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Cloudlifter CL-4 Mic Activator

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Description

Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-4 4-Channel Rackmount Mic Activator

Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-4 rackmount front panel showing four-channel 1U steel enclosure

Four Channels of Infrastructure, One Rack Space, No Noise Floor

The problem with low-output microphones is not the microphone. It is everything that happens after it. A preamp pushed to 60 or 70 dB of gain to get usable level from a dynamic or ribbon mic is a preamp working at the edge of its headroom, and its own noise floor starts riding into the signal long before you hit the level you actually need. The Cloudlifter CL-4 solves that problem before the signal ever reaches the preamp.

Each of the four channels converts 48V phantom power into up to +25 dB of clean gain using two discrete gain stages and Class-A JFET circuitry. The direct audio path contains no transformers, no capacitors, and no resistors in the signal chain: just the transistor circuit operating at 3k ohm input impedance. Your preamp receives a strong, healthy signal and runs at a fraction of its gain setting. The noise floor drops. The dynamic character of the mic comes through. And the entire process happens passively, requiring nothing more than the phantom power your interface or console is already sending.

 Cloudlifter CL-4 rear panel with four balanced XLR input and output pairs

Ribbon-Safe by Design. Four Channels at Once. Installs in a Minute.

Ribbon microphones are the other reason the CL-4 belongs in a professional rack. Most preamps send phantom power straight through to the microphone input. For ribbon mics, that 48V can damage or destroy the element permanently if the phantom power reaches the ribbon while the cable is connected or disconnected. The CL-4 terminates phantom power at its own circuitry and does not pass it through to the microphone side. Every passive ribbon in your locker is protected on every channel, all the time, without any switching or configuration required.

For commercial studios running multiple ribbon mics on a drum recording, for broadcast facilities with a fixed SM7B or RE20 at every host position, or for integrators wiring a multi-room facility where ribbon and dynamic mics are permanently installed at long cable runs, the CL-4 is the cleanest infrastructure solution available. All eight XLR connections are rear-panel mounted for clean cable management. The 1U steel enclosure sits flush in a standard 19-inch rack. No power supply, no menu, no switches. Patch it in and it works.

 Cloudlifter CL-4 installed in studio rack alongside preamps and patchbay

Long Cable Runs, Noisy Preamps, Cheap Consoles: Fixed.

Think about a house of worship with a 200-foot cable run from the stage to the FOH rack. Or a multi-studio broadcast facility where the preamps are shared infrastructure and the gain headroom is never quite enough for the talent mics. Or a podcast studio with four SM7Bs, four hosts, and a console that tops out at 50 dB of gain. In every one of those situations the CL-4 is the right answer, and it costs less than a single outboard preamp channel.

The frequency response runs from 5 Hz to 80 kHz at -0.3 dB, which is wider than any microphone in your locker. The gain it provides is genuinely transparent: Cloud Microphones designed the JFET circuit to preserve the natural tonal character of the source, not add warmth, coloration, or any character of its own. What you hear after a CL-4 is a louder, cleaner version of exactly what your microphone captures. Handcrafted on the Navajo Nation and in Tucson, Arizona. Backed by a lifetime limited warranty with registration.

Highlights

  • 4-channel rackmount mic activator, 1U, 19" rack format
  • Up to +25 dB of ultra-clean gain per channel via two discrete Class-A gain stages
  • Patented Class-A discrete JFET circuitry: no transformers, capacitors, or resistors in the direct audio path
  • Input impedance: 3k ohms for optimal impedance loading with passive microphones
  • Output impedance: 150 ohms, recommended load impedance greater than 5k ohms
  • Frequency response: 5 Hz to 80 kHz (-0.3 dB)
  • Powered entirely by 48V phantom power (IEC 61938), current consumption 3.1 mA per channel
  • Does not pass phantom power through to the microphone: safe for all passive ribbon and tube microphones
  • Four rear-panel balanced XLR inputs and four rear-panel balanced XLR outputs
  • Compatible with dynamic, ribbon, tube, and battery-powered microphones
  • Reduces noise from long cable runs and low-gain preamp stages
  • Allows preamp to operate at significantly lower gain settings, reducing self-noise
  • Rugged steel enclosure with EMI shielding
  • Dimensions: 21" x 4.5" x 1.75"
  • Weight: 3.35 lbs.
  • Handcrafted in the USA (Navajo Nation and Tucson, Arizona)
  • Limited lifetime warranty with registration

