Condenser Microphone Review: Edwina

You probably know that hearing is highly susceptible to outside influence. If not, watch this Audio Myths Workshop, it’s amazing.  (The good stuff starts at 5:27, with Poppy Crum playing Led Zeppelin.)

It’s Sexy

The Edwina microphone sounds good, and its sound quality is augmented by its sex appeal. I brought this large diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone from Ear Trumpet Labs to review during a festival of mostly acoustic bands at Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, and its brass body, stainless steel bolts, and swiveling head basket made it immediately popular. I even got to do some group miking as described in yesterday’s post.

Compared to a Neumann KSM105, the Edwina sounds more crisp and light in the high end on stringed instruments, with a more detailed and less rounded low end. This was useful for mixing a giant instrument like a piano in with an entire band. It was also helpful when distance miking groups, because the summing room reflections were less obvious.

I love the construction, which looks great and feels sturdy. It does have exposed cabling, but I’m not sure when that would be in danger. There are two things I think can be improved:

1. It is not immediately obvious which side of the capsule is the front. It becomes clear on close inspection, but if you are in a hurry to record your podcast you might accidentally do the entire interview into the wrong side of the microphone. But then, who would do that?… (cough)
2. The head basket is not 100% stable when finger-tight. When I placed the microphone and tightened the head basket by hand, it occasionally slipped out of place. When I tightened it with my multi-tool, there was no slipping.

Listen to a Sample

My interview with Philip Graham includes a short recording with the Edwina, starting at 20:45. (Using the built-in preamps of the Soundcraft i4, if you’re interested.)

That’s me monkeying around on the piano. ☺