Specifications

27
Figure-8
Microphone Capsule MK 8
– pure pressure-gradient transducer
– figure-8 pattern with near-ideal consistency across
the frequency range
– side-addressed (pickup perpendicular to the micro-
phone body)
– optimal for use in M/S and Blumlein stereo recording
This capsule type is a true dipole (bidirectional) trans-
ducer, operating with a single diaphragm. Its main axis
is at a right angle to the capsule, and is marked at 0°
and 180° with a red and a black dot respectively.
When M/S stereo recordings are made, the 0° axis
normally faces to the left as viewed from behind the
microphone setup. The “8“ engraved on the top of the
housing should be aligned on its side so as to appear
horizontal, at a precise right angle to the Mid capsule.
The microphone should be placed directly above or
beneath the “M“ channel microphone, and as close to
it as possible.
The inherent qualities of a pure pressure-gradient
transducer are readily observed in this capsule type:
– Its sensitivity decreases at low frequencies.
– The directional characteristic is extraordinarily inde-
pendent of frequency.
– Proximity effect is present.
The sound quality of the MK 8 is clear and neutral.
The frequency response rolls off above 16 kHz.
When an MK 8 is used as a spot microphone, care
must be taken to avoid picking up early reflections or
unwanted direct sound from its rear, since sound arriv-
ing from the back is picked up with full level but
reversed in polarity. This could result in partial cancel-
lation of the intended sound, which can lead to comb-
filter effects at higher frequencies.
The directivity index of a figure-8 pattern is the
same as that of a cardioid; if microphones with these
two patterns are placed at the same distance from a
sound source, a quantitatively similar balance of direct
and reverberant sound would be picked up. In practice
such a comparison would be deceptive, however, since
a figure-8 does not respond to sound coming from
the sides, from above or from beneath its main axis as
does a cardioid. The figure-8 has a rear lobe equal in
sensitivity to its front lobe, and this exactly makes up
the quantitative difference – but in normally reverber-
ant settings, the sound reaching a figure-8's rear lobe
will be delayed and dispersed to a considerably greater
extent than the reverberant sound energy which a car-
dioid picks up from its front and sides; the reflected
sound will typically be subject to far more high fre-
quency absorption as well. Thus the reverberant sound
energy picked up by a figure-8, though theoretically
equal in amount, is quite different in character from
that which would be picked up by a cardioid in the
same position.
Frequency range: 40 Hz – 16 kHz
Sensitivity: 10 mV/Pa
Equivalent noise level:
A-weighted*: 18 dB-A
CCIR**: 26 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio
(A-weighted*): 76 dB-A
Maximum SPL: 134 dB (0.5% THD)
Frequency response curve MK 8 + CMC 6
Polar diagram
from outer
to inner:
up to 2 kHz 4 kHz
8 kHz
16 kHz
20 50 100 200 500 1k 2k 5k 10k 20kHz
+10
0dB
-10
-20
*IEC 61672-1, **IEC 60268-1
COLETTE
modular
figure-8
Length: 34 mm
Diameter: 20 mm
Weight: 18 g