Tonor is a brand that develops excellent quality recording devices. Normally, these types of devices are expensive and not easy to find. Tonor has taken on the task of offering the public a series of devices that offer excellent quality at a really competitive price.
Many emerging artists prefer this brand because in addition to the quality of their devices, they have focused on specific lines such as microphones for podcasting that have a perfect balance between cost and the recording quality they offer.
Such is the case of the Tonor ORCA 001, a cardioid condenser microphone with USB connection that is perfect for those who are into podcasting, live streaming, recording, voice-overs and almost any activity related to voice recording. Let's take a closer look at the technical specifications of this microphone.
What's in the box?
When you purchase the Tonor ORCA 001 you will get a white box with a picture of the microphone on the front. You will see the brand name and the most important features. You will also see information on one side such as their website and the email available for customer service.
On the other side, you can see the Technical characteristics of the microphone written in English, the product code and some additional information related to microphone compatibility.
Inside the box you can find each of the accessories and the microphone itself. Each element comes in a protective case and they are the following:
- USB-C type cable.
- ORCA 001 microphone.
- Desktop stand.
- Adapter for 'arm' type support.
- Instruction manual.
Design and materials
First of all, we have to say that the Tonor ORCA 001 is a low-end classification microphone, but the truth is that offers superior qualityIts purpose is to make a place for itself among the different brands existing in the market by offering a quality-price ratio that benefits the user in every way.
The microphone Mounts on a stand for desktop use, which provides excellent stability. If you hit it, it won't fall.
This stand comes with a foam layer at its base which adds two important functions, one of them is that it prevents the support from sliding on smooth surfaces and the other is that it isolates it from vibrations coming from the table where you are using it.
It has also been designed to be mounted on a kind of holder with 4 special rubber bands. These form a anti-vibration system which also isolates the microphone from vibrations coming from the desk or from the noise produced by your computer keyboard when you type.
In addition, the stand has a joint that allows you to rotate the microphone up to 90°. In case you need even more mobility for the microphone, you can find the 5/8 adapter and use it to attach the ORCA 001 to a metal arm that allows you to position the microphone in virtually any direction.
As for the design and materials of the microphone, we can say that it is a very well-done product aesthetically, it has a very modern, attractive and compact design. It looks pretty good in any setup or gamer room. Its construction is based on high quality materials, alternating plastic and metal so that the microphone is very resistant.
Another point in favor of its design is the RGB LED lighted button setWhen you turn up the volume, this button changes color depending on the level you choose. You can also activate silent mode by simply tapping the top of the microphone, which is extremely convenient and practical.
The entire body of the microphone is matte black with some glossy finishes just like the base. The anti-vibration rubber pads are red, which creates a pretty nice contrast that could easily blend into most anyone's setups.
Audio quality
Remember that the ORCA 001 is classified as a low-end microphone, however, when you use it you realize that the TONOR ORCA 001 is above that classification in every sense. Below, we leave you a Sound recording test, we recommend using headphones to notice the difference:
The ORCA 001 is a condenser microphone, Its pickup stop is cardioid, so its greatest point of sensitivity is at the front. That makes the microphone is ideal for gaming For example, since the rear part has less sensitivity, it will better capture the sound of our voice and not the sound of the keys you are pressing while playing.
This polar pattern cannot be modified. This is why it would be more of a personal microphone (single person) than for use in recording the voices of several people in different directions or to capture ambient sound.
According to the tests we have carried out, the ideal distance so that the microphone does not saturate with sound is between 30 and 35 cm away. Although this will also depend a lot on where you use it and the power of your voice to speakThe truth is that you don't need to have the microphone too close to your mouth for it to capture your voice clearly and distinctly.
It also has a button noise cancellation, he which greatly reduces background noise, however, does not cancel it out completely. In this regard, you will have to take the necessary measures to minimize as much external noise as possible if you want to achieve a flawless recording.
You will be able to enjoy very good sound quality with pleasant frequencies, your voice will sound full-bodied and very natural. You will also be able to capture the mid and high sounds of your voice with a Excellent level of detail and no distortions.
Extra features
Some of the ORCA 001 functions that we want to highlight are:
- Controls: In total, the microphone It has 4 controls that serve some specific functions.
- Mute microphone: On the top of the microphone you will find a touch surface that, when lightly touched with your finger, will activate or deactivate the microphone's 'mute' mode.
- Microphone gain: You will also be able to see two side buttons that will serve to raise or lower the sensitivity level from the microphone.
- Noise cancellation: You will also find the button noise cancellation which will help you reduce the amount of background noise your microphone picks up when recording.
Connectivity
To talk about connectivity, we have to mention that It has two connections at the bottom of the microphone:
USB–C port
This connection is used to connect it to devices such as a console, your mobile phone or your computer.
3.5mm Jack Port
This type of connection is most useful when you need to perform real-time monitoring of the sound you are capturing through the microphone. Another option would be if you want to listen to the sound coming from your computer system, as you can also connect a pair of headphones to listen to your voice in real time with zero latency.
You can use the cable that comes included in the box, which is about 2 meters long. Installing the microphone on the computer is extremely simple, it is a 'Plug and play' that does not require you to install additional drivers. When you connect the microphone via USB, it will do all the necessary procedures so you can use it in a few seconds.
The other end of the cable also has a USB-C connector and a USB-A adapter for traditional devices that do not have a USB-C connection.
Tonor ORCA 001 Compatibility
This microphone is compatible with many models of MAC laptops, Windows, Android devices, Desktops, consoles such as PS4 and PS5, except Xbox. In addition, you can use it to manage your voice audio in programs such as Skype, Zoom, Discord, Meet, Twitch and Team Speak, among many others.