If you’re ever in need of filming a video podcast, playing music, or just want two audio tracks the Comica Linkflex AD3 is a super affordable device that can help speed up your production process!
Comica Linkflex AD3
A handy little preamp device that allows for 2 input channels (XLR, 3.5mm or 6.35mm) and supports 48V Phantom Power.
Affordable Dual Channel Pre-Amp
The linkflex AD3 is a neat little device that helps you get good audio devices into your recording devices that you normally can’t. Like running:
- a Rode NTG-2 into Sony A7III and power the mic with 48V phantom power
- Shure SM7B into Canon M50 with 48V phantom power
- Two Neewer NW-700 Condensor Mics into an iPhone X with the 48V phantom power
- Multiple lav microphones to a OnePlus 6T
Which at the end of the day is all it takes is $120 for you to make the microphones you already have to work with your recording devices it’s a pretty good what to ensure your production can be as smooth as possible (no software needed!)
Pre-Amp Stuff To Know About
The Linkflex AD3 Supports Multiple Inputs
This device is super cool as it has two input channels that both support 3 different types of inputs! XLR is the bigger looking input that you’ll have from more professional microphones, or even you’re parents old karoake mics! 6.5mm also known as 1/4″, I had these from mainly old DJ equipment but I’m not sure where else you’ll have this stuff from. Nonetheless it’s the bigger looking headphone jack lol. And lastly the 3.5mm! The one that actually looks like a headphone jack. This is what most people probably have with like iPhone headsets, a cheap lav mic or really most of the stuff that’s on Amazon.
*Keep in mind that USB mics like the Blue Yeti aren’t really capable of connecting directly into this (you’ll need to still connect it to your laptop [it needs a driver]).
Each channel has its own gain knob so if you’re using two different microphones you’ll be able to adjust the settings so that they can be optimized for each mic individually. The symbol makes it look like the gain range is pretty small but it goes from the headphone to the letter which is pretty large of a range.
Headphone Monitoring
It has a neat little jack that lets you monitor the live recording of the audio. This will be the exact sound that’s entering into you camera/recording device so it’s pretty clutch that they have that as an option. While there’s no headphone adjustment, that’ll make sure that you’ll know if the lines are coming in hot or not.
The s/m switch is just between stereo or mono and I think that’s primarily if you want the channels to be mixed or not. Stereo keep the audio channels separate and mono will mix them. Keep in mind that when you do select stereo it will sound exactly like that, one mic on the left and one mic on the right. You’ll need to add some mixing to make them both to be actual stereo sounds.
It has a little clip on the back of so if you’re playing guitar or something you can just clip to your belt. Or connect it to your camera stand so the wires are just waving around everywhere. So that’s pretty neat to have as well.
Output Modes
Because it can be inputted into a smartphone or a camera this switch is pretty essential. Both devices require something different so you have to select the right mode otherwise the audio sounds weird or sometimes theres nothing. If you’re using a smartphone you switch the output mode to the phone icon and the headphone monitoring to the phone icon. If you’re recording to anything else (camera, computer, external device) you select camera for the mode and “MIC” for the monitoring so you can hear the microphones in real time.
Then depending on your microphone if you need phantom power all you need to do is switch it to “PH”. If it doesn’t need it just leave it on “On”.
Things to Note
The build is a little flimsy. It’s an all plastic body that doesn’t really scream $120 but it works so I’m fine with it. I just know if you have some premium equipment and then you hold this thing you’ll be disappointed. However, if you’re like me an on a budget and wants something that just works. The Linkflex AD3 will do wonders!