Looking for the "best" podium mic

Mike Caldwell

Mike Caldwell

Junior
Jan 13, 2011
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Covington, Ohio
www.mikecaldwellaudioproductions.com
Lets say "best' with in about a $500 budget.

Currently I have two Countryman Isomax RF4 podium mics, one in cardioid and the other is a hyper cardioid. I also have an older AKG with a CK80 capsule.

The Countryman's are my main go to choices with a preference to the cardioid as it is a little more forgiving to sloppy mic technique.

Usage ranges from small conference rooms to large rooms with less than ideal acoustics with 2000 people in the audience.

Should I be happy with what I have or would something like an Earthworks or DPA be a noticeable improvement.

Thanks

Mike C.
 
Re: Looking for the "best" podium mic

DPA will be a noticeable upgrade. Their prototype podium mics was tested in Oslo city hall at the Nobel peace prize, it's the only time they have had a louder signal coming out of the pa than they needed before feedback, AKA they had some headroom left. The city hall is famous for it's bad acoustics and they bought their own mics as soon as they became available.
 
Re: Looking for the "best" podium mic

Helge Dr. Bentsen said:
DPA will be a noticeable upgrade. Their prototype podium mics was tested in Oslo city hall at the Nobel peace prize, it's the only time they have had a louder signal coming out of the pa than they needed before feedback, AKA they had some headroom left. The city hall is famous for it's bad acoustics and they bought their own mics as soon as they became available.
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I have not used the DPA, but unless it has the active handling noise reduction of the Countryman it is probably not an improvement. Very expensive DPA and Schoeps aside, the Countryman Isomax RF4 is the best lectern mic I have used. A DPA or a Schoeps will probably sound better in a quiet environment, with no one tapping on the lectern when they are nervous, but that is not a situation I run into a lot.

Mac
 
Re: Looking for the "best" podium mic

mackerr said:
I have not used the DPA, but unless it has the active handling noise reduction of the Countryman it is probably not an improvement. Very expensive DPA and Schoeps aside, the Countryman Isomax RF4 is the best lectern mic I have used. A DPA or a Schoeps will probably sound better in a quiet environment, with no one tapping on the lectern when they are nervous, but that is not a situation I run into a lot.

Mac
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Mac, is the active noise reduction n the Countryman a new thing they've added recently? I've used Countryman podium mics plenty of times, but i don't actually know the specific model so i don't know if they had this noise reduction or not. I've certainly not noticed the ones i've used being particularly immune to handling noise....
 
Re: Looking for the "best" podium mic

brian maddox said:
Mac, is the active noise reduction n the Countryman a new thing they've added recently? I've used Countryman podium mics plenty of times, but i don't actually know the specific model so i don't know if they had this noise reduction or not. I've certainly not noticed the ones i've used being particularly immune to handling noise....
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No, it has been an important feature of Isomax mics from the beginning. AFAIK it's why they are called "Iso"max. Tap on the side of the Countryman and then tap on the side of another mic and compare. Try the same test tapping on the lectern surface. It is done with a second matching diaphragm wired out of polarity in the capsule that is isolated from actual audio, but not from physical handling. It is a very effective noise canceler.

Mac
 
Re: Looking for the "best" podium mic

mackerr said:
No, it has been an important feature of Isomax mics from the beginning. AFAIK it's why they are called "Iso"max. Tap on the side of the Countryman and then tap on the side of another mic and compare. Try the same test tapping on the lectern surface. It is done with a second matching diaphragm wired out of polarity in the capsule that is isolated from actual audio, but not from physical handling. It is a very effective noise canceler.

Mac
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Fascinating. Learn something new every day. Thanks Mac.
 
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