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PRO
44
CARDIOID UNIDIRECTIONAL
BOUNDARY MICROPHONE
Frequency Response
Operation and Maintenance
The symmetry and area of the mounting
surface directly affect the sensitivity of the
boundary microphone at low frequencies.
Ideally, the mounting surface should be circular; however, square or rectangular surfaces
are most often used. If the mounting surface
is rectangular, the smaller dimension tends to
determine low-frequency cutoff. The microphone should be centered on the surface and
positioned with the front of the microphone
facing the sound source along the longer
dimension of the mounting surface. The
sound source should not be below, or higher
than 60° above, the plane of the mounting
surface.
Output is low impedance balanced. The balanced signal appears across Pins 2 and 3,
while the ground (shield) connection
is Pin 1. Output is phased so that positive
acoustic pressure produces positive voltage at
Pin 2 in accordance with industry convention.
DC phantom power (9-52 volts) must be
applied equally to Pins 2 and 3, with the
ground for the power supply connected to
Pin 1. This can be provided by a console or
mixer with built-in phantom voltage or with the
addition of an in-line phantom power supply,
such as the recommended Audio-Technica
CP8506 and AT8801 power supplies.
Description
The PRO44 is a wide-range condenser
microphone with a hemi-cardioid (half-space
cardioid) polar pattern. It was designed for
surface-mounted applications in high-quality
sound reinforcement and other demanding
sound pickup situations. Its low-profile design
makes the PRO 44 ideal for use in applications where minimum visibility is required.
The PRO44 can be powered from any external
9V to 52V DC phantom power source. A
25' (7.6 m) cable with TA3F and XLRM-type
connectors is provided for use between the
microphone and electronics input.
Audio-Technica design engineers have utilized
the newest low-mass technology in the quest
for superior performance.The charge is now on
the fixed back plate, rather than the moving
element.With the A-T fixed-charge “back plate”
construction, a gold-vaporized diaphragm just
2 microns thick (about 0.000079") can be used.
This reduces moving mass substantially,
improving frequency response and transient
response while reducing distortion.
Positioning a properly designed miniature
unidirectional microphone centrally on a large,
flat, unobstructed surface yields several distinct advantages. Directionality is increased
by 3 dB, promoting enhanced gain before
feedback and further suppression of ambient
noise. Sensitivity is increased for improved
signal-to-noise ratio. Phase distortion due to
reflected sound energy from the boundary
itself is eliminated.
The microphone element is enclosed in a
rugged housing with a black finish.The r ubber
non-slip bottom pad minimizes mechanical
coupling of surface vibrations to the microphone.
The high sensitivity of the PRO 44 ensures
useful output and an excellent match to most
mixer, tape recorder and amplifier inputs. It
will provide undistorted output even in sound
fields as loud as 114 dB SPL. However, due
to the high sensitivity, in some instances it
may be possible to overload sensitive input
stages. If distor tion occurs,
first
check for
input
overload. In such cases, an attenuator
such as the Audio-Technica AT8202 may be
required between the mic and the electronics
input. (Also, many mixers provide “input pad”
switches to reduce mic-input signal levels.)
While a modern condenser microphone is not
unduly sensitive to the environment, temperature extremes can be harmful. Exposure to
high temperatures can result in gradual and
permanent reduction of the output level.Avoid
leaving the microphone in the open sun or in
areas where temperatures exceed 110° F
(43° C) for long periods of time. Extremely
high humidity should also be avoided.
200100
Frequency in Hertz
12" or more on axis
500
2k
1k
10k
20k
5k
50
LEGEND
10 dB
Response in dB
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One-Year Limited Warranty
Audio-Technica microphones and accessories purchased in
the U.S.A. are warranted for one year from date of purchase
by Audio-Technica U.S., Inc. (A .T.U.S.) to be free of defects in
materials and workmanship. In event of such defect, product
will be repaired promptly without charge or, at our option,
replaced with a new product of equal or superior value if
delivered to A.T.U.S. or an Authorized Service Center,
prepaid, together with the sales slip or other proof of purchase
date.
Prior approval from A.T.U.S. is required for return.
This warranty excludes defects due to normal wear, abuse,
shipping damage, or failure to use product in accordance with
instructions. This warranty is void in the event of unauthorized
repair or modification.
For return approval and shipping information,
contact
the Service Department, Audio-Technica U.S., Inc.,
1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, Ohio 44224.
Except to the extent precluded by applicable state law,
A.T.U.S. will have no liability for any consequential,
incidental, or special damages; any warranty of merchantability or fitness for particular purpose expires
when this warranty expires.
This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may
have other rights which vary from state to state.
Outside the U.S.A., please contact your local dealer for
warranty details.
PRO
44
200 Hz
1 kHz
5 kHz
8 kHz
LEGEND
SAME AS 1 kHz
SCALE IS 5 DECIBELS PER DIVISION
90
60
120
30
150
210
240
270
300
330
180
0
PRO44 SPECIFICATIONS
†
Element ..................................................... Fixed-charge back plate
permanently polarized condenser
Polar Pattern ............................................. Half-cardioid (cardioid in hemisphere above
mounting surface)
Frequency Response .............................. 70-16,000 Hz
Open Circuit Sensitivity .......................... –25 dB (56.2 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa*
Impedance ................................................ 100 ohms
Maximum Input Sound Level .................. 114 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.
Signal-to-noise Ratio
1
.............................. 66 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa*
Dynamic Range (Typical) ......................... 86 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
Phantom Power Requirements ............... 9-52V DC, 2 mA typical
Weight (less cable) .................................... 2.4 oz (67 grams)
Dimensions .............................................. 2.87" (73.0 mm) max width,
3.56" (90.5 mm) max length,
0.59" (15.0 mm) height
Cable ......................................................... 25' (7.6 m) long, 0.10" (2.6 mm) diameter,
2-conductor, shielded cable with TA3F and
XLRM-type connectors
† In the interest of standards development, A.T.U.S. offers full details
on its test methods to other industry professionals on request.
* 1 Pascal = 10 dynes/cm
2
= 10 microbars = 94 dB SPL
1
Typical, A-weighted, using Audio Precision System One
Optional Accessories:
CP8201 line matching transformer
(Lo-Z to 50,000 ohms).
AT8202 adjustable in-line attenuator for use
with balanced Lo-Z microphones.
AT8314 2-conductor, shielded, vinyl-jacketed,
broadcast-type cable with XLRF-type connector
at microphone end, XLRM-type connector at
equipment end. Available in 10', 20', 25', 30', 50'
& 100' lengths.
CP8506 four-channel 48V phantom power
supply (AC powered).
AT8801 single-channel 48V phantom power
supply (AC powered).
Polar Pattern
Dimensions
15.0 mm
0.59"
2.87"
73.0 mm
3.56"
90.5 mm
2.13"
54.0 mm
Audio-Technica U.S., Inc., 1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, Ohio 44224
Audio-Technica Limited, Old Lane, Leeds LS11 8AG England
Form No.0320-0804-01-B/W © 1998 Audio-Technica U.S., Inc. Printed in U.S.A.