🎙️ ROCCAT Torch | USB Microphone | Review | "GF Recommended!" 🎙️ @ROCCAT

https://uk.roccat.com/products/torch

Having covered – and been impressed by - the ROCCAT Magma keyboard last week, I was keen to check out the Torch - ROCCAT’s USB microphone, which comes with a mixer base.

Details:

• Sample/Bit Rate: 48kHz,
• 24-bit with optional selection for 44.1kHz
• Capsules: 2 × ROCCAT Proprietary ∅14 × 6.5mm condenser capsules
• Pickup Patterns: Cardioid, Stereo, Whisper (ROCCAT Proprietary)
• Frequency Response: 20Hz – 20kHz
• Max SPL: 110dB
• Zero-latency 3.5mm, 4-Pole headphone socket

Setup was extremely simple, the microphone is detachable (using a standard boom-arm connection, if required) so when I first tried it, I just connected the mic to the mixer base with the included USB-C cable, and then the mixer to the desktop - although there’s a lengthier cable included, should you wish to connect to an external boom. It’s also worth pointing out that the cables are black, so they match the rest of the design – and are also braided, good.

The base has some pretty handy controls on it, with two dials on the front that deals with the recording patterns and volume, each of which has its own lighting. Stereo is more for ASMR, multiple person podcasts/recording sessions and the recording of instruments whereas cardioid is more useful for solo recordings, such as podcasting or streaming. There’s also ROCCAT’s proprietary whisper mode, for late-night gaming or recording where you need to be quiet, but still heard by others.

The second dial controls the volume, and this is synchronised with the main volume level on your desktop, there’s also a push-in button function on this dial to mute. Finally, there is a smooth gain slide on the right, this is tied to the RGB lighting on the microphone, with the colour bars at the sides of the Torch acting as a visual guide as you adjust accordingly.

The front of the base also has a small area that shows if you are recording or muted. Whilst we are on the subject of muting, the Torch features a sensor on the top of the microphone that allows you to sweep your hand across in order to mute. Whilst this is a cool, silent feature to have, it’s worth adjusting the sensitivity to what best suits your style (there are three settings) as I found it was overly sensitive at first, when I leaned over / near, there were a couple of times that it took my movements as a request to mute.

At the rear of the mixer base are some more options; a 3.5mm jack socket for latency-free headphone action and two USB-C ports, one for the desktop and one for the mic. There are also the aforementioned sweep-to-mute sensitivity settings located here and a button that changes the RGB lighting brightness, and can also turn it off completely.

The base is quite weighty and flexible so that the mic feels sturdy on the four rubber feet, you can also tilt the mic back to about a 45-degree angle, should you be situated close to it or above it for whatever reason.

I found the ease of use really appealing, and the style of lighting matched the RGB keyboard I use, so my desk was quite the sexy neon disco at night. The all-black design is sleek and quite universal in terms of visual appeal and how it sits in with my other accessories. The sound quality and in-built pop-shield were really tasty and caused me no problems at all, although I did find that the volume dial turns are picked up by the microphone, so it could be a good idea to mute first, should you make any adjustments on that front.

In summary, this is a great microphone to use that covers a lot of ground in its flexibility. The mixer base gives stylish control for on-the-fly tweaks and I appreciate not needing to get buried in menus or having to twist tiny dials, everything feels well-scaled, even when I purposefully pushed the microphone and coughed or shouted, it’s a ‘soft-clipping’ as opposed to a really harsh distortion that occurs and the fact that the combination of microphone and base weigh 500g together, means it feels solid on your desktop and offers functionality without taking up too much space.