The Schoeps MK21 is part of the Colette series of modular capsules designed for use with the CMC preamplifiers. The directional pattern of this type lies between that of the omni and the cardioid and so it is sometimes referred to as a wide cardioid. The basic idea in designing this capsule was to combine the advantages of the cardioid with those of the omni; consequently, the bass response of the MK21 is better than that of cardioids and the proximity effect is less marked. The directivity of the MK21 is only slightly dependent on frequency. This is in contrast to omnidirectional microphones, whose directivity increases with frequency, and to cardioids, which tend to accentuate high frequencies arriving at oblique angles. The MK 21s orientation is less critical, since direct sound arriving on axis and reverberant or other sounds off axis are both reproduced accurately. This lack of coloration in the off-axis pickup produces a warm and natural sound image.
When used as a spot microphone, its distance to the sound source must be somewhat less than that considered normal for a cardioid due to its lower directivity. Its uniform off-axis response helps to blend nearby instruments seamlessly into the overall mix. For wide pickups where some directivity of the microphone is advantageous, as in acoustically difficult rooms where the bass would be too strong when using omnis, the MK21 can be especially helpful.
When used as a stereo main microphone (e.g. X/Y), the low directivity of this microphone type does not produce large enough intensity differences for coincident arrangements to be practical, although M/S and near-coincident spacings are successful.
Schoeps MK 21 Wide Cardioid Microphone Capsule (code 20937)
The directional pattern of this type lies between that of the omni and the cardioid and so it is sometimes referred to as a wide cardioid.
£549.99 (inc vat)