly what a voice-actor needs without any extra add-ons or unnecessary features.Having started my narration work on M-Audio's crappy entry-level mixer, the M-Audio Fast Track II Avid USB Recording Studio Interface (which introduced a lot of noise for a bigger pricetag than Focusrite), it's safe to say that the Scarlett Solo is a real godsend, and I've been loyal to the Scarlett line of products ever since!

This is a great little interface to get started with recording. I was looking for something simple I could plug my guitar into and get recording (i.e. no mic). I read the reviews for the 2i2 and people said when a guitar is plugged directly into the interface it get too much gain even on the lowest setting, and gets some nasty clipping. so I went with the solo since it had all I needed, and it's a really nice little unit. The guitar input is made for guitar to plug straight into so there's no clipping until past noon for me, which is perfect. It's also really small and I can throw this little guy in my backpack along with my laptop and I can have all the stuff I need to play and record. And in the futire when i do start micing up, I can always use this since it has a great preamp built in. Also customer service is great with setting up your interface. I had some problems and the customer service was friendly and helped me with all that I needed.So If you need something small and simple, this is the way to go.

There are quite a few choices now in the sub-$100 audio interface market, but most of them seem to make some serious compromises either in sound quality or features. I ordered the Focusrite Scarlett Solo hoping for the best but fearing the worst. I was pleasantly surprised at how great it sounded. It's hard to believe that a $100 interface could be this quiet/noise-free/transparent - but it is. I paired it with an Audio Technica AT2020 mic and recorded some vocals in my walk-in closet at home and was stunned at home warm and noise free the track sounded. Installation consisted of simply plugging it in - no drivers required on a Mac. I didn't download any of the software since I'm using Logic and didn't need any of it. The unit is heavy and seemed well built and rugged even though it will probably just sit on a desk most of the time. Overall, I think this is the one to beat in this price range.EDIT: I still think this is a great unit, but I sent it back for the Scarlett 2i2 because I realized the only outputs on the Solo are unbalanced "RCA" style jacks. If you plan to connect the unit to studio monitors this isn't a good idea, because you may likely run into buzzing/humming/noise issues. The 2i2 DOES have balanced TRS outputs, which is how you typically connect studio monitors. If you are strictly using it for inputs, or only using it with the headphone jack as output then it probably doesn't matter. Just something to consider before buying the Solo.

For the price, this mic is great. It's easy to set up, records beautifully, and it looks super professional. I use this with the Scarlett 2i2 interface, and for its price, it can't be beat. The only reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 is because the stand isn't very sturdy. It's made of metal and tightens nicely, but often tips at the slightest little nudge. That of course, is a very small price to pay for this mic. I seriously recommend.

 This kit fits my needs. I like the sound quality of the Mic and I am not experiencing echo problems or the mic picking up extraneous sounds. Since I recently purchased the mic, I am testing it in different scenarios, mostly singing and speaking since that is what I purchased it for, largely narration and voice over work.The pop filter is a good size and does the job. The mic stand could be more solid, it is intended for a lighter mic, and I think the seller should've bundled a mic stand that is more stable for a heavy mic. Not a deal breaker, just need to carefully tighten the boom and make sure you have balanced the mic.In lieu of posting just pictures, I recorded a little video with me singing comically (just messing around, no serious singing here) to show you the mic on the stand and allow you to hear the quality of the mic.The mic did pick up my keyboard playing, because the speakers were right below the mic. If you are recording in your home studio, I recommend laying the music track and then singing to the music as opposed to playing and singing together, unless, you have soundproofed the singer and mic from the musical instruments.

I have been using this mic with Alesis 4Ch USB Mixer into MacBook Pro for home recordings of songs and it has been a wonderful mic combo for me. Haven't been experiencing the hiss that some people have mentioned on several sights with this mic or the Alesis 4Ch USB Mixer. It's been a great addition in the first stage of building a home studio. sound, at times, can be a little thin - the only reason I gave it a 4* rating - but this may be the mixer as it has no Mid adjustment on it... or it could be my novice experience.

