USA - Soundelux is now shipping the E250 cardioid tube condenser microphone, designed to address the inherent problems with the modern practice of close-miking loud vocals. Classic tube condenser microphones were never meant to be placed within six-inches of loud vocalists, yet producers and engineers love the presence, size and low-frequency boost this adds to their artist's sound. However, the proximity effect's low-frequency build up and the upper mid-range/treble tilt of many popular old classic cardioid microphones can also work counter-productively, causing problems requiring extensive outboard signal processing.

Designer David Bock remarks: "I started out designing a more affordable and mellow version of the ELUX 251 while still retaining all the 251's meat and sound. Something you can't get from a 47 or any of the other vintage mics. The E250 is not as bright as the 251 with its pronounced high-frequency peak. The 250 is mellowed down a bit and I sculpted the proximity effect more towards the middle of the vocal range than down below it where it usually lives. Basically the 250 is a condenser version of the 251 optimized for close vocals and includes all our modern enhancements with lower noise and distortion specs."

Another problem with close miking vocals is high-frequency directionality or the "beaming effect." This is where any slight head movement by the singer can produce a big change in the high-frequency content. Bock continues: "The new E250 has a broader cardioid polar pattern than our standard 251, which is fairly directional up close, and that makes it much more forgiving in these cases."

(Sarah Rushton-Read)


Latest Issue. . .