Isn't it time you tried a REALLY different microphone?
You've tried all the usual microphones and are tired of their sound? Why not try something that is really over the edge...
Follow RecordProducer.com on Twitter...
If you're into microphones then you might have noticed that there is a certain 'sameyness' about the standard models.
You might choose to use a dynamic mic, a ribbon, a small- or large-diaphragm capacitor, or a tube mic, maybe even a vintage model.
Each type of mic has its own characteristic sound, but within types they sound quite similar. Yes there are differences between large-diaphragm capacitor mics, for instance, but they are not huge differences, like the differences between mic types.
So to get a sound that is really different, perhaps it would be an idea to choose a mic that stands out from the crowd.
And of course we have an example - the Coles 4104 commentator's lip mic. We saw this example in this eBay auction (bear in mind that this page on eBay will be removed at some point after the auction closes). At the time of writing, the auction is still open so you could buy this very one. Here are some more tasty photos...
By the way, we don't have any connection with the seller other than we asked his permission to use the photos. The auction closes (or closed, depending on when you read this) on October 19, 2008.
The Coles 4104 is a noise-canceling microphone. It subtracts sound arriving from a distance while leaving sound immediately in front of the microphone untouched.
This makes it ideal as a sports commentator's mic, where there is likely to be a lot of background noise. The mic is held with the upper guard piece touching your top lip. This makes it a no-brainer for a non-technical person to use the mic.
You could try noise canceling for yourself with two directional microphones - place them back to back and flip the phase of the rear mic. Speak into the front mic from a close distance. Since background noise arrives at both mics more or less equally, flipping the phase of the rear mic makes it cancel out to a significant degree. But since the sound of your voice is much stronger in the front mic, it hardly cancels at all.
But the Coles 4104 has another trick - it is very good at handling the pops and breath noise that you get when a mic is used close to the mouth. It's a design that other manufacturers might consider taking a look at.
Oh, and there's one more feature - this mic is insensitive at the sides. This means that two commentators can sit next to each other and leakage will be minimal.
You have already heard this mic on many occasions on TV. Even beyond the realms of sport it is useful for outside broadcasting in general.
As well as its useful features for its intended purpose, this mic has a characteristic sound all of its own. You won't find another microphone that sounds like it.
The sound is amazingly clean considering how close to the mouth it is used. You couldn't say that it is an accurate sound, but it's something that could be used in many contexts as a contrast to the standard mic sound.
There's another use for it in live sound - you know that you occasionally hear a song that features a distorted vocal, either all the way through or in segments? (Can we blame John Lennon for starting that?).
Well if you use a distortion effect on stage you will find that the high gain involved increases the risk of feedback significantly.
But if you use the Coles 4104 for this purpose, then since it rejects the sound coming from the speakers, it is very robust against feedback.
In summary, this mic is excellent for its intended purpose. But it also has an interesting sound that might find a place in your studio, or perhaps even live.
As they say on eBay - Happy Bidding!
Note: This auction is now closed. The winning bid was £217 UK pounds.
Publication date Sunday March 22, 2009
(You can unsubscribe quickly and easily.)
Discussion on this article's topic...
There is no discussion on this topic yet. You could be the first!
UPDATE - Posting of comments has been disabled. RecordProducer.com has been targeted by a botnet posting spam comments. The facility to post comments will return when this problem has been resolved.
We welcome your addition to the discussion on the topic of this article. If you feel that the article is inaccurate in any way, please let us know by e-mail at . We read all messages sent to this address but we cannot promise a reply.
 |
Everyone should build a loudspeaker at least once in their life. But for this would-be loudspeaker builder, their first attempt was something of a disaster... Read more... |
 |
What will happen if you use an uncleared sample on your recording? Can you sample legally if your use is only private? Is it safe to use samples you find on the Internet? Read more... |
 |
It's tricky to find a good place to set up a studio. If you live in an apartment, then unless you live in a very old building with really thick walls, you might as well forget it, or just record the electronic components of your music at home, monitoring on headphones... Read more... |
 |
If you buy CDs at flea markets or car boot sales, you may be buying counterfeit, pirate or bootleg products. Does this matter? What do you need to know? Read more... |
 |
If you don't back up your data, then you are headed for sure and certain disaster. It's a question of 'when?', not 'if?' Read more... |
 |
Anyone still using pre-2005 software? Pre-2000?? Pre-1995??? Can anyone go back even further than that? Read more... |
 |
An RP reader who is already a pro recording engineer wants to become a (highly paid) mix engineer. How can he achieve this? Read more... |
 |
'If you don't ask, you don't get!' That's a good old proverb. But have you asked anyone recently? This guy has... Read more... |
 |
There are more audio formats than you could possibly shake a stick at. But could you find a use for FLAC in your recording process? We think you could. Read more... |
 |
Where do you make your production decisions? In the studio? No, there's a better place than that, somewhere you can get some peace and quiet... Read more... |
 |
Vintage Neumann M49 microphones don't often come up for sale, but there's one on eBay right now. And there are lots of lovely photographs (drool!)... Read more... |
 |
We're all for cutting costs where it doesn't compromise performance, but can office dividers do a good job in the recording studio? Read more... |
 |
Leaving aside questions of color and pattern, what type of carpet works best in a recording studio environment? Read more... |
 |
It is often thought that you should master a mix so that it sounds as loud as possible. But for some markets, this could ruin your chances of selling your music. Read more... |
 |
The Auto-Tune debate is unlikely to go away. Those who can, sing. Those who can't use Auto-Tune. Read more... |
 |
Early mixing consoles had quadrant faders instead of the linear faders of today. Do they just look pleasantly retro, or do they have advantages we have now lost? Read more... |
 |
Why do we still plug our microphones into old-fashioned mic preamplifiers when we could be plugging them in directly via USB? Read more... |
 |
If you have a studio business, doubtless you want it to continue for decades to come. But if you don't understand the client life cycle then you'll soon be in trouble. Read more... |
 |
Recording a clean acoustic guitar sound at home isn't always easy. But there are things you can do to put the 'wow' into your recordings... Read more... |
 |
Everyone knows that you should compress the snare and kick drum. But why should you do it, and how should you do it? Read more... |
