The Stellar X3 is a high level professional grade microphone priced at a reasonable amount.

I got tired years ago of paying for Name Recognition. Why should we pay a guitar manufacturer an extra $2,000 just because of their name. There is other equipment out there just as good if not better for a lot less. Just not known in the US or used by highly paid band members.

I have had people tell me that I had to use certain Brand Name strings on my guitar because when they called the manufacturer that is the Brand they said to use. Don’t people understand that these companies are PAID to say that? Like when Ford was paid by BP to put their Green Logo on your gas cap. No, it will not void your warranty if you don’t use BP Gas. It is Marketing. BP Paid for the advertising. Just like when that Mobile Logo appears on your Oil Cap. Or gas station counters so full you can barely see the cashier. Each square inch is rented out. When I called France to find out what strings they tuned my guitar to they simply said 12's - not a Brand.

Welcome to Marketing in America.

This is how I came to buy a French made guitar, that when others pick it up they first think it feels and sounds like Martin D-28. No, I say. I didn’t pay $4000 but I did pay an extra $500 for the better lumber.

That all said. How would you like a microphone that sounds like you spent $6000 when in actuality you spent 6% of that. $349 as of this writing for the Stellar X3 or $199 for the Stellar X2.

Both are Great microphones. The X2 is a bit brighter. The X3 is more flat, not a bad thing, and hand tuned. So if you have a lower voice the X2 would probably be fine. Higher voice or fans running? Maybe the X3 would suit better.

Both these Stellar microphones are “condenser” mics. What the heck does that mean?

Well if you’re old enough to remember turntables and amps with a “phono-input”this is similar.

Paper cup and a string. Give it a little power and you hear better. Condenser microphones need added power. We call this Phantom Power. It is +48volts DC. No, this will not harm you. It is very low amperage. But for the filament to vibrate and send your voice down the wire it needs power. There is all sorts of Audio interface equipment to help with this. Mixers, Pads, etc. Even battery ones that you can use your phone or tablet with which have USB-C and lighting ports.

Condenser microphones tend to Pop or be ‘Plosive with voice. There are foam covers and screens for that. Condenser microphones also tend to pickup the Whole Room. All the noises. In many ways we want this for the subtle tones we are trying to get across. Ever try to hear that Hammer-on? Some microphones (iphone at 10' etc.) just wont pick it up. That is why you need a good Stellar microphone. So you can go back and listen to your music. Hear yourself better to be better with cleaner audio recorded. We are above the sound box when we play. We don’t hear what the audience hears. Even if the audience is YouTube. This gets into the realm of people never like their recorded voice. That is because that isn’t the sound we hear in our skull.

The issue here is that you need an accurate recording to listen to later in order to play better. How do you know you have progressed without a recording? If that is a poor recording then you still wont know. For less than $400 you can have good recording equipment. That’s 25% of the cost of a cell phone. No battery to charge. Plug into computer and record your audio. Hint here is to start recording then start to practice. Don’t go “Hey I should record that. Then have “Red Light Syndrome.” Just let the tape roll and clip the parts you like. I have been very disappointed often for just not starting a recording device. I lost many self-made licks. You can always delete the 3-hour recording if nothing was special. If you have a spot to save, you can mark it with total silence for five seconds or the Bashing of strings. Some sound to spot easily the point of desire.

Using a cheap microphone is like using cheap strings. Just doesn’t sound right.