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Solid State Logic Connex Advanced USB Microphone
By Barry Rudolph
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| Solid-State-Logic-Connex Advanced USB Microphone |
Connex is a USB microphone/interface with four microphones aimed at the four points of the compass. Its low profile, flattened pyramidal shape is unobtrusive when located in the center of a conference table or on a desktop as I use it for Zoom calls here in my studio. It comes with a 1/4-inch threaded base for mounting on a camera tripod or using the included adapter for mounting it on a regular mic stand.
It is plug n' play for Macs OS 10.14.6 (Mojave) or later; for PCs, it requires a downloadable driver. In the default White mode, only the front-facing capsule is active, with a dual-mono signal output--used for a person(s) speaking directly into it for a podcast or conference call. Depending on the specific mode selected, the four microphones' outputs are automatically mixed, equalized, compressed and optimized for that particular mode.
In addition to the White mode, the Green Group mode has all four mics mixed to its dual-mono output for people sitting around it at a conference table--it's optimized for speech. Next, the Magenta mode changes the audio processing to accommodate quieter voices, with all four mics working together to derive a stereo image around the front of the mic. In this mode, several people sitting or standing in front of Connex for a group sing would be recorded in stereo! The Blue mode is like Magenta except the DSP changes to accommodate louder musical sound sources. Use this mode to record singing and playing acoustic guitars.
Finally, there is an Immersive mode where all four microphone outputs are available as separate, discrete mono outputs. All the mics' audio outputs are still combined to channel outputs 1&2, as well but now you could assign channels 3 through 6 outputs (in your DAW) in any surround format you'd like. Mounted on a mic stand in the center of a space, Connex becomes a four-channel surround/immersive microphone array.
I tried out Connex in a Pro Tools session using it as my Playback engine--it comes up as six tracks: one dual-mono or stereo pair and, (depending on the chosen mode) four mono audio tracks. It works great as an additional source in immersive productions (ATMOS, Sony 360 etc.) I'm betting that Connex will start to be seen at live concerts and shows at the FOH position connected by the included USB-C cable.
Connex automatically runs at the sample rate, up to 96kHz, set by your DAW computer. The mini-stereo headphone output jack's level is loud enough for checking its operation for location sound work, or stereo playback for mobile laptop use.
The SSL Connex Advanced USB Microphone is a well-made and comprehensively thought out system. It comes with all necessary cables and USB-C to USB-A adapter, a Quick start manual (download the User guide for the advanced settings I covered here) and sells for $149.99 MSRP. I love mine here sitting on my desktop and I use it everyday for Zoom calls and recording conversations in my studio.
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