sE Electronics SE4400a Multi-Pattern Studio Condenser Microphone

The SE Electronics 4400a is the latest in a lineage of mics started 6 years ago with the sE2200a. Based on the same capsule tuning, but with a dual capsule to give multi polar pattern function, this mic is a rarity… a true all-rounder.

It has 4 polar patterns, Cardioid, Hypercardioid, Figure of 8 and Omni. 2 bass cuts at 60Hz and 120Hz; 2 pads at 10 and 20dB. The chassis is small… very small, but still manages to house a twin diaphragm 1” capsule and all the top grade electronics and switches. This flat, round edged chassis design allow the mic to be used flat onto a drumhead or guitar cab, or pushed through into the skin of a kick drum. It is also perfect for sung vocals and voice over work.

It has 4 polar patterns, Cardioid, Hypercardioid, Figure of 8 and Omni. 2 bass cuts at 60Hz and 120Hz; 2 pads at 10 and 20dB. The chassis is small… very small, but still manages to house a twin diaphragm 1” capsule and all the top grade electronics and switches. This flat, round edged chassis design allow the mic to be used flat onto a drumhead or guitar cab, or pushed through into the skin of a kick drum. It is also perfect for sung vocals and voice over work.

Finally, the capsule has been specially tuned after almost 2 years of pre-market tests with professional studios and broadcasters to really be something that very few mics can; the true all-rounder. Vital in professional studio or broadcast applications where an engineer needs to know he can reach for a mic that will handle any job, and equally for the home studio user who is on a budget and needs one mic to suit every occasion. The mic is multi-functional yet uncluttered, the sound is smooth and flattering and yet, because the capsules are hand made (like all sE mics) and then individually tuned, it benefits from lacking the usual hyped top end of most modern mass produced mics from automated machines.

PAD SWITCH

• Where a pad switch is fitted, this should only be used when the microphone is being used to record
• exceptionally loud sound sources that risk overloading the microphone preamplifier to which the
• microphone is connected, even when set to its minimum gain setting.

LOW CUT

• Where fitted, the Low Cut switch activates a high-pass filter that reduces the amount of low
• frequencies in the output signal from the microphone. Low Cut may be used to reduce the amount of
• bass boost caused by the proximity effect when working very close to the microphone or to to exclude
• low frequency signals, such as traffic and floor vibrations where the signal being recorded has little or
• no deep bass content.

OPERATING YOUR MICROPHONE

• All capacitor microphones, other than tube models, require a phantom power supply (48V nominal),
• normally provided by the mixing console or mic preamp to which the microphone is connected.
• Phantom power can only be used with balanced microphones and balanced cables and will not cause
• damage to dynamic microphones plugged into the same mixing console providing they are balanced
• and connected using balanced cables.
• Switch on the phantom power supply after connecting the microphone as repeated plugging and
• unplugging of a microphone with the phantom power switched on may eventually degrade the
• components in your microphone preamplifier or mixing console.
• Before switching on any tube microphone for the first time, ensure that the mains voltage selector is
• set correctly for the local mains supply. Tube microphones should also be switched on 30 minutes
• prior to use to achieve optimum performance.

• Capsule Type: Hand-Crafted True Condenser
• Diaphragm: 32mm Twin Gold/Mylar
• Directional Pattern: Cardioid, Hyper Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8
• Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Impedance: 50 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 25.12 mV/Pa (-32 dB)
• Max SPL: 122/132/142 dB (0/-10/-20 dB pad) (0.5% THD @ 1kHz)
• Signal to Noise Ratio: 78 dB
• Self Noise: 16 dB(A)
• Pass Filter Switch: 60/120 Hz
• Preattenuation Pad: -10/-20 dB
• Matching Connectors: XLR3F
• Power requirement: 48V phantom
• Weight: 280g / 9.88oz

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