Shure PE15D User Manual

PROFESSIONAL

ENTERTAINER

MODEL PE15D DUAL-IMPEDANCE UNIDIRECTIONAL

DYNAMIC MICROPHONE

PE15D-LC: Supplied without cable

The PE15D Microphone offers the most desirable features

for the professional entertainer.

Unidirectional (cardioid) pickup pattern minimizes feed-

w

back in live performance

Wide frequency response provides clean and natural

reproduction of voice and instruments
Dual impedance for instant connection to high- or low-

impedance microphone inputs

Ball-type grille reduces "p-popping" and excessive breath
noise when used close up
Shock-mounted cartridge reduces handling noise
Lockable OnlOff and lmpedance Selection switch
Nonreflective dark gray finish for professional
appearance

onstage

Rugged, reliable, and backed by the Shure guarantee

SPECIFICATIONS

TY pe

Dynamic

Frequency Response

80 to 13,000 Hz (see Figure 1)

,DO0

F"cas.

8"

TYPICAL FREQUENCY RESPONSE

Polar Pattern

Cardioid (unidirectional) See Figure 2

---

60

HZ

-

400

81

.....

,000

"1

TYPICAL POLAR PATTERNS

lmpedance

LO

Z:

Microphone rating impedance is 150 ohms (180 ohms
actual) for connection to microphone inputs rated at 75 to
300 ohms
HI

Z:

Microphone impedance is "High" for connection to
high-impedance microphone inputs

*",Z

FIGURE 1

FIGURE

---

2500

"1

-

6100

HZ

.....I

0000

"1

2

Output Level

Open Circuit Voltage*.

Power Level*'. . . .

(at 1,000 Hz)

.

. . . . .

.

. . .

. . . .

.

LO

. .

.

.

. -60.5 dB

Z

-82.0 dB -59.5 dB
mV) (1.1 mV)

(0.08

HI

Z

*O dB = lVllLbar

**O dB = 1 mWI10 pbar

Switch

Built-in OnIOff, Impedance-Selection switch with lockplate
to lock out undesired impedance, and option to lock switch

0

n

Connector

Three-pin professional (XLR) type

Cartridge Shock Mount

Internal rubber vibration-isolator

Phasing

Positive pressure on diaphragm produces positive voltage:

on pin 2 with respect to pin 3-LO Z;

1

on pin

with respect to pin 3- HI Z

CARTRIDGE

TERMINAL

SWITCH TRANSFORMER AUDIOCONNECTOR

%PIN

PROFESSIONAI

INTERNAL CONNECTIONS

Swivel Adapter

FIGURE

3

Positive action, adjustable through 90° from vertical to
horizontal, slip-out removal for handheld use, suitable for
mounting on stand with

5/a"-27 thread

Case

Dark gray with dark gray screen and grille

Net Weight

284 grams (10 oz)

IMPEDANCE SELECTION AND SWITCH LOCKING

The microphone is shipped with the switch locked in the low-

impedance (LO

2)

position.

A. To lock the switch "On" in low impedance,

1. Loosen the screw holding
the

2.

3 Sl~de the lockplate up unt~l

4 Tlghten the screw

lockolate.
Move thk switch button to
"On".

the notch butts agalnst
the button

,,a1

LO

Z

OFF

4'

I

LOCKPLATE

I

0

L;;:ol;,

@

B. To change the switch to the high-impedance (HI Z) posi-

tion,

1. Remove the screw holding
the lockplate.

2. Move the switch to the
"Off" (Center) position.

3. Remove the lockplate and
replace the screw.

.OFF

1

4. Remove the screw at the
top of the switch.

5.

Place the lockplate in
position* with the notch
toward the switchbutton.

6. Replace and tighten the
screw.

*The lockplate has two positions, just as in low-impedance
above: either locked in high impedance, or locked "On" in high
impedance.

/

Copyright

27A2256

1992,

(LH)

Shure

Brothers

Inc

222 HARTREY AVENUE, EVANSTON, ILL1 NOlS 60202-3696 U.S.A.

Prlnted In

U.S.A.

FURNISHED ACCESSORIES

Swivel Adapter
PaddedGigBag

.......................................

......................................

A25B

26A13

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

Windscreen

..................................

Floor Stand (Weighted base)
Floor Stand (Tripod base)
BabyBoom
Cable

........................................., BB-44

....................

................................

..........................

C15A, C20A, C20B (HI

A58WS Series

MS-1OC

S15

Z);

C25J

(LO

Z)

REPLACEMENT PARTS

Cartridge ~15
Screen and Grille
Switch

.............................................

...................................

...........................................

RK220G

55A171A

SHURE-QUALITY IS OUR FIRST CONSIDERATION

Congratulations on the purchase of your new Shure microphone. It
will serve you faithfully even in the most difficult circumstances.
Because more than 50 years of experience with microphones has
taught us one thing: they are not always used under ideal condi­tions. Far from it! So Shure develops, designs, builds, and tests them
for the worst conditions we can imagine.

We know they'll be flung into equipment boxes after performances.

We know they'll be called upon to function at humidity levels near

100%. We know they'll be left in the direct rays of the midday sun for
hours, waiting for outdoor concerts to begin. Professional vocalists
depend upon their microphones much as musicians depend upon their
instruments, but many don't hesitate to throw their Shure
microphones across the stage and down on the floor-violently-as
part of their performance. They never give it a second thought. They
know that Shure microphones shrug off abuse

th'at would make others

fail.

