the t.bone MicPlug USB

I bought this to enable me to plug an XLR condenser Microphone into my Macbook. The device functioned 'out of the box' (e.g. no driver installation) which was great. To get vaguely decent volume levels required the on-device gain and OS-X gain to be set to 'Max'.

During an audio recording, significant noise (hum) is heard in the sound signal, consistent with a switch-mode PSU in the device (continues when mic is unplugged, and with 48V switched on / off).

USB interface on the back is fragile, and cable is not of high quality, the knob on the device is small and difficult to adjust, and doesn't travel fully around.

I have returned for a Focusrite Solo (£80) which is a desktop box, and would suggest you consider the Shure X2u if you really need the 'inline' form factor (but haven't tried either).

It works just as intended. Audio from my mic was then read loud and clear on the mobile laptop I have.

Well, not all that clear, actually. This interface comes with a fair amount of background noise. It also isn't the most sturdy piece of equipment I've seen; the USB port on the back seems fragile enough to disconnect at a moment's notice after just a few months of use, for example. The buttons on it aren't all that clear at first, but soon didn't matter because they didn't do anything anymore anyway. Also the LED light on it died, which is unfortunate since that's the only indicator whether it's plugged in or not.

All in all, it's a decent interface for its price, but it's not decent enough to do any sort of recording with it. If you're a beginner trying to save as many pennies as you can, that's okay but don't be too cheap on this part; the extra $50 that you'll spend on a decent interface will go a long way. If you're just looking for an interface that links your equipment to a computer, then only then is this for you.

I bought this product for my partner after much moaning that I was hogging the studio making industrial metal when she wanted to play acoustic guitar and sing, mainly to get ideas down!

Attaching it to a Shure Beta 58a is dead easy, and I had it hooked up to her Macbook in no time. It's got more than enough clean gain to record with, and functions just like I thought it would. It's not entirely noise free, but with USB you're always going to struggle with a bit of noise, and it certainly doesn't cause problems in the mix.

It has the standard t.quality build, well made and functional, while being excellent value for money. If you consider how much it would be to buy an entire new audio interface just to record scratch vocals and ideas, suddenly the t.bone comes into it's element! Not to mention the size, as a large audio interface becomes quite cumbersome when attached to a small laptop, especially when set up on a bed instead of a desk.

Overall a worthwhile buy, fitting nicely to the XLR output of a dynamic mic, and perfect for someone who doesn't need or want an audio interface all the time.

I bought this for my girlfriend, who is a singer and wanted to start recording herself. She couldn't afford the sound interface for her condenser microphone, so this was a great solution. It has phantom power, is very small and for the price we couldn't ask for more. It is a great solution if you are tight on a budget and want to record to your computer.
The sound quality is OK, it is not the best, but for basic recording and with some postproduction it serves as a nice tool for recording with microphones. At higher gain levels you can hear some noise and the signal is not as strong as on external sound card or audio interface, but is enough to get you going.
The thing that convinced me buying this product was the price vs. performance ratio. But if you want better quality sound, you should buy and audio interface of some sort, because this is not suitable for professional recordings.
The only thing that bothered me is the button for turning on the phantom power. It feels kind of weak and cannot feel the "click" very confidently.

This is a great XLR to USB adapter that does everything the Blue Icicle or Shure X2U will do at a fraction of the cost. Honestly, I like it BETTER than those in performance and the way it looks. If you want to add flexibility to your mobile or home studio, you never need to worry about not being able to use an XLR mic especially while you're on the go. It has same ability to monitor, adjust, and record as any other adapter to any XLR mic. I ALWAYS take it with me to any meeting or studio I go to so I know I can always connect my equipment with anything they want me to use.

Also, at less than 30 bucks, you can't go wrong with it.
It works exactly as it should and you don't have to shell out over 100 bucks just for a good quality adapter.

As usual with the other t.bone products I've used, it has SHOCKING value for money! It just can't be beat. If you're looking for a high-quality USB/XLR adapter that is sleek and works great, go no further. Nothing but the best.