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Cloudlifter Mic Activator CL-1
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Cloudlifter Cl-1
Get Lifted

The Original Cloudlifter. Hear more of your dynamic, ribbon or tube microphone's character and clarity with our patented ultra-clean gain.

Compatibale Microphones CL-1

We Are Compatible

Cloudlifters are compatible with any tube, dynamic, or ribbon mic on the market today, INCLUDING these popular microphones:

Dynamic Microphone Icon
Dynamic Microphones
  • AKG D12 VR, D112, P2, P3, P4, P5i, D5, D40

  • EV RE20, RE27, RE320, 635A

  • Beyerdynamic M70 Pro X, M88, M201, V70d

  • Sennheiser MD-421 II, MD 441-U, MD 431 II, MD 435, MD 445

  • Sennheiser  e 609, e 825-S, e 835, e 906, e 945

  • Shure SM7B, MV7, MV7X (XLR)

  • Shure SM57, SM58, Beta 57A & 58A

  • Shure Super 55 Deluxe, and 55SH

  • Heil PR20, PR 22, 30, PR35, PR40, PR781

  • Telefunken M80, M81, M82

  • Rode PodMic, Procaster

  • Audix OM2, OM5, OM7, D4, D6

Tube Microphone Icon
Tube Microphones
  • AKG P820, C12 VR

  • Golden Age GA ELA M 251E

  • Lewitt LCT 840, LCT 940, LCT 1040

  • Manley Reference Cardioid, Silver, Gold

  • Mojave MA-37, MA-200, MA-300, MA-1000

  • Miktek CV3, CV4

  • Neumann M49 V, M149,  U47, U67 

  • Soyuz  013 Tube, 017 Tube V2

  • Telefunken C12, TF51, ELA M 251E, TF29, TF39, TF47, TF51, U47

  • Rode NTK, K2

  • Roswell Pro Audio Aztec

  • Universal Audio Bock 251

  • Warm Audio WA-47, WA-251, WA-8000, WA-CX12

Ribbon Microphone Icon

Ribbon Mics (passive or tube)

  • AEA R84, R44, R88 MKII

  • Beyer M130, M160, M260, M500

  • Cloud 44 Midnight, JRS-34

  • Extinct Audio BM2, BM9

  • Royer R10, 121, 122V, SF2, SF-12, SF-24V

  • Coles 4038, 4040, 4104B

  • Shure KSM313, KSM353

  • MXL R144, R77

  • Nady RSM-5

  • SE Voodoo VR1, X1 R

  • Golden Age R2 MKII

  • Shotgun Mics (battery powered)

  • Rode VideoMic NTG

While Cloud Microphones' Cloudlifters are designed for compatibility with a wide range of microphones in the industry, variations in microphone specifications may exist. It is advisable to check with your microphone manufacturer to ensure compatibility or, feel free to contact us for further assistance. Your optimal audio experience is our priority, and we are here to help clarify any uncertainties.

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Cloud Microphones CL-1 Get Lifted
Cloud Microphones 
About Us 

Cloud Microphones manufactures top-of-the-line microphones, activators, and more! Cloud’s Ribbon Microphones and patented Cloudlifter Mic Activators are used by artists, engineers, podcasters, creators, broadcasters, and venues all over the world. Cloud Mic's Cloudlifters are manufactured in the US and on the Navajo Reservation, supporting small businesses in the southwest.

Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator 
  • Up to +25 dB of clean audio gain 

  • Make any home recording set-up sound more professional 

  • Compatible with dynamic, ribbon, tube, battery, or power supply driven microphones 

  • Uses +48v Phantom Power, but does not pass power to the mic, making it safe for ribbon mics 

  • Original Mic Activator - Made in the USA

Cloud CL-1 Mic Activator
Bring Your Mics to Life 

Cloudlifters increase the sensitivity of your microphone and bring its natural tonal characteristics into focus. The single-channel Cloudlifter CL-1, two-channel Cloudlifter CL-2, and rack-mountable four channel Cloudlifter CL-4 all provide up to +25dB of ultra-clean gain with fixed impedance loading at 3kΩ, optimized for a wide variety of microphones. Each one is designed to improve the sensitivity and performance of lower-output microphones dramatically. Whether you’re using an expensive, professional-grade microphone/preamp combination or common microphones with a basic home setup, Cloudlifters provide way more signal from the microphone itself, allowing the preamp to operate in its optimal gain range by reducing the amount of gain needed. This reduces noise and distortion, bringing more of the microphone’s natural character into focus. For those recording professionally, at home, or performing on stage, Cloudlifters are valuable tools that produce high-quality, professional audio.

Cloud CL-1 Podcast Equipment
Cloud CL-1 Mic Booster
Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter Family
Up to +25 dB of Gain 

Hear more of your dynamic and ribbon microphone's natural character and increase the clarity with +25dB of ultra-clean gain. Cloudlifters provide ultra-clean gain in two distinct stages while optimizing impedance loading. 

The Cloudlifter uses +48v Phantom Power but does not pass power to the mic. For this reason, the Cloudlifter is a great way to keep your ribbon and tube mics safe from exposure to Phantom Power while providing the extra gain they need.

Reduce Unwanted Feedback 

As a result of increased sensitivity and ultra-clean gain, the amount of gain required by the preamp is reduced significantly. This also reduces noise and improves the natural frequency response of the mic by allowing the preamp or interface to operate within its comfort zone!

Perfect for Podcasts, Professional and home Studios, AV, and Live Sound 

Whether you are a pro studio looking for more gain from your ribbon or tube mics or narrating a podcast or video with a dynamic mic, creating quality content with the Cloudlifter is easy.

Active Ultra-Clean Gain

Provides up to +25dB of ultra-clean gain in two distinct stages and optimal impedance loading for dynamic, ribbon and Tube mics to perform their best.
Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator
Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Booster
Plug & Play

Simply connect your passive mic to the input and connect the output to a mixer, interface or preamp with +48v phantom power engaged. The Cloudlifter does the rest.
Premium Electronics
The Cloudlifter's patented discrete JFET circuitry preserves the source's natural sound while keeping the direct audio path clear of transformers, capacitors, and resistors.
Cloudlifter CL-1 Electronics
CL-1 Microphone Activator
Reduce Feedback
The Cloudlifter allows you to cut through the mix on stage with increased gain before feedback.
Phantom Powered
Turns Phantom Power into gain and clarity without passing it through to your delicate ribbon mic.
Phantom Power
Cloud Microphones Made In The U.S.A.
Made in the USA
 
Rugged, road-ready, and portable. Manufactured responsibly in the USAFree lifetime limited warranty.

Patents:  9,167,327;  9,888,315;  10,356,507;  10,721,552

CL-1 Specs

Power

Dimensions

Input Impedance

3k Ohms

Recommended Load Impedance

>5K Ohms

Connectivity

3-pin male/female XLR connector

Powering

48V Phantom Power (P48 according to IEC 61938)

Product width

49.02 mm (1.93 in.)

Product height

49.02 mm (1.93 in.)

Product length

119.9 mm (4.72 in.)

Product weight

320.3 g (11.3 oz.)

Sound

Frequency range

5 Hz - 80 kHz (-0.3 dB)

Gain

Provides up to +25dB of Ultra-Clean Gain with 5k Load

Current consumption

3.1 mA

What's In The Box

CL-1

User manual with warranty card

Downloads

Manual

       Download

Troubleshooting

       Download

User Guide

       Download

Images

Specifications
Downloads
(click for larger image)
Cloudlifter Podcast CL-1

Cloudlifters are an essential tool for any audio scenario.

 

Recording in the studio, performing live on stage, producing a podcast, using long cable runs, miking soft sound sources

and using noisy or low-gain preamps

are just a few of its many uses.