Shure reliability begins during the design stage. Shure has a staff of
specialists whose sole function is to uncover any weaknesses before
Shure microphones are put into quantity production. During the
testing process, microphones are:

Heated at temperatures up to 85OC (185OF) often for entire days
Frozen down to -46OC (-50°F) for half-hour periods

during

the

heat test
Shaken from side to side, back and forth, and up and down,

simultaneously and violently
Subjected to steamy humidities-up to 100% at room temperature

93% at 38OC (lOO°F)

and
Subjected to ultraviolet rays, salt sprays, alcohol, sand, and water
And for good measure, dropped repeatedly 2 meters (6 ft) onto hard-

wood floors.

That is our

standard

test procedure. All during production, units
chosen at random are put through these same tests. Failure of any
one microphone brings production to a halt until the original design re­quirements are again met.

That's why at Shure we say, quality is our first consideration. The

purchasers of the millions of microphones bearing the name Shure
during past years, and those now buying their first Shure microphone
can rely on us to continue to follow the philosophy and policies that
keep Shure microphones working dependably -year after year after
year.

Quality is our first consideration!

FEEDBACK AND UNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES

A performer's worst enemy in using a microphone is "feedback".

This is a harsh hum, howl, or squeal that occurs when the microphone

picks up sound from the loudspeakers, reamplifies and rebroadcasts it
over and over again. This vicious circle results in feedback.

A unidirectional microphone aids in preventing feedback because it
rejects sound that originates from the sides and rear. Sound pickup
from the sides is reduced by about one half, and pickup from the rear

IS

reduced by about nine tenths. You can demonstrate this reduction
in pickup by repeating "Test one, two" or some other convenient
phrase as you rotate the microphone from front to back.

Using unidirectional microphones close to the performer or instru­ment ensures that the direct sound will be much louder than the
feedback-producing amplified sound. Because the amplifier gain can
be turned up less to achieve the desired overall loudness, the
amplified sound will likely remain below the volume that triggers feed­back.

Other helps in preventing feedback are: keep the loudspeaker as
far to the sides as possible; be sure that the microphones point toward
the performers and away from the loudspeakers; and make certain
that any stage monitor speakers are positioned in front of the per­formers and face the insensitve rear of the microphone.

BASIC MICROPHONE TECHNIQUE

Good microphone technique will add to your effectiveness as a per­former. Keep the following points in mind when using your Shure Pro­fessional Entertainer Microphone.

1. Maintain the proper distance from the microphone. When you want

a warm, full sound, get close to the microphone and lower your

voice. For a wide open, driving sound, raise your voice and back

away from the microphone to avoid overdriving the amplifier into

distortion.

2. Don't change your distance from the microphone needlessly as this
will affect the level of sound coming from the loudspeakers.

3.

Your Shure PE Microphone is your link to the audience. Consider
the microphone an instrument and develop your technique through

practice.

UNIDIRECTIONAL MICROPHONES, OMNIDIRECTIONAL
MICROPHONES. AND PROXIMITY EFFECT

Because of their usefulness in reducing the likelihood of feedback,
unidirectional microphones are best in sound reinforcement and
public address; while omnidirectional microphones are best in recor­ding where feedback problems do not arise, or for close-miking in­struments and amplifiers.

When unidirectional microphones are used close to a vocalist or
musical instrument, there is an increase in bass (low-frequency) out-

(%

put called proximity effect. At a distance of about 6mm
typical increase

IS

shown on the curve below.

in.) a

Proximity effect can be used to improve your sound.

1.

With vocalists, it increases warmth, giving a fuller quality to the
voice.

2. With instruments, it provides a flat or boosted bass output without

tone controls, simply by changing the distance between source and
microphone; and close

miking provides natural isolation by

minimizing bass pickup of other instruments.

Most Shure unidirectional microphones are designed with a bass
response that provides control at low frequencies yet still allows prox­imity effect to be used advantageously when desired. To employ prox­imity effect, you need to hear the amplified result. Just as you practice
your instrument, you will want to practice your microphone technique
to get the precise sound you want. (A good way to hear the actual
result of proximity effect is to use monitor speakers or headphones if
they are available.)

Omnidirectional microphones do not exhibit proximity effect when

closeup. Because the response does not change with angle or

used
distance from the performer, an omnidirectional microphone is
valuable when the sound must stay the same for several performers
positioned around the microphone, or for a performer who moves from
place to place during a play or interview. But be aware of feedback pro­blems that may occur if omnidirectional microphones are used when
sound amplification is present.

CHOOSING A MICROPHONE EXTENSION CABLE

Low-impedance microphones can be used with practically unlimited
lengths of cable with no added noise or high-frequency loss. Any
Shure 2-conductor balanced cables

C25J, C50J, or C100J HI-FLEX) can be used as extension cables for

or

(e.g., C25E or C25F TRIPLE-FLEX",

Shure low-impedance microphones. These cables can also be used in
any required lengths or combinations between a low-impedance
microphone and an

High-impedance microphone cables are usually limited to

A95UF Low-to-High-Impedance Matching Transformer.

6.lm (20
ft) to avoid high-frequency loss or possible noise pickup. If longer
cables are needed
low-impedance cables as the
required distance. Then add the

with high-impedance microphones, use such Shure

C25B, C25E, C25F or C20H to reach the

C20B or C15A high-impedance cable
to plug into the equipment. Adjust the treble control on the equipment
to compensate for the high-frequency

rolloff caused by the extra

length of cable.