AUSTRIAN AUDIO F-13 MiCreator Studio User Manual
- June 15, 2024
- AUSTRIAN AUDIO
Table of Contents
AUSTRIAN AUDIO F-13 MiCreator Studio
Introduction
MiCreator is a microphone system consisting of several microphones and accessories. Depending on the application, you only need the main microphone, MiCreator Studio, or you can combine a plurality of system devices to expand your application scenarios. MiCreator is also available as a system set, in which you get MiCreator Studio and MiCreator Satellite including all necessary cables combined in a practical case. Since this is a manual for the entire system, you will find the appropriate section for your device(s) in the table of contents. Please read, comprehend and follow all instructions in this guide before using these devices.
- Please use these devices only for their intended purposes. Austrian Audio shall not assume any liability for damage resulting from improper handling or misuse.
- Wearing headphones at full volume for long periods can damage your hearing.
- If a fault occurs, please stop using the devices.
- Always store the equipment in a dry and safe place.
- Do not operate the equipment outside the intended operating temperature range of 0 °C to 45 °C (32 °F – 113 °F).
- Do not use the devices in a damp environment.
- Please do not drop.
- These devices are professional microphones; keep them away from small children.
- If you need to clean the devices, please use a soft, dry cloth.
- Do not use third-party accessories unless otherwise noted.
- Do not disassemble the devices, as there are no user-serviceable parts inside.
- The devices (MiCreator Studio + MiCreator Satellite) contain magnets for the interchangeable cover plates.
Thank you very much for reading the notes so far and, of course, for placing your trust in Austrian Audio.
MiCreator Studio
MiCreator Studio is a studio microphone with a USB-C® connection to the
partner device (such as a computer, tablet, mobile phone, etc.). In addition
to a primary headphone output, MiCreator Studio has another jack that can be
used both as a second headphone output or to connect the included instrument
cable to record two signals simultaneously. Alternatively, MiCreator Satellite
or MiCreator Y-Lav can be connected to this socket – see the corresponding
sections for more information.
Note: The microphone can also be powered by a USB power adapter (not included) and used as an analog microphone.
Controls and connections
Switching on and off
The device does not have an on/off switch but starts automatically as soon as
it is powered by the USB-C® socket (5V, 250mA). When starting, a red light
animation is briefly visible on the LED bar. The LED bar then switches to
volume mode (green).
Positioning and alignment
MiCreator Studio is designed to be used on a table or microphone stand. The
3/8″ thread for mounting on a standard microphone stand is located on the
underside – for mounting on stands with a 5/8″ thread, the MCTA thread adapter
is included.
There are also rubber feet on the underside, which guarantee that it stands securely on flat surfaces. The suspended capsule offers good isolation from structure-borne noise and even allows it to be used as a hand-held microphone. For all these applications, it is recommended to always align the tilting capsule head with the sound source to be recorded, wherein the speaking direction of the capsule is straight at the grille. Since the microphone has a cardioid polar pattern, sound coming from the back of the microphone (i.e., the side with the connectors) is maximally suppressed. The capsule head has an internal pop shield – if this is not sufficient, an optional pop filter, such as the Austrian Audio OCP8, can be purchased. Note: If the swivel joint loosens after a long period of use, it can be tightened with a screwdriver (Torx® T8).
There are also rubber feet on the underside, which guarantee that it stands securely on flat surfaces. The suspended capsule offers good isolation from structure-borne noise and even allows it to be used as a hand-held microphone. For all these applications, it is recommended to always align the tilting capsule head with the sound source to be recorded, wherein the speaking direction of the capsule is straight at the grille. Since the microphone has a cardioid polar pattern, the sound coming from the back of the microphone (i.e., the side with the connectors) is maximally suppressed. The capsule head has an internal pop shield – if this is not sufficient, an optional pop filter, such as the Austrian Audio OCP8, can be purchased.
Note: If the swivel joint loosens after a long period of use, it can be tightened with a screwdriver (Torx® T8).
Establishing the USB-C® connection
The device is USB Audio Class 1.0/2.0 compliant – i.e., it is immediately
ready for use and no driver installation is necessary. The device can be
operated on any device with USB-C® or USB-A (via adapter – not included)
socket. The maximum audio sampling rate is 48kHz with a bit depth of 24 bits.
