Audio Technica 4047/SV FET Borrows From The Past

Audio Technica AT4047

In today's overcrowded condenser mic market, a neutral mic easily gets lost. To stand out, you need some attitude. That's what the other mic makers are doing, and Audio Technica is now following suit. The AT4047/SV FET cardioid condenser microphone ($695 with mic, vinyl case and suspension mount) is a marked departure for Audio Technica. 

Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 Firewire Interface

Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 Front and Back Panel

I’m running Mac Lion and Pro Tools 10 on a 2 x 2.4 GHz Quad Core Intel Xeon Mac with 32GB of RAM. I make my living with this and other Macs. In the past, I have run into problems by trying to be too close to the cutting edge. Just before I began the installation of the Focusrite Saffire MixControl and driver software, I did a search to see if there were any problems. I called the US offices of Focusrite in California and asked to speak to someone who could talk to me about any conflicts. I spoke to Raul Resendiz, who assured me that there were no worries, but pointed me to the Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 download page to get the latest version of the driver and MixControl. The install was easy.

Neumann TLM 103D - Intelligent Mic with A Memory

Neumann TLM 103D

The Neumann family of Solution D digital mics currently includes the TLM 103D, the flagship D-01 and the KM D series (KM 183 D, KM 184 D and KM 185 D). The TLM 103D has an internal 24/192 kHz A/D converter and channel strip DSP. The TLM 103D may be used by itself without the channel strip, if used with the connection starter kit that provides power to the mic and a simple AES output. The full blown three-part system is comprised of one or two TLM 103Ds, RCS software and the two input DMI-2 digital mic interface.  

The channel strip is accessed via high-functioning, Mac and PC-compatible RCS software. From it you can see each mic’s, pattern (if adjustable, which pattern), pre attenuation (-6, -12, -18dB), gain (0-63dB), variable low cut, de-esser, test signal with tones, comp/limiter, peak limiter, mute, polarity reversal, LED on-mic light intensity, sync, AES 42 info and other features. Settings are stored in the mic. The TLM 103D, then, is an “intelligent mic with a memory.” The DMI-2 interface can support two AES42 digital mics, each of which with it’s own preamp and channel strip.

Rode NTG-3 Shotgun Mic - Ready For Action

This Australian-made Rode NTG-3 microphone ($699) seems extremely well-placed for its price and performance. Like the Sennheiser 416, the NTG-3 is an RF-condenser unit that combines a somewhat sophisticated RF circuit with the capsule to reduce the deleterious effects of high humidity. It's tricky to design, but worth the effort. That design element has contributed greatly to a "bullet proof" reputation for similar mics and should do the same for the NTG-3. 

Neumann TLM 102 - The VolksMikrofon

Neumann TLM 102

The Volkswagen is named so because it was designed to be "a car for the "volks" or people." Neumann makes world class microphones that typically cost more than most personal budgets can support; until now.

Should you wonder, after a very quick listen, the TLM 102 and TLM 103 sound very different. The TLM 102 is relatively flat with a closer focus on the midrange than the TLM 103. What does that mean? It means that the TLM 102 can be less problematic in environments that aren't designed as recording studios. 

The TLM 102 is considerably smaller than the TLM 103, but that difference in size does not mean the TLM 102 is a proportionally lesser microphone.

I really like that Neumann has taken a leadership position in swinging the pendulum back from the years long industry trend of making mics brighter and brighter. Brighter is not better, especially when you start using dynamics plugins aggressively or record in a non-optimal acoustic environment.

MCA SP-1 Cardioid Condenser Mic

MCA SP-1 Cardioid Mic

A few years ago, a friend sent me one of these MXL MCA SP-1 mics so I could evaluate it. His thought was that it sounded like it should cost a lot more than $39.99, which is what it streeted for back then. Lately I've seen it for $52.99 at B&H.

Sanken CS-1 Short Shotgun -- But Is It A Shotgun??

Sanken CS-1e

The Sanken CS-1, and for that matter the Sanken CS-3, were both modified shortly after they came out. The new versions are the CS-1e and CS-3e. It's been some time, but I recall the modification had to do with lowering the noise figure on each mic.

Sennheiser MKH 418S: Stereo/Shotgun Mic

Sennheiser MKH481S Stereo/Shotgun Microphone

The Sennheiser MKH 418 S stereo/shotgun mic is an obvious and welcome extension to Sennheiser's industry standard MKH 416 shotgun. Sennheiser has lengthened the interference tube of a standard MKH 416 to accommodate a figure of eight capsule positioned directly behind the front facing mono capsule and created a Mid/Side (MS) stereo mic.

Rode Pin Mic

I had the original PIN mic from Ricsonix years ago. Peter Freedman and Rode liked the idea so much that they picked it up and buffed it a bit, making it the Rode Pin Mic.

I used the new Rode Pin Mic today on a shoot and was very pleased with the results. You can see it here between the buttons. Even though this is the buff silver color, it blends in very nicely with the blue denim shirt. I had a Schoeps cmc641 on the boom and the Pin Mic on the other track. They matched very nicely.

No problem with clothing noise. If I wanted to, I could have "replaced" the second button on his shirt with the mic to make it less obvious, but I wanted higher placement because we were in a pretty slappy kitchen and I wanted to get the voice as clean as possible.