Cloudlifter CL-4 Specifications

Specification Details
Type 4-channel passive mic activator, rackmount
Gain Up to +25 dB, two discrete gain stages
Circuitry Patented Class-A discrete JFET, no transformers, capacitors, or resistors in signal path
Input Impedance 3k ohms
Output Impedance 150 ohms
Recommended Load Impedance Greater than 5k ohms
Frequency Response 5 Hz to 80 kHz (-0.3 dB)
Power 48V phantom power (P48, IEC 61938), 3.1 mA per channel
Phantom Pass-Through None: phantom power is terminated at the unit, not passed to microphone
Connectivity 4x balanced XLR input (rear), 4x balanced XLR output (rear)
Microphone Compatibility Dynamic, passive ribbon, tube, battery-powered; all passive microphones
Enclosure Rugged steel with EMI shielding
Form Factor 1U, 19" rackmount
Dimensions 21" x 4.5" x 1.75"
Weight 3.35 lbs.
Origin Handcrafted in the USA (Navajo Nation and Tucson, Arizona)
Warranty Limited lifetime warranty (parts and labor, with registration)

What's in the Box

Included Items
Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-4 Rackmount Mic Activator
Shipping

Shipping & Returns

  • We deliver all US orders in 3–5 business days
  • Free cancellations
  • Returns accepted within 30 days (unused items)

Order Confirmation

Once your order is placed, you will receive an order confirmation email. This confirms that we have received your order and have pre-authorized your credit card for the purchase. After confirming availability with our suppliers, we will proceed accordingly:

  • If your item is available and ready to ship within 1–2 business days, we will process the charge and arrange for shipment.

  • If your item is on backorder or unavailable, the pre-authorization will be voided and you will be notified by email.

  • Please note: While most items ship out within 1–2 business days, total delivery time is typically 3–5 business days, depending on your location and carrier handling.

Order Shipment

If your item is in stock and your payment has been processed, your order will typically ship within 1–2 business days. Total delivery time is approximately 3–5 business days from the date of order. Once shipped, you will receive tracking information at the email address provided during checkout within 24 hours of dispatch.

If you have not received tracking information within 3–5 business days of placing your order, please contact us at support@proaudioreserve.com.

The Distributor-Direct Advantage

To ensure you receive the most recent hardware revisions and 100% factory-sealed units, Pro Audio Reserve utilizes a Distributor-Direct fulfillment model. Unlike big-box retailers that may ship "floor models" or gear that has been sitting in general-purpose warehouses, your equipment is pulled directly from the primary manufacturer hub, serialized, and dispatched. This process ensures the highest level of quality control for professional-grade recording equipment.

Shipping Policy

We currently offer free shipping within the United States only. If the checkout process on our website allows you to enter a shipping address and complete your order, your location is eligible to receive delivery.

Changing Shipping Address

If you need to change your shipping address after your order has been processed or shipped, we will do our best to accommodate the request. Please note that address changes may result in delivery delays. Any additional costs incurred due to address changes, including carrier fees or rerouting charges will be the responsibility of the customer. No exceptions.

Shipping Times

All shipping times provided are estimates and should not be considered guarantees. Most orders ship out within 1–2 business days from the time payment is processed. However, total delivery time is typically 3–5 business days, depending on your location, carrier performance, and supplier fulfillment timelines.

We work closely with our vendors to ensure timely deliveries, but please note that supply chain disruptions, high-demand periods, or weather events may occasionally cause delays beyond our control.

  • To avoid misunderstandings: The “shipping time” refers to the total time from order placement to final delivery, not just when the item leaves the warehouse.

  • Cancellations: If you choose to cancel your order because it has not arrived within the estimated delivery window, you may be responsible for applicable shipping charges, restocking fees, warehouse handling costs, and other related fees.

  • Chargebacks: Customers who initiate chargebacks due to shipping delays without contacting us first may be held legally responsible for losses. We strongly encourage open communication so we can resolve any delivery concerns directly and efficiently via our Atlanta-based support team.

Delivery Options

  • Threshold Shipping: Your item will be delivered to your front door, porch, garage, or a covered entryway.

 

Why Buy From Us

We get it. You've got a lot of choice when it comes to online retailers.
Here's why we think you should shop with us at ProAudioReserve.

  • Free Shipping USA wide. 
  • 30 Day Easy Returns. Not happy with your product, we'll take it back noquestions asked.
  • Great Service. We pride ourselves on the best service, anywhere.

