The LightSnake takes the frustration out of XLR mic connectivity.

Podcasters hoping to record pro-level audio usually have to dish out pro-level dollars - a good XLR microphone requires an interface box to connect to your Mac, and that'll set you back at least $200. But with the LightSnake Microphone-to-USB Cable, you can spend a fraction of that and still be able to connect XLR mics directly to your Mac.

XLR mics use three-pin connectors and a locking interface that prevents accidental disconnects. Musicians and videographers depend on XLR mics, and not being able to plug one straight into a Mac for recording has been frustrating. The LightSnake cable has a USB connection on one end for your Mac, and an XLR mic connection on the other end that's unfortunately made of stamped metal instead of more durable cast metal.

The LightSnake features a 16-bit analog-to-digital converter with sampling rates of 48kHz and 44.1kHz (DVD audio and CD quality, respectively). Its name refers to the green LEDs at both ends of the cable, which is supposed to maintain a solid glow when connected and blink only when recording, although our cable had a constant, annoying blink. Also, it would've been nice if the cable was longer than 10 feet.

We tested the LightSnake with Sennheiser and Sony XLR microphones and with GarageBand on a MacBook Pro. The Mac instantly recognized the cable as an Unknown USB Audio Device, and laying down vocal tracks was a breeze. The only glitch was on playback: GarageBand refused to play over the MacBook Pro's built-in speakers until the cable was unplugged. We also tested the LightSnake with the Audacity and Amadeus Pro audio-editing apps, which both handled recording and playback without a hitch.

The bottom line. It's not perfect, but it works without sacrificing sound quality. And for $40, the LightSnake is a deal that's hard to pass up.

COMPANY: SoundTech
CONTACT: www.soundtech.com
PRICE: $39.99
REQUIREMENTS: Mac OS 9.0.4 or later, USB
Allows connecting pro-style XLR microphones directly to USB. Affordable.
Only 10 feet long. XLR connection is stamped metal, not cast. Cheesy blinking feature.