Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter Mini CL-25 – Ultra-Compact Mic Activator

OVERVIEW

Offering the same award-winning circuitry and performance specs as the original, patented Cloudlifter CL-1, the Mini CL-25 is a custom engineering collaboration with Neutrik. The unit’s ultra-compact in-line design interfaces directly with dynamic, ribbon, and tube microphones to provide up to +25 dB of ultra-clean gain, and is the smallest and most portable Cloudlifter ever produced for studio, broadcast, and live sound professionals. Plugging directly into microphones, preamps, mixers, stage boxes, and wall panels, the Mini CL-25 is built utilising a custom Neutrik gold-plated XLR connector system. Employing hard-soldered, wire-free internal circuitry designed to meet the demands of thousands of insertion cycles, the device offers reliability within live and studio environments where daily hard use is the norm.

Capture Every Detail with a Cloudlifter

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 colouring or altering the natural character of the source. Cloudlifters are free of capacitors, resistors, and other distortion-causing components. They utilise a patented Class-A Discrete signal path that directly couples the noise-cancelling 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 licenses 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 utilising the preamp’s components to complete the circuit, the Cloudlifter’s design offers two distinct noise-cancelling 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. 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 colouration 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 colouration 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 colouration 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 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-25 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-25, and take your sound to new heights. Handcrafted on the Navajo Nation and in Tucson, Arizona, the CL-25 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 HIGHLIGHTS

The Smallest Cloudlifter Ever

The Cloudlifter Mini CL-25 brings the legendary +25 dB Cloudlifter ultra-clean gain into a sleek, cable-free design that plugs directly into your microphone. This ultra-compact design streamlines your setup and provides professional-grade portability for every recording environment.

Pro Performance, Everywhere You Go

From the recording booth to the live stage, the Cloudlifter Mini is the ultimate grab-and-go companion for your audio kit. Its pocket-ready design makes it easy to bring high-quality performance to any session or performance. You can now take the Cloudlifter sound everywhere you go without adding any extra weight to your gear.

Pure Gain, Zero Compromise

Maximise the performance of your microphone with +25 dB of ultra-clean, transparent gain while keeping sensitive ribbon mics perfectly safe from phantom power. By optimising your signal chain before the preamp, you can operate your gear at lower settings, allowing you to capture more of the microphone’s natural detail and authenticity.

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

RECOMMENDED APPLICATIONS

• Capturing quiet sources with passive microphones
• Podcasting, VoiceOver, or dialogue with dynamic mics
• Live streaming, gaming, or remote conferencing
• Foley and nature recordings
• Recording delicate, difficult-to-capture sources and fine instruments
• Using low-output dynamic, ribbon, or tube mics in the studio or live
• Any source where more of the mics’ natural character is desired
• Use at the output of a passive DI, to get the most from your instruments

All Cloudlifter Models are Compatible with the Following Mics and Many Others:

Dynamic Mics:

• AKG D12 VR, D112, P2, P3, P4, P5i, D5, and D40
• Audio Technica BP40, AT2040, PRO25ax, PRO41, PRO61, AE2300, AE2500, AT4060A, AE4100, AE6100, ATM230, ATM610a, ATM650, ATR1500x, ATR2100x, AT8004, AT804, ATM29HE, ATM 63HE, MB1000H, MB1000L, and U855QL
• Audix OM2, OM5, OM7, D4, and D6
• Beyerdynamic M70 Pro X, M88, M201, and V70d
• EV RE20, RE27, RE320, and 635A
• Heil PR20, PR 22, 30, PR35, PR40, and PR781
• Rode PodMic and Procaster
• Sennheiser MD-421 II, MD 441-U, MD 431 II, MD 435, and MD 445
• Sennheiser e 609, e 825-S, e 835, e 906, and e 945
• Shure SM-7b, MV7, and MV7X (XLR)
• Shure SM57, SM58, Beta 57A, and 58A
• Shure Super 55 Deluxe and 55SH
• Universal Audio SD-1 and SD-7
• Warm Audio WA-19

