- Coles 4038
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Coles Electroacoustics 4038
Two 4038 microphones from The Beatles StoryManufactured by Coles Electroacoustics Dates 1950s–present Technical specifications Type Ribbon Frequency response 30–20000[1] Hz Polar pattern(s) Bidirectional Sensitivity -65dB re: 1 Volt/Pa[1] Impedance 300 Ω Connector Western Electric 4069 jack (XLR adaptor) The Coles 4038 is a ribbon microphone produced by Coles Electroacoustics. The microphone was designed and patented by the BBC in the 1950s[2] and was originally known as the STC 4038.[3] The sound of the microphone has been described as "British" with a "BBC politeness",[4] and its appearance has been likened to that of a waffle iron.[5] It is used in both sound recording and radio broadcasting.[6]
Contents
History
The microphone was designed by the BBC in 1953 and the prototype was assigned the model number BBC PGS/1.[7] It was designed as a result of the BBC's request for a strong and affordable microphone that was smaller than previous models[8] (such as the Type A). The 4038 was an improvement on the Type A's frequency response, and was described as "less obtrusive".[9]
The microphone was produced by Standard Telephones and Cables[10] before their manufacturing was transferred to Coles in the mid 1970s.[11] Since its design in the 1950s, the technical specifications of the 4038 have remained unchanged.[12]
Use
Recording
In recording environments, the 4038 is often used as drum overheads and on brass instruments.[4][13] The microphone became a favourite of British recording engineers in the 1950s and 60s, but did not receive widespread use in the United States.[13] The microphone was described as recording sounds "bigger than life" – such as drums or amplified guitars – some Beatles and Led Zeppelin recordings featured 4038s as overhead microphones on the drum kit.[14][15]
In a 1994 interview, Steve Albini said that "if [he] owned one mic, this would be it".[2] Albini has also commented that "really nothing beats them as an overhead on a drum kit".[15]
Broadcast
At one point, Bush House (home of the BBC World Service) used the 4038 almost exclusively.[16]
Technical
The 4038's frequency response is flat, with a range of approximately 30–15,000 Hz.[17] The attenuation of high frequencies reduces sibilance on vocals, but also reduces detail.[4]
The microphone uses a bi-directional polar pattern.[18]
The microphone is connected using a Western Electric jack connector designated 4069, which adapts the microphone's 3-pin output to a standard XLR connector.[19]
Footnotes
- ^ a b Dooley (2006)
- ^ a b Schultz (2000, p. 72)
- ^ White (2010)
- ^ a b c Cotton (2007)
- ^ Fuston (2008)
- ^ Leonard (2001, p. 43)
- ^ Shaw (2011)
- ^ Streicher & Dooley (1997, p. 2)
- ^ Institution of Electrical Engineers (1961, p. 286)
- ^ Standard Telephones and Cables (1961, p. 2)
- ^ Coutant (2009)
- ^ Electronic Musician (2005, p. 54)
- ^ a b Owsinski (2004, p. 40)
- ^ Streicher & Dooley (1997, p. 3)
- ^ a b Shechmeister (2011)
- ^ Hi-Fi News (1997, p. 57)
- ^ Coles (2002a)
- ^ Coles (2002b)
- ^ Standard Telephones and Cables (1961, p. 4)
Sources
- Coles (2002a), 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire: Coles Electroacoustics Ltd., http://www.coleselectroacoustics.com/micstudio.shtml, retrieved 5 May 2011
- Coles (2002b), 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone Technical Specification, Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire: Coles Electroacoustics Ltd., http://www.coleselectroacoustics.com/micstudio_technical.shtml, retrieved 5 May 2011
- Coutant, Stan (2009), STC Brochures, Drums, PA: Coutant.org, http://www.coutant.org/stc/index.html, retrieved 5 May 2011
- Cotton, Jon (2007), Ribbon Mics On Test, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Sound on Sound, http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec07/articles/ribbonmicspt2.htm, retrieved 5 May 2011
- Dooley, Wes (2006), Coles 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone, Pasadena, CA: Audio Engineering Associates, http://www.wesdooley.com/pdf/Coles_4038_Data_Sheet_web.pdf, retrieved 8 May 2011
- Electronic musician (2005), Electronic Musician, 21, New York, NY: Penton Media, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=LXYJAQAAMAAJ, retrieved 5 May 2011
- Fuston, Lynn (2008), "Coles Electroacoustics 4038", EQ Magazine (Recording Hacks), http://recordinghacks.com/microphones/Coles/4038, retrieved 25 September 2011
- Hi-Fi News (1997), Issues 1-6, 42, Poole, Dorset: Link House Publications, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=mjM9AQAAIAAJ, retrieved 8 May 2011
- Institution of Electrical Engineers (1961), The Proceedings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers Part 2, 108, London: The Institution, http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=RStWAAAAMAAJ, retrieved 8 May 2011
- Leonard, John A (2001), Theatre Sound, Abingdon, Oxfordshire: Routledge, ISBN 087830116X
- Owsinski, Bobby (2004), The Recording Engineer's Handbook, Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard, ISBN 1932929002
- Schultz, Barbara (2000), Music Producers: Conversations with Today's Top Hit Makers, Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard, ISBN 0872887308
- Shaw, Alan A (2008), BBC Monitors 1922-1960, Haywards Heath, West Sussex: Harbeth Loudspeakers, http://www.harbeth.co.uk/uk/index.php?section=aboutus&page=harbethhistory&pageno=1, retrieved 5 May 2011
- Shechmeister, Matthew (2011), Relics Reborn: Ribbon Microphones Rally for Vintage-Audio Geeks, San Francisco, California: Wired Magazine, http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2011/01/gallery-ribbon-mics-part-1/?pid=568, retrieved 8 May 2011
- Standard Telephones and Cables (1961), 4038 Ribbon Microphone, London: STC, http://www.coutant.org/stc/4038/4038.pdf, retrieved 5 May 2011
- Streicher, Ron; Dooley, Wes (1997), Coles 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone User's Guide, Pasadena, CA: Audio Engineering Associates, http://www.wesdooley.com/pdf/4038C.pdf, retrieved 5 May 2011
- White, Paul (2010), NI Abbey Road 60s Drums Sample Library, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Sound on Sound, http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec07/articles/ribbonmicspt2.htm, retrieved 8 May 2011
Further reading
- Shorter, D E L; Harwood, H D (1955), "The Design of a Ribbon Type Pressure Gradient Microphone", BBC Engineering Division's Monograph #4 (London: British Broadcasting Corporation), http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/archive/pdffiles/monographs/bbc_monograph_04.pdf
Categories:- Microphones
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