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Description

Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-4 4-Channel Rackmount Mic Activator

Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-4 rackmount front panel showing four-channel 1U steel enclosure

Four Channels of Infrastructure, One Rack Space, No Noise Floor

The problem with low-output microphones is not the microphone. It is everything that happens after it. A preamp pushed to 60 or 70 dB of gain to get usable level from a dynamic or ribbon mic is a preamp working at the edge of its headroom, and its own noise floor starts riding into the signal long before you hit the level you actually need. The Cloudlifter CL-4 solves that problem before the signal ever reaches the preamp.

Each of the four channels converts 48V phantom power into up to +25 dB of clean gain using two discrete gain stages and Class-A JFET circuitry. The direct audio path contains no transformers, no capacitors, and no resistors in the signal chain: just the transistor circuit operating at 3k ohm input impedance. Your preamp receives a strong, healthy signal and runs at a fraction of its gain setting. The noise floor drops. The dynamic character of the mic comes through. And the entire process happens passively, requiring nothing more than the phantom power your interface or console is already sending.

 Cloudlifter CL-4 rear panel with four balanced XLR input and output pairs

Ribbon-Safe by Design. Four Channels at Once. Installs in a Minute.

Ribbon microphones are the other reason the CL-4 belongs in a professional rack. Most preamps send phantom power straight through to the microphone input. For ribbon mics, that 48V can damage or destroy the element permanently if the phantom power reaches the ribbon while the cable is connected or disconnected. The CL-4 terminates phantom power at its own circuitry and does not pass it through to the microphone side. Every passive ribbon in your locker is protected on every channel, all the time, without any switching or configuration required.

For commercial studios running multiple ribbon mics on a drum recording, for broadcast facilities with a fixed SM7B or RE20 at every host position, or for integrators wiring a multi-room facility where ribbon and dynamic mics are permanently installed at long cable runs, the CL-4 is the cleanest infrastructure solution available. All eight XLR connections are rear-panel mounted for clean cable management. The 1U steel enclosure sits flush in a standard 19-inch rack. No power supply, no menu, no switches. Patch it in and it works.

 Cloudlifter CL-4 installed in studio rack alongside preamps and patchbay

Long Cable Runs, Noisy Preamps, Cheap Consoles: Fixed.

Think about a house of worship with a 200-foot cable run from the stage to the FOH rack. Or a multi-studio broadcast facility where the preamps are shared infrastructure and the gain headroom is never quite enough for the talent mics. Or a podcast studio with four SM7Bs, four hosts, and a console that tops out at 50 dB of gain. In every one of those situations the CL-4 is the right answer, and it costs less than a single outboard preamp channel.

The frequency response runs from 5 Hz to 80 kHz at -0.3 dB, which is wider than any microphone in your locker. The gain it provides is genuinely transparent: Cloud Microphones designed the JFET circuit to preserve the natural tonal character of the source, not add warmth, coloration, or any character of its own. What you hear after a CL-4 is a louder, cleaner version of exactly what your microphone captures. Handcrafted on the Navajo Nation and in Tucson, Arizona. Backed by a lifetime limited warranty with registration.

Highlights

  • 4-channel rackmount mic activator, 1U, 19" rack format
  • Up to +25 dB of ultra-clean gain per channel via two discrete Class-A gain stages
  • Patented Class-A discrete JFET circuitry: no transformers, capacitors, or resistors in the direct audio path
  • Input impedance: 3k ohms for optimal impedance loading with passive microphones
  • Output impedance: 150 ohms, recommended load impedance greater than 5k ohms
  • Frequency response: 5 Hz to 80 kHz (-0.3 dB)
  • Powered entirely by 48V phantom power (IEC 61938), current consumption 3.1 mA per channel
  • Does not pass phantom power through to the microphone: safe for all passive ribbon and tube microphones
  • Four rear-panel balanced XLR inputs and four rear-panel balanced XLR outputs
  • Compatible with dynamic, ribbon, tube, and battery-powered microphones
  • Reduces noise from long cable runs and low-gain preamp stages
  • Allows preamp to operate at significantly lower gain settings, reducing self-noise
  • Rugged steel enclosure with EMI shielding
  • Dimensions: 21" x 4.5" x 1.75"
  • Weight: 3.35 lbs.
  • Handcrafted in the USA (Navajo Nation and Tucson, Arizona)
  • Limited lifetime warranty with registration

