Schoeps MK21 Wide Cardioid Mic Capsule
Features
- wide cardioid
- especially consistent directionality throughout its frequency range
- pleasant sonic impression, often described as “warm”pleasant sonic impression, often described as “warm”
- often preferred for use as a spot microphone, or as the main pair for overall stereo pickup
This type of capsule has a directional pattern between omni and cardioid. The basic idea in designing this capsule was to combine the advantages of the cardioid with those of the omni. This results in a pickup pattern which blends the two sets of characteristics. It has fuller and more extended low-frequency response than a cardioid, with less proximity effect, while picking up more room sound than a cardioid.
The polar diagram shows the directivity of the MK 21 to be only slightly dependent on frequency. This contrasts with omnidirectional capsules, whose directivity increases with rising frequency, and with cardioids (at least smaller ones), which tend to accentuate high frequencies that arrive at oblique angles.
- Although our normal production tolerances are very close, we can deliver specially matched capsule pairs for a small extra charge.
Application
The MK 21’s orientation is less critical than with a cardioid, 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 sonic impression.
The low directivity of this capsule type prevents it from generating large enough level differences for X/Y use, though M/S and near-coincident spacings are often successful.
Together with the cardioid and supercardioid, this is one of the most preferred types among our capsules.
Specifications
- Frequency range_x0009_30 Hz – 20 kHz
- Sensitivity_x0009_13 mV/Pa
- Equivalent noise level (A-weighted)_x0009_14 dB-A
- Equivalent noise level (CCIR)_x0009_24 dB
- Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted)_x0009_80 dB-A
- Maximum sound pressure level at 0.5% THD_x0009_132 dB-SPL
- Length_x0009_22 mm
- Diameter_x0009_20 mm
- Weight_x0009_17 g
- Surface finish_x0009_matte grey (g) or nickel (ni)