Lewitt is changing the studio game by combining optical sensor with smart processing to deliver consistent, professional vocal tone for podcasters and vocalists. Meet Ray.
Disclaimer: Lewitt sent me this microphone to use in my studio and I get to keep it as compensation for my work. However, Lewitt has no say in the things I mention in the video/post nor do they get to see the content before it is released.
Features
- New sensor-based AURA Technology dynamically adapts your levels and tone – works like autofocus for your voice
- MUTE by Distance function automatically mutes/unmutes your microphone
- Opens new ways of interacting with a microphone for podcasting, streaming, content, and music production
- First XLR microphone with dedicated mute button
- Record-Ready sound makes recording easy and gives you a finished sound from the start
- High-end XLR studio microphone with analog signal path
- Weight 330g
- Price: $349 / €349 / £299
First Impressions
Unboxing any Lewitt product is always fun: they have put a lot of effort into their packaging design, and every product I’ve ever received from them has had this ‘premium’ feel to it. RAY feels as robust as every other Lewitt microphone I’ve ever tried. All their packaging is also environmentally friendly, which I really appreciate.
The microphone itself has some convincing weight to it without being too heavy. You are also presented with a bunch of useful accessories:
- Shock Mount
- Magnetic Pop Filter
- Windscreen
- Transport bag
All of these are actually useful things to have and add to the overall premium feel of Lewitt products.
Sensor based tone shaping
The highlight of this microphone is optical sensor-based tone shaping that keeps the volume and tone of your voice consistent even if you lean back from the microphone. I’m not new to marketing hype, so I approached this microphone with a healthy dose of skepticism. And boy, I was proved wrong.
The problem with traditional podcast/voiceover microphones is that while they deliver great sound, you usually must stay glued to the microphone. And when you’re, for example, recording a podcast with your friends, it’s sometimes hard to maintain that consistency through all the laughter.
Ray’s built-in tonal shaping does an incredible job keeping your voice’s tone (almost) identical whether you’re touching the microphone with your nose or leaning back and being 50+ centimeters away from the microphone.
How To Mute By Distance
As the name suggests, the optical sensor can also be used to mute the microphone when you step away from it. And this mute distance can be configured with few easy steps:
1. Hold the mute button until the mute indicator starts blinking
2. While the mute indicator is blinking, move to the spot where you want the mute to be engaged. The mute indicator will stop blinking when it has set the distance.
3. Test the mute by moving closer to the microphone. The mute indicator should turn green, which means the microphone is now unmuted.
4. To disable mute-by-distance hold the mute button for a few seconds until the mute indicator turns off.
Fade In & Fade Out
Something Lewitt has also managed to do is add a small fade-out and fade-in when the microphone is muted/unmuted. While a subtle effect, it makes mutes and unmutes much smoother and more natural.
What I like And What Could Be Improved
Overall, I find Ray’s features incredibly useful. The sensor-based tone shaping, mute-by-distance, and how good the microphone sounds make this an (almost) perfect microphone for an influencer/podcaster like me.
And it’s not a one-trick-pony either: recording dense vocal mixes or acoustic guitar was easier than ever before. Me moving while doing those wasn’t really an issue thanks to the sensor-based adjustments. And when you get close to the microphone, you get that thick, rich podcast/voiceover sound.
The optical sensor on RAY also made me realize how much I talk with my hands. And when my hands are between the optical sensor and me, the microphone adjusts thinking it’s my face. Luckily, this can be easily fixed by placing the microphone higher and aiming it towards my face from a different angle.
Overall, the Lewitt Ray is exactly the kind of microphone I didn’t know I needed. And now that I have it, every other microphone I have feels slightly… outdated, for lack of a better term.
If you’re interested in acquiring your own Lewitt microphone and support what I do, you can use the affiliate link here:
►►Get Lewitt Microphones: https://thmn.to/thocf/tittblbu8v
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