Telefunken Runs Contest To Name New Vacuum-Tube Condenser
Telefunken Elektroakustik is hyping their new vacuum-tube, large diaphragm condenser mic with a cool contest. In development for 18 months, the German company has the mic, but now needs a name for its newest endeavor, which will be introduced at AES 2010 in San Francisco. The individual who comes up with the name that the company chooses will win a matched pair of the mics with vintage tubes.
The newest mic in the company’s acclaimed R-F-T line was designed by the company’s in-house engineering team, with outside consultation from amplifier designers. The microphone is based around a unique circuit that features a New Old Stock (NOS) TELEFUNKEN vacuum tube, custom audio transformer and a fixed cardioid large diaphragm capsule. Sonically, the microphone carries similar characteristics found in its R-F-T line counterparts, the AR-51 and the AK-47 MkII.
Traditionally, the microphones in TELEFUNKEN’s R-F-T line have been based on famous powerful munitions, such as the AK-47 and the M16. “But we’re not limited in that respect,” added CEO Toni Fishman. “I thought of the ‘Bolt,’ which refers to the company’s lightning bolt logo. Let’s see what the public comes up with.”
Featuring a custom antique copper finish, the new microphone claims to have a silky, open top end, smooth midrange, and a detailed low end. The amplifier design and frequency response are tailored for vocals, however the microphone works well on many signal sources including acoustic guitars, amps and percussion. Each microphone system comes complete with power supply, 20′ mic-to-power supply cable, shockmount and wooden box.
Starting today, participants will be able to submit suggested names for the new microphone via the Telefunken website. Then, on October 11th the top ten names will be chosen and posted on an online voting pole. The contest ends at 18:00 (EDT) October 21. The winning name will be announced at Noon (EDT) on October 22nd. The person who suggested the winning name will be rewarded with a pair of the R-F-T mics in a custom flight case. The 2nd and 3rd place names will win an M80 Dynamic microphone.
Kudos to Toni Fishman and Telefunken for coming up with this fun, innovative contest to promote their new R-F-T mic.
The new R-F-T mic will reportedly street at $1295, no actual release date has been set. New custom flight cases are available for an additional $99. Enter Telefunken’s Name That Mic Contest!