The connection for the included USB-C® cable is located on the back of the
device.
Supported USB devices include
- Computers running Windows® 7 and later
- Mac® computer with macOS® 10.7 and later
- Computers running Linux® Kernel 3.10 and later
- Android™ tablets and mobile phones with USB-C®
- iPhone® with USB-C®
- iPad® with USB-C®
- iPhone®/iPad® via Camera Connection Kit (not included within the scope of supply)
- Sony PS4™/PS5™
Note: Since the complete signal processing and monitoring is implemented analog in the device, the USB-C® socket can also be supplied by a USB power supply (not included) and MiCreator Studio can be used as an analogue microphone.
Plugging in headphones and starting up
The headphones are plugged into the “out” jack on the back – this is the
primary headphone output. If a second pair of headphones is required, it can
be connected to the “in/out” jack. The identical signal can be heard on both
sockets, and both share the volume and monitor control on the front. It is
therefore recommended to use two headphones of the same type or at least
similar impedance (e.g., 25 ohms like the The volume of the signal on the
headphone output is adjusted via the front jog wheel. For this purpose, if not
already done, the LED bar must be brought into green mode by pressing the jog
wheel. Austrian Audio Hi-X15). Turning the jog wheel clockwise now increases
the volume at the headphone output, while turning counterclockwise reduces it.
When the volume is completely reduced, the flashing of the LED bar symbolizes
the muting of the headphone output. To reproduce the maximum possible level
from an end device connected via the USB-C® connection to the headphone output
of the MiCreator Studio, it is recommended to set the output level on this end
device to the maximum.
Note: Controlling the headphone volume does not affect the volume of the signal that is transmitted or recorded via the USB-C® connection to any end device.
Setting the monitoring (volume of the microphone signal in the headphones)
By pressing the jog wheel, the LED bar will be brought into red mode. Here, an LED dot that can be moved by turning the jog wheel symbolizes the monitoring balance. If the LED dot is moved to the left, the microphone signal is played back at maximum volume at the headphone output (e.g., to hear yourself well during a vocal recording). If the LED dot is moved to the far right, the microphone signal is not reproduced at all at the headphone output (e.g., if you don’t want to hear yourself in a video conference).
If an additional device is connected to the “in/out” jack of MiCreator Studio,
moving the LED dot to the right (by turning the jog wheel clockwise) causes
that signal to be played louder at the headphone output. These can be, for
example, a synthesizer (connected via the included instrument cable),
MiCreator Satellite or the MiCreator Y-Lav lavalier microphone. Turning
counterclockwise, in turn, causes a reduction of this signal in the headphone
output (while simultaneously amplifying the main microphone signal as
described above). This allows the balance of the volume of these two signals
in the headphones to be adjusted.
By pressing the jog wheel for 2 seconds in red mode, the LED dot is moved to
the centre, which means that the microphone signal and that connected to the
“in/out” are reproduced equally loudly in the headphones (as long as their
source is the same volume).
Note: Regulating the monitoring balance does not affect the volume of the signal, which is transmitted to any end device via the USB-C® connection.
Adjusting the microphone gain
On the front of the MiCreator Studio, there is a three-way switch for
microphone gain. If this is at the lowest “mute” position, the visible red
marking on the switch signals that the microphone is muted on the input side.
This is a so-called hardware mute – i.e., regardless of any other mute
functions in conference software for example, no microphone signal is
transmitted to the headphones or to an end device via the USB-C® connection.
However, this only applies to the signal from the internal microphone capsule
– anything connected to the “in/out” jack will not be muted. If the switch is
set to the “low” or “high” position, the microphone signal is amplified with
0dB (“low”) or 20dB (“high”). This amplification affects both the signal at
the headphone output (monitoring) and the signal that is transmitted to any
end device via the USB-C® connection. For quiet signals such as spoken word or
delicate singing, the “high” position is recommended. For loud signals such as
drums, guitars, wind instruments and loud vocals, the “low” position is
recommended. Some examples can be found in the Quick Start Guide included
within the scope of supply. MiCreator Studio is recognized by the device as a
stereo audio device. If no other devices are connected to the MiCreator
Studio, the microphone signal is always transmitted on the left and right USB
channels via the USB-C® connection. 
