BUDGET MICROPHONES SECTOR SPOTLIGHT
EASY ON THE WALLET: Consumers don’t need to break the bank these days to pick up a good quality microphone
Bought for a song O
ne of the misconceptions that stem from the minds of many musicians is that in order to get
“ In today’s MI
market, you can pick up a high quality
microphone for a two-figure sum.
hold of a decent microphone, you’d better be willing to break the bank for it. Many of those who adopt this belief will either do just that – and fork out for a mic that is intended for entirely different applications – or do the exact opposite and settle for a knackered old second hand model. The reality is that in today’s market – as with many other areas of MI – you can actually pick up a surprisingly high quality microphone for a two-figure sum, making live vocal performances or home recording more achievable than ever before. Here’s a look at a few examples. Audio-Technica’s AT2020 cardioid condenser offers high SPL handling and a wide dynamic range for enhanced versatility. Its custom engineered low-
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mass diaphragm helps extend the frequency response and it’s ideal for either home or project studios. The AT2010 was designed to bring the
studio-quality articulation of the manufacturer’s 20 Series to the stage, creating crystal-clear vocal reproduction. It includes the AT2020’s 16 mm low-mass diaphragm and a multi-stage grille design, which eliminates plosives and sibilance without affecting clarity. The Japanese giant has also released
the Pro 61, a dynamic vocal mic that can produce vast quantities of gain before feedback and improved isolation of the sound source, thanks to its hypercardioid polar pattern. Beyerdynamic launched its Touring
Gear series at Frankfurt this year, which is comprised of microphone models from all across the sector, including some great entry-level options.
With many of us suffering from fewer funds to spend on instrumental luxuries than we’d like, the idea of splashing out on a pricey mic is less appealing than ever. Thankfully, there are plenty of low-priced, yet high-quality models out there, as Adam Savage discovers…
The TG V30ds provides a supercardioid polar pattern and produces a natural sound that is ideal for karaoke, rehearsal room singing and stage use. With a noiseless on/off switch, XLR cable, clamp and storage bag, the TG V30ds is great for those not wanting to get too technical. Also offering a supercardioid polar
pattern, the TG V35s does a similar job to the above, but also includes high feedback rejection and thanks to its high output level, only requires a simple pre-amplifier to deliver an impressive sound. Slightly further up the scale, the TG V50d live mic has a powerful, yet natural sound and features high levels of handling, durability, appearance and touch. The D1057 from LD Systems is a
dynamic cardioid instrument microphone that was created with professional sound reinforcement and project studio recording in mind. Just sneaking into the budget
miPRO JUNE 2011 63
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