Utilizing Earthworks Near-perfect Polar Response
Near-perfect Polar Response
Conventional cardioid microphones typically have poor polar response. They
will have a relatively uniform (i.e. flat) frequency response at the front of the
microphone (on-axis or 0 degrees), meaning they will uniformly reproduce
high frequencies, mid frequencies and low frequencies with a uniform level.
However, if you move to either side of the microphone (90 or 270 degrees)
there will be a dramatic loss in high frequency response. Perhaps the most
telling demonstration of this is attempting to place three singers on a single
conventional cardioid microphone (one at the front and the other two sing-
ers on the sides). The singers on the sides of the microphone will sound
muddled and undefined due to the loss of high frequencies at the sides of
the microphone (off-axis). In figure 1a you will see a perfect cardioid polar
pattern which will pick up all frequencies uniformly at the front and the sides
of the microphone. Figure 1b shows the polar response of a typical conven
-
tional cardioid microphone. Notice the severe loss of high frequencies at
the sides of the microphone. Figure 1c is the near-perfect polar response
of an Earthworks microphone. The Earthworks microphone has a uniform
frequency response at the sides of the microphone that is within 3db of the
on-axis response at any frequency.
The Earthworks cardioid microphones will pick up sounds with nearly the same
fidelity at the front and the sides of the microphone. This is a remarkable
technical achievement and one that will provide incredible results for you.
Figure 1.
Differences Between a Perfect, Conventional and an Earthworks Cardioid Microphone
(1b) Conventional Cardioid Microphone
(1c) Earthworks Cardioid Microphone
(1a) Textbook
Perfect Cardioid
Microphone
2
Congratulations on your purchase of the innovative Earthworks Flex-
Wand High Definition Microphone System™. We know you will be
thrilled with the results you achieve using the FlexWand™ System for
both live performance and recording.
Enclosed with your Earthworks FW730 FlexWand
™
System:
FlexWand
™
Models FW730 & FW730/HC with cast iron base, or
FW730TPB & FW730/HC-TPB with tripod base
1 – FlexWand
™
stand/wand section *
1 – Microphone windscreen *
1 – Base for stand/wand section
(either cast iron metal or tripod
base depending on model) *
1 – User’s Manual for FlexWand
™
System
*
(If you purchased a matched pair of FlexWands, you will receive two each of the
items indicated above with an asterisk.)
THE FLEXWAND™ SYSTEM
You have just purchased an Earthworks High Definition Microphone™ that
is
incorporated in the FlexWand™System. The FlexWand™ System is a to
tally
new concept in microphones. It is a combination of a High Definition Micro
-
phone™ and a low profile microphone stand and boom as a single unit. It
allows the microphone head to be positioned as high as 7 feet and as low as
1.5 feet from the floor or anywhere in between. Best of all there are no visible
wires or cables above floor level. Visually it is low profile, smooth, sleek and
clean. The FlexWand™ is the ideal solution for applications where the utmost
in sound quality and a low profile is required.
The FlexWand™ is ideal for miking a variety of applications such as large
choir, small vocal ensembles and vocal solos. Now you don’t have to find
a microphone, attach the mic clip to the stand and then dress the cable
around the stand. Just pick up the FlexWand™, position it and plug the mic
cable into the base. You are done! Best of all it is neat and clean visually
with no unsightly microphone cable wrapped around the stand and boom.
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FOR ASSEMBLY INFORMATION SEE PAGES 11-14
