Topic: Mics with high SPL tollerances?

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I'm looking for mics that fit the following criteria, any suggestions:

- 1% THD at a minimum of 145spl
- cardioid-ish
- less than 7mv/pa output
- can accept P48
- retails less than $600 per mic.

yeah yeah, this is really a question best suited for GS, but if folks know of some suggestions, I'm open to it. Two of us were taping on stage earlier this week and finally got a mic to blatantly clip, so we're looking for something with a cool output, and ability to accept punishing SPL. The p48 requirement is because the tascam we use to record makes it easy to flip p48 on for the wrong channel. I guess if I could find a dynamic with an output in the 6-10 mv/pa range, I could use it on the line setting (which won't allow p48), so that would be an option.

[Gutbucket]

Yeah, my 1st thought on reading your list was that it sounds like a perfect application for a dynamic.

What's the application? Something closemic'd?

[fotoralf.be]

That reminds me of the day I was sent to make a recording of a Harrier VTOL jet. Never before have I seen almost line level come out of a MD421. :-)

Ralf

[Len Moskowitz (Core Sound)]

They're omnis - not cardioids - but other than that, a pair of matched DPA 4061s or 4062s with DAD6001 P48 adapters will meet your specs. The 4061s are 6 mv/Pa while the 4062s are 1 mV/Pa

See specs here:

www.dpamicrophones.com/en/products.aspx?c=Item&category=128&item=24039#specifications

www.dpamicrophones.com/en/products.aspx?c=item&category=128&item=24043#specifications

The specs are real - no marketing hype.

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What's the application? Something closemic'd?

bingo, spots. 2-8" from the sound source.

Most condensers with a switchable pad could manage those specifications.  AT4041 maybe without a pad; AT4051b with the pad is 155dBSPL.

There are no low-impedance passive dynamics I am aware of with 6mV/Pa sensitivity, usually they max out around 3mV or so.  Nearly all moving-coil dynamics don't care about phantom power though, you could leave it switched on.

Appreciate the AT suggestions, I'd forgotten about those.

yeah, we were using an akg 463 on a kick drum, but I goofed and didn't realize that the pad there seems to be just the output stage so you're still hitting the max of 134spl there (per official literature). I could pick up a kick drum mic, but that's really sort of special and I'd rather have a more versatile mic, even if it's slightly more expensive.

I'd actually be somewhat ok with 3 mv/pa. The p82 won't send P48 on the line setting, and our signal is almost too hot for the -25db pad on mic/in when we use mics that are more than about 10 or 12 mv/pa. The condenser is really a function of accepting P48, as switching on the wrong channel can be easy with the tascam... I could get P48 blocking adapters so that was further down the list. I may suck it up and grab a set of dynamics anyway. I may do some math and tests to see if I'd be ok with only the 20db of gain available on the line level.

They're omnis - not cardioids - but other than that, a pair of matched DPA 4062s (yes, the 4062!) with DAD6001 P48 adapters will meet your specs.

See specs here:

http://www.dpamicrophones.com/en/products.aspx?c=item&category=128&item=24043#specifications

The specs are real - no marketing hype.

yeah, I really like my DPA 4015s and use them at most of the gigs I record, but a tighter pattern is an absolute requirement for these as they will be spots on stage. I've thought about the 2011c mics, but I don't have the scratch for that. The 4081/4099 type stuff has potential, but again, it's realistically more than I want to spend at the moment. I like the house sound, but you pay accordingly for it.

I appreciate the replies folks.

[Len Moskowitz (Core Sound)]

You might also consider a baffled omni.

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You might also consider a baffled omni.

 
maybe.

Baffling against lower mid-range though is tough, plus thats more stuff to haul around. I won't write it off, but I'd have to really sit and think about it first.

[Gutbucket]

4081/4099 have reduced far-field low frequency response, although they are designed for close placement where proximity effect corrects for it.  Not sure how appropriate they would be for kick-drum.  You'd need to check, but off the top of my head I think those are 6 mv/Pa like the 4061s, except the model specified for clipping to trumpet bells, which is lower.

[fotoralf.be]

You don't need to worry about blocking phantom to dynamic mics, they won't be harmed.  Get an SM57, Beyer M201, Senn MD421, etc., etc.

Watch out with older versions of the MD421. There used to be non-balanced models, e.g. the MD421-L or -HL. They've become rare now but they do exist.

Ralf

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yeah, the odds I buy a vintage dynamic are exceedingly slim. It would just about have to fall into my lap. I suspect anything I pick up will be new or less than 5 years old.

I do admit, I get dreamy eyed at the beyer tg201. I've looked at that for a month or two. The tg53 looks nice as well, even if it is a bit bright (although, thats not necessarily a bad thing) and less directional in the upper registers...

[pohaku]

Beyer M201s show up on eBay regularly.  You could also consider the M88 as well.  About 2.3 - 2.9 mv/pa.  It will take spls.  They work great as cab mics and some use them for kick mics as well.