The
Ribbon mics continue to impress with a great new acoustic session from
Graham Hodge CHECK IT OUT. The
BIG IDEA is to run a studio recording materclass weekend. Look out for
details!!!!!!!!!
The
Sennheiser MKH 30 figure-8 microphone is unique in that it is
the only true, single diaphragm design, figure-8 condenser microphone
on the market. Normally figure-8 condenser microphones achieve
their pattern by manipulating two, out-of-phase back-to-back cardioids
but the MKH series of microphones use Sennheiser’s unique
and revolutionary symmetrical push-pull capsule charged by low
voltage RF. Besides the normal back plate, this capsule is fitted
with an additional front plate and the diaphragm suspended between
them. Both of these plates are acoustically transparent so that
any impedance changes in the air gaps between the diaphragm and
the respective plate are opposite and therefore cancel each other
out, leading to an unchanging acoustic impedance. This unique
design produces extremely low distortion figures and a higher
capsule output that gives a much lower noise figure. The equivalent
noise is astonishing - 10 dB, A-weighted! (Remember a completely
quiet studio has about 20 dB background noise) and with a frequency
range that begins at 12 Hertz the result is a microphone really
one of the finest microphones available, justifying its hefty
price tag. A case of you get what you pay for.
Recording
I have used a pair of MKH 30s as a blumlein pair
out on location with the mobile for over a year now and they really
are very special mics. I match them to a Focusrite isa 428 pre
amp but I have used them with cheaper preamps and the results
are always quite stunning. Mics come in two distinct types. Most
studio mics have a deliberate lift or contour to their sound to
make them more suitable for particular applications but for orchestral
or choral work you really want a mic that is as perfectly tranparent
as possible and these mics belong to that category. Of course
they are expensive but engineering at this level costs money.
I have them set up in a stereo cradle as shown in the header image
above and as with all Blumlein pairs you really have to take care
with the positioning of the mics to get the balance between the
direct and ambient sound. I recently got hold of a Sennheiser
MKH 40, the cardiod model in the same range, and am really looking
forward to trying that out with a MKH30 as a mid side pair. Check
out the different stereo applications on the recording
tips page. All
in all expensive but brilliant. JR
