RECORDING May 2022 - 62

REVIEW
Mojave Audio MA-37
A new take on a rare tube-classic
REVIEW BY PAUL VNUK, JR.
I
n the April 2021 installment of A Family of...Compared, we took a look
at the Mojave MA Series of microphones showcasing the condenser
creations of David Royer. Like the MA-1000DS (reviewed October
2017), some are David's refinement of classic vintage designs like, in
that case, the ELA M 250. This month we are looking at a flavorful new
spin on the rare, coveted Sony C37a, reimagined as the Mojave MA-37.
A classic, unique design
The original C-37a was released in Japan
in 1955. Over the years, it has become
a bit of a secret weapon for many audio
engineers for its smooth, warm tonality.
Petite by European tube-mic standards,
the C37a swung in a U-shaped
yoke, similar to vintage ribbon mic designs.
The mic's 37mm one-sided, single
backplate capsule design offered
a choice of cardioid or omnidirectional
polar patterns. Changing patterns was
uniquely accomplished by physically
turning a mechanical vent in an acoustic
chamber on the back of the diaphragm.
Inside the mic was a 6AU6 vacuum
tube wired in triode mode (rather than
the more common pentode) and nothing
except a few resistors. All other components,
like the transformer, were housed
62 RECORDING May 2022
in the mic's external power supply,
where you could also find multiple highpass
filter options.
The newest Mojave
Visually the MA-37 sticks close but
adds modern flair to the original's style
and design. The 5.75 " x 2 " body retains
the vintage swivel yoke and attached
multi-pin pigtail. The head basket,
multi-layered windscreen and yoke
sport a classy matte nickel finish, while
the dark gray body is perforated with
small pinholes for looks and ventilation.
The whole thing is rounded out with a
Mojave badge and looks quite classy.
The capsule in the MA-37 is
custom-made
in California by Josephson
Engineering. It sticks to the original design,
manually turned vent and all. This
capsule is also used in the Josephson
C715 and Manley Reference Silver microphones.
The tube is an EF806 vacuum
tube, and the external power supply
houses a Lundahl transformer.
Power supply
The 8 " x 7.25 " x 4.5 " external power
supply (larger than the original Sony
PSU) features a fixed front side handle,
LED-equipped power switch, cable I/O
and a three-position rotary switch. This
Frequency Response ...............................................................30 to 18,000 Hz
Sensitivity ..............................................................................................-46 dBv
Distortion Not to exceed ....................................................... .5 % at 134 dB
Noise .........................................................................................................18 dB
Impedance ................................................................................................170 Ω

RECORDING May 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of RECORDING May 2022

Fade In
Fast Forward
Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: The Beatles: Diggin’ Into Get Back
Daking: Mic Pre 4T
JZ Microphones: NEW Vintage V12
Earthquakes and Butterflies: The songs and sounds of Lucius' Second Nature
Universal Audio: Volt 2 USB-C Audio Interface
Plugin Outlet: Sonnox Claro
Audix: A127 Omnidirectional Metal Film Condenser Microphone
Inside The Box with Joe Albano: Interface Basics
Steinberg: Dorico Pro 4
Soundware Showcase: Orchestral Tools Andea
Black Lion Audio: Auteur mkIII
Session Log: Trasfrontera at Estudios Audiovisión in Bogotá Colombia
Ingram Engineering: EQ52 500 —Mastering Quality Filter Module
Plugin Outlet: Sonible smart:limit
Mojave Audio: MA-37
Reader’s Tracks
Fade Out: One Mic? No Problem
RECORDING May 2022 - Intro
RECORDING May 2022 - Cover1
RECORDING May 2022 - Cover2
RECORDING May 2022 - 1
RECORDING May 2022 - 2
RECORDING May 2022 - 3
RECORDING May 2022 - Fade In
RECORDING May 2022 - 5
RECORDING May 2022 - 6
RECORDING May 2022 - 7
RECORDING May 2022 - Fast Forward
RECORDING May 2022 - 9
RECORDING May 2022 - Inside the Studio with Mark Hornsby: The Beatles: Diggin’ Into Get Back
RECORDING May 2022 - 11
RECORDING May 2022 - 12
RECORDING May 2022 - 13
RECORDING May 2022 - 14
RECORDING May 2022 - 15
RECORDING May 2022 - 16
RECORDING May 2022 - 17
RECORDING May 2022 - 18
RECORDING May 2022 - 19
RECORDING May 2022 - 20
RECORDING May 2022 - 21
RECORDING May 2022 - 22
RECORDING May 2022 - 23
RECORDING May 2022 - 24
RECORDING May 2022 - 25
RECORDING May 2022 - Daking: Mic Pre 4T
RECORDING May 2022 - 27
RECORDING May 2022 - JZ Microphones: NEW Vintage V12
RECORDING May 2022 - 29
RECORDING May 2022 - Earthquakes and Butterflies: The songs and sounds of Lucius' Second Nature
RECORDING May 2022 - 31
RECORDING May 2022 - 32
RECORDING May 2022 - 33
RECORDING May 2022 - 34
RECORDING May 2022 - 35
RECORDING May 2022 - 36
RECORDING May 2022 - 37
RECORDING May 2022 - Universal Audio: Volt 2 USB-C Audio Interface
RECORDING May 2022 - 39
RECORDING May 2022 - Plugin Outlet: Sonnox Claro
RECORDING May 2022 - 41
RECORDING May 2022 - Audix: A127 Omnidirectional Metal Film Condenser Microphone
RECORDING May 2022 - 43
RECORDING May 2022 - Inside The Box with Joe Albano: Interface Basics
RECORDING May 2022 - 45
RECORDING May 2022 - 46
RECORDING May 2022 - 47
RECORDING May 2022 - Steinberg: Dorico Pro 4
RECORDING May 2022 - 49
RECORDING May 2022 - Soundware Showcase: Orchestral Tools Andea
RECORDING May 2022 - 51
RECORDING May 2022 - Black Lion Audio: Auteur mkIII
RECORDING May 2022 - 53
RECORDING May 2022 - Session Log: Trasfrontera at Estudios Audiovisión in Bogotá Colombia
RECORDING May 2022 - 55
RECORDING May 2022 - 56
RECORDING May 2022 - 57
RECORDING May 2022 - Ingram Engineering: EQ52 500 —Mastering Quality Filter Module
RECORDING May 2022 - 59
RECORDING May 2022 - Plugin Outlet: Sonible smart:limit
RECORDING May 2022 - 61
RECORDING May 2022 - Mojave Audio: MA-37
RECORDING May 2022 - 63
RECORDING May 2022 - Reader’s Tracks
RECORDING May 2022 - 65
RECORDING May 2022 - 66
RECORDING May 2022 - 67
RECORDING May 2022 - 68
RECORDING May 2022 - 69
RECORDING May 2022 - 70
RECORDING May 2022 - 71
RECORDING May 2022 - Fade Out: One Mic? No Problem
RECORDING May 2022 - Cover3
RECORDING May 2022 - Cover4
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