Audio-Technica's ATM350a microphone is a small, cardioid electret condenser microphone that has a 40Hz to 20kHz response and is capable of handling 159dB SPL. It is used in each of the six different instrument microphone kits designed to attach directly to the musical instrument itself using specialized mounting kits. There are optional, interchangeable hypercardioid and omnidirectional capsules and the mic connects using a thin 4-meter long cable and locking 4-pin connector to either A-T’s UniPak® body-pack wireless transmitters or, for wired stage and studio operation, the AT8543 remote power module.
A-T has designed two kits for violin called the ATM350U with a 5-inch gooseneck and the ATM350UL with 9-inch gooseneck for larger cellos and basses. I used the AT8491P Magnetic Piano mount—part of the ATM350PL kit to attach the mic to the harp of the school’s Falcone upright piano and instantly got a full range, rich piano sound.
The ATM350D kit and mic sounded thick and fat on toms and snare drums on the studio’s kit—there is plenty of sound to EQ to taste. I used the 80Hz roll-off to counteract proximity when placed it close to the floor tom and I was surprised by how much inter-drum isolation I got.
The AT8691W Woodwind mount is a Velcro® strap that wraps around the instrument’s body at any convenient place to hold the mount and 5-inch gooseneck.
The Audio-Technica ATM350a Microphone System kits range in price from $199 to $349 MSRP depending on accessories, mounts and gooseneck choice.
audio-technica.com/cms/wired_ mics/8720e95d30fd6b0b/index.html
BARRY RUDOLPH is a recording engineer/mixer who
has worked on over 30 gold and platinum records. He has recorded and/or mixed Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hall & Oates, Pat Benatar, Rod Stewart, the Corrs and more. Barry has his own futuristic music mixing facility and loves teaching audio engineering at Musician’s Institute, Hollywood, CA. He is a lifetime Grammy-voting member of NARAS and a contributing editor for Mix Magazine. barryrudolph.com