Connecting other devices and adjusting the input gain
There is a two-way switch on the back of the device – this adjusts the input
gain for other devices connected to the “in/out” socket. If the instrument
cable included within the scope of supply is connected, it is recommended to
set the switch to “low”, as electroacoustic instruments such as keyboards or
guitars with active pickups sometimes generate high levels. (Furthermore, in
the “low” position, the input impedance is set to the highest possible value
to distort the signal of the connected instrument as little as possible –
details can be found in the Technical Specifications section).
Connecting other devices and adjusting the input gain
There is a two-way switch on the back of the device – this adjusts the input
gain for other devices connected to the “in/out” socket. If the instrument
cable included within the scope of supply is connected, it is recommended to
set the switch to “low”, as electroacoustic instruments such as keyboards or
guitars with active pickups sometimes generate high levels. (Furthermore, in
the “low” position, the input impedance is set to the highest possible value
in order to distort the signal of the connected instrument as little as
possible – details can be found in the Technical Specifications section).
Note: The supplied MCC1 instrument cable includes electronic components in the plug for automatic cable detection (e.g., to automatically switch the plug-in power and the input impedance). Therefore, only use the supplied MCC1 Instrument cable to connect instruments. It is also recommended to set the switch to “low” if the “in/out” socket is only used to connect a second headphone or is generally not occupied, as this minimizes noise in monitoring. If other microphones from the MiCreator family are purchased (such as MiCreator Satellite or the Y-Lav lavalier microphone), the same recommendations apply as for the microphone input gain in the upper section.
Note: While plugging the above devices into the “in/out”, the headphone
output of the MiCreator Studio is muted for a short time to avoid loud noise
at the headphone output – this is symbolized by a flashing of the LED bar.
Nevertheless, it is recommended to mute any playback devices connected to the
headphone output or to remove the headphones from the ear when plugged in. As
soon as the accessory has been connected, its signal is transmitted to the end
device on the right channel via the USB-C® connection, which enables two-
channel or stereo recording. 
Note: The monitoring of the microphone signal or a second device connected to the “in/out” jack is always mono – i.e., both signals are reproduced in the middle of the stereo image of the headphone output.
Additional input gain for signal transmission via the USB-C® connection
The two-way input gain of MiCreator was chosen so that the signal can be
recorded at a good level but still has enough headroom to avoid distortion. If
more gain is needed (e.g., to guarantee a good quality in conferencing
software), MiCreator Studio can provide up to 15dB additional analogue gain.
This gain only affects signal transmission via the USB-C® connection, for both
input channels.
Note: This additional gain is also used by conferencing software if “Adjust gain automatically” or similar is selected.
Setting up this additional gain is different according to the device to which MiCreator Studio is connected – here are some examples:
Windows 7/8.1/10
Right-click the loudspeaker symbol in the taskbar
- “Sounds” Click on the tab “Recording”, then Right-click on microphone MiCreator
- “Settings” In the “Level” tab, the additional gain can be configured.
Note: Right-clicking the number field lets you choose between viewing the level in percentage (0-100) and dB.
Windows 11
Right-click the loudspeaker symbol in the task bar
- “Sound settings” Further down, the level can be set from 0% to 100%, which corresponds to 0dB to 15dB.
Note: Alternatively, the same dialogue as in Windows 7/8/10 can be found
under “More sound settings”, where the level in dB can be set.
macOS®
Simultaneously pressing the Ctrl button, click on the loudspeaker symbol in
the menu bar
- “Sound Preferences…” Change to the “Input” tab
- There, the input gain can be set under “Input volume” when the device MiCreator is selected.
Note: Alternatively, the dB value of the set input volume can be seen and set in the “Audio MIDI Setup”.
iOS/iPadOS®
On the iPad® or iPhone®, the additional input gain can be set, for example,
using the “Steinberg Cubasis LE” app included within the scope of supply,
which is activated by MiCreator Studio. The app needs to be downloaded from
the App Store and MiCreator Studio must be connected to the device. In the
audio settings, an “Input Gain” slider can be found with an adjustment range
from 0% to 100% – with 0% already muting the signal and 100% representing the
maximum additional 15 dB. To achieve the minimal gain of 0dB, the slider must
be set to 1%.
