The Maonocaster E2 is presented to us as an accessible solution to edit live sound in the style of radio, either for podcasts, or in the case of streamers who want to improve the sound quality of their live broadcasts. Here at Hardwaresfera we are huge fans of the podcast phenomenon. We have written long and hard about what you need start a podcast. Although we say that anyone can make one, or be a streamer, it is important to do it well because you are asking people to listen to you for several hours. One of the many points that should not be skimped on is sound quality, because in the end the podcast and streaming are media or purely auditory, or that depends a lot on it. And poor sound quality is what can do the most irreparable damage.
It will be that, on a personal level, I have dealt with a radio workshop in my neighborhood, where in my very short time I have been able to learn how to manage a radio program, and therefore a podcast, from the most basic. While an extensive selection of royalty-free music, a good logo, and more help give it something unique, It is always necessary to have equipment that offers at least a sound of a certain quality.. You can't ask people to listen to you for hours with sound quality of Skype or Whatsapp.
And normally, the microphones that are usually sold in the range of twenty to fifty euros, work, but all could well receive general adjustments to eliminate noise and make the necessary modifications. While you can make adjustments in Audacity, if you can already make sound adjustments beforehand and live, that's one step, and a lot of time saved. It is for this that the MaonoCaster E2 is presented, which is also widely used by streamers, which includes the possibility of playing predetermined sound effects.
We thank Maono for giving us the product for review
Table of Contents
Maonocaster E2 Unboxing
On this occasion, we find a package that includes the Maonocaster E2 in question, along with a microphone stand that is close to professional quality, and small in-ear headphones. This wants to make a complete package, very attractive for those who want to start from the most absolute zero.
One of its sides includes features that may interest new podcasters. A quality DSP, battery to make it portable, and multichannel mixing together with the possibility of recording sound effects. Very surely with this, it is more than enough for a streamer or a podcaster in its beginnings and for several years once you have learned to handle them.
Upon opening it, past the instruction manual and the warranty, we see the Maonocaster E3, along with a package with connection cables and the microphone that this package uses.
Under the first block of foam, we find accessories for the microphone such as the base, the cable and a holder. With this we notice that the package becomes a great option to easily have a small mixing and narration studio, in a very small format.
The included microphone is similar to a condenser, and comes with a pop filter that prevents puffs and some bumps from being picked up. The microphone cable is XLR connectors, so you can't easily use the included microphone by connecting it to a normal PC.
Designer
Starting to assemble the package, the microphone is very easy to mount, and takes up relatively little space for a microphone that approaches professional quality.
The connection cable included as standard is an XLR. This means that if we do not have high-end equipment, this serial microphone is the only one that can be connected to the ones we have, if we do not have one with a 3,5 mm jack plug. On the one hand, this makes high sound quality is maintained when recording and passing the sound to the Maonocast E2, so that you have a good base from which to work your live sound modifications.
And so is the main caster that we analyze today. At first glance, it is quite compact, and that gives it certain limitations. We warn that does not allow different distortions to two separate microphones, beyond that it allows you to raise and lower its volume.
It should be said that from here we are going to analyze the Maonocaster E2 from an intermediate point of view. We do not expect it to be a team that can effectively replace the equipment of even a radio neighborhood, since that has a complexity that goes far beyond the range. The official price that it has makes us expect certain factors of sound control, quality and benefits, beyond the low ranges of the microphone.
A priori it can be seen that detail is taken care of to a certain extent. The rotary volume and distortion controls have crosshatch patterns so they're easy to grip with your hands and won't slip in your fingers.
The number of preset effect buttons it has is quite neat and clean. most effects can be very useful recording a podcast to speed up the process of voice distortion effects at certain times. It seems little, but there are many controls in Audacity that you save by now being able to move a few dials.
The spectrum of connectors is quite wide. However, in the best of cases you can put a second mini jack microphone, in case you want to make a podcast to two people. In addition, it does not allow you to change the effects individually.
Other connectors are an aux in, two simultaneous output mini jacks, for output to headphones and thus control the sound and for microphone input, USB-C connectors, one to customize sound effects,
Gallery
Experiences and conclusion with the Maonocaster E2
To do a test, we have done a test with a normal USB microphone, like the ones you would buy in an electronics store, followed by the configuration that this Maonocaster E2 requires. The difference in sound is considerable, not only because of the type of microphone, but also because of the sound settings that the Maonocaster amplifier makes as standard. You hear less background noise, and the recorded human voice sounds cleaner and clearer. Always depending on the limitations of the voice itself.
In sound quality, it wins a lot, but then there is a sound mixing tool. Having messed around a bit, we can say that it has a very intuitive direct control that, as soon as you practice it, you get an idea of what it does. It is far from being a sound control comparable to that of the neighborhood radio station I was at, but it condenses the most basic handling very well.
If you wanted to start a podcast with a friend, this would surely be an option to have a mixer and sound effects. It meets everything you expect from it. But keep in mind that this aspires more to be a tool for professionals than for home users. Unless you have a strong reason like you can dedicate yourself to being a streamer, or a youtuber, or you do a lot of dome mastering RPG sessions via voice chat, or you want to do your podcasts, and on a regular basis, it is difficult to recommend it to someone . But past that threshold, it's very easy to recommend.
There are small drawbacks with its connectivity section, such as that you can't easily have two XLR microphones or two jack microphones without using adapters, or that there is only one sound output for headphones. This is an inconvenience, which is easily solved with adapters.And they're not exactly expensive.
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- Good quality of the microphone and of the sound card itself, in its price range.
- Good quality bluetooth.
- A basic but versatile autotune.
- Programmable buttons like streamdecks, ideal for live broadcasts.
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- You cannot connect a USB microphone or one with a plug beyond the 3,5mm mini jack.
- Only one 3,5mm jack auxiliary output connector, when the ideal would be to have two for when recording with two.
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