Product Reviews

Terratec's iQuader is a pencil case-sizedstereo USB microphone aimed at creative professionals who need an easy way of capturing high-quality audio on their Mac.

Inside the unassuming case there's a preamp and an analogue limiter which prevents digital distortion. The iQuader supports sampling rates from 32kHz up to 96kHz, though for most applications the CD-quality 44.1kHz should suffice.

There's a USB port on the back of the case and a 3.5mm headphone jack flanked by level controls for microphone and monitor on the front. There's a sleep button on the top which is encircled by a status LED.

Setting

ADVERTISEMENT

up and using the iQuader couldn't have been easier. We plugged it into a spare USB port and selected it as the default input in Audio Midi Setup in the Utilities folder. We then fired up GarageBand to test it. The excellent manual gives details not only on how to set up the iQuader with Mac OS X, but how to use it to record audio in GarageBand, Logic and Cubase. Our only concern while using the mic was that the level controls on the front are recessed and difficult to adjust.

Audio quality, as you would be entitled to expect from a microphone which costs £200, was exceptional. We sat the iQuader on a desk just under our monitor and reasonably close to a Mac mini whose fan was going at full speed. The result was a recording so crisp, rich and free from background hum that it could have been recorded in a studio. It was that good.

While the iQuader is overkill for VoIP, if you regularly podcast but can't justify the expense of a studio, record voiceovers for video or slideshows, or even if you are a musician who captures moments of inspiration while in front of your Mac, then the iQuader is ideal. It's not cheap, but the end result is well worth the expense.