Figure-8
 Microphone Capsule MK 8
Compact Microphone CCM 8
- pure pressure-gradient transducer with figure-8 pattern
- directional pattern almost completely identical at all
frequencies
- main axis: radial (pickup perpendicular to
the microphone body)
This microphone type is a true dipole transducer, operating
with a single diaphragm. The main axis of its bidirectional
pickup lies at right angles to its cylindrical axis, and
is marked at 0° and 180° with a red and a black dot
respectively. When M/S stereo recordings are made, the 0° axis
faces to the left, as viewed from behind the microphone setup.
The “8“ engraved on the top of the housing should
be aligned on its side so as to appear horizontal, at a precise
right angle to the Mid capsule. The microphone should be
placed directly above or beneath the “M“ channel
microphone, and as close to it as possible.
The inherent qualities
of a pure pressure-gradient transducer are readily observed
in this microphone type:
- Its sensitivity decreases at low frequencies.
- The
directional characteristic and the random energy efficiency*
are extraordinarily independent of frequency.
- Proximity
effect is present.
The sound quality of the MK 8 or CCM 8 is clear and neutral.
As physics would dictate, the frequency response rolls off
above 16 kHz.
When an MK 8 or CCM 8 is used as a spot microphone,
care must be taken to avoid picking up early reflections
or unwanted direct sound from its rear, since sound arriving
from the back is picked up with full level but reversed in
polarity. This could result in partial cancellation of the
intended sound, which can lead to comb-filter effects at
higher frequencies.
A
typical and interesting application of the MK 8/ CCM 8, for
which it is ideally suited, is as the S channel of an M/S
stereophonic system. (As an X/Y pair, two of them crossed
at 90° are also ideal in the Blumlein stereo arrangement.)
Note:
Though not specifically designed for such use, the MK 8 capsule
can also be used on the Active Tube RC or the variable
angle joint GVC; when fully tightened it will rarely be
aimed where you intend. On request we will supply an elastic
ring which can be slipped over the threads of the RC or
GVC so that the final turn of the capsule will place it
at the desired angle of rotation.
Surface finish : matte gray
(g) or nickel (ni)
Note:
Although our normal production tolerances are very close,
we can deliver specially matched capsule or Compact Microphone
pairs for a small extra charge.
*The random-energy efficiency
is the ratio of on-axis sensitivity to diffuse sound field
efficiency. The larger it is, the higher the suppression
of diffuse or reflected sound. The ideal is a frequency-independent
random-energy efficiency. In practice, however, especially
with omnidirectional microphones, it rises towards high
frequencies. The larger the microphone and hence the diameter
of its diaphragm, the more this effect becomes obvious. |
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