Videos

Videos

MAKE YOUR MICS SOUND AWESOME! Cloud Microphones CLOUDLIFTER CL-1
05:40
Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator
00:56
Guide to Cloudlifting CL-1, CL-2, CL-4
02:18
Cloudlifter Mic Activator Review and Demo
04:09
Everything You Need To Know About The Cloudlifter
03:11
Cloud Cam! Midnight Preachers on the Cloudlifter CL-1.
00:49
Cloudlifter Mic Activator Demo & Giveaway - Warren Huart: Produce Like A Pro
14:14
Shure SM7b with and without Cloudlifter CL-1 and Preamp Comparison
21:06
Reviews

Customer Reviews

CL-1 Amazon Reviews

CL-1

CUSTOMER

REVIEWS

Amazon Verified Purchase

Jake - Just a nicely built piece of equipment overall

I'm really happy to have switched to this. There's not a huge difference but the audio is just a bit fuller with this vs the triton fethead I just bought a couple days ago and used initially. The triton was truly a piece of junk built like something you'd buy maybe even at the dollar store with the glued on ring that seems to detach for basically everyone. This cloudlifter on the other hand just felt great the second I opened the box. The overall build quality of it gives me much more confidence in it's ability to last as well. I re did a layer of vocals in a song I'm working on right now using it and it just sounds great. The triton also made things sound great but a pinch less great - I just decided to bite the bullet on this one and fork out the extra money so I don't end up having to buy both items later once the return period closes after the inevitable failure the triton will likely to have. This was triple the money but it honestly gives me 10x the confidence going forward which makes it worth it imo.

5 Star Reviews
Default Amazon Customer

Professional Reviews

Sound On Sound

By: Paul White

If you use passive ribbon mics, or even moving-coil dynamic models, to capture acoustic instruments at the quieter end of the scale, the Cloudlifters can help you produce much cleaner-sounding results without paying out for a high-end dedicated ribbon preamp. I really must get one...

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Recording Hacks

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By: Matthew McGlynn

There’s a lot to love about the Cloudlifter. It turns phantom power into clean, transparent gain. It gets the best out of long cable runs and noisy preamps. In fact, it turns any preamp into a high-gain “ribbon preamp.”...

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Tape Op

By: Mike Jasper

The Cloudlifter saw some action running a mic some 75 ft or so outside to the front of the studio for one particular vocal take. Concerned about running that kind of cable length before a mic preamp, I decided to use a high-output vintage tube mic with the CL-1 in-line...

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Radio Mag Online

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By: Chris Wygal, CBRE

The CL-1 uses patented class-A discrete JFET circuitry to increase the microphone output by as much as 25 dB. In situations where long cables are used, microphone outputs are low, or the SNR is hard to overcome, the CL-1 is a perfect solution...

Pro Sound News

By: Gregory A. DeTogne

Branded and sold under the Cloud Microphones name today, all JRS-34 microphones are assembled by hand in Tucson, Arizona, using parts made locally using energy-saving, environmentally responsible methods...

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Sound Speeds

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By: Allen Williams

If you're using a Shure sm7b you really should consider getting the CL-1 along with it. I think it does an excellent job of lowering the noise without having to overcompensate on the gain...

Home Recording Show

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By: Jon & Ryan

This week Ryan reviews the Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter Mic Activator, and in the Rapid Fire section, we talk about dogs in the studio, our favorite mixing trick, and what's on the top of our gear lust list...

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Capture Every Detail

Enhance your audio with industry-standard Cloudlifters for superior gain, clarity, and sensitivity. Capture the essence of your microphone's sound while minimizing signal alteration due to preamp gain. Boost microphone sensitivity for detailed, nuanced recordings, even in quiet settings. Let Cloudlifters handle the heavy lifting, lightening the load on your preamp for optimal performance.

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