It performs like it should be upwards of $150.
NZXT has mastered the warm, nuanced vocal recording without sacrificing on DSPs like pop filters and de-essers.
Obviously, its not all in the mic, I know that, butsoundingprofessional is a stepping stone intobecomingprofessional.
The NZT Capsule Elite microphone is84 from Amazon U.K..
This is an incredibly reasonable price for a microphone of this quality.
Speaking of this RGB panel, I think its adorable.
However, the small size doesn’t mean its not incredibly effective.
The mic itself is very simple to control.
Now, onto my qualms.
Lets call them semi-qualms, as neither is actually that deep.
Firstly, the microphone body itself feels a bit… light?
Anyway, this obviously didnt negatively impact my recording; it just was surprising.
Perhaps the biggest issue is the mic stand setup.
Although, is Mac gaming even a thing yet?
I dont think so.
Plug-and-play mics are practically foolproof.
Cam tracks computer temperature, managing keyboards, and controlling fan LED prefs, among other things.
Its no surprise that its only available on PC, so Im not saying its a con.
Its just something to be aware of.
Similarly, theSteelSeries Alias Pros app, Sonar, is a Windows-only situation.
Sonar ismilesbetter than Cam, but Cam is still good.
As you could see, theres a decent range of tweaks you could customize in the Cam app.
Many of these advanced options are locked behind a Are you sure you want to do this?
The app is very straightforward to use and is a great companion to the mic itself.
Plosives
Here is a clip with the de-popper enabled.
I think the b and p sounds are muted and quiet without sounding clipped or unnatural.
Im not a massive popper when I speak anyway, but the Capsule Elite sounds fantastic.
Conversely, heres a clip with the de-popper disabled.
When you put the two directly together, you’re free to hear a difference.
The difference is subtle, yes, but its still audible.
This contrast shows the adeptness of the de-popper, and Im incredibly impressed with this performance.
Fricatives/sibilance
For these tests, I enabled and disabled the de-esser (as NZXT calls it).
Heres a clip with the de-esser enabled.
This performance is comparable to that of a much pricier Shure mic.
This is the same clip with the de-esser disabled.
Heres the clip of me speaking with the ambient noise reduction enabled.
However, I can still hear a decent amount of noise, which is a major shame.
Heres the same clip with the ambient noise reduction disabled.
Theres not much of a difference, is there?
Its a shame that the onboard prefs arent as adept as I wanted them to be.
Thanks to the cardioid polar pattern, too, its ideal for use on a desk setup.
I think the NZXT Capsule Elite microphone knows exactly what it is, and it does its job fantastically.
Just verify youve got a screwdriver to hand, or youll be stuck with a wonky stand!
