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General Product Information
Visit our Binaural
vs Cardioid FAQ if you are wondering which type of mics would be better
for your recording situations.
Visit our MP3
Samples to hear sample recordings made with our microphones.
Note: In certain recording situations, you may need a separate power
source for your microphones. Visit our Battery
Module FAQ for more info on why you would want to use a battery module.
If you are planning on recording loud sounds (like an amplified rock concert,
for example), please read the Battery
Module FAQ for details on making recordings of loud sounds.
Binaural recordings are two channel recordings created by placing two
Omnidirectional microphones in or as close to the ears as is practical.
Using this technique, the location information contained in the frequency,
amplitude and phase responses of the left and right channels closely match
the cues required by the human auditory system to localize sound sources.
Positioned in this way, these Binaural microphones accurately capture
sonic information coming from all directions and will produce extremely
realistic recordings when listened to through headphones.
These microphones can also be used in a standard stereo configuration
by placing them approximately 12" to 24" apart, away from your head. This
configuration provides excellent stereo imaging for listening through
loudspeakers or headphones.
Battery modules (power supplies)
In certain recording situations, you may need a separate power source
for your microphones. Using these mics with a battery module will allow
the recordist to utilize the line input of their recorder instead
of the mic input in loud recording situations. In addition, the higher
voltage supplied by the battery/filter module increases the dynamic range
of the microphones and allows recordings to be made with high sound pressure
levels without distortion or clipping. Since the battery module and microphones
are purchased separately, one battery module can be used for several different
mic sets. Visit our Battery
Module FAQ for more info on why you would want to use a battery module.
All of our Binaural microphones are compatible with any of our battery/filter
modules (except for micro binaurals).
Interchangeable elements
Aside from superior specs and performance, the Premium microphones have
optional interchangeable mic elements available, each with it's own pickup
pattern: Cardioid, Hyper-cardioid, Sub-cardioid, Omni-directional and
Mini-shotgun. Each additional element is sold separately, and two are
needed for a stereo set. Mic elements are available here.
The Hyper-cardioid and Mini-shotgun elements allows the recordist to
make excellent recordings from greater distances than even the Cardioids
will allow. When compared to an Omni directional element, a recording
made with hyper Cardioid microphones will sound as is if the microphones
were much closer to the sound source. This can be a great advantage when
making recordings from a distance. They will also do a great job of reducing
unwanted audience noise from the sides and rear. The Sub-cardioid elements
are great to use when the acoustics of the venue you are recording in
are good, but you want to get rid of some of the crowd noise. They are
basically a compromise between an Omni and Cardioid element.
Cable and connector details
Our shielded microphone cable on our microphones is manufactured by Audio
Technica. These microphone cables are terminated in a standard 1/8"
gold plated stereo mini plug, unless otherwise noted. Some microphone
sets, especially those with very small mic element, use a flexible of
small diameter terminated in a right angle stereo mini plug. All of these
electret condenser microphones require a power source to turn them 'on'......a
there are two common ways to power them. The first is to plug them into
any recorder (DAT, MiniDisc, Camcorder, or other) that supplies a bias
voltage of between 1.5 and 10 Volts DC (commonly known as "plug-in-power")
at the microphone input jack. This configuration allows recordists to
use the microphones directly into the recorder when recording less demanding
subject material (where the sound level will not be extremely loud or
bassy). However, for optimum performance in loud situations, these mics
can be used in conjunction with one of our battery modules that supplies
these microphones (or any similar microphones from another manufacturer)
with the optimum bias voltage of 9 volts D.C. This additional power allows
the microphones to reproduce the louder sound waves without overloading,
causing distortion of the sound. This powering scheme works with most
electret condenser microphones, but not all. Those that don't work this
way are noted in the detail area of each item.
Sound Quality
The Sound Professionals Binaural microphone systems have an extended frequency
response and a very natural and accurate sound, providing deep, solid
bass, smooth midrange and clean highs. They have a very wide dynamic range,
and will handle very high sound pressure levels without distortion or
clipping. (See details above for more info). When combined with one of
the battery modules, they are designed to operate into a nominal impedance
of 10K Ohms.
Warranty
Information
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