Mic Evaluations in Church Productions

Sound Advice by Brent Handy Contributing Writer September 19, 2011

DPA Microphones 4023:

"Uncolored! Somebody get me a Steinway! Truer to the source than any other mic reviewed. Revealed harsh 350Hz to 375Hz lower mid-range. Good solid bottom end. Great detail on the top. Attack was captured. EASY to place!"

"Great choir mic! Quiet. Not a hiss and boom mic like the installed mics. Realistic, full-bodied. Smooth sibilance. Reproduced the 250Hz boost in the choir area. Detail revealed the tail of the room decay."

"Easy to place on guitar. Reproduced the guitar as it is."

"Easy to place on drums. Nothing needs eq (thank God for a drummer that can tune his kit..rare!). I need these on the whole kit!"

DPA Microphones 4052:

"Somebody get me a Steinway. NOW! Realistic and un-hyped. The mounting system is GREAT!"

"Ambient reproduction is stunning. I got fooled with the Sony headphones listening to a playback. I turned my head a few times."

"Strings, horns, reeds all sound great."

"My new overhead set-up!"

"Men's ensemble with A/B set-up was very realistic. The mic handled the SPL's and transients better than any other ambient mic reviewed."

Audio Technica AT-4040:

"Good on piano from 440 up. VERY detailed, flatteringly bright top end. EXCELLENT top register jazz and southern gospel piano mic! Captures and reproduces percussive attacks VERY well. From 440 down the bottom is tight. not exaggerated. Captured mechanical noise during mutes."

"Helps female alto voices cut through the mix."

"1st and 2nd Tenor voices cut through with this mic!"

"Strings have a nice sheen."

Audio Technica AT-4040 Continued:

"Great hi-hat, cymbal and over-head mic."

"The boosted hi-end is great of the wooly acoustic guitars."

Audio Technica AT-4047:

"Good piano mic above and below 440. Pretty impressive below 440. Nice bottom. Also a great southern gospel and jazz mic, accentuating the percussiveness of the piano. 4kHz and 8kHz reproduction requires careful placement."

"Stand up bass being plucked is VERY hard to distinguish from a Neumann U47! There is not $4,000.00 worth of difference. Strings sound ok. Violin can be shrill."

"Oboe is nice on this mic. Captures the breaths, and the airiness of the instrument."

"Drums, percussiion, overheads, hi-hat, etc all sound good."

"Female vocals sounded nice. Alto and baritone voices cut through!"

Audio Technica AT-4050:

"I love this mic! Great group vocal and solo mic. Nice, clean, modern sound. The detail on the top is boosted, but not excessive."

"The mic handled female vocals well that were VERY close and intimate. Proximity effect is very flattering to females. Powerful, full-bodied vocals."

"Choir sounded very good in Stereo A/B and M/S modes."

"Very versitle!"

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