Recording - February 2015 - 52

B Y PA U L V N U K J R .

In the field
Mics like this will probably not have too
many practical uses for studio-based audio
engineers. However, they can be a great
option if, like me, your work takes you out
of the studio and into the fields of speech
for video, producing and recording sermons, dramatic readings, and speeches,
as well as general theatrical work. It is a

DPA Microphones d:screet Necklace Microphone
A mic that's great-sounding, simple to use... and yes, discreet
DPA, short for Danish Pro Audio, is a
Denmark-based microphone company
known for (among other great products)
its ultra-clear and ultra-compact microphones. This month, for our Vocal issue,
we are looking at the company's new
d:screet Necklace microphone, perfect
for voice capture in video, public speaking, and theatrical situations.
Typically, a "necklace microphone"
refers to a standard lavalier mic literally
attached to a piece of string worn around
the neck. This was often an option for
when a speaker or interviewee was wearing a shirt or dress that could not accommodate a typical clip-on lav mic. By contrast, the new d:screet Necklace mic is a
purpose-built high-quality solution that
greatly improves on that old workaround.
The microphone
As the name suggests, this mic is built
around one of DPA's d:screet series miniature omnidirectional microphone capsules. Typically the d:screet series mics
are best described as standard lav-style
microphones, i.e. a tiny mic capsule on
the end of a long thin cable. DPA offers a
plethora of optional kit packages, including solutions for both indoor and outdoor
lavalier use-even with heavy-duty windscreen assemblies, instrument mounting
systems, and more.
For this new version, the mic is built into
a rubber tube-style necklace with a magnetic, locking clasp on the back, along
with a pivoting metal swivel where the
cable attaches. The 3.6' cable terminates
into one of DPA's familiar Microdot plugs,
which can then attach to the wirelesspack connector of your choice. There are
many different choices that will work with
this mic for connecting to almost every
brand of wireless belt pack-Shure,
52

RECORDING February 2015

Audio-Technica, beyerdynamic, ElectroVoice, Trantec, and more. You can even
get one for a standard XLR mic cable.
This mic is available in black, white
and brown in lengths of 18.3" or 20.9".
If, like me, you have a huge neck, you'll
be much more comfortable with the
longer necklace. I was sent the 18.3"
model and it was a tad snug.
Specs
The mic itself is an omnidirectional prepolarized pressure gradient condenser
element with vertical diaphragm. It has a
20 Hz to 20 kHz ruler-flat frequency
response, but comes prefitted with one of
the company's high boost grid covers.
This adds a 10 dB soft boost at 12 kHz,
useful for when a lavalier mic like this one
will be chest mounted. The mic is built to
handle 144 dBA SPL peaks prior to clipping and further specs are as follows
(from the DPA website):
~ Sensitivity, nominal ±3 dB at 1 kHz: 6
mV/Pa; -44 dB re. 1 V/Pa
~ Equivalent noise level, A-weighted:
Typically 26 dBA re. 20 µPa (max. 28 dBA)
~ Equivalent noise level, ITU-R BS.468-4:
Typically 38 dB (max. 40 dB)
~ S/N ratio (A-weighted): 68 dBA
~ Total Harmonic Distortion (THD): < 1 %
THD up to 123 dB SPL peak; < 1 % THD up
to 120 dB SPL RMS sine
~ Dynamic range: Typically 97 dB
~ Output impedance: 30-40 Ω

great alternative to traditional lav mics as
well as over-the-ear mics like DPA's d:fine
headset models (reviewed May 2013).
Trust me, there will come a time when
based on factors like a person's attire, or
the liveness of the room, that a lav mic is
not an option. Also, I know quite a few
speakers and actors who feel that over
the ear/headset mics are uncomfortable,
conspicuous, and even showy.
Anyone can use it
This mic was also designed with the
technophobe and novice in mind. Many
people get selfconscious and secondguess both lav and headset placement,
but almost all of us know how to wear a
necklace! This design doesn't offer much
room for placement mistakes.
I found this mic sounded wonderfully
clean and clear, just like every other DPA
mic I have used. Currently I have four various d:fine headsets in my public speaking/theater collection, and this sounds as
good as all of them, plus it offers two advantages thanks to its placement. It is much less
prone to plosives, and being by the throat,
it captures a nice deep resonance.
On the downside, it is an open mic,
and just like a lav, it will pick up noise if
fabric or long hair crosses its path. I also
found that some male speakers I wanted
to use it on felt that the black model I was
sent looked too much like a gothic choker... but on the other hand, it hides nicely
in a shirt collar.
All in all, this is another great solution
from the folks at DPA, complete with the
sound these mics are famous for!
Prices: $649.95 (not including adapter)
More from: DPA Microphones,
www.dpamicrophones.com

http://www.dpamicrophones.com

Recording - February 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recording - February 2015