M-Audio Microphone manual Higher standards

From a technical perspective, the two mics need to be as identical as possible in frequency response. A ￿flat￿ frequency response implies that there is no deviation in the output level versus the input level at any and all frequencies across the audible spectrum. While a flat frequency response is theoretically ideal, it is rarely achieved completely in any audio component. For example, a mic might exhibit a 1dB boost at 1kHz and start rolling off 3dB per octave at 14kHz. A perfectly matched pair would exhibit the same exact characteristics in both mics. Here again, such an exacting match is rare.Therefore manufacturers each establish their own window of acceptable deviation that they will certify as a being a ￿matched pair￿￿there is no industry standard. (Please note that we are actually talking about two different variables that are subject to interpretation and little disclosure ￿ the deviation between two ￿matched￿ microphones of the same model, as well as their deviation from the given manufacturer￿s standard reference mic for that model.)

Even the most famous of classic microphones have exhibited disparities in frequency response of 6dB of more from unit to unit. In such circumstances, manufacturers must search through a batch of mics to select a pair that is relatively close in response￿on the order of 2dB up or down for a total window of about 4dB. It is often necessary to place a special order (and pay surcharge as large as 20 percent of normal cost) for such matched pairs. This is not the case with M-Audio microphones. In order to pass inspection, all mics in our line must be within +/-1dB of not only each other, but of our ￿ golden reference￿ mic for that model￿the one we won￿t sell for any price.

Higher standards

M-Audio is able to offer incredibly high quality and tight tolerances at affordable prices for several reasons.The first is that highly skilled technicians use the latest computer-controlled equipment for manufacturing and testing.

The reality of today￿s marketplace is that most companies manufacture their products offshore in order to be profitable. Many microphones on the market today are made in China or other countries where labor is less expensive ￿ even the ones that say that they are made elsewhere. At M-Audio, manufacturing is a hybrid operation. The designs all start in the USA, as do the manufacturing of all critical path elements like transformers, capacitors, resistors and diaphragm material.We then complete the machining and assembly in our own facility in Shanghai. In this way we attain the best of both worlds￿quality and affordable pricing.

While we￿re on the subject of standards, let￿s talk about the frequency response graphs that are often included with microphones. These graphs illustrate the deviation between input and output across the frequency spectrum. The ideal is to have as flat a line as possible indicating as little deviation as possible. Such graphs can be misleading because the industry has no universally accepted measurement standards that factor in distance from the mic, volume, angle relative to axes, and so forth. Moreover, there is no standard for rendering these graphs. Major deviations apparent on a graph calibrated vertically at +/-10dB look much more like a flat line if displayed on a graph calibrated at +/-100dB. So in a world where everybody draws nice looking graphs because they feel they must in order to be competitive, we simply decline to play the game until such time that standards exist that level the playing field. As stated earlier, all M-Audio mics are manufactured to within +/-1dB of each other and our golden reference standard.We￿re confident that your ears will tell you everything else you need to know.

Choosing & Using Microphones 11