Recording - May 2020 - 18

That One Mic: I ns t r u ments
RØDE NT2-A

Samar Audio Design TF10

The affordable workhorse of the RØDE line
would have to be the faithful NT2-A. [reviewed
June 2005] The built-in 40/80Hz HPF, multi-step
pad, and switchable polar patterns allow for an
incredibly versatile approach to instrument recording, with almost endless possibilities for microphone techniques. It really shines on acoustic
guitar, especially in the classic 12th fret position
and angled toward the sound hole,
Acoustic Instruments,
with a second mic over the strumDrum Overheads, Vocals
ming shoulder of the guitarist. The
low-end warmth of the shoulder-positioned NT2-A
is very similar to how the player hears the guitar
and inspires you to get experimental with sound
shaping and panning. It's generally best to use the cardioid position, but if you're in a nice-sounding room, then the omni position
can also give you very pleasing results. -Tristan Salter, RØDE

The new Samar Audio Design TF10 condenser
microphone replaces the previous Omni8 TF08
as the company's most versatile instrument microphone. The TF10 is specifically designed for
a very smooth and un-hyped top end (a philosophy the company continues from its line of ribbon
microphones), and deep low-end response. The
most unusual application for this microphone we've
experienced was an X-Y main pair live setup to record
a classical orchestra. Due to audience noise, cardioid
pattern mics had to be impleViolins, Brass, Mandolin,
mented here instead of the
Acoustic and Electric Guitars,
usual Decca Tree or Blumlein
Drum Overheads, Room Mic
setups. The TF10 showed great
reach, with a full and rich low end, excellent imaging, and great audience noise rejection. -Dr. Mark Fouxman, Samar Audio Design

$399; rode.com

$1499; samaraudiodesign.com

Sennheiser MK 4

Roswell Mini K47

$299; en-us.sennheiser.com

$349; roswellproaudio.com

Roswell customers call the Mini K47 [reviewed
September 2015] their 'desert island' mic. It's
small, easy to position, easy to use, and sounds
great on a bunch of instruments. We hear from
engineers every day that it "just works." Weirdest
application ever? To protect the privacy of those
involved, I can't say specifically what 'source'
the mic was used on. I will
Drum Overheads,
say, I hope they washed the
Drum Room,
mic afterwards. -Matt McElectric Guitar Cab,
Glynn, Roswell Pro Audio
Piano, Acoustic
Guitar, Vocals

Royer R-122 MKII

Woodwinds, Speech

$1795; royerlabs.com

The R-122 MKll [reviewed September 2015] is Royer's
most versatile ribbon mic. It can do everything the R-121
can in terms of excelling on electric guitars and other
high SPL instruments, but the R-122 MKll extra level (it's
a phantom powered ribbon), bass cut, and 15dB pad
allow it to be used successfully on almost anything, including vocals. An R-122 pair (the MKll predecessor) was
taken to the Amazon by a team of
Electric Guitar,
explorers for two months, to record
Drum Overheads,
jungle sounds. Ribbons don't mind
Percussion,
heat or humidity-they stand up
Acoustic Guitars,
well! -John Jennings, Royer Labs
Ukulele, Violin,
Cello, Vocals
18 RECORDING May 2020

The Sennheiser MK 4 [reviewed June 2012]
is designed as a 'fire and forget' microphone.
In the development of this large diaphragm condenser, the focus was really on the key elements
of a good studio microphone, with the overall
aim of being able to offer it to customers at an
attractive price. Therefore, we decided on a cardioid pattern, no pad, no low-cut-just ease of
use. As a result, we fine-tuned the sound such that
it will work perfectly in any home recording environment with untreated rooms, providing very
focused bass and low mids, and a very direct
presence. Plus, it's made in Germany!
Acoustic Guitar,
-Sebastian Schmitz, Sennheiser
Grand Piano, Strings,

Shure SM7B
$399; shure.com

The SM7B is an excellent choice for recording literally any sound in the studio. From
miking guitar cabs, to horns, to capturing
smooth, warm vocals, the SM7B is one
of the most versatile mics in the Shure
product line. Besides using a single
SM7B to track an entire drum kit with
just one mic, it was used to record
Michael Jackson's vocals on the Thriller
Guitar Amp, Bass
album. -Soren Pedersen, Shure

Amp, Brass, Vocals,
Drums, Percussion

http://www.rode.com http://www.samaraudiodesign.com http://en-us.sennheiser.com http://www.roswellproaudio.com http://www.royerlabs.com http://www.shure.com

Recording - May 2020

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