Today we're going to review the Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack, let's see what this bundle is and how good it is. For users just starting out in the world of recording, it makes sense to look at ready-made kits. French company Arturia, for example, offers the MiniFuse Recording Pack. This is a MiniFuse 2 USB interface, microphone, and headphones, as well as all the necessary cables and software in one box. So you can start creating on the day you buy it.
Of course, no one is stopping you from buying similar products separately. However, they will not be all in one style and under one brand, which can be a key decision when buying for bloggers and streamers who often show the equipment in the frame. It is worth noting that the bundled microphone and headphones are fairly mass-produced models for which the user does not overpay. No one is stopping you from upgrading to more expensive professional options in the future as your needs and professionalism grow. Well, less lyrics, and before we continue our review of the Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack, let's take a look at the specs of each unit in this bundle.
|
Best Price on Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack
The Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack is a fantastic entry-level to mid-range recording solution for musicians, streamers, and bloggers who need a reliable and easy-to-use setup. |
Classic Package
|
So let's start our Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack review, first, we'll talk a bit about the bundle in general and then we'll look at the audio interface, microphone, and headphones individually. One of the interesting features of the Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack is the availability of two color options. The vast majority of studio gear is exclusively black. Arturia offers its kit not only in traditional black but also in pure white. Note that all units have a white body, including the microphone and connection cables (as is the case with the black color).
While it may seem to some that the kit is somehow frivolous and plastic, this is not the case. The interface has up to 2 full preamps and a full set of professional features. The body of the interface is all metal. The microphone is also all metal and quite weighty. We also liked the fact that the microphone comes in a rich package - shock mount, pop filter, and XLR cable - so you only need to buy a microphone stand. For example, you can choose a desktop microphone boom arm, a so-called scissor arm, if the user is engaged in broadcasting to the Internet. For recording vocals and instruments, any desktop stand, with a top boom or straight. On a straight stand, it is easier to attach a foam isolation shield for unprepared rooms, which may be an important reason for the choice.
Interestingly, the manufacturer has a USB interface model MiniFuse 1 with only one microphone/guitar input. But in the Recording Pack, the French manufacturer decided to put a more expensive and elaborate model. The MiniFuse Recording Pack is based on the MiniFuse 2 audio interface. It is a representative of the inexpensive portable MiniFuse series, which our readers know from detailed reviews of products from this line. MiniFuse 2 is a two-channel USB interface with two microphone/instrument inputs and two outputs. The mic input has +48V phantom power, which is required for studio condenser microphones. It also has a hardware input signal monitoring mode and allows separate volume control for the headphone and line outputs. It also features a powerful headphone output, additional loopback channels, and a USB hub. Read more about the MiniFuse 2 features in our review.
The interface looks decent, in this Arturia kit it seems appropriate. The quality of the transducers is good enough for use with the included microphone and headphones. If you want to improve things in the future, replacing the interface will be the last thing you need.
As for the headphones and microphone, this is the first time we've come across them. They are only available as part of the Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack and cannot be purchased separately, at least not yet.
The headphones are a full-size, closed-back model. The closed acoustic design allows you to use these headphones when recording with a microphone. The ear cushions completely cover the ear, providing the headphones with the necessary sound isolation. The ear cushions are elongated, made of medium-density foam, and covered with leather-type material.
The headphones have one of the most common designs that have been proven in professional use. The headband is a wide plate covered with leather. Inside, a soft foam cushion covers the entire surface of the headband. The design of the headphones is not foldable and is quite secure. The depth of fit can be adjusted by pulling out the ear cups. There is also a hinge for slight rotation in the vertical plane.
The headphones use dynamic drivers with a diameter of 40 mm. As with all decent models, the driver is placed at a slight angle to the listener's ear. The internal volume of the headphone housing is damped with fabric and relieved by additional small holes, brought outward. The sensitivity of the headphones declared by the manufacturer is 99 dB, impedance - 32 ohms.
The connection cable is not removable and is connected to the left earphone. The cable is straight and 3 meters long. At the end, there is a mini-jack connector. A 1/4 TRS adapter with a threaded mount is included.
The sound quality of the Arturia EF1 headphones is not bad. The most characteristic features of their sound are a well-saturated low-frequency range and a slight emphasis on the high frequencies. Considering the low cost of the Arturia EF1, you should not be picky or demand anything outstanding from the headphones. At the same time, we don't see any reason why they shouldn't be used professionally. The headphones handle high volume levels well, have full frequency monitoring and a closed acoustic design, and are comfortable enough for extended use. The headphones look quite decent for their price category.
For instrumental or vocal monitoring, these headphones will do just fine. For professional mixing and mastering, however, we strongly recommend replacing them in the future. But for demo recordings, they will do!
