ProAudio Review - February 2009 - (Page 30)

studio review By Rob Tavaglione Nevaton MC Series Studio Condenser Microphones This reliable, hand-built condenser mic series from St. Petersburg, Russia offers special sonic characteristics and unique militaristic styling for pro studio applications. With roots dating back to 1947 at Leningrad’s Optical and Mechanical Association — a.k.a. LOMO, makers of the prized LOMO 19A19 tube mic — Nevaton Ltd. formed in 1991 in St. Petersburg, Russia along the Neva River. Comprised of a group of former LOMO engineers, Nevaton designs and builds a series of studio condenser microphones now available in North America. At first glance, Nevaton’s MC Series appears to feature the usual suspects, yet each model offers a distinct “old world” flavor and just a touch of quirkiness. Nevaton builds all their mics and components in-house — including brass housings, capsules and XLR connectors — and are fully hand-assembled and hand-tuned. According to the company, the mics are strenuously tested and the capsules are artificially aged before delivery, ensuring consistent performance and supporting their two-year warranty. The four MC Series mics available for this review were all quite similar in their basic design and styling, sharing far more qualities than not, creating a very consistent and identifiable product line. Features The MC48 ($1,795 list), MC51 ($1,295 list), MC404 ($1,395 list) and MC416 ($1,595 list) all share a machined brass body with tapered handle, Class A transformerless output, an “ultra-thin” gold-sputtered polyethyleneterephtalate film diaphragm, an elastic suspension for the capsule(s) and three stages of metal windscreen. Although each mic looks nearly identical (somewhat large, dark gray, nonreflective paint with brass accents and labeling, a three-centimeter diameter shaft and a black windscreen), each model is a slightly different size, differing only in the length of the handle or the capsule housing. The resulting look is a little “scientific instrumentation,” slightly military, and a touch “cold” by today’s global standards — it’s a look that grew on me over time. The MC48 Large Diaphragm Stereo Condenser offers two 25mm diaphragms in an X/Y pattern, continuously variable between 50 and 140 degrees. A switchable high-pass filter is provided and the mic handles 135 dB max SPL, with only 12 dB of self-noise [should specify what reference]. The MC404 Multipattern Stereo Condenser offers 28mm diaphragms, no HPF and its capsules are fixed at 180 degrees (back to back). The MC51 Multipattern Condenser is a medium diaphragm (twin 24mm) condenser with omni, cardioid, figure-eight and soft cardioid pickup patterns. A -10 dB pad is provided, allowing SPL handling up to 150 dB. The MC51 has 17 dB self-noise and a 50-ohm output. The MC416 Multipattern Condenser is the near-twin brother of the MC51, except with two larger, 33mm diaphragms and only 14 dB of self-noise. All of the Nevaton mics are listed as having frequency responses from 20 Hz to 20 kHz (with a frequency response chart [a generic chart or an individual one specific to this microphone?] showing greater detail, response with different patterns and deviation), and all require 48V phantom power (typically within 4 volts, plus or minus). In Use I should have played it safe with these mysterious strangers in my studio (especially considering the nearly cryptic manuals), Rob Tavaglione owns and operates Catalyst Recording in Charlotte, North Carolina. www.catalystrecording.com 30 ProAudioReview | February 2009 www.proaudioreview.com http://www.catalystrecording.com http://www.proaudioreview.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of ProAudio Review - February 2009

ProAudio Review - February 2009 Contents From Razor Slice To Mouse Click Hot Gear At Winter NAMM ’09: Studio Prioritizing Good Acoustics In Tough Times Digidesign Pro Tools 8 Allen & Heath ZED-R16 Analog Mixing Console Mike Rivers Nevaton MC Series Studio Condenser Microphones FMR Audio Really Nice Series Pre-Amp and Dynamics Modules Mojave Audio MA-201 FET Condenser Microphone Genelec 6010A and 5040A Powered Loudspeaker and Subwoofer Massey Plug-Ins De:Esser Hot Gear At Winter NAMM ’09: Live White Space Regulation: What It Means To Us Recording Live Sound Summit Church in Fort Myers, Florida Bag End P-Crystal R Loudspeaker Mark Olson & Gary Louris’ “Turn Your Pretty Name Around”

ProAudio Review - February 2009

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