Audio-Technica AT4050
Best versatile microphone for professional studio recording.
This is the ultimate studio workhorse that captures everything from delicate acoustic strings to aggressive guitar amps with surgical precision. You sacrifice the colored character of vintage tube mics, but you gain a transparent, reliable sound that sits perfectly in any mix without needing heavy processing.
$769.00
at
Amazon
Who it's for
- Studio engineers needing a flexible workhorse microphone
- Audio professionals seeking faithful and uncolored sound capture
- Recording studios requiring reliable, long-lasting equipment
Who should skip it
- Budget-conscious home studio owners or aspiring musicians
- Beginners without audio interfaces providing phantom power
- Home recordists in untreated or acoustically challenging rooms
Performance breakdown
Versatility
Three polar patterns handle everything from intimate vocals to complex drum kits.
SPL Handling
Easily captures loud sources without distortion thanks to high headroom capacity.
Sonic Transparency
Delivers a clean, uncolored sound that faithfully reproduces the source material.
Transient Response
Transformerless circuitry ensures fast, accurate capture of sharp, percussive audio peaks.
Build Quality
Rugged construction provides long-term reliability for demanding studio and stage environments.
Self-Noise
Low noise floor ensures pristine recordings even during quiet, delicate passages.
Key Specs
Element
Externally-polarized (DC bias) condenser
Polar Patterns
Cardioid, Omnidirectional, Figure-of-eight
Frequency Response
20-18,000 Hz
Low Frequency Roll-off
80 Hz, 12 dB/octave
Open Circuit Sensitivity
-36 dB (15.8 mV), re 1V at 1 Pa
Impedance
100 ohms
Maximum Input Sound Level
149 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.; 159dB SPL, with 10 dB pad (nominal)
Noise
17 dB
Dynamic Range (typical)
132 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
77 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
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