As a primary school STEM teacher with a creative bent, I have been finding more and more reasons to set up a makeshift recording studio. My students have been composing songs to help them with their learning. I have also thought about podcasts, radio plays and a variety of other projects that will spark their imagination and create a sense of wonder.
At the end of the year in 2024, I contacted the editors at DRN and asked for a microphone that I could use in a makeshift recording studio at my school. What came instead were not one, but two excellent microphones. Both were dynamic microphones with dual XLR and USB inputs, both incredibly affordable and both solid metal and ready for studio recording. This is my review of the second microphone, the Maono PD300X.
First Impressions
I like a good box and Maono usually delivers. Unfortunately, the packaging for the Maono PD300X is a glaring exception. The bulk of the packaging is a very thin cardboard and it is virtually impossible to free the microphone without damaging its packaging. There is quite a bit of soft plastic inside as well as a variety of unnecessary promotional materials. Once removed from the box, it is difficult to return the microphone. The box provides limited protection for it if I was to use it for transporting the microphone around. People wanting to purchase this may need to keep it in one place or purchase a carrying case separately.
However, Maono have clearly used the money they saved on packaging to add functionality to the microphone. The PD300X is a cardioid dynamic microphone that comes with a shock mount and is encased in a ‘microphone capsule’. The buttons and knobs are all on the front of the body of the mic and they are all tactile with multiple functions. The mute button also toggles a ‘custom mode’, the default mode is an ENC mode called ‘noise gate’ but there are a range of other modes that can be accessed using Maono’s ‘Maono Link’ software. There is also a ‘3-in-1 knob’ that can be pressed in to toggle between microphone gain, headphone volume and monitor ratio adjustment. I’ll explain that last function later.
The Maono is a hefty solid metal microphone that weighs about 800g. It does not come with its own stand, which I don’t love. I was able to make use of a microphone stand that I purchased from a discount store for all of my recordings but its heavy weight did make it a little difficult to balance. The Maono PD300X comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable that also has a USB-A adaptor attached. It also features an XLR output which could theoretically reduce circuit noise interference when the microphone is being used in untreated rooms. It would also allow you to connect the microphone to high quality audio interfaces and mixing boards that I definitely don’t own. Maybe this will be my next request.
Set Up
Setting up the Maono PD300X was very straightforward. My computer instantly recognised it as a microphone and headphones and I was ready to use it with my regular software. However, the microphone comes with a range of exciting software packages to help you make the most of the device. The first one I installed was Maono Arena.
This is a software package that optimises your microphone for different types of online activities. You can adjust the equaliser separately for games, streaming, music, chatting and anything else you might be multitasking with online. You can also combine audio sources into ‘submixes’ and adjust their volume settings. Maono Arena also comes with a range of sound effects. I imagine this software would be great for twitch streaming but not so useful to me.
The much more useful program is ‘Maono Link’. Maono Link has a bunch of custom functions that can increase the functionality and versatility of the recordings including tone, compressors and equaliser presets. Unfortunately, the PD300X is not currently available for purchase, so the software was not available on the website. However, what I could see was very exciting.
In Use
Perhaps my favourite thing about this microphone is that it can be so easily adjusted to suit any type of recording. The noise gate function is really effective and enabled me to record highly directional sound of a beautiful quality regardless of the ambient noises in the room. I have attached them below. I particularly like how my singing voice sounds with the noise gate on – very evenly balanced. The natural volume of the microphone is excellent and I actually had to reduce the gain substantially before I could find a good level. A loud microphone is such an asset when recording nervous students who don’t practice microphone etiquette or appropriate distancing.
With the noise gate function off, the microphone still has a cardioid polar pattern, meaning it is still quite directional, but it is able to record ambient sounds quite nicely. I like having the ability to turn this on and off depending on the type of audio I’m recording and will definitely want to use this for recording groups of singers or instrumentalists.
Despite being a dynamic microphone, the frequency profile of the Maono PD300X is not a flat line. It has a small bump in the low register, around 200 Hz and a series of larger bumps between 2K and 5K Hz. I tested a range of different instruments and found that the recordings were still pretty even, including a high pitched whistle. I also recorded some plosive and fricative sounds. There is a bit of bursting on the plosives but nothing particularly notable. Overall, it’s a nice sounding microphone.
The last thing worth mentioning is the monitor ratio adjustment function of the 3-in-1 knob. It’s clear that Maono have been working very closely with professional streamers and this function is the brainchild of that collaboration. The monitor ratio adjustment toggles both the gain of the microphone as well as the audio output of your computer allowing you to perfectly balance computer sound with your voice. I would never have considered this as a feature but could instantly see the appeal. This is a great tool for streamers who are responding to on screen content. It is so exciting to see manufacturers working directly with their customers to create innovative solutions to problems.
Gripes
My biggest gripe with this microphone is the packaging. It’s a little bit heavy and I don’t love clicking between the other functions on the 3-in-1 knob to get to the microphone gain but ultimately it is a lovely microphone to use. I just really wish that the box was a bit nicer so that I could move it safely to school and home again without having to purchase a carry case.
Conclusion
The Maono PD300X will be available soon and is expected to retail at $161 ($100 USD). This is a bargain for such a versatile and well designed microphone. I can’t wait to get Maono Link and start playing with the different functions available for it. If you are interested in streaming or setting up a home recording studio, it would be hard to think of a better alternative than the Maono PD300X.
