Not Your Father's AKG C 414 XLS and XL II

For the last ten years, established microphone companies have had to find a way to fill the product lines with low cost mics to meet lowball trigger prices. 

Something has to get lost when you're forced to make mics that cost 1/2 to 1/4 of the standard line. It's not all bad though. 

That challenge teaches you how to economize and streamline manufacturing procedures. But in the end, you're making hamburgers and hotdogs instead of steak. I'd like to think we're coming out of that dark period and that the lessons we learned will result in better microphones. 

I see these two new AKG C 414B mics as evidence that this is true. Technically, this new breed of C414B is more sensitive, has less selfnoise, has better capsule isolation and has more features.

Application: Studio and live recordings or PA.

Key Features: Five patterns, multiple roll-offs and pads, low selfnoise, high sensitivity, includes suspensionmount, pop filters and hard case.

Price: $999 for the XLS, $1,099 for the XLII

664 Mixer Introduction Video

More here: http://www.sounddevices.com/products/664/

Non-backlit Lectrosonics Transmitters On Sale

Looks like B&H is moving three Lectrosonics non-backlit transmitters at a savings. Check them out if you've been looking. No way to tell how many they have left.

The HM Digital Hybrid for $915

• Digital Hybrid System Avoids Noise
• Superb Audio Quality
• 5, 18, & 48 Volt Phantom Power
• Powerful Range - 100 mW Output Power
• Works with a Wide Variety of Receivers
• Backward Compatible With 100, 200, & IFB
• Made in the USA

SMQV Super-Miniature with pouch for $1179.95

• Variable, Selectable Power Output
• Dual Battery
• Includes Pouch
• Digital Hybrid Technology
• No Compandor Noise
• Servo Bias Audio Input
• 256 Frequencies
• 200, 100 and IFB Series Compatible
• Frequency Block 23

SMV Super-Miniature with pouch. $1099.95

• Frequency Block 21
• 50 & 100mW Selectable RF Power
• Single Battery Housing
• Includes Pouch
• Digital Hybrid Technology
• No Compandor Noise
• Servo Bias Audio Input
• 256 Frequencies
• 200, 100 and IFB Series Compatible

iPad 3 As Teleprompter

Datavideo TP-200

The Datavideo TP-200 Teleprompter system with prompter software turns an iPad, iPad 2 or iPad 3 into an through-the-lens teleprompter and can also be used as a below-the-lens prompter. What about the eye line when the text is not in front of the lens? I was on a shoot with the talent a little over seven feet away from the lens. Even though the iPod they used was held below the camera lens, the eye line was acceptable. 

Pro: Economical, Lightweight (4.2 lbs) through the lens prompting on an iPad 3

Con: Only fits cameras with 8.5 inches between the nut and lens. Software is very basic or slightly buggy.

Sescom Audio Adapter Cable For iPad 3

I finally got an iPad 3 and, of course, instantly began looking for ways to connect it to audio. Sescom is a very reliable manufacturer of audio problem solvers. I discovered them years ago while writing my first gear reviews for Radio World. I wouldn't mind having one of everything they make just for those  situations where you need to get from here to there and can't.

I don't have an immediate need to get audio into my new iPad 3. I got it so I could use it as a teleprompter. It does have an onboard mic for simple things, but what about things that aren't so simple? Maybe an interview for broadcast or podcast. Because the iPad 3 has a surprisingly good camera; maybe audio for an online video. What about connecting professional mics with XLR connectors? While specs on the 30-pin connector on the iPad 3 show both USB and Fire Wire, I'd still need an easy connection and a USB or Fire Wire adapter. Enter this handy little Sascom cable, the Sescom IPHONE MIC 1RA.

Event Opal - Bearing down on a gem

Event Opal Monitors

I’ve had the pleasure of using some great sounding monitors over the years and there does seem to be a price/performance ratio. When you start throwing dollars at linearity, low distortion, wide bandwidth, high frequency dispersion, transient response and stereo imaging, the bill adds up quickly. There are only so many ways to steal from the laws of physics, but there is always room for innovation. 

FEATURES

My initial impressions of the Opals, in order of their occurrence, were; heavy, almost 54 pounds a piece due to the large-ish torroidal mains transformers, large aluminum heat sink back-plate and high pressure injection-molded aluminum cabinets. Well-packed for shipping, Clean of line and accessible controls. These are bi-amped, two way monitors; Class AB, 600W Peak on the bottom, 140W Peak on top. 

Gefell M 900 - The Arty Condenser Mic

M900

There is not a more exotic looking mic than the Gefell M 900 ($995). Part ray gun, part Venutian gynecological instrument, the cardioid condenser M 900 (and its hyper-cardioid cousin the M 910), are striking in their appearance. 

The M 900 is a transformerless, large-diaphragm condenser microphone with a single cardioid pattern. The membrane is a standard 1-inch gold sputtered Mylar membrane. The capsule was designed and computer-modeled at NIKFI in Moscow. According to GPrime, the US distributors, it has a ceramic backplate that is more stable to temperature changes than the often used brass. The conductive side is then chrome-plated. Over that is evaporated a one micron coating of Teflon. The Teflon acts as an insulator between the membrane and backplate and prevents damage as a result of incidental contact between the two. 


* Studio/Live Condenser Mic
* Cardioid Pattern
* Next to imposible to find

Sound Devices MixPre-D Two Channel Mixer with Analog, Digital and USB Outputs

Sound Devices MixPre-D

In the field, in the studio or in post, there are times when you don’t need or don’t want a big audio mixer. Maybe you’ll only be working with a mono or stereo source, but you want something better than camera microphone inputs. In some cases, the devices you’re asked to feed have no reliable balanced, analog audio inputs; computers, iPhones, iPod touch or iPads.

• Transformer-balanced mic/line selectable inputs
• 48-volt or 12-volt phantom power
• "Unclippable" input peak limiters, dual-mono or stereo linked operation
• Input panning to Left, Center, or Right outputs
• Mid-Side Stereo (MS) matrix with width control and front-panel channel flip
• Return can be used as ch3/ch4 aux-level inputs, selectable pan and level control
• High-pass filters, 80 Hz or 160 Hz
• Slate microphone and tone oscillator
• Mic/Line/AES digital selectable outputs, digital SR of 44.1 , 48 , or 96 kHz
• 24-bit, class-compliant USB streaming output for interconnection with Mac OS, Windows, Linux, and select iOS devices, computer audio in MixPre-D headphones
• Dedicated mic-level output on locking TA3 connector for unbalanced camera inputs
• Headphone monitoring of program audio or external return audio
• Sunlight-viewable, 16-segment GaN LED output meter with adjustable brightness
• Internal battery-power from two AA
• External power input, 10-18 VDC
• High-strength, extruded aluminum chassis with metal connectors

AT835ST AT815ST Are Now BP4029 and BP4027

Audio Technica BP4027

This review was written about the AT835ST and AT815ST. The models were changed slightly in 2007 before being renamed the BP4029 and BP4027, respectively. In the rapidly changing world of pro audio, taking things for granted is not a good idea. If you think you know what to expect from a stereo shotgun mic, you might accidentally dismiss Audio Technica’s 9-inch AT835ST ($899) and 15-inch AT815ST ($999) mics.