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Cloud 44 Midnight is a passive ribbon microphone bundled with a matching black Cloudlifter CL-1, finished together in Midnight Edition black. It is the passive counterpart to the 44-A, built on the same 44-style platform and delivering the sonic character of a 1930s-era ribbon microphone.
The passive 44 and the gain stage it needs, matched in black, in one box.
A passive ribbon has no powered electronics, which is what gives it its particular character but also leaves it with a very low output. Buying one usually means immediately buying a mic activator or a high-gain preamp to go with it. Cloud has bundled the two, so the CL-1 arrives in the box in a matching black finish.
That pairing also unlocks a choice the 44-A does not offer. Run the microphone straight into a high-gain preamp for the passive voice on its own, or run it through the included Cloudlifter for effectively active operation. Modern materials and manufacturing give the reliability and durability the originals never had.
At a Glance
| Brand | Cloud Microphones |
|---|---|
| Model | 44 Midnight Edition |
| Type | Passive ribbon microphone |
| Platform | 44-style ribbon |
| Included | Cloudlifter CL-1 Mic Activator, matching black finish |
| Character | 1930s-era ribbon microphone tonality |
| Finish | Midnight Edition black |
| Warranty | Two year ribbon, limited lifetime on all other parts |
What Is the Difference Between the 44 and the 44-A?
The 44-A is active, with its own powered electronics and switchable Voice and Music response curves. The 44 is passive, so it has no electronics and needs external gain. This bundle includes a Cloudlifter CL-1 to supply that gain.
Why Is a Cloudlifter Included?
A passive ribbon has very low output and needs substantial clean gain that most interface preamps cannot supply without audible hiss. The included CL-1 adds up to 25dB of clean gain, so the microphone works on ordinary interfaces out of the box.
Can I Use the Microphone Without the Cloudlifter?
Yes, if your preamp has enough clean gain on its own. Running it directly gives the passive voice unaltered. Never send phantom power to the microphone when it is connected directly.
Why Cloud Microphones
Cloud Microphones builds in Tucson, Arizona. The company grew out of Stephen Sank's restoration work on original RCA ribbon microphones and Rodger Cloud's engineering, and it holds the patent on the discrete JFET circuit that every Cloudlifter uses. The Cloudlifter created the mic activator category outright and remains the reference product in it. Ribbon elements are cut, corrugated and installed by hand, and the whole line is manufactured in the United States.