Ray by Lewitt Audio is the world’s first microphone that focuses on your voice

Adjusting gain levels when recording can take experience. You want things to be loud enough, but not so loud that clipping occurs as the volume increases. Now there is a microphone that can adjust gain levels on the fly depending on how far away a person is.

Using Lewitt Audio’s new Aura sensor-based technology, the Ray microphone can dynamically adjust the volume based on the person’s distance from the microphone. Lewitt describes this as a kind of autofocus for the voice.

At the heart of the Ray microphone are two new innovative technologies called Aura and Mute by Distance. With these two features, the Ray can change the way a person interacts with a microphone.

Professional singers and actors are taught microphone discipline. They know not to move around too much and to keep a consistent distance between mouth and microphone. The rest of us aren’t taught these things and some people get animated when singing or speaking during a podcast. This is where Aura technology comes in.

Lewitt Audio’s Ray microphone overcomes the biggest limitations of traditional microphones by ensuring more consistent sound quality. Typically, a voice sounds louder and more boomy as you get closer to a microphone. This is called the proximity effect. As you move away, a voice’s volume decreases and it starts to sound thinner. With Aura, sensor-based technology monitors how close someone is to the microphone and then precisely adjusts volume and tone based on distance.

When Aura is on, there is no need to adjust to the microphone because the microphone does that for you. The technology allows the person to move more naturally and focus on their performance without the sound varying. The results are incredible, especially for podcasts, live streaming and vocal recordings.

With Aura turned off, the Ray becomes a high-end condenser studio microphone with the same recording quality as Lewitt’s best-selling model, the LCT 440 PURE. But Aura works so well that it’s worth leaving it on, as it changes levels without you noticing. I’ve tried it on Zoom calls and voiceovers, and it works!

The other innovative feature built into Ray is called Mute by Distance. I have often wondered why XLR microphones don’t have a mute button like a USB microphone. Some dynamic stage microphones have switches, but a mute button on an XLR condenser microphone would be a great innovation.

This is exactly what Mute by Distance does. The RAY has a dedicated mute button with visual feedback that indicates the distance at which the microphone should be muted. Press the Mute by Distance button and you can easily set a specific distance at which Ray will automatically mute/unmute the signal. When enabled, you can walk away and the sound will be muted, preventing acoustic crosstalk or feedback. This is a critical advantage during live performances where you cannot handle background noise.

LEWITT Audio claims that RAY offers the brand’s signature “record-ready” sound. The LEWITT signature sound has been embraced by numerous artists, including Justin Bieber, The Rolling Stones, Halsey, Post Malone, Kehlani, Yngwie Malmsteen and Doja Cat, whether in the studio or on stage. That’s not too bad a selection of recommendations.

The Ray is built around a 1″ true condenser capsule. The gold-plated capsule has a cardioid polar pattern that picks up what’s in front of the microphone but rejects sound from behind. With an astonishingly low self-noise of just 8 dB(A) and the ability to handle sound pressure levels up to 131 dB SPL, the Ray is a forgiving microphone that delivers a clean signal but is very forgiving at the same time. With AURA turned on, it’s even more forgiving.

Lewitt Audio’s Ray features a 100% analog signal path and is equipped with a gold-plated 3-pin XLR connector. All of the microphone’s innovative features are powered by 48V phantom power from the audio interface or preamp.

Despite all the innovation packed into this condenser microphone, the Ray is still relatively compact and looks great on camera. Ray comes with a smart shock mount and a camera-friendly pop filter that magnetically snaps onto the shock mount. A compact pop filter makes it easy to capture a performance on video and won’t interfere with a script or song lyrics.

Verdict: On its own, the Lewitt Audio would be an excellent condenser microphone, but what makes it a groundbreaking device is the laser metering technology that adjusts gain levels on the fly depending on a person’s distance from the microphone. This makes for a much more consistent sound, especially when working with people who aren’t trained in how to use microphones properly. The Mute by Distance feature is also a groundbreaking innovation, as you don’t necessarily have to close a fader; just walk away from the microphone and the mute function will kick in. Some experienced sound engineers will certainly laugh at the idea of ​​Aura and Mute by Distance, but try it and you’ll be convinced. It’s a great example of innovation and applying the latest technology to an older type of device. Highly recommended.

Prices and availability: The LEWITT Audio RAY microphone is available now and costs $349 / £299 / €349.

Technical data:

• Type: capacitor, externally polarized.
• Acoustic operating principle: pressure gradient transducer.
• Diaphragm: 3 micron thick gold-plated Mylar.
• Converter diameter: 25.4 mm, 1 inch.
• Polar pattern: cardioid.
• Frequency range: 20 – 20,000 Hz.
• Sensitivity: 22.6 mV/Pa, -32.9 dBV/Pa.
• Own noise: 8 dB(A)
• Maximum sound pressure level: 131 dB SPL
• Signal-to-noise ratio: 86 dB (A).
• Dynamic range: 123 dB(A).
• Functions: AURA, MUTE after removal, MUTE button, lock mode
• AURA processing range: Seamless from 5 to 100 cm.
• MUTE by distance range: 15 / 30 / 45 / 60 / 80 cm
• MUTE attenuation value: -70 dB.
• Supply voltage: 48V ± 4 V
• Current consumption: 7.2 mA.
• Internal impedance: 120Ω.
• Connector: Gold-plated 3-pin XLR.
• Microphone housing: die-cast zinc.
• Microphone dimensions: 138 x 52 x 36 mm.
• Net weight of the microphone: 330 g.