Bundle is nice assortment, with three caveats: the gooseneck on the pop filter isn't quite strong enough to hold up the weight of the filter, so it sags, the microphone is heavy enough that you have to crank the mike boom very tight to get it to hold, and the folded size of the mike stand is quite long, making it a bit awkward to pack.

You get what you pay for, and a little more I think. The stand is basic, and everything else is standard. For the price you pay, the mic is pretty decent. Definitely something great for beginners.

Seems Like an ok mic for its price, I've been recording on microphone with higher price than this one & yet i can't tell the different. But beware that you will need isolation & acoustic foam if you do not like the echos off the wall in your recordings.

Getting this thing installed may or may not be a huge hassle. The drivers it comes with are not appropriate for everybody, so you have to go to their website and pick out the one you need, which is not tough. I'm computer literate enough to deal with any typical driver problems, but this one was doing some bizarre stuff unknown to my experience - failing to even take power, playing the usb reconnection sound over and over - until after several futzes with Device Manager I decided to go against the manufacturer's recommendation and installed the downloaded driver without disconnecting it beforehand. It seems like most people don't have much trouble with it, but if you want it to work with - say - a cheap Windows 7 laptop, or Ubuntu, prepare yourself for some false starts.Assuming you can get it functional, the Scarlett Solo is a stellar interface, with some great features packed in a tiny space and, as far as audio interfaces go, the best price I've ever seen. If you're a bedroom musician or anyone else who only has to record a mic + guitar or keyboard at a time, I don't think you can beat this. It's a five star product once it's cooking but the process of getting it there has the potential, if you're unlucky, to really get up your nose. Just don't be stubborn like me, and keep reinstalling the drivers until it works.I have to mention that although this listing is for the 1st generation, I was shipped the 2nd generation Solo - doesn't seem to make a difference; I imagine the 2nd gen is better than the first, but they might like to change the listing for the sake of total honesty.

First sound device I've purchased, definitely works great as a microphone hub as I upgraded from little usb mics to a condenser mic (just the one included), but definite improvement. Was easy to setup externally, but the software was kind of annoying to get and any extra options software wise you want requires you making multiple other accounts on multiple other sites. Listening on this device with headphones often caused a loud, static kind of noise that only went away by unplugging the device and plugging it back in.

Why I bought it: to use my Audio Technica XLR mic (2035) and to record my Yamaha digital piano.I had to research a lot before buying my first audio interface and please keep in my that I'm not a professional in this area.What I LIKE:1.Easy to set up2.Gives you a free DAW (Ableton Live 9 lite)3.Focusrite's customer service is beyond great (tried both live chat & e-mail. They are extremely responsive and try their best to solve problem)4.Design is modern and nice. It's easy to easy which cord goes where.5.USB connection to your PC6.latency is very lowWhat I DISLIKE:1.I am not really satisfied with the sound quality I get. It works alright with my mic when I talk to people.However, if you are looking for a higher quality sound recording of your instruments (such as digital pianos etc.), look elsewhere.The sound itself is clear but the overall dynamics of my piano playing is gone. It makes your digital piano sound flat and a bit hollow (I tried upgrading my line cable to a high quality one and that characteristic's still there)Overall, I like everything about this simple audio interface but I care about the quality of sound so I am going to keep searching.

Works as advertised. Mic audio capture quality is really good. Oddly, this product does perform strangely.When connected to windows, the left channel will be the microphone, and the right channel will be the line in device. This is OK, depending on the software that you are using. It was not a problem for me, but I thought this was worth noting for others who may be looking for a stereo mix from both the mic and line in channels.It feels a bit out-dated, like it's based on 10-year old technology. It only supports 24bit/96Khz maximum samples, so consider moving up to another device. For what I need, it was great as a combo phantom-power mic amp and sound card input.

This is my first interface, and attempt to record. I've had no training or experience with other systems whatsoever. I think this is a great product. I'm pleased with the quality and performance of the hardware.My only gripe is with Cubase LE8. You have to download 100% of the software and updates, so don't expect to use your new toy for a couple of hours. The software is not tailored for beginners IMO, so expect to lose a couple more hours figuring everything out and fighting drivers.I had the time, and some PC experience, so I was able to satisfy my needs. I'm very happy with this purchase.

