Reasons for you to choose a REMIC microphone
Choosing the right microphone
Dear reader,
You might be one of those artists who have spent a lot of time finding the perfect instrument. Afterwards you might have spent hundreds of hours practising to find your own individual playing technique, and your completely unique sound on your acoustic instrument.
Now, you are facing the challenge of playing at some of this years many festivals or other live concerts, and are anxious to be able to convey your unique sound, which you have spent so much time creating.
Below you will find help in regards to picking out the perfect microphone for your instrument, based on pure facts.
Many instrument microphones have a Cardioid- or Supercardioid polar pattern along with a directional tube. Microphones with these characteristics colour the source signal and thereby brings an imbalance between the fundamentals and the overtone- and subtone-register of the instrument. These microphones hereby change the natural tonal character (timbre) of the instrument.
By using these types of microphones, an undesirable corruption of the source signal arises, in the form of a natural phasing, which additionally causes a lift in frequence in the low area typically below 600Hz with +3dB to +9dB, depending on the distance between microphone and instrument. This phenomenon is often referred to as the “proximity-effect”.
This affects the source signal from a violin, for example, when the artists utilize double stops on the instrument. An subtoneregister now arises,
which, for the violin, generates frequences down to 60Hz. At 60Hz, an amplification of approx. +6dB occurs, when the microphone is mounted circa 10cm from the instrument. In some cases, microphones are mounted closer to the instrument, which naturally causes an increased amplification of this low frequency area.
Many microphone manufacturers implement a directional tube or an electric filter, and thereby creates a boost of the area 5KHz to 18KHz with a peak typically around 10KHz to 14KHz, to attain more clarity.
REMIC RED SERIES
REMICs studio models (red series) are frequence- and phase linear in the area 10Hz to 22KHz +/- 2dB as a standard, which does not corrupt the source signal of the instrument. This means that there is no imbalance between the fundamentals and the overtone- and subtone-register of the instrument.
REMICs red series can also be utilized in connection with live concerts, where the event do not need to be amplified to an extreme loudness.
The red series have an isolation ability for the ambient environment on 3 to 6dB more than any other condensator microphones with omnidirectional polar pattern.
The fact that the source signal now attains an even frequence- and phase characteristic, puts you in the position to affect the sound in the direction you want it. And hereby, you do not need to spend time compensation for eventual phase- and frequence displacements originating from the microphone itself.
REMIC GREEN SERIES
REMICs live models (green series) are a totally different story. Here, we’ve emphasized in what connection the instrument is utilized in a live context.
In this series, we’ve intentionally installed an attenuation of the frequence area for the secondary overtoneregister (above 7KHz) of the instrument, as this area has a tendency to become strident in connection with heavily amplified live concerts.
Simultaneously, the REMIC live models have a higher level of acoustic isolation to the surrounding acoustic environment, than any other condensator microphone on the market. In this way, you avoid acoustic feedback and intereference with other instruments. This is also achieved, albeit to a lesser degree, with the red series.
THE AESTHETICAL ADVANTAGE
Finally, there is an obvious, purely aesthetical advantage to utilizing an instrument microphone from REMIC, as it is not mounted with a clumsy microphone stand or clip. The sheer size and design of the REMIC enables the instrument to present itself with its natural elegance.
These are but a few facts for new artists and sound engineers, who have an interest in experimenting with products from REMIC MICROPHONES.
You are welcome to schedule a demonstration with authorised dealers of REMIC products, and you are always welcome to contact us, if you have any questions.
Remember, when utilizing REMIC products: THINK INSTRUMENT, NOT MICROPHONE.
Choosing the right microphone