Cloudlifter CL-1 Review: 25 dB You Probably Need
Buy the CL-1 if you own a low output dynamic such as an SM7B or an RE20 and your interface tops out below about 60 dB of gain, because it adds clean level at the microphone and lowers noise instead of raising it. Skip it if your interface already has plenty of gain, or if you use condensers, because it does nothing useful for either.
It does not make your microphone better. It stops your preamp from having to be heroic, which is a different and more useful thing.
Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator with Get Lifted XLR Cable
~$190
An inline microphone activator that adds up to 25 dB of clean gain to a passive dynamic or ribbon, bundled here with a short XLR cable.
Check price on AmazonSpecifications
| Function | Inline microphone activator for passive dynamic and ribbon microphones |
|---|---|
| Gain | Up to 25 dB of ultra clean gain |
| Power | Draws 48V phantom power, does not pass it to the microphone |
| Effect on noise | Improves signal to noise ratio at the source |
| Bundle contents | CL-1 plus a Get Lifted studio XLR cable with gold REAN connectors |
| Approx. price | Around $190 for the bundle |
Specifications above come from Cloud Microphones' published product description as listed on the Amazon product page. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.
What it does well
- It adds gain at the microphone, before the preamp, which improves signal to noise rather than amplifying the preamp's own hiss along with the signal.
- It blocks phantom power from reaching the microphone, which makes it safe with ribbon microphones that phantom can damage.
- Completely passive in the audio path, with no controls to set and nothing to get wrong.
- It works with any interface that supplies 48V, so it is not tied to a brand or a generation.
- It solves an expensive problem cheaply relative to replacing an interface with a higher gain one.
Where it falls short
- It is useless with condenser microphones, which need phantom power and already produce plenty of output.
- It does not improve the sound of a microphone. It changes where the gain happens, and that is the entire benefit.
- At around $190 in this bundle it costs most of what a decent interface costs, which is worth weighing if you were going to upgrade anyway.
- It needs a second XLR cable in the chain, which is one more connection to fail and one more thing on the desk.
- If your problem is a noisy room rather than a quiet microphone, this makes the room louder too. It is not a noise fix.
What owners report
Published owner reviews split almost entirely along one line, which is whether the buyer needed one. Owners pairing it with an SM7B, an RE20 or a ribbon on a modest interface consistently describe a night and day difference: a healthy signal at a sane gain setting, with the preamp hiss gone. Owners who already had a high gain interface consistently report hearing very little change, and some describe it as an expensive cable.
Both groups are right. The CL-1 does not add anything the signal did not have, it moves 25 dB of amplification from a struggling preamp to a dedicated circuit at the microphone. If your preamp was not struggling, there is nothing to move.
How to tell whether you need one
Find the published maximum gain figure for your interface. If it is below roughly 60 dB and you own a low output dynamic, you need something. If it is comfortably above, you do not. The gain staging calculator works out roughly how much gain your specific microphone and source need, which turns this from a guess into arithmetic.
The other question is which booster. The Cloudlifter CL-1 versus FetHead comparison covers the two common options: the FetHead is smaller, cheaper and hangs directly off the microphone, the Cloudlifter is a box on the desk with a slightly higher gain figure. Both solve the same problem. If you are still choosing a microphone, the Shure SM7B and Electro-Voice RE20 reviews both cover the gain requirement in detail, and the honest alternative is a higher output dynamic such as the Rode PodMic that needs no booster at all.
Who it suits
- SM7B, RE20 and other low output dynamic owners running a budget or mid range interface.
- Ribbon microphone owners, since the CL-1 blocks phantom power from reaching the ribbon.
- Anyone hearing preamp hiss under a quiet voice at high gain settings.
- Setups where replacing the interface is not on the table.
Who should skip it
- Condenser users, since a condenser needs phantom power and already puts out a strong signal.
- Anyone with an interface publishing well over 60 dB of gain.
- Anyone whose actual complaint is room noise, which a booster amplifies along with everything else.
- Buyers about to upgrade the interface anyway, who may get the gain and other benefits in one purchase.
Alternatives worth considering
TritonAudio FetHead In-Line Microphone Preamp
~$75
The same idea in a connector sized package that screws directly onto the microphone, at well under half the price and with one less cable in the chain. The gain figure is slightly lower, which is rarely the deciding factor.
Check price on AmazonRode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone
~$86
A dynamic with high enough output that no interface in this price range struggles with it. If you have not bought the microphone yet, choosing one that does not need a booster is cheaper than buying a booster.
Check price on AmazonShure MV7+ USB-C and XLR Podcast Dynamic Microphone
~$299
Over USB it supplies its own gain and processing, so the whole gain question disappears. Take it if you would rather solve the problem once in the microphone than add a box to the chain.
Check price on AmazonKeep reading
- Cloudlifter CL-1 vs FetHead
- Shure SM7B vs Rode PodMic
- Gain staging calculator
- Shure SM7B review
- Electro-Voice RE20 review
- How to set recording levels
This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Cloudlifter for my microphone?
Only if it is a passive dynamic or ribbon with low output and your interface cannot supply about 60 dB of clean gain. Look up the published maximum gain for your interface. If it is 60 dB or more, you almost certainly do not need one. If it is 50 to 56 dB, which is common at the budget end, an SM7B or an RE20 will need help.
Cloudlifter CL-1 vs FetHead, which is better?
They solve the same problem and the FetHead costs well under half as much. The FetHead screws directly onto the microphone, which keeps the desk tidy and removes a cable from the chain. The Cloudlifter is a separate box with a slightly higher published gain figure and a longer track record. For most home setups the FetHead is the sensible purchase and the Cloudlifter is the safe one.
Does a Cloudlifter work with a condenser microphone?
No. A condenser needs 48V phantom power to operate, and the Cloudlifter consumes the phantom power for itself and blocks it from reaching the microphone. That behaviour is deliberate and it is what makes the unit safe with ribbon microphones. With a condenser you would get no signal at all, and condensers already produce plenty of output anyway.
Will a Cloudlifter reduce noise?
It improves signal to noise by adding gain before the preamp rather than inside it, so the preamp does not have to run at its ceiling with its own hiss coming up alongside your voice. What it does not do is reduce noise coming from the room. A fan, a computer or traffic gets amplified along with your voice, and the fix for that is at the source or in the room.
Is the Cloudlifter worth $190?
It is worth it when it rescues a microphone and interface combination you already own, and it is poor value if you are buying the microphone, the interface and the booster all at once. In that case a higher output dynamic, or an interface with more gain, gets you to the same place for less. Work out the total cost of the chain rather than the cost of each part.
Working out your own room and signal chain? The Home Studio Build Planner is the paid version of these pages: 8 printable worksheets you fill in with your own numbers, plus the full PDF, $29.