During 2008, DPA Microphones unveiled the 4099 clip microphone range. The range has now been expanded with two further additions: the 4099B and 4099C, with mounting accessories designed specifically for bass and cello respectively.
One of the areas sound quality and high rejection become an issue is with acoustic bass, so a new holder has been designed. Bass players such as Chris Minh Doky were already 4099 users before the launch of the new bass clip. In fact, Minh Doky was so confident he’d found the ultimate mic that he drilled a hole into his instrument’s bridge for a permanent mounting solution. With the new clip design, such drastic measures are clearly no longer necessary.
The smaller DPA 4099C has been designed to fit the cello and, like the bass clip, can be mounted on the outer strings of the instrument. This opens up new possibilities for solo cellists, string quartets and large string sections sharing the stage with a loud rock band, allowing the delicate nuances of their instruments to be reproduced clearly and distinctly.
All 4099 condenser microphones feature super-cardioid polar patterns for high rejection and superior gain-before-feedback, while retaining the highly uniform off-axis frequency response. Furthermore, the 4099 microphone mounting system is designed to be extremely gentle, never marring the finish of an instrument.
Amber Technology: 1800 251367 or www.ambertech.com.au
Comments
I’ve used the 4099 a few times since it hit the market a couple of years ago, with stellar results. Although it is intended for live work, it is also good for recording.
Because it is mounted on the instrument, the tone remains consistent no matter how much the musician moves around. The benefits to the reproduced sound are obvious, but perhaps less obvious is the fact that the musician is free to express him/herself without worrying about playing to a microphone on a stand.
I used a 4099S on a soprano saxophone in a live concert in Chennai (Southern India) back in January 2009, and the saxophonist was as pleased with the recorded sound as he was with the freedom it gave him to move around.