I got this package 2 week back because heard a lot about Focusrite preamp thing and it's quality. When used I am really impressed with soundcard quality. It's worth having it. However other stuffs i.e. mic & headset are not that great. I have been using Shure SM58 and Behringer HPS5000 headset. and when I compare it with them I dont find this package that great. Mic would not record detailed vocal signals (I tried it only on vocal). Headset is just okay. I would not say it is completely bad but may be since I am from sound engineering background , I have a different taste.But for startup I would highly recommend this kit. It is an excellent kit for new comers. It comes with cubase LE version which is great for people who just wanna record cover versions or wanna make simple music.

I hate the stand. It is not sturdy at all. The pop filter just doesn't bend correctly to cover the mic. I would purchase the mic separately with out this stand.

I hear poping sounds in the headphone when I try to record and I don't know how to fix It

Great product but poor usb port in the back, first one broke.

Pretty good. Has a bug where I have to unplug and replug it back in every time I boot my computer. And the software setup is a nightmare.

Honestly, I love it. BUT my headphones sound terrible now. I've only had it two weeks. The heads phones where never pulled or anything, they practically stayed in two spot the entire time. On the desk and on my head. I personally just use audacity with it and its nice. It really helped to have the headphones though.Update: Someone did reach out to me and I was able to return the entire bundle. I still had to pay a little out of pocket, though. When I got the new bundle, I had the same problem. I knew buying this was a risk. :/

When I am not using a webcam, this thing is amazing. Visually it is practically unbeatable. The brushed red looks awesome to me, the lights on the interface look really nice and the knobs are sweet. You have multiple options to control your mic. There is phantom power at 48v which was essential for me. XLR input sounds great and ultra clear. When I am streaming on twitch or a Skype call, people are always blown away the first time they hear me and my Rode NT1-A with this input. There is gain control for the mic, as well as a line input for a 1/4" or 1/8" (if you use an adapter) which sounds great. That has a gain control as well. There is direct monitoring with essentially no delay so you can hear yourself talk and it won't mess up your words. If you don't understand what I'm saying, try talking while hearing exactly what you said being repeated back to you, but delayed by about 1/4 of a second. It's really weird. But this had no problem with that. The monitoring is instant and clear. There is also a headphone control on here. Plug your headphones in and you have PC output as well as mic output (if you have your monitoring switch off, you only hear PC sounds. This can be really helpful! There is a slight boost in volume if you have monitoring turned off). The headphone input is 1/4", so make sure you have 1/4" headphones or have an adapter.After all that great stuff being said, I do have a few complaints. Some of these might not apply to you. First off, I wish that they had the XLR input on the back of the interface. The reason for this is that it would look much better if all you saw was the dials, and not have an XLR cable sticking out of the front. I can see why they did it this way, but it would look a lot more nice. Second complaint is why I rated it so low. Don't get me wrong, this thing is pretty great. I have a HUGE problem with it, though. If I am streaming using OBS, skyping with a webcam, or anything like that (Windows 10 is the only platform I have had this problem with, I have used it as far back as Windows 7), this audio interface has massive problems. For streaming, I will go live, and after a few minutes, the audio stops for a few seconds, then starts playing again but in extremely weird ways. The audio sounds almost like a machine gun. And it is played back at half speed (honestly don't know how that is possible?!). To fix this, I have to unplug the cable from the back of the Scarlett Solo and plug it back in. It usually starts up again no problem, but when I do this, the video from my webcam dies and crashes my stream. When I am using Skype, I can only do audio calls. If I try to do a video call, the device crashes the webcam immediately and then audio cuts directly into the same machine-gun-like sound. If I find out how to fix this problem, I will make an exit to the review and put it back up to 5 stars. But at this point I am definitely considering getting an entirely new Interface, probably made my a different company. And if anyone knows how to fix this, please message me! I have tried drivers, restarting, new cables, everything.TL;DR: If you're not using a webcam, get it! If not, do NOT buy this item.

