Audio-Technica AT4040 Cardioid Condenser Microphone

It's what I expected for the price and range. It might be a little better than the idea you'd get from the way other techies speak of it. Great for melodeons, which is why I bought it.

Great mic. Audio Technica AT4040 Studio Condensor Mic £215 (...)

o melhor microfone nessa faixa de preço, e ainda bate alguns mais caros, simplesmente excelente

Ottimo microfono: perfetta risposta in frequenza, buon volume di uscita e basso rumore di fondo. Consigliato!

First "real" mic I bought and, well, as a beginner in music, it's pretty good quality.

LO super recomeindo , es un excelente microfono para los Estudios de grabacion sobretodo para la voz, pero sobresale que tiene gran rango de saturacion , puedes grabar bajos electricos y hasta percusion , congas y etc... es un Gran microfono ya tengo un año con el...

As a hobby, I record my solo piano arrangements and improvisations of songs from the American jazz and swing era. I'm now recording my 15th album, this time a two-CD set of songs by Harry Warren. Earlier albums focused on songs by Irving Berlin, Ellington, Burton Lane, Jimmy McHugh, James Van Heusen, Harold Arlen, and so on. For years, I used a pair of Audio-Technica AT2035 Cardioid Condenser Microphones, feeding an Avid box and Pro Tools. The AT2035s were pretty good, though prone to distortion in loud passages. I must confess that I did not take very good care of them, and over time the diaphragms were too dusty to clean without damaging them, which I believe affected the sound. Before starting my current album, I knew it was time to upgrade mics. As you know, condenser mics can be really expensive, and figuring out which ones are worth it is a subjective affair. So, I decided that going with another pair of Audio-Technicas would be a safe and affordable strategy - as long as I moved up to a better model of AT. After reading many reviews, I settled on the Audio-Technica AT4040. Using my new pair of AT4040s, I have now recorded all 17 of the songs from CD #1 of my next album, plus finished the editing and mastering. I can now say that I am very pleased with the much-improved sound I get from the AT4040s. Note that I use a "close-mic" configuration, where the mics are under the piano. (See my photo.) I own and play a 7-foot Yamaha C6 has a very bright sound with a far more complex overtone structure than a Steinway; it's more like a Boesendorfer. This makes the C6 a great instrument for jazz and other pop music, but a challenge to record from above the strings or at a distance (as in a hall). The AT4040s are really good in a close-mic configuration, which can overwhelm other mics because it's louder than distance mic'ing. Likewise, the AT4040s are not overwhelmed by the extremely complex high frequency structures that result from playing jazz harmonies on a bright piano like the C6. For example, unlike most other jazz pianists, I have a strong and nimble left hand (due to classical training), which I apply to much walking bass and stride playing. My old AT2035s were easily overwhelmed by the booming bass of my 7-foot C6, and they didn't accurately capture this aspect of my playing. My new AT4040s, on the other hand (pun intended), are down-right ravenous with bass frequencies in a close-mic situation, like mine. I'm guessing this is due to the AT4040's large diaphram and transformerless circuits. In closing, I'd say that the AT4040s are not overwhelmed in any frequency range that a complex and bright grand piano like mine can produce. One positive outcome, is that I can record with a higher gain, which amounts to a stronger recording - free of distortion despite being louder - which sounds better on a wide range of playback devices, from acoustic stereos to ear buds on a smartphone. In addition, the AT4040 comes with an excellent shock mount and a cover that fits even when the mic is in the shock mount. Finally, I record and edit with headphones on, which can reveal noise; I find the AT4040 to be very strong but quiet. My only regret is that I didn't upgrade to the AT4040s earlier. Cheers!