AEA KU4 supercardioid ribbon microphone
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With a supercardioid polar pattern, rich ribbon tone and extended top-end, the KU4’s directionality allows it to be positioned almost anywhere without capturing room tone and bleed, making it one of the most flexible ribbon mics in production today.
- Supercardioid polar pattern, rejecting bleed and ambient room reflections
- Extended top end with classic ribbon smoothness
- Near-field ribbon mic with reduced proximity effect for close-miking
- AEA’s redesign of RCA’s legendary KU3A
- Made in the USA
AEA’s KU4 is one of the most useful and unique ribbon microphones in the world. Its supercardioid polar pattern rejects bleed from other instruments and reflections in the room while retaining matchless top-end clarity. As the brightest mic in the AEA line, it retains the full spectrum sonic range that has made ribbon mics a staple in most of the world’s great recording studios.
The KU4’s minimal proximity effect and accented mid-range make it an exceptional vocal mic that captures the presence and detail of a performance. Its near-field nature also lends to the close range recording of kick drums, strings, and woodwinds, providing a welcome brightness and balance in the mix.
The KU4’s supercardioid polar pattern enables it to capture direct sound from a vocalist or instrument without room tone. This is an advantage when tracking musicians live in the same room or when used live on stage. With most figure-of-eight patterned ribbons, mic positioning can require a finesse to avoid other sources using the microphone’s nulls. The KU4 has none of these limitations.
Being a near-field ribbon microphone, the microphone was designed to be positioned between one and 18 inches from the source. The mic’s proximity effect kicks in six inches away from the sound source. It can be placed close to an instrument while retaining a balanced frequency response.
Unlike most traditional ribbon mics, think the KU4’s placement should be thought in terms of inches instead of feet. Of course, the KU4 can also be positioned at some distance from the sound source. It will just have a more balanced sound from up close.
The KU4 can handle 140+ dB SPL at 1 kHz. That means it will not be hurt by loud sound sources.
After getting used to bright condenser microphones, sometimes traditional ribbon mics sound darker than desired. The KU4, with its unique bright character, has the best elements of both condensers and ribbons– specifically, a smooth midrange that doesn’t accentuate sibilance in the same way that condensers often do.
The mic’s supercardioid polar pattern, bright voicing, and near-field design offer the flexibility to use it in the exact same way as a condenser. This problem-solving microphone can be used in virtually any recording situation.