slick, small, and boosts my AT2020 wonderfully. Sometimes it drops my mic for no reason, but when it works the other 95% of the time, it's exceptional. Software installation can potentially be a hassle.Update March 8, '15: Well, I had to continually plug and replug the usb Male B header into the preamp to get the sound working again.The little block that supports the pins is rather flimsy. It was late at night and I was frantically trying to get the sound working again because the preamp dropped my mic and monitor mid recording. Snapped off the little block in the usb header and bent the pins pins.If you're someone who travels and has to continually plug and replug your usb port from the back of your solo, be careful. You could potentially damage usb header.UPDATE March 9: Well, I found the little usb block lying on the floor, it's black, plastic, and cheap, and I kinda slipped it back into the header between the pins with a pair of tweezers. Surprisingly, it turns on now, but because I can't place the block in precisely, the poor connection's giving me a lot of noise. I guess this little preamp will make a nice desk ornament until I get it fixed

The software is relentlessly frustrating to use. When it's working, it's fine. Not quite as good as my smart phone, but it's better when working with multiple tracks.But using the various pieces of software, keeping it running, and setting it up is like having teeth pulled. Half of the time I use this software with Windows 10, features just stop working.

I've gone through 2 of these so far. The first one had a wonky volume knob. The second one I have had for 5 months and quit working yesterday. It will work for about 30 seconds if I turn it off then on again, but it's pretty much done for. I'm pretty dissapointed because I really liked it when it worked.

I could never get the USB driver to work properly with Windows 7. Also, the unit had a 60 cycle hum. Nice construction, but just didn't work. Wish it had.

The design and construction is excellent for the money, but it is too incompatible and buggy. Just a mess and hassle.

I'd like to rate it more but I randomly get hissing and buzzing noises when using it. It comes out of nowhere. Usually works fine but when it doesn't, I have to unplug it or restart my computer. Would like something that's constant

Mine shipped defective, the sound was uneven between the left and right speakers. Would've been good.

DOA (dead on arrival)USB didn't power this interface. (Tried on 2.0/3.0 on 3 different computers)Even after downloading the drivers.The green light on the box would barely come on and then fade every time I plugged it in....

This thing is utter garbage, It rarely ever works right, and when it does you have to mess with it and keep plugging it in and out for it to kinda work. Don't even consider this interface.

Mine broke in a month and I've only used it 3 times!!!

Waited a few months to review this. Why? Thought it might of been me. BUT after fighting with this thing and having it crash as an hourly occurrence. This is a piece of s***. You have to relaunch every app tied into audio after it fails. So don't plan on getting on without resetting it 2-3 times before you can even watch youtube. Don't bother using the unbalanced rca on the back btw. All you will get is static with the balance being so bad. The drivers are a complete mess to top it off. A couple other reviewers said this is a good item for the money... don't make me laugh.

I'm rating this low because it doesn't work well with Windows 7 at all. Constantly cuts out and freezes. In the middle of recording or broadcast, it will stop working and then sometimes work just fine. It's hit and miss. Seems like a driver issue. I would avoid this purchase. here's the thing ... This shouldn't be cutting out in the software. Have to disable the device and than enable it again hoping it works. It works for like 15 seconds and just cuts out.

NOTE: This review is not a review of the product itself, but the software and set-up process required to use the product. I received this device on a Saturday morning and spent more than 5 hours trying to go through all of the steps of downloading the accompanying software and setting up the device on my computer (s). Customer service is not available on the weekends. The software installation and setup process was a nightmare. The Focusrite website actually has very helpful videos walking you through the installation process, but unfortunately I ran into a variety of issues trying to install the software on two different computers (one PC and one Mac). Focusrite also has a variety of help-related videos on Youtube which also are very helpful, but I still ran into a variety of issues on both computers. After registering for every separate website from which I needed to download software, several downloads failed to load, on both computers, and my computers kept freezing through the process. Even if everything would have worked properly, the setup would have been extensive. I ended up returning the product mainly out of frustration over the amount of work it took to unsuccessfully set up the device. From what I have read and seen online, the device seems to be of very high quality but unfortunately, for me at least, I ran out of patience trying to make it work.