Cloudlifter CL-4 Specifications

Specification Details
Type 4-channel passive mic activator, rackmount
Gain Up to +25 dB, two discrete gain stages
Circuitry Patented Class-A discrete JFET, no transformers, capacitors, or resistors in signal path
Input Impedance 3k ohms
Output Impedance 150 ohms
Recommended Load Impedance Greater than 5k ohms
Frequency Response 5 Hz to 80 kHz (-0.3 dB)
Power 48V phantom power (P48, IEC 61938), 3.1 mA per channel
Phantom Pass-Through None: phantom power is terminated at the unit, not passed to microphone
Connectivity 4x balanced XLR input (rear), 4x balanced XLR output (rear)
Microphone Compatibility Dynamic, passive ribbon, tube, battery-powered; all passive microphones
Enclosure Rugged steel with EMI shielding
Form Factor 1U, 19" rackmount
Dimensions 21" x 4.5" x 1.75"
Weight 3.35 lbs.
Origin Handcrafted in the USA (Navajo Nation and Tucson, Arizona)
Warranty Limited lifetime warranty (parts and labor, with registration)

What's in the Box

Included Items
Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-4 Rackmount Mic Activator
Shipping

Shipping & Returns

  • We deliver all US orders in 3–5 business days
  • Free cancellations
  • Returns accepted within 30 days (unused items)

Order Confirmation

Once your order is placed, you will receive an order confirmation email. This confirms that we have received your order and have pre-authorized your credit card for the purchase. After confirming availability with our suppliers, we will proceed accordingly:

  • If your item is available and ready to ship within 1–2 business days, we will process the charge and arrange for shipment.

  • If your item is on backorder or unavailable, the pre-authorization will be voided and you will be notified by email.

  • Please note: While most items ship out within 1–2 business days, total delivery time is typically 3–5 business days, depending on your location and carrier handling.

Order Shipment

If your item is in stock and your payment has been processed, your order will typically ship within 1–2 business days. Total delivery time is approximately 3–5 business days from the date of order. Once shipped, you will receive tracking information at the email address provided during checkout within 24 hours of dispatch.

If you have not received tracking information within 3–5 business days of placing your order, please contact us at support@proaudioreserve.com.

The Distributor-Direct Advantage

To ensure you receive the most recent hardware revisions and 100% factory-sealed units, Pro Audio Reserve utilizes a Distributor-Direct fulfillment model. Unlike big-box retailers that may ship "floor models" or gear that has been sitting in general-purpose warehouses, your equipment is pulled directly from the primary manufacturer hub, serialized, and dispatched. This process ensures the highest level of quality control for professional-grade recording equipment.

Shipping Policy

We currently offer free shipping within the United States only. If the checkout process on our website allows you to enter a shipping address and complete your order, your location is eligible to receive delivery.

Changing Shipping Address

If you need to change your shipping address after your order has been processed or shipped, we will do our best to accommodate the request. Please note that address changes may result in delivery delays. Any additional costs incurred due to address changes, including carrier fees or rerouting charges will be the responsibility of the customer. No exceptions.

Shipping Times

All shipping times provided are estimates and should not be considered guarantees. Most orders ship out within 1–2 business days from the time payment is processed. However, total delivery time is typically 3–5 business days, depending on your location, carrier performance, and supplier fulfillment timelines.

We work closely with our vendors to ensure timely deliveries, but please note that supply chain disruptions, high-demand periods, or weather events may occasionally cause delays beyond our control.

  • To avoid misunderstandings: The “shipping time” refers to the total time from order placement to final delivery, not just when the item leaves the warehouse.

  • Cancellations: If you choose to cancel your order because it has not arrived within the estimated delivery window, you may be responsible for applicable shipping charges, restocking fees, warehouse handling costs, and other related fees.

  • Chargebacks: Customers who initiate chargebacks due to shipping delays without contacting us first may be held legally responsible for losses. We strongly encourage open communication so we can resolve any delivery concerns directly and efficiently via our Atlanta-based support team.

Delivery Options

  • Threshold Shipping: Your item will be delivered to your front door, porch, garage, or a covered entryway.

 

Why Buy From Us

We get it. You've got a lot of choice when it comes to online retailers.
Here's why we think you should shop with us at ProAudioReserve.

  • Free Shipping USA wide. 
  • 30 Day Easy Returns. Not happy with your product, we'll take it back noquestions asked.
  • Great Service. We pride ourselves on the best service, anywhere.

Reviews

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
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