Android™
An additional input gain can be set on Android™ in different ways depending on
the device and the app – please consult your user manual for further details.
As an example, Cubasis LE is shown, which can be downloaded from the Play
Store as a 30-minute demo version. Here an “Input Gain” slider can be found in
the audio settings which allows up to 12dB of gain and -40dB dampening
respectively. Note: Depending on the device, MiCreator Studio is possibly
shown as “USB Headset” as is shown in the example above.
Interchangeable cover plate
The cover plates are interchangeable, for example, with the red variant
included within the scope of supply. To do this, the finger is inserted into
the small recess below the cover plate located on the MiCreator Studio – the
cover plate can now be easily removed. When exchanging, the new cover plate
can simply be snapped in – it is held by 4 magnets in the MiCreator Studio.
Note: In addition to the colour variants included within the scope of supply, a white and a black version, both without printing, can be purchased separately for your design as MiCreator DIY Plates Studio.
Transport of the MiCreator Studio
Always transport MiCreator Studio without cables attached. The included cloth
bag protects the device from minor scratches, but it is no substitute for a
padded carrying case. For the transport of the MiCreator Studio together with
the MiCreator Satellite, the MCSC Carry Case can be purchased separately.
Technical specifications
- Digital resolution: maximum 48 kHz/24-bit
- Digital Connection: USB-C® – USB Audio Class 1.0/2.0 compliant
Microphone:
- Capsule: Electret condenser
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: – 35 dBFS/Pa (gain “low”) or -15 dBFS/Pa (gain “high”)
- Equivalent inherent noise: 22dBSPL(A) (gain “high”)
- Maximum SPL: 130 dB SPL (gain “low”)
TRS/TRRS headphone output:
- Output power: 45mW (32 Ohm load)
- Dynamic range: 89 dB(A)
Input/Output TRRS:
- Input gain: 0 dB (“low”) / 20 dB (“high”)
- Frequency range: 10 Hz – 20 kHz
- Power supply for microphones: 3.9 V via 2.7 kΩ
- Input impedance with instrument cable: 135 kΩ (input gain “low”) Maximum input level with instrument cable <0.1% THD: +10 dBu (input gain “low”)
- Dimensions: 155 x 60 x 37 mm
- Weight: 370g
All specifications are subject to change without notice. Find frequency charts and polar patterns at:
MiCreator Satellite
MiCreator Satellite is an analog studio microphone with a 3.5mm TRRS jack for
connection to an end device (such as a computer, tablet, mobile phone, etc.).
A second 3.5mm TRS socket can also be used to plug in headphones. MiCreator
Satellite unfolds its full potential in conjunction with the MiCreator Studio.
Note: The acoustic properties of MiCreator Satellite and MiCreator Studio are identical, allowing stereo recordings or other 2-channel recordings such as interviews to be made at exactly the same level of quality for both channels.
Connections
Note: The 3.5mm TRRS jack designated “link” is wired according to the CTIA/headset standard. Since the microphone signal is on pin 4, interference with signal transmission can occur with an unsuitable TRRS cable. Therefore, only use the supplied MCC2 Link cable which has the signal ground and shielding on pin 3.
- Contact/Signal
- Left headphone signal
- Right headphone signal
- Signal ground and shielding
- Microphone signal
Positioning and alignment
MiCreator Satellite is designed to operate on a table or microphone stand. The
3/8″ thread for mounting on a standard microphone stand is located on the
underside – for mounting on stands with a 5/8″ thread, the MCTA thread adapter
is included. There are also rubber feet on the underside, which guarantee that
it stands securely on flat surfaces. The suspended capsule offers good
isolation from structure-borne noise and even allows it to be used as a hand-
held microphone. For all these applications, it is recommended to always align
the tilting capsule head with the sound source to be recorded, wherein the
direction of maximum sensitivity of the capsule is straight at the grille.
Since the microphone has a cardioid polar pattern, the sound coming from the
back of the microphone
(i.e., the side with the connectors) is maximally suppressed. The capsule head has an internal pop shield – if this is not sufficient, an optional pop filter, such as the Austrian Audio OCP8, can be purchased.
