Blackstar Polar Go

drofluf

https://i.postimg.cc/0jhVNGT2/Blackstar-Polar-Go.jpg

Blackstar say on their website "Polar Go is your all-in-one, pocket-sized stereo recording studio that lets you play, sing, and record with zero hassle." and it pretty much does what it says on the tin. 

Mine was delivered a couple of days ago and, notwithstanding my issues with GarageBand, was up and running almost immediately. 

The two onboard mics give great quality or you can plug in an external microphone or guitar via the combined XLR/jack socket - which can also provide 48v phantom power. It has its own battery or can take power from your phone. There's a companion app where you can manage levels, control reverb etc..

Very impressed with the quality of the sound. 

One minor criticism is that whilst they say it works with a magnetic phone mount, it doesn't work with MagSafe stands, it needs a base with a bigger magnet. But the optional stand does a great job. 

Overall it's ideal as a first venture into recording, if you want something portable or just want a quick take without the hassle of setting up stands and microphones. 

More detail here: https://blackstaramps.com/polargo/

EDIT And great value at £79

Danny1969

That looks really useful, good price too 

monquixote

Wow I was expecting it to be £200+

drofluf

To save everyone searching I added the price, £79, to my review.

menamestom

Seems an interesting product.  I was wondering why you would choose this over an Audient Evo or something in a world of seemingly unlimited interface choices, but on closer look it definitely offers something different with internal battery and microphones.  I can see it being very useful.

Danny1969

menamestom said:

Seems an interesting product.  I was wondering why you would choose this over an Audient Evo or something in a world of seemingly unlimited interface choices, but on closer look it definitely offers something different with internal battery and microphones.  I can see it being very useful.

That's what I though. If the built in mics are good then you can just connect it to a phone and have a truly mobile high quality stereo recording system in your pocket. 

drofluf

menamestom said:

Seems an interesting product.  I was wondering why you would choose this over an Audient Evo or something in a world of seemingly unlimited interface choices, but on closer look it definitely offers something different with internal battery and microphones.  I can see it being very useful.

To be honest I didn’t do any research; I saw it mentioned on another forum, thought look interesting and was worth a punt. 

It’s already made me do more recording because it’s quick and easy to set up. 

Gandalph

drofluf said:

https://i.postimg.cc/0jhVNGT2/Blackstar-Polar-Go.jpg

Blackstar say on their website "Polar Go is your all-in-one, pocket-sized stereo recording studio that lets you play, sing, and record with zero hassle." and it pretty much does what it says on the tin. 

Mine was delivered a couple of days ago and, notwithstanding my issues with GarageBand, was up and running almost immediately. 

The two onboard mics give great quality or you can plug in an external microphone or guitar via the combined XLR/jack socket - which can also provide 48v phantom power. It has its own battery or can take power from your phone. There's a companion app where you can manage levels, control reverb etc..

Very impressed with the quality of the sound. 

One minor criticism is that whilst they say it works with a magnetic phone mount, it doesn't work with MagSafe stands, it needs a base with a bigger magnet. But the optional stand does a great job. 

Overall it's ideal as a first venture into recording, if you want something portable or just want a quick take without the hassle of setting up stands and microphones. 

More detail here: https://blackstaramps.com/polargo/

EDIT And great value at £79

That's a great review! 

I'm still trying to decide between one of these or an apogee hypemic or mic plus.

All three seem like they'd do a great job for quick good quality recordings and making videos on the phone. 

drofluf

@Gandalph the Polar Go companion app will also record video. Have t tried it so can’t comment on the quality 

menamestom

drofluf said:

menamestom said:

Seems an interesting product.  I was wondering why you would choose this over an Audient Evo or something in a world of seemingly unlimited interface choices, but on closer look it definitely offers something different with internal battery and microphones.  I can see it being very useful.

To be honest I didn’t do any research; I saw it mentioned on another forum, thought look interesting and was worth a punt. 

It’s already made me do more recording because it’s quick and easy to set up. 

Looks great.  Phone mics are pretty good nowadays, but recording video you want the phone in a different position, this can be put at the mic location whilst the phone stays where it should be.  Plus it is tiny for chucking in a guitar case.

Also the battery, bus power works for USB C but it drains your phone battery, this would make sure you don’t have the additional drain.

Think I might pick one up…..

menamestom

I ended up getting one of these.  Only had a quick play but works really well. 

The in built mics sound very good.  It's easy to use and provides a quick, clutter free setup.
This is ideal if you ever take a guitar in holiday and the inspiration strikes.

I need to get a stand for it, works fine on the edge of a desk but want to be able to position it in front of a guitar for when I’m recording videos with it.

drofluf

I’d recommend the “official” stand for it; their blurb says it works with a magnetic phone stand but a MagSafe stand doesn’t work the stand needs to have a stronger magnet in the base. 


https://shop.blackstaramps.com/products/polar-go?variant=56555805049219

chrisj1602

Might have to get one of these.

Would the built in mics be good enough for capturing band rehearsals?

drofluf

chrisj1602 said:

Might have to get one of these.

Would the built in mics be good enough for capturing band rehearsals?

Can't see why they wouldn't be. I've been very impressed with the quality of the output. 

relic245

Took delivery of mine today. 

First impression is that it's a good sound.

 Certainly better than my phone's mic for recording classical guitar. 

I'm slightly confused though. I can't work out the relationship between the physical input control and the level in the app.

Im struggling to get the balance right. Either the guitar is too quiet or I get an unacceptable level of background hiss.

Any suggestions?

drofluf

How far away from the mics have you got the guitar? I’ve had good results with them quite close, about 12-18”

relic245

drofluf said:

How far away from the mics have you got the guitar? I’ve had good results with them quite close, about 12-18”

That's about the distance I have them.

relic245

I'm now thinking I might have a faulty unit. 

I've turned the input all the way up in the app and recorded guitar at a distance of about 18 inches. 

When I drag the file into audacity it's about 1/4 of the volume level as my phones inbuilt mic. 

I've reached out to blackstar support so will see what they say but either I have a faulty unit or it doesn't do what I expected it to. 

drofluf

When I started recording myself I found that most mics record at what seems to be a low level in Audacity but the results were fine. You can boost the volume in Audacity quite easily though. 

I tried to record on my Polar yesterday but I’d forgotten to charge it I’ll have a go tomorrow 

relic245

I'm not recording into audacity.

I recorded 2 clips on my phone. One with the phone mic, the other with the polar go with the input turned all the way up. 

Then I dragged the files into audacity to compare.

The one with the phone mic was about 4 times louder.

When I play the polar go clip with my phone I have to put the volume on full to hear it.

Something isn't right.

menamestom

relic245 said:

I'm not recording into audacity.

I recorded 2 clips on my phone. One with the phone mic, the other with the polar go with the input turned all the way up. 

Then I dragged the files into audacity to compare.

The one with the phone mic was about 4 times louder.

When I play the polar go clip with my phone I have to put the volume on full to hear it.

Something isn't right.

The input on the unit is for the XLR input.

The in built mic input is controlled by the app slider only.

I find the app a bit clunky and it's not always clear what is controlling what.
I ended up recording reverb on everything when I didn't want it.

But the XLR input sounds prett clean.   

The noise might be if 'sesnitivity' is turned up, which adds compression.