ultra-thin diaphram, fast, small diaphrgam condensers?

[Fran Guidry]

Originally Posted by sunflute

It is starting to become clear to me that these types of microphones maybe great at capturing the fast, complex transients of say a flute or high pitched percussion instruments in a natural manner.

Besides the Shure KSM-141 (ksm137), are there other ultra-thin diaphragm condensers that would be fast enough to capture high frequency material in a natural manner?

Or am I barking up the wrong tree in this regard?

Peace,
Marco

This has been an interesting thread in some ways. In others it's a pretty predictable rehash.

But can we look at the OP and answer the last question?

Marco, yes, you're barking up the wrong tree. You have used analogy and "common sense" to assign a value to a particular construction detail, but there is no evidence I can see that your assignment is correct. The good performance of the KSM141 benefits from low distortion, wide flat FR, excellent pattern control. It's a good mic, that's why it sounds good.

So you're barking up the wrong tree by looking at diaphragm thickness and a search for "speed." But since you know that the characteristics of the KSM141 make for a good recording, look for other mics with wide flat FR, similar mild presence peak, and excellent frequency response off axis. This latter is something hard for LD mics, easy for ribbons and for good SDs.

And the tech/physics/FR=Impulse folks in the thread really meant to explain things this way. It's not that you aren't hearing something, it's that you're not hearing what you think you are. So by redirecting your search you're more likely to reach your goal.

Fran

[Audiop]

Good post Fran!


/Peter

[CPTenorII]

Basically, slew rate is an electronic measurement indicating the quantity of electrical pressure (voltage) that can leave a given conductive system in a certain amount of time. It is not an appropriate figure when discussing acoustic issues because it has nothing to do with sound itself. The idea is that a faster slew rate allows for more accurate resolution of fine signal detail. The higher the slew rate, the less the input signal is changed due to slowly-responding electronics. Slew rate is typically a figure associated with preamps and processors, but is salient for the electronics of microphones as well. Good luck finding it though. I have never seen it quoted for microphones, only preamps.

[Audiop]

Good points Colin, though already mentioned in the thread. :-)


/Peter