Arturia's CM1 microphone is no less interesting. It doesn't look like a traditional, massive studio model, but is housed in a compact, original-shaped body. We were also able to identify the OEM manufacturer of this microphone. For Arturia, this microphone was produced by the Chinese brand Takstar, and it is a model TAK35. By the way, there are persistent rumors that microphones for AKG are not made in Austria and that Takstar makes microphones for Lewitt.
The CM1 is a condenser microphone. It has a single electret capsule that provides a cardioid pickup pattern. It comes with a shock mount and a metal mesh pop filter. The filter is attached to the edge of the shock mount and can be easily removed when recording from a distance or for some acoustic instruments.
As for the microphone's internal circuitry, you can see a full-fledged discrete circuit on modern SMD components. The sensitivity of the microphone is -36 dB, and the sound pressure margin claimed by the manufacturer is 130 dB. The schematic assumes that the microphone is operated with +48V phantom power, which is provided by the MiniFuse 2 interface included in the kit.
The manufacturer has provided a proprietary XLR microphone cable to connect the microphone. It has white or black insulation to match the color of the other devices (depending on the Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack you have chosen). The length of the connection cable is 3 meters.
Before we started writing and compiling our review of the Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack, we tested & recorded it in a studio environment. We primarily recorded vocals, as vocal and speech recording is the primary purpose of the kit's microphone. To get a better idea of the microphone's capabilities, we recorded with two microphones simultaneously. The reference in this test was the Neumann TLM102 microphone.
In our opinion, the recording quality is good. Even though the microphone uses an electret 16mm capsule, the recording is full, quite detailed, and can be processed well. The timbre of the voice is quite neutral, without emphasizing any frequencies. Sure, there are some differences in detail compared to wide-diaphragm microphones, but for an entry-level model, the Arturia CM1's recording looks very good. The standard pop filter copes well with percussive consonants and successfully dissipates air energy. And despite its metal construction, it doesn't add any whistling or resonance.
We recorded it in the most popular DAW - Cubase and haven't encountered any software problems. You can safely use the software included in the kit. Together with the devices, the manufacturer supplies the Ableton Live Lite program, the Analog Lab Intro application, four proprietary Arturia processing plug-ins, NI GUITAR RIG 6 LE guitar processing, Auto-Tune Unlimited intonation corrector, and Splice Creator Plan.
Q: Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack: Who Is This Bundle For?
A: The Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack is perfect for aspiring streamers and vloggers/broadcasters. It is also perfect for beginners and advanced musicians to learn the basics of recording, sound engineering, and demo recordings of tracks and compositions. We can safely recommend the Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack as a gift for aspiring streamers, bloggers, and musicians, as it will not leave anyone indifferent or disappointed.
Q: Who Might Not Find Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack Ideal?
A: Advanced users who are familiar with the recording base and know exactly how good headphones and microphones should sound. If you are one of these, you have probably already chosen your "Dream Setup". And of course, it costs considerably more than this set!
Q: Is the Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack worth the money?
A: Yes and no at the same time. On the one hand, it's a great set that is styled in Arturia's signature style and will fit perfectly into any home studio. Also, the audio interface of Arturia MiniFuse 2 is just superb and fulfills its task to the full 120%. We only have questions to the headphones and microphone. For example, if we buy each unit from this bundle separately we can build a much better set for this money. For example, MiniFuse 2 audio interface is ~$120 we do not change (leave it as it is), the microphone AKG P120 is ~$80-90, or NEAT Worker Bee is ~$80-90, from headphones we can recommend Audio-Technica ATH-M20X ~$40-50, so the final price of such a set will be in the neighborhood of ~$250 and such a selected bandle will be much better in recording quality. In summary, we can recommend taking a closer look at Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack during sales or if you don't want to waste your time and buy everything separately, it's a great option that won't be far behind our selection!
Q: Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack or Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio, which is better?
A: To be honest, here we are more inclined towards Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio as this pack has a slightly better microphone, slightly better headphones, and Focusrite Control 2 mixing software, which is very handy in our opinion. But Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack is not inferior to Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio. Both bundles have excellent audio interfaces, but headphone and microphone quality is mediocre in both cases.
Here comes the end of our Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack review, we've answered all the frequent questions above and now it's time to summarize. Arturia's recording kit has proven to be quite interesting. The MiniFuse Recording Pack is one of the few inexpensive, well-balanced kits that allows you to get good professional results. The MiniFuse 2 interface unlocks the full potential of microphones and headphones, offering further development opportunities. In our opinion, Arturia's kit will be a great help for bloggers and streamers when choosing a ready-made kit. The Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack not only has great functionality, but it also looks great, which is important for a good picture in the frame.
We hope you enjoyed our review of the Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack. Please feel free to leave your comments, questions, and suggestions in the section below. We will be happy to answer them all as soon as possible. If you already own an Arturia MiniFuse Recording Pack and have used it for a while, don't forget to share your impressions and tell us what you liked or disliked about this bundle.
Pros
|
Cons
|
7.8
/10
Our Score
|
