The Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator utilizes patented Class-A discrete JFET amplifier circuitry to provide up to +25dB of ultra-clean gain for any passive microphone.  

Bring Your Mics to Life

Unlock your microphones’ true potential. Cloudlifters dramatically increase the sensitivity of your microphone, fully capturing the nuance and detail of the source. Many of the most incredible sounding microphones typically require the most gain. Ribbon, dynamic and even tube microphones can be difficult to amplify, even with high quality preamps. Previously, it has been difficult to capture very quiet sources with these mics, without hearing noise and frequency loss caused by the preamp being operated in its upper gain range.
The detail and nuance, the true character of your mic comes to the foreground with the Cloudlifter. This is in remarkable contrast to the tone achieved by pushing the preamp to
its upper gain range to produce a similar level of gain.


Not Just Louder, Better…

The patented technology dramatically increases microphone output sensitivity without coloring or altering the natural character of the source. Cloudlifters are free of capacitors, resistors, and other distortion-causing components. They utilize a patented
Class-A Discrete signal path that directly couples the noise-canceling JFET chips to the microphone and preamp. These innovative JFET chips were initially designed for top-secret military and science applications where quality and clarity are essential to national security, safety and education. With these ultra-high tech chips available for use in Cloud products, you can take advantage of these advancements in order to Elevate Your Sound to the highest level while fueling the creative process.


Activated by Cloud… The Industry Standard, Licensed

The award-winning technology is used by audio professionals worldwide and is the
industry standard for low-output mics such as the Shure SM7b, EV RE20 and popular
ribbon microphones. Additionally, Cloud licensed the patented technology to Shure for use in the popular active SM7dB microphone, the newest in the legendary SM7 lineage.


A Mod for Your Preamp and Microphone

While most preamps sound great in the middle of their gain range, that last one-third of the gain range is the most challenging, where signal degradation and noise can occur. Cloudlifters mitigate this by giving you more of the actual microphone itself, upfront and unaltered. The way the technology works, the Cloudlifter electrically becomes part of your microphone and preamp. By utilizing the preamp's components to complete the circuit, the Cloudlifter’s design offers two distinct noise-canceling gain stages. These occur prior to the signal passing through capacitors and other components that cause distortion and alter the microphone's natural character. The circuit is completed by the components in the preamp and phantom power supply in such a way that they are removed from the signal path. By the time the signal reaches your preamp and passes through capacitors and other electrical components, their negative impact is greatly reduced.

By the time the signal reaches your preamp and eventually goes through capacitors and other types of electrical components that can alter the sound, the negative impact these may have is greatly reduced. This is because more of the signal's authenticity is present up front, meaning the preamp doesn’t have to work as hard to achieve optimal performance. Your microphone becomes active, and your preamp is supercharged to operate within its most comfortable range.


Level Up with More Mic, Less Preamp

All gain is not created equal. The ultra-clean gain of the Cloudlifter coupled to your preamp offers a sound that removes not only the noise, but unwanted coloration and
frequency degradation that occurs in proportion to the amount of gain provided at the preamp or interface. Even with a preamp that has a coloration that you like, Cloudlifters open up a different sonic option by having more of the mic’s natural character sitting upfront. Simply put, all Cloudlifters give you more of the actual mic itself while allowing the preamp to operate within its comfort zone. The result is less noise floor, distortion, and alteration to the frequency response. Hearing more of the mic itself and less of the coloration from the preamp is a nice choice to have, creating new options that simply didn’t exist before.


Empower Your Creativity

Bring sonic depth and authentic character to to the forefront of your sound. The
Cloudlifter brings your sound to life with detail and clarity that is unmatched. This innovative device provides up to +25dB of clean gain, bringing out the subtle details and nuances that could otherwise be lost. Whether you're recording vocals, instruments, or podcasts, or Foley, the CL-1 ensures your microphone captures every detail with exceptional clarity.


Built for Professionals, Made in the USA

Experience the transformative power of clean gain with the Cloudlifter CL-1, and take your sound to new heights. Handcrafted on the Navajo Nation and in Tucson, Arizona,
the CL-1 is built with rugged steel construction and backed by a limited lifetime warranty with registration*. Experience the difference that clean, reliable gain and sonic detail can make in your recordings.


Key Features:

• Up to +25dB of gain for any passive microphone
• Uses standard +48v Phantom Power
• Does not pass phantom power, protecting ribbon and tube mics
• Patented Class-A discrete JFET circuitry
• Significantly increases microphone sensitivity, capturing every detail of the source
• Reduces noise and artifacts, allowing the preamp to operate in a more comfortable gain range
• Improves signal to noise ratio and microphone performance
• 3k input impedance, ideal for dynamic, tube and ribbon mics
• Rugged, solid steel chassis in a portable design
• Lifetime Limited Warranty Offer (with registration)
• Made on the Navajo Reservation and entirely in the USA
• Cloudlifters are recommended for the following applications:
• Capturing quiet sources with passive microphones
• Podcasting, VoiceOver, or dialog with dynamic mics
• Live streaming, gaming, or remote conferencing
• Foley and nature recordings
• Recording delicate, difficult to capture sources and fine instruments