Note: If the swivel joint loosens after a long period of use, it can be tightened with a screwdriver (Torx® T8).
Plugging in headphones and starting up
MiCreator Satellite is connected to a device with a TRRS socket (such as the
socket labeled “in/out” on the MiCreator Studio) using the included MCC2 Link
cable. On the one hand, the microphone signal is transmitted to the end
device, on the other hand, the playback is routed from the end device to the
headphone jack on the MiCreator Satellite titled “out”. A headphone is
connected to this “out” jack, for example, to hear other participants in a
video conference.
Note: It is also possible to connect to a microphone jack on an end device, such as a camera via a Y adapter (e.g., the HSA6 adapter included within the scope of supply of the MiCreator Satellite), provided that this also provides the necessary plug-in power – in case of doubt, consult the manufacturer of the end device. Adjusting microphone and headphone gain MiCreator Satellite does not have an internal amplification, so the volume depends on the end device. The recommended amplification of the microphone signal for spoken words is about 20 to 30dB for example, which can typically be achieved by devices such as laptops – consult the manufacturer. The headphone amplification, i.e., the volume of the playback, is also set on the end device according to personal preference.
How to use MiCreator Satellite with MiCreator Studio
The MiCreator Studio microphone with USB-C® connection is designed to provide
the optimal gain for MiCreator Satellite – refer to the section Adjusting the
microphone gain or the Quick Start Guide included within the scope of supply
for recommended microphone gain settings in conjunction with MiCreator Studio.
The two devices are connected via the MCC2 Link cable to the “in/out” socket
of the MiCreator Studio and to the “link” socket of the MiCreator Satellite.
In this case, the second headphone output of the MiCreator Studio is
redirected to the “out” jack of the MiCreator Satellite. Thus, with little
cabling, for example, interviews can be conducted during which both people can
get feeds via headphones.
Stereo recordings are also possible together with the MiCreator Studio, as the acoustic properties of MiCreator Studio and MiCreator Satellite are identical. For this purpose, the separately available MCMB MiniBar is recommended, on which both products can be mounted using the MCTA thread adapters.
Note: The MCMB MiniBar always guarantees a distance of 17cm between the capsules. This complies with the standard for the ORTF stereo technique defined by the “Office de Radiodiffusion Télévision Française”. For the best possible result, the two microphones should be at an opening angle of 110° to each other.
Interchangeable cover plate
The cover plates are interchangeable, for example, with the red variant
included within the scope of supply. To do this, the finger is inserted into
the small recess below the cover plate located on the MiCreator Satellite –
the cover plate can now be easily removed. When exchanging, the new cover
plate can simply be snapped in – it is held by 4 magnets in the MiCreator
Satellite.
Note: In addition to the colour variants included within the scope of supply, a white and a black version, both blank, can be purchased separately as MiCreator DIY Plates Satellite to be designed on your own.
Transport of the MiCreator Satellite
Always transport MiCreator Satellite without cables attached. For the
transport of the MiCreator Satellite together with the MiCreator Studio, the
MCSC Carry Case can be purchased separately.
Technical specifications
- Capsule: Electret condenser
- Polar pattern: Cardioid
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 10 mV/Pa
- Equivalent inherent noise: 22 dB SPL(A)
- Maximum SPL: 130 dB SPL
- Dimensions: 100 x 60 x 28 mm
- Weight: 220g
All specifications are subject to change without notice. Find frequency charts and polar patterns at:
MiCreator Y-Lav
MiCreator Y-Lav is an analog Lavalier microphone with a 2m long cable with a 3.5mm TRRS jack plug for connecting to an end device (e.g., a computer, tablet, mobile phone, etc.). A 3.5mm TRS socket can also be used to plug in headphones. MiCreator Y-Lav unfolds its full potential in conjunction with MiCreator Studio.
Note: In interview situations, when attached to the reverse of a jacket or button tab of a shirt, the sensitivity of MiCreator Y-Lav perfectly matches the level of a MiCreator Studio microphone standing at the table.