Tube Mics

• AKG P820 and C12 VR
• Golden Age GA-ELA M 251E
• Lewitt LCT 840, LCT 940, and LCT 1040
• Manley Reference Cardioid, Silver, and Gold
• Mojave MA-37, MA-200, MA-300, and MA-1000
• Miktek CV3 and CV4
• Neumann M49 V, M149, U47, and U67
• Soyuz 013 Tube and 017 Tube V2
• Telefunken C12, TF51, ELA M 251E, TF29, TF39, TF47, TF51, and U47
• Rode NTK and K2
• Universal Audio Bock 251 and 507
• Warm Audio WA-47, WA-251, WA-8000, and WA-CX12

Ribbon Mics (Passive or Tube)

• AEA R84, R44, and R88 MK2
• Beyer M130, M160, M260, and M500
• Cloud 44 Midnight and JRS-34
• Extinct Audio BM2 and BM9
• Royer R10, 121, 122V, SF2, SF-12, and SF-24V
• Coles 4038, 4040, and 4104B
• Shure KSM313 and KSM353
• MXL R144 and R77
• Nady RSM-5
• SE Voodoo VR1 and X1 R
• Golden Age R2 MKII
• Warm Audio WA-44

Shotgun Mics (Battery Powered)

Rode VideoMic NTG

Electret Condenser Mics

ADDITIONAL USES

• Any Wireless Mic System — plug the output of the receiver into the input of any Cloudlifter
• Any Passive DI Box — plug the output of any DI into the input of any Cloudlifter
• Shotgun/Electret/Small Condenser Mics (using a battery) — plug any battery-powered microphone directly into the input of any Cloudlifter
• Vintage Tube Mics — compatible with all Tube mics; plug the PSU directly into the input of any Cloudlifter
• Vintage Ribbon Mics — compatible with all passive ribbon mics (XLR)
• Vintage Dynamic Mics — Compatible with all passive dynamic mics (XLR)

About Phantom Powered Condenser Mics

In order to use mics that require +48v phantom power, an additional source of phantom power is required, such as a standalone +48v supply. This is because the Cloudlifter does not pass phantom from the interface to the microphone; this feature makes it safe for all ribbon and tube mics.

TECHNICAL SPECS

Gain

Gain Boost: Up to +25dB ultra-clean gain

Circuit Design

Circuit Type: Patented Class-A discrete JFET circuitry

Signal Path:

• Transformerless design
• Capacitor-free signal path
• Transparent, low-noise operation

Phantom Power

Power Requirement: +48V phantom power required for operation

Phantom Power Protection:

• Does not pass phantom power to the connected microphone
• Safe for passive ribbon microphones and tube microphones

Input Specifications

Input Impedance: 3kΩ

Compatible Microphones:

• Passive dynamic microphones
• Passive ribbon microphones
• Tube microphones
• Battery-powered shotgun microphones
• Battery-powered electret condenser microphones
• Passive DI box outputs
• Wireless microphone receiver outputs

Performance

Key Performance Benefits:

• Increases microphone output sensitivity
• Improves signal-to-noise ratio
• Reduces preamp noise and unwanted artefacts
• Allows microphone preamps to operate within their optimal gain range
• Preserves the natural frequency response and tonal character of the microphone
• Ideal for low-output microphones and quiet sound sources

Recommended Applications

• Studio recording
• Podcasting
• Voice-over production
• Broadcast
• Live sound
• Streaming
• Gaming
• Remote conferencing
• Foley recording
• Nature recording
• Acoustic instruments
• Quiet sound sources
• Passive DI boxes
• Wireless microphone systems

Construction

Housing: Rugged solid steel chassis

Design:

• Ultra-compact in-line form factor
• Wire-free internal construction
• Hard-soldered circuitry for maximum reliability
• Custom Neutrik gold-plated XLR connector system

Connectivity

Input Connector: XLR

Output Connector: XLR

Connector System: Custom Neutrik gold-plated XLR connectors

Manufacturing

Country of Origin: Handcrafted on the Navajo Nation and in Tucson, Arizona, USA

Warranty

Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty (registration required)

Notes

• Compatible with most passive dynamic, ribbon and tube microphones.
• An external phantom power supply is required when using condenser microphones that require +48V phantom power, as the Cloudlifter Mini CL-25 does not pass phantom power through to the microphone.
• Compatible with numerous industry-standard microphones, including popular models from Shure, Electro-Voice, Sennheiser, Rode, Royer, AEA, Coles, Neumann, Telefunken, Warm Audio, Universal Audio and many others.