Boutique microphone manufacturer Mojave Audio has announced the MA-D, the company’s first hand-held dynamic microphone. Designed by Technical Grammy Award Winner David Royer for an optimised full-frequency response and rich musicality the MA-D is the ideal hand-held microphone for vocalists, with a versatile sound profile equally useful for a variety of live and studio mic’ing situations. As with all Mojave Audio microphones, the MA-D is built with the highest-quality components and attention to detail, making it a valuable addition to any microphone cabinet.

The MA-D’s smooth frequency response makes it extremely versatile, able to do double duty on guitar and bass amps, drums, and brass, as well as a variety of vocal styles for live sound, recording, and broadcast applications. It has excellent off-axis rejection, an integrated pneumatic shock-mount, and a built-in internal windscreen which gives it a focused performance with reduced handling noise and the ability to easily eliminate plosives.

“When we set out to create our first dynamic microphone, we wanted to avoid the harsh ‘presence peak’ common in a lot of well-known mics on the market and deliver a smoother-sounding alternative,” said Mojave Audio President Dusty Wakeman. “The MA-D has a rich, musical response that will make any vocalist happy, while working just as well on many other instruments in live mic’ing situations. We’re proud to have a dynamic mic that we can put the Mojave name on.”

Specifications:

Type
Dynamic — Uniform Cardioid Pickup Pattern
Frequency Response
+/- 2.5dB 60-10,000 Hz
+ 2dB-6dB 30-15,000 Hz
Polar Pattern
Cardioid
Sensitivity
-53 dB.  Re 1V/pa
Max SPL
Greater than160dB @ 1 kiloHz
Impedance
600 Ohms @ 1 kiloHz
Connector
Three-pin XLR (Male)
Weight
0.5 lbs.
Dimensions
L 7.25” x W 2”

The MA-D includes a flexible mic clip, a zippered bag, and is available now for US$159.

Mojave Audio announces a partnership with Audio Test Kitchen [ATK] and the launch of a Mojave-specific ATK Player. The Player gives customers the ability to virtually test out each microphone in the Mojave line as well as compare them to each other on the same sound clips. The collaboration is the result of an ongoing relationship between the two brands that dates back to Audio Test Kitchen’s early R&D phases, and Mojave has been one of the first to integrate ATK’s Player into its website.

“ATK is designed to educate the listener getting them unbiased, standardised instrument and vocal recordings for them to compare on whatever microphones they’re curious about.” – Alex Oana, ATK Founder

The partnership grew out of Mojave’s participation with Audio Test Kitchen, a website loaded with a 13,000-audio-file database designed to be a ‘virtual showroom’ for microphones. ATK Founder Alex Oana started the project in 2018 as a way for audio professionals to more objectively compare the sound of microphones, with various sound tests designed to clearly illustrate the similarities and differences between them. ATK currently boasts more than 300 microphones from 54 manufacturers. Mojave Audio was one of the first brands ATK reached out to for input on how to best reveal the characteristics of LDC microphones in comparison recordings.“They were one of the first calls we made when we began testing the idea out-loud with manufacturers — as music and audio guys I knew they would understand what we were trying to accomplish,” said Oana. “They’ve always been fearless when it comes to entering their microphones in ‘shoot-outs’, and more importantly they were as interested as we were to see what could be learned.” 

Each microphone in the Mojave lineup is integrated into the player with access to specs, frequency comparison visuals, and a ‘Listening Guide’ designed to guide customers through their various strengths and recommended use cases. Customers also have the ability to load up three microphone profiles at once and compare them with the provided sound clips for the ultimate hearing ‘taste test’. ‘Blind Mode’ can also be engaged to randomise these choices, thus encouraging customers to choose what is best for their needs based on sound alone.

“At