M-Audio Ships Pulsar II Condenser Microphone

M-Audio is now shipping the Pulsar II small-capsule condenser microphone. The unit replaces the original Pulsar small-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone.

The 3/4″ diameter, 6-micron Mylar evaporated-gold diaphragm of the Pulsar II microphone delivers excellent sensitivity, especially for higher frequencies. Where many of today’s mic capsule backplates use metallized plastic, the Pulsar II features a solid brass backplate for natural, transparent sound. This capsule design is ideal for many studio and stage applications including drum overheads, acoustic guitar, piano, close-miking strings and woodwinds, room miking and more.

Features:
• professional small-capsule condenser microphone
• 3/4”-diameter, 6-micron Mylar evaporated gold diaphragm
• thermal diaphragm treatment yields 2dB SPL boost over original model
• solid brass backplate
• solid brass body
• Class-A FET electronics
• switchable -10dB pad
• switchable 80Hz high-pass filter (12dB/octave)
• wooden storage box houses microphone, windscreen and clip

The Pulsar II was designed in the US by the same team that created the award-winning Sputnik microphone and M-Audio claims it is regularly compared to that of vintage classics. While consulting on the design process, several top Los Angeles session engineers likened the Pulsar II to the Neumann KM84 — and its replacement KM184 — only with more open top end similar to Schoeps. Hmmm…

Several new features allow the Pulsar II to adapt to many recording and live situations. The diaphragm is thermally treated to yield an additional 2dB SPL over the model’s predecessor. The -10dB switchable attenuation pad enables users to capture higher SPLs. The 12dB/octave high-pass filter also reduces low-frequency rumble and the potential for overloading mic preamps with low-frequency signals.

Transformerless Class-A FET electronics combine with the physical design properties of the Pulsar II to deliver excellent specs including 20Hz-20kHz frequency response; sensitivity of -37dB @ 1kHz, 0dB=1V/Pa (13.8 mV/Pa); max SPL of 134dB at 0.5% THD, 144dB with -10dB pad; and equivalent noise of 16dBA. The product also includes a wooden box, windscreen, mic clip and manual.

The Pulsar II is available individually or as a matched set with only ±1dB variation from each other. This makes the Pulsar II microphones ideal for stereo room miking, stereo overheads and similar applications where balance and imaging are key. The Pulsar II matched pair includes a metal stereo mounting bracket for XY recording.

M-Audio’s Pulsar II is now shipping and costs $199.95. The boxed matched pairs are currently expected to ship in the third quarter of 2007 for $399.95. More information on the M-Audio Pulsar II.

Author: FutureMusic

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