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Gear / Technical Help => Microphones & Setup => Topic started by: WiFiJeff on August 31, 2017, 07:46:59 PM
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Has anyone here used the DPA 4015 wide cardioids? Any take on their sound and best uses? Limitations?
Jeff
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Your post and aaronji's were posted around the same time.
http://taperssection.com/index.php?topic=183430.0
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Aaron bought Page's 4015's AFAIK.
Moke used to run a pair as well.
I once patched into a guy running them in my "home base" amphitheater back in 2006 and that recording served as a primary reference against which I judged my recording techniques developed there over the years.
I've not run them myself, but really like what I've heard from them. Out of my price range, but perhaps my favorite microphone (that I've not used) in the appropriate situation. Very natural and open sounding with pretty much the same response all around, just reduced sensitivity far off-axis. Like a top class DPA omni but with some welcome directionality. Use them where you'd use omnis but gain some directional presence. They'll shine in good acoustics, and may overly expose poor acoustics.
DPA sent me their surround recording sampler a number of years back and of their three featured Decca-tree surround arrays (5 x 4006; 3 x 4006 + 2 x 4011; 5 x 4015) and I preferred the array using five 4015 over those using all omnis or omnis + cardioids to a significant margin.
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I ran 4028 compact sub-cards. I loved the fact that they had omni bass response, and directionality. If I were to go to DPA directional mics again, it would be with the sub-cards.
But, no 4015 for me.
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4016 for nobody, there is no DPA mic of that # that I'm aware of.
4028 and 4015 use the same subcardioid pattern capsule. The 4028 is of the older now-discontinued hard-wired compact series.
The other DPA capsule which interests me that I've not seem much of around here is the 4018 supercardioid.
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I've gone numbers dyslexic, yesterday, and this morning, for some reason; 4040, 4016,.... its all the same, but different.
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4016 would be a good # for a DPA bidirectional. With the relatively recent additions of shotguns and supers that might not be as much of a pipe dream as it was previously.
What I'd really like but expect never to see is a miniature series bi-directional, enabling Mid/Side setups with a 406x or 4098 Mid.
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Gutbucket has a good memory; I did indeed buy page's 4015s.
I am a reticent gear fluffer, but, I have to say, I love them so far. They were a little bit of a "holy grail" mic for me; I have wanted them since the first time I heard samples. Lee and Moke's assessments (natural, open, smooth off-axis, good bass response, with some directionality) are pretty much spot on. I haven't had the opportunity to use them in my preferred scenario (jazz in small rooms), but they have performed well in venues ranging from bar to medium (~ 300) and large (~ 1500) sized clubs. I have posted several shows to LMA. I can't wait to record some jazz with them; hopefully, that will happen in the near future (some dates on the radar)...
As for the 4018, there are a number of recordings on bt.etree. Search scottsch. A lot of Phish, but some other stuff as well. There is another guy who has posted a few, but I am blocking on the name. [EDIT: mgd1016 is the other with some 4018 sources on tree.]
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what's the difference between these and 4028's?
the obvious aside... i'm talking sonic qualities.
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what's the difference between these and 4028's?
the obvious aside... i'm talking sonic qualities.
There is a slight hump of 2dB or so in the high-mids that Bruce Myers referred to as a recovery bump, a presence boost, for diffuse field response, as opposed to the classic first order near-field cardioid response. They also have a substantially deeper low end response.
4028 charts, below:
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what's the difference between these and 4028's?
the obvious aside... i'm talking sonic qualities.
There is a slight hump of 2dB or so in the high-mids that Bruce Myers referred to as a recovery bump, a presence boost, for diffuse field response, as opposed to the classic first order near-field cardioid response. They also have a substantially deeper low end response.
4028 charts, below:
yes, i own the 4028's. i'm asking what the 4015's have that sets them apart.
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4028 Specs:
(http://sounddog.co.kr/image/products/dpa/4026_4027_4028/spec.jpg)
MMC4015 Specs:
http://www.dpamicrophones.com/DPA/media/DPA-Manual/ddicate-MMC4015-Wide-Cardioid-Microphone-Capsule-Quick-Guide.pdf?ext=.pdf
Summary:
Similar frequency response on/off axis.
Freq range: 40Hz - 20kHz (both)
Sensitivity: 8mV/Pa (4028) vs. 10mV/Pa (MMC4015)
Operating temp: 14-131F (4028) vs. -40-113F (MMC4015)
The 4015s are a bit more sensitive with a greater operating temperature range, but less resilient to heat than the 4028s.
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We freaked out a 4011 in the hot sun, on a 106ยบ day. That probably wasn't the best thing to do to it.
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yes, i own the 4028's. i'm asking what the 4015's have that sets them apart.
The specs for the 4015 are slightly better, especially for THD (dynamic range). The real difference, though, is in flexibility. With the 4015s, you can run full sized bodies, compact bodies, P48 cables (which are very similar to 4028s), or 5V cables (with wireless transmitters or battery boxes)...
[EDIT: Typos.]