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Posted by music@waterlilyacoustics.com (M ) on July 28, 2005 at 01:37:36

In Reply to: Re: The reality of figure of 8 microphones: posted by Jean-Marie Geijsen on July 27, 2005 at 13:17:25:

In theoretical terms what you have said about bi directional mikes is true and is applicable more precisely to the ribbon types. Let us look at the two different types of mikes: ribbons and condensers. Nearly all the ribbion mikes are true bi directional (figure-of-eight) transdusers. Bi-directional of course reffering to the mike pick up pattern, while ribbon reffers to its working principal. And as the name implies, a thin corrugated aluminum ribbon is suspended between two magnets. Thus a ribbon mike is an electro dymanic transduser, while condenser reffers to a mike that has a "capsule" (one or half inch in diameter), a membrane strached over a circular frame that is polarised by a power source. Sound impinging on the capsule membrane modulates the charge through membrane movement, thus varing the capasitence. Thus its name, capacitor or condenser mike. Condenser mikes can have variable pick up patterns, such as omni, figure-of-eight and cardioid. Both types are a "compromise" and have their individual strengths and weeknesses.
Condencer mikes are prone to capsule (imagine a tambourine) resonance, which ribbons are free of. Often the electronics within a condenser mike will have some EQ built in to tame the capsule resonance. There is no free lunch!
The Coles mikes, which are true ribbons and thus have a figure-of-eight pick up pattern, have a far flatter frequency responce than the condencer U47 set to the omni pick up pattern. And should you compare them side by side, there is no doubt that the astute listener/music lover will pick the Coles over the U47, in terms of transparency and transient speed. The coles will have very good bass as well. (Check out the Kodo Drum CD from Sheffield Labs. This recording was done with one pair of Coles!)
The Pearl ELM 30 mikes that I use are true condenser mikes employing a very long (half inch X three inch) rectenguler capsule. This capsule design is unique to Pearl and was arrived at as a means to diminish capsule resonances. This mike, though a fixed figure-of-eight, has no compensating EQ (boost or cut) of any sort built into the electronics driving this capsule. The frequancy responce of the mike is plus or minus 2db from 20Hz to 18kHz and is 2db down at 20kHz. At the distences that I use it from the sound source, one yard to fifteen feet, there never is any problum of porximity effect.
Finaly, it is the implimentation and the results thereof that matter.

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