THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING POLSEN. The Polsen RC-77-U is a large-diaphragm studio condenser USB microphone ideal for singers, songwriters, and podcasters who want to record high-quality sound directly to their computer. The stylish, retro look of the RC-77-U makes it an eye-catching addition to any studio. This retro-styled microphone is Mac and PC compatible and connects directly to a computer’s USB port. No drivers, power supply, or audio interface are necessary to begin recording.
Among the benefits you’ll enjoy: • Studio condenser microphone ideal for singers, songwriters, and podcasters. • Record directly to your computer. No drivers, power supply, or audio interface needed. • Large, 32 mm diaphragm delivers clean and natural sound. • Mac and PC compatible. Connects directly to your computer’s USB port. • Headphone output offers low-latency volume adjustment. • Mute switch provides additional control when recording. • Dual-stage grille minimizes pops and vocal plosives.
Front OVERVIEW 1. Microphone capsule 2. Grille 3. LED indicator 4. Headphone volume control 5. Microphone mute button 6. Headphone jack 7. USB Mini-B jack 8. Threaded 5/8″ mount 9. Adjustable mic stand Back 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 5. 7. 8. 9.
PREC AUTIONS • Please read and follow these instructions and keep this manual in a safe place. • Exposure to high sound levels can cause permanent hearing loss. Avoid listening at high volumes for extended periods of time. • Keep this product away from water and flammable gases or liquids. • Do not attempt to disassemble or repair this product. • Handle this product with care • Clean this product with only a soft, dry cloth. • Make sure that this product is intact and that there are no missing parts.
SETTING UP THE MICROPHONE 1. Screw the mic stand into the RC-77-U microphone, unfold the legs, and place the microphone on your desktop. 2. Loosen the locking collar to set the microphone to the desired height and securely tighten it so it remains in place. 3. Use the included USB cable to connect the microphone’s Mini-B USB port to a powered USB port on your computer. Note: When the microphone is receiving power, the LED on the front of the microphone will glow a constant blue.
SETTING THE AUDIO PREFERENCES IN YOUR COMPUTER Windows 7/8 1. Go to the Control Panel and open the Sound window. 2. Click on the Recording tab (Fig. 1) and select Polsen USB Mic. If the Polsen USB Mic icon appears with a small circle with a downward pointing arrow, right-click on the device and select Enable from the drop-down menu. Note: If the RC-77-U microphone does not appear in the Recording window, see the Troubleshooting section below. 3.
Adjusting the Microphone Volume via the computer To adjust the microphone’s volume from the computer’s Sounds and Audio Devices Properties window, do the following: 1. Go to the Control Panel and then double-click on the Sounds and Audio Devices icon. 2. Click on the Volume tab. Under Device volume, click on the Advanced… button to display the Speaker window. 3. If the Microphone volume adjustment column appears on the right side of the window, skip to step 7. 4.
Mac OS X Your computer will automatically detect the RC-77-U, but it may not set it as the default sound device. To set the RC-77-U as the default, follow these steps: 1. Go to System Preferences and select Sound. (Fig. 1) 2. Click on the Input tab and then click on Polsen USB Mic to select it as the default sound input device. (Fig. 2) 3. Click on the Output tab and then click on Polsen USB Mic to select it as the default sound output device. (Fig.
POSITIONING THE MICR OPHONE The RC-77-U employs a cardioid pickup pattern design to capture sound mostly in front of the microphone. You will usually want to position microphone so the button on the front is pointed directly at the sound source. However, it’s important to experiment with microphone placement and positioning to find the best solution for your specific recording.
RECORDING WITH THE R C-7 7-U 1. Launch your recording software and select the RC-77-U for the input and output. 2. Create a new mono track and enable record mode. 3. Turn the headphone volume control down on the microphone. 4. If the mic input level needs to be adjusted, access the Microphone Volume slider window (Windows 7/8, page 10; Windows XP, page 12) or in the Input tab of Sound Preferences (Mac, page 14). 5.
RECORDING WITH THE R C-7 7-U (continued) Note: The LED indicator glows red to indicate clipping. If you see the LED indicator turn red, do one or both of the following: • Move the microphone further away from the sound source. • Turn down the microphone input level by following the procedures in step 4 on page 17. For best results, it’s recommended to always do a test recording. To mute the microphone, press the mute button. The LED will glow a constant amber.
S P E C I F I C AT I O N S P O L A R PAT T E R N Cardioid H E A D P H O N E I M P E DA N C E 16 Ω C A P S U L E 32 mm large-diaphragm condenser H E A D P H O N E O U T P U T 85 mW @ 16 Ω F R E Q U E N C Y R E S P O N S E 20 Hz to 20 kHz T H D 0.001% unloaded, 0.004% @ 32 Ω M A X S P L 120 dB HEADPHONE FREQUENCY RESPONSE 20 Hz S A M P L E R AT E 44.1/48 kHz to 20 kHz B I T D E P T H 16 bit S N R 96 dB (A) P O W E R R E Q U I R E M E N T S 5 V 70 mA (idle), H E I G H T R A N G E 9.5″–11.3″ (24.