Positioning and alignment
MiCreator Y-Lav is designed as a lavalier microphone for attachment to the reverse or similar. To do this, the metal clip, into which the microphone is snapped, is spread apart and attached to the garment. Since the microphone has an omnidirectional characteristic, it picks up sound from all directions equally well. For an isolated recording of the voice, itshould therefore be positioned as close to the mouth as possible – it is advisable to try several positions to achieve the best sound quality with the best possible voice isolation. The windshield attached to the microphone also protects against breathing noises and should therefore always be used even when recording in a windless environment, as it does not change the sound.
Plugging in headphones and starting up
MiCreator Y-Lav is connected to a device with a TRRS socket (such as the
socket labeled “in/out” on the MiCreator Studio). On the one hand, the
microphone signal is transmitted to the end device; on the other hand, the
playback is routed from the end device to the headphone jack on the MiCreator
Y-Lav. A headphone is connected to this jack, for example, to hear other
participants in a video conference.
Note: It is also possible to connect to a microphone jack on an end device, such as a camera via a Y adapter (e.g., the HSA6 adapter included within the scope of supply of the MiCreator Satellite), provided that this end device also provides the necessary plug-in power – in case of doubt, consult the manufacturer of the end device. Adjusting the microphone gain MiCreator Y-Lav does not have internal amplification, which means that the volume depends on the end device. The recommended amplification of the microphone signal for spoken words is about 20 to 30dB for example, which can typically be achieved by devices such as laptops – consult the manufacturer. The headphone amplification, i.e., the volume of the playback, is also set on the end device according to personal preference.
Using the MiCreator Y-Lav with MiCreator Studio
The MiCreator Studio microphone with USB-C® connection is designed to provide
the optimal amplification for MiCreator Y-Lav – refer to the section Adjusting
Microphone Gain for recommended microphone gain settings in conjunction with
MiCreator Studio. Also, when connecting the two devices via the “in/out” jack,
the second headphone output of the MiCreator Studio is redirected to the 3.5mm
TRS jack of the MiCreator Y-Lav. Thereby, for example, interviews can be
conducted with little wiring, in which both people can get feeds via
headphones.
Transport of the MiCreator Y-Lav
Always carry MiCreator Y-Lav in the included cloth bag. Be careful not to
damage the cable by stretching or extending it excessively.
Technical specifications
- Capsule: Electret condenser
- Polar pattern: Omnidirectional
- Frequency range: 20 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity: 5 mV/Pa
- Maximum SPL: 120 dBSPL
- Dimensions (only microphone with windscreen): 35 x 17 x 17 mm
- Weight: 30 g
All specifications are subject to change without notice. Find Frequency Charts and Polar Pattern at:
Troubleshooting
MiCreator Studio
The LED bar flashes| Either the playback volume is set to a minimum or the
MMC2 Link cable is plugged into the “in/out” socket without being plugged into MiCreator Satellite
---|---
No microphone signal arrives at the
end device
| The microphone gain switch is set to “mute”
Although the microphone signal arrives at the end device, it cannot be heard
in the headphones| The Monitoring Balance is set to the far right in red mode
on the LED bar, which means that only the signal of a connected device is
audible.
Although an instrument is connected via the MCC1 instrument cable, it cannot
be heard in the headphones| The Monitoring Balance is set to the far left in
red mode on the LED bar, which means that only the signal of the microphone is
audible.
Frequently asked questions at: https://austrian.audio/micreator
Legal information
- Declaration of conformity is available at the following internet address: https://austrian.audio
- At the end of the product’s life, disconnect the housing, electronics, and cables, and dispose of all components under local waste disposal regulations.
MiCreator Y-Lav: Legal information for China
USB-C@ is a registered trademark of the USB Implementers Forum. iPhone@,
iPad’, Macs, macOS’, and iPadOS@ are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in
the U.S. and other countries and regions. Linux@ is the registered trademark
of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries. Android'” is a trademark of
Google LLC. Sony is a registered trademark of Sony Group Corporation. PS4″•’
and PS5″•’ are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive
Entertainment Inc. Windows’ is a trademark of the Microsoft group of
companies. Torx@ is a registered trademark of Acument Intellectual Properties,
LLC in the U.S. Copyright Austrian Audio 2023.
References
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