Mike's Mics: April 2010

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Digital Reference DR-CX1 (Audio Technica AT2020)

The Digital Reference DR-CX1 is a side-address, phantom powered studio condenser microphone made in China. It is identical to the Audio Technica AT2020. The specifications for the Audio Techinca AT2020 can be found here:

http://www.audio-technica.com/cms/wired_mics/a0933a662b5ed0e2/index.html

The DR-CX1 feels quite solid in construction. It has a hefty feel without being so heavy that it would overtax a table mounted scissor microphone stand.

I tested this microphone on a Sohmer upright piano and was very surprised at the overall smoothness of its response across the entire range of the piano. It rendered a very faithful reproduction of the general sound of the instrument without favoring any particular range of frequencies. The published response curve shows a very flat response, which bears out the result of my listening tests.

On voice, the DR-CX1 exhibited much less proximity effect than many of the other condenser microphones I’ve reviewed here. For speakers with deep, boomy voices, the DR-CX1 (Audio Technica AT2020) would be a good choice for a broadcast or podcast microphone.

I’ve not tested this microphone on horns yet, but my initial recording tests on piano indicate that this microphone would likely work well on a variety of wind and string instruments.

Mike's Mics

Here, you'll find reviews of inexpensive condenser and ribbon microphones with the emphasis on acoustic instruments. If you’re a pianist, percussionist, clarinetist, harpist, violinist, trombonist, etc., this blog may give you enough helpful information to make a more informed decision regarding which budget-priced studio microphone will work best for you.

Most online user reviews of inexpensive studio microphones seem to relate only to how these mics sound on drums, electric guitar cabs and vocals. There is relatively little information about how these microphones work on acoustic instruments and ensembles.

There are currently only a few companies in China that build most of the inexpensive condenser and ribbon microphones available here in the United States. They are almost always “rebadged” and sold under various company monikers (MXL, Nady, Behringer, Apex – to name a few).

There’s an unfortunate tendency to sneer and bad-mouth any equipment that comes from China, particularly microphones. Some of this is justified as quality control is frequently inconsistent and noticeable variations in the sonic character of these Chinese microphones can be very noticeable between samples of the same make and model.

Inexpensive Chinese microphones certainly don’t compare to the high-dollar “boutique” microphones by Neumann and Telefunken. Nonetheless, the overall quality of these inexpensive microphones is surprisingly good for their price range and many of them prove quite adequate for acoustic instrument/ensemble recording projects.

The question then becomes,” Should I spend $5,000.00 on a microphone when a $500.00 microphone will work almost as well?” Yes, the $5,000.00 Neumann U87 will sound better, but does it sound $4,500.00 better? For many musicians on a tight budget (like me), the answer is almost always no.

If you play an acoustic instrument, this blog will hopefully give you enough helpful information so you can make a more informed decision regarding which budget-priced studio microphone will work best for you.

Enjoy.