Simon Allen compares Neumann’s new Miniature Clip Mic (MCM) system to DPA’s established 4099 for instrument micing applications . . .
When it comes to micing acoustic instruments in live or broadcast environments, there really has been only one solution . . . until now. Firstly though, I’ll breeze quickly past the right or wrong way to mic orchestral instruments. We’d all love to approach them in the same way we conduct studio recordings, but in some scenarios we simply need a more direct signal for separation on noisy stages, or to provide a higher gain before feedback. This new product and its direct competitor provide a solution for those latter scenarios, and I’ve been really keen to carefully compare them since the MCM’s release late last year.
In 2009, DPA released the now well-known 4099 instrument microphone, followed by its successor the 4099 CORE in 2018. DPA has dominated this market ever since and I simply couldn’t write this review without mentioning it. There are a handful of alternatives, but they’re not quite the same in terms of detailed sound quality or functionality via a range of instrument clips. Neumann, which needs no introduction when it comes to microphones, has recognised this success and has decided to join the party. However, will this seemingly obvious move by Neumann prove to be an easy win?
Read the full article at Lighting & Sound International
