Week 2: Mic

Today we are asked to research the features and the pro s and cons of a specific mic that we choose. The mic that I choose to research is the Neumann TLM 103

This is a Large-diaphragm cardioid microphone.

Pick up pattern and rejection: The TLM 103 is equipped with a large diaphragm capsule with cardioid pattern. By focusing on this pattern – used in most recording situations – the attenuation of unwanted rear sound has been optimized. Off-axis sounds are rendered naturally while isolation is increased. This also leads to a high feedback suppression when the microphone is used in live situations or where loud- speaker playback is a factor.

This microphone is usually used for:
On air mic for radio/broadcast, radio drama, sound sampling due to low self noise (7dBa); spot mic for winds instruments, strings, percussion, guitar amps, drum overhead; vocal recording; home recording and project studios.




Frequency response: The capsule has a flat frequency response up to about 5 kHz, and above that, a wide flat 4 dB presence boost.

A flat frequency microphone is equally sensitive to all frequency ranges, so its response curve is in fact nearly a flat line, and it reproduces the sound source accurately with little or no variation from the original sound; Shaped response microphone is more sensitive to some frequency ranges than others, usually the upper mid-range frequency and less sensitive to the lower range frequency. This it enhances the clarity and punch of voices and instruments. Below is the frequency response graph for flat(picture above) and shaped(picture below) frequency response:





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