A review and demo of the SonoFlex Instrument Microphone from CLOUDVOCAL. This is a small Cardioid condenser mic on a gooseneck that can be mounted on a variety of instruments making it a versatile option for a number of situations. The super simple design and nice mic sound make it very usable. As long as you have a compatible device with phantom power, you are good to go. In this review I look at the mic as well as the guitar mount, suction cup mount, and universal clip.
Learn More or Buy at the CloudVocal Website
I had a great time testing out the SonoFlex Microphone on my classical guitar. I’m not big on tech gear so I am always interested to try out something as simple as a mounted mic that just plugs in. Nothing else to worry about, I just get to plug it in and make music. Above you can see my video review or watch it at YouTube if you prefer.
CloudVocal Promo
Below is the CloudVocal Promotional video for the SonoFlex via their YouTube.
Pros
- Amazing usability: The clamp works great and takes only seconds to place on the guitar. It’s padded so I don’t worry about instrument damage. The mounting is super easy, just twist to lock it to the mount and get to playing.
- Natural sound: The sound from the mic itself was good. The noise floor was super silent which impressed me. Classical guitar is difficult to mic but the sound was much more natural than any contact or piezo mic. As usual with classical guitar, the mid range and bass was a touch boomy but I thought the mic did really well. The highs were a bit on the bright side but some eq easily helped with that. Overall, I’d say the mic sound is pretty great compared to similar systems.
- Simple: Mount it, plug in, play. This was so easy and I prefer the simplicity of a wired system. It’s cool that they included the switch for those people who want to go wireless though, keeps it simple but still versatile.
- Very directional mic and gooseneck: This is good as you can either direct it at the sound hole for tons of loud signal or away to reduce right hand noise or an unnatural close mic bass sound. The gooseneck is easy to adjust and stays in place.
- Long wire: I appreciate the belt clip on the xlr and also the long wire so I don’t need other cables in most situations
- Great mounting options. I really like the suction cup option and would consider using the universal clip on a music stand in some situations.
Concerns
- The guitar mount works well but because of my raised fingerboard I did use the little extender piece. The extender on the guitar mount hits my chest just a little, even when mounting it closer to the neck. I could place it on the underside to avoid this but I wish it didn’t do that. I’m glad they included it but maybe there could be a different solution to this problem. The pad that grips is wonderfully minimal and looks sleek and discreet but I wish it extended a bit more for easy clamping and increased grip.
- The suction cup worked great but I wish it had a little pull tab so I didn’t have to get my fingernail under it to release the suction. Also, the little mounting piece came out, I superglued it back on so it’s not a big deal, probably just a one time thing.
Conclusion
I love the usability and simplicity of the SonoFlex Instrument Microphone from CLOUDVOCAL. It’s very easy to setup in seconds and worked great. The sound is much more natural than any contact or piezo mic and had a super low noise floor. Multiple mounting options also make it a versatile option for a variety of musical situations. Although I might recommend some tiny modifications to the guitar mount, it did deliver as a secure setup and the suction cup and universal clip is also a highly desirable option. I’m very happy with the SonoFlex and will be keeping it in my mic collection family.
Learn More or Buy at the CloudVocal Website
Specs
See way more specifications at the SonoFlex page.
- Cardioid condenser capsule, Handles up to 145 dB SPL.
- 12 cm slow recovery gooseneck. Flexible but stable miking.
- Innovative Rotary Lock. Easy to install, quick to remove.
- Adaptive switch for wired and wireless setups. (Requires a third-party wireless system).
- With the XLR adapter, SonoFlex is compatible with devices that supports 48V standard phantom power.
- 80Hz Low Cut Filter on XLR
Pics
