DPA 4011A Cardioid Mic

Make it sound like the original

• Ultra-compact spot or hanging mic
• Close-miking
• Great for high sound pressure levels
• Accurate sound
• Colorless sound
• Modular flexibility

This condenser microphone is renowned in recording studios and live applications around the world as an exceptional mic. State-of-the-art components have been carefully selected to provide optimal neutrality, accuracy and extremely low distortion.

The principal appeal of the 4011 Cardioid Mic is its directional quality and attention to detail. This mic makes everything sound like the original. The first-order cardioid pickup pattern provides superb separation between sound sources. It is equally suitable for close-up work on acoustic guitar, grand piano, overheads, percussion, wind instruments and vocals as it is for spot-miking symphonies. It can handle incredibly high sound pressure levels (SPLs).

A flat on-axis frequency response and excellent phase response deliver a faithful reproduction of the original sound. The off-axis response is similarly smooth so that any leakage is an accurate reflection of the original, though attenuated according to the true first-order cardioid pickup pattern.
 

Combine it with the preamp of your choice

As with all of our modular pencil microphones, you can combine the Cardioid Mic Capsule with any of our preamps.

The MMP-A Microphone Preamp is an ultra-transparent, transformerless preamp with active drive for impedance balancing. The MMP-C Compact Microphone Preamp is an ultra-compact preamp with active drive for impedance balancing. It has a slightly softer character than the other preamps for our pencil microphones.

Other preamps include the very small form factor types MMP-E Modular Active Cable (XLR output) and MMP-G Modular Active Cable (MicroDot output), allowing for very slim set-ups. The MMP-G even allows you to match a larger microphone directly to a wireless transmitter.

 

4011A Cardioid Mic

This condenser microphone is renowned in recording studios and live applications around the world as an exceptional mic. State-of-the-art components have been carefully selected to provide optimal neutrality, accuracy and extremely low distortion. It is equally suitable for close-up work on acoustic guitar, grand piano, overheads, percussion, wind instruments and vocals as it is for spot-miking symphonies. It can handle incredibly high sound levels and even includes a 20 dB pad switch in the center of the XLR connector to attenuate the output of the microphone.

The 4011A Cardioid Mic is also available as a matched stereo pair.

A bit about cardioids

Named for its “heart shaped” polar pattern, a cardioid (or directional) microphone has the most sensitivity at the front and is least sensitive from the sides and at the back. They come in many variations – with wider or narrower angles of sensitivity (supercardioid, hypercardioid, wide cardioid etc.). Although cardioids also pick up sound coming in from the sides, this off-axis sound will normally be more or less colored and damped. The unique DPA capsule technique however skips the colorization of the sound coming from the sides or the rear of the mic and just reduces the sensitivity to these angles and thereby offers perfect sound stages. The amount of damping depends on the exact specifications of the mic.

A cardioid microphone is, by definition, damped -6 dB at the 90°side entry of the microphone but for many, the word cardioid generally covers mics with a directional pattern versus omnis, which pick up sound from all directions.

Due to their nature, directional mics are often used on the live stage – both during concerts as well as spoken-word events, to capture the focused sound of an instrument or voice. The narrow angle of sensitivity helps to minimize the bleed from other sounds on a busy stage. One thing to note with cardioid mics is the proximity effect, which causes an increase in bass response the closer the microphone is moved to the sound source. Therefore, when judging mic specs you should always look for a statement stating the distance at which the flat frequency response has been measured. In addition, cardioid mics are far more sensitive to wind, pop and handling noises than omni mics, so be sure to take precautions to guard against this.

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Specifications

Directional pattern

Cardioid

Principle of operation

Pressure gradient

Cartridge type

Pre-polarized condenser

Frequency response

20 Hz - 20 kHz

Effective frequency range, ±2 dB, at 30 cm (11.8 in)

40 Hz - 20 kHz

Sensitivity, nominal, ±2 dB at 1 kHz

10 mV/Pa; -40 dB re. 1 V/Pa

Equivalent noise level, A-weighted

Typ. 18 dB(A) re. 20 µPa (max. 20 dB(A))

Equivalent noise level, ITU-R BS.468-4

Typ. 25 dB (max. 27 dB)

Distortion, THD < 1%

136 dB SPL RMS, 139 dB SPL peak

Dynamic range

Typ. 121 dB

Max. SPL, THD 10%

159 dB SPL peak

Switchable attenuator, filters etc.

0 dB / -20 dB

Rated output impedance

200 Ω

Minimum load impedance

2 kΩ

Cable drive capability

100 m (328 ft)

Output balance principle

Impedance balancing with Active Drive

Common mode rejection ratio (CMRR)

> 60 dB

Power supply (for full performance)

P48 (Phantom Power)

Current consumption

2.8 mA

Connector

XLR-3M. Pin 1: shield, Pin 2: signal + phase, Pin 3: - phase

Color

Matte black

Weight

158 g (5.6 oz)

Microphone diameter

19 mm (0.75 in)

Capsule diameter

19 mm (0.75 in)

Microphone length

170 mm (6.7 in)

Maximum output voltage, RMS

8 V

Polarity

+V at pin 2 for positive sound pressure

Temperature range

-40°C to 45°C (-40°F to 113°F)

Relative humidity (RH)

Up to 90%

Matching tolerance (frequency response and sensitivity)

±1 dB

Phase deviation for kit

< 10°

 

 

4011A Frequency response

Typical on and off-axis response of a 4011A Cardioid Microphone measured at 30 cm (11.8 in).
 

 

4011A Polar pattern

Typical directional characteristics of a 4011A Cardioid Microphone