Microtech Gefell
Microtech Gefell M 221
Small-diaphragm omnidirectional pressure condenser: a ½" measurement capsule with nickel diaphragm on a P48 studio preamp, free-field equalised
Power P48 phantom (48 V ± 4 V, IEC 61938).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Omni
- Sensitivity
- −26 dBV/Pa computed
- Self-noise
- 15 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 53%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 54%
- Max SPL
- 136 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 45%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 42%
- Rated range
- 20 – 20k Hz
- Released
- 2011
vs 104 end-address condensers
Quieter than 62% of 104 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 110 end-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 46% of 110 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the spec sheet, p. 4.
Graph titled "Frequency responce M 221"; one line, relative dB (0 dB in the lows and mids). Distance, room and smoothing not stated. The y labels read +5, 0, -5, -15 on equal steps: the -15 is a misprint for -10. Drawn from 20 Hz to just below 20 kHz.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the spec sheet, p. 4.
Four polar plots, 0° up, one frequency on each half (arrows: 0.63 | 1 kHz, 2 | 4 kHz, 8 | 12.5 kHz, 16 | 20 kHz); rings 0, -10 and -20 dB labelled, 2.5 dB per ring. Measuring conditions not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the spec sheet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | 12.5 mm pressure capsule, thin metal diaphragm (certified measurement capsule)"a condenser capsule with a diameter of 12,5 mm and a very thin metal diaphragm"; "certificated measurement capsule" (p. 2). The product page calls it a "1/2" Nickelkapsel" with "Nickelmembran". | p. 2 |
| Sensitivity | −26 dBV/Pa (50 mV/Pa)1 kHz. Not stated by the manufacturer: From "50 mV/Pa": 20·log10(0.05). | p. 4 |
| Self-noise | 15 dB(A)DIN EN 60268-4 | |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 28 dBCCIR 468-4 | |
| Max SPL | 136 dB SPL0.5% THD. "Max. SPL for K < 0,5 %". | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 79 dBA-weighted | |
| Dynamic range | 121 dB | |
| Output impedance | 100 ohm | |
| Rated frequency range | 20 Hz to 20 kHz"20 ... 20000 Hz"; p. 2: "constant frequency response from 20 Hz up to 20 kHz (± 2 dB)". | |
| Powering | P48 phantom (48 V ± 4 V, IEC 61938)"power supply 48 V ± 4 V" (p. 4); "48 V phantom supply according to IEC 61938" (p. 3). | |
| Current draw | 5.5 mAalso 6 mA, text on p. 3. "5,5 mA" in the table; the text on p. 3 says "a current consumption of 6 mA". The product page gives 5,5 mA. | |
| Connector | XLR-3M, gold-plated pins"XLR3M" (p. 4); "standard 3-pin XLR-male plug with gold-plated pins" (p. 3). | |
| Weight | 123 g | |
| Dimensions | 170.4 × 21 mmLength × largest diameter. The text (p. 3): capsule and preamp are 12.7 mm across, widening "to 21 mm over the length of the microphone preamplifier to the connection side"; the table on p. 4 swaps the labels ("Diameter connection side 12,7 mm", "Diameter capsule side 21 mm"). | |
| Finish | dark bronze | p. 3 |
| Supplied accessories | MH 93.1 microphone holder; KA 3 and KA 4 spherical attachments; wooden caseDelivery: "with the microphone holder MH 93.1 and spherical corpuses KA 3 and KA 4 in a wooden case", order no. 211103. | |
| Max. output level | 18 dBu (1 kΩ); 19 dBu (10 kΩ) | p. 4 |
| Output | Transformerless, balanced | p. 3 |
| Equalisation | Free-field equalised; no proximity effect | p. 2 |
| Spherical attachments | KA 3: rise from about 1 kHz to a constant +3 dB from about 4 kHz to 12 kHz; KA 4: rise from about 1 kHz, +3 dB from 3 kHz to 12 kHz. For presence and to make up the high-frequency loss in the diffuse field | |
| Construction | Capsule and preamp are separate parts joined by a screw thread | p. 3 |
| Humidity | Capsule vented through the preamp; humidity adaptor TA 202 available for very humid conditions | p. 2 |
| Accessoriesoptional | W 2 windscreen; EH 93 elastic suspension; MH 93 turnable holder; C 70 cable | p. 3 |
| UsesGefell | Main microphone with room sound, AB and Decca tree arrays, close spot miking where low frequencies matter, instruments with strong transients | p. 2 |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 2011 | |
Documents
- M 221 studio condenser microphonebrochure, English
- Microtech Gefell M 221 | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Microtech Gefell, unchanged, with its original address.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.