Topic: Hyper-cardioid mics suggestions?

[ballerusk]

I already have 4061's which are omnidirectional, but as I've learned more and more, I'm a bit curious about hyper-cardioid microphones as well. My understanding is that they get more of the sound infront with a little "bleed" back (to add the feeling of surround, I don't know) whereas with the 4061's I can be unlucky and get a blabbermouth standing behind me and ruining my recording.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microphone -> "microphone polar patterns"

Also (I'm not sure about this), there aren't any microphones that are hyper-cardioid "out-of-the-box", but need something attached to them? AT853's I think are such?

If someone has some suggestions to hypercardioid mics (that are suitable for stealthing) or a list that would be great.

Sorry for being the newbie all the time, could not find anything particular from a search what mics are hypercardioid in the "What gear should I buy"-topic.

[Sanjay]

AT 853 with a hypercard pattern
or the AT 943 with a hyper patter

both sound similar, preference to the 853, but the 943 is a bit smaller, more like DPA size.

You'll be able to get both with just the hyper capsule from soundprofessionals.com

[Javier Cinakowski]

FWIW, you might find the bass to be very disapointing on a hyper card mic as compaired to omni mics.  I do not own a hyper card for that reason.  I am sure there is a hyper card that has good bass response, but the AT853 is not one of them.

[The Other Chris]

FWIW, you might find the bass to be very disapointing on a hyper card mic as compaired to omni mics.  I do not own a hyper card for that reason.  I am sure there is a hyper card that has good bass response, but the AT853 is not one of them.

With all do respect, I disagree 100%.  I stealth w/ 853 Hypers & they pull some heavy bass.

[Will_S]

I use AT853s as well.  I wouldn't say the hypers are terribly lacking in bass, but certainly they pick up less bass than the same mics with omni or even card capsules (I've used them all).  The uniguard capsules from the new U853 line do pick up a bit more bass than the old style, at least for the hypers, the only capsule where I've tried both generations.

The AT853 is probably the cheapest stealthable hyper option worth considering.  A step up in price and size would be the Audix Micro 1290hcs, they border on being too big to stealth with but it can be done.  Then another big jump in price (but down in size, though still bigger than the AT853s) and you can think about the active versions from MBHO, Neumann, and Schoeps.

[Evil Taper]

If all you have is omnis you should buy cards next.  Cards will always sound great if they're good ones.  They're more direct and in your face than omnis but don't thin your sound like hypers.

[ballerusk]

Not sure what cards are, how much they cost or which fits 4061s, but I guess it's just something I attach to the microphones to achieve (near)-hypercardiod-sound from an omni mic?

[oleg]

audix micro 1445hc
short enouth better then most others
need 48ph

[ballerusk]

Tried googling them, but no result at all  Found this, but I don't think that was the microphone you mentioned.

[Javier Cinakowski]

FWIW, you might find the bass to be very disapointing on a hyper card mic as compaired to omni mics.  I do not own a hyper card for that reason.  I am sure there is a hyper card that has good bass response, but the AT853 is not one of them.

With all do respect, I disagree 100%.  I stealth w/ 853 Hypers & they pull some heavy bass.

I respect your opinion as well, however, the hypers in my experience do not pull anything that could be considered "heavy bass".  I am not very excited about the bass response on the AT853 cards either, though they don't sound thin like the hypers.  You must be recording some loud bands with super bass.  Or perhaps you have a preamp that is very warm sounding, to the point of amplifying the bass frequencies.  To each his own!

[oleg]

http://www.audixusa.com/products.html

m1245 , my mistake

[Sanjay]

http://www.audixusa.com/products.html

m1245 , my mistake

those require phantom power.  Also have a freq response from 80-20,000, not ideal.

The AT microphones can be used with your current church audio powering option.

[oleg]

http://www.audixusa.com/products.html

m1245 , my mistake

those require phantom power.  Also have a freq response from 80-20,000, not ideal.

The AT microphones can be used with your current church audio powering option.

the croud would do the proximity effect :-)
of course they need phantom , thats why they hold the spl so well

[ballerusk]

The AT microphones can be used with your current church audio powering option.

Don't think so as my pre-amp has microdot connectors..

[terrapinj]

Not sure what cards are, how much they cost or which fits 4061s, but I guess it's just something I attach to the microphones to achieve (near)-hypercardiod-sound from an omni mic?

in order of directionality

omni > subcard > cardiod > hypercardiod > shotgun

it really depends how much rear rejection you are wanting to accomplish. i agree that a better next step would be a cardiod pattern. i use my cards 90% of the time. while hypers may help reject some chatter behind or directly around you, they don't eliminate general chatter in a noisy room. cards will sound more natural than the hypers, especially for lower frequencies as mentioned above.

not sure what other mics are out there that terminate in microdot so you may very well end up needing a new pre as well.

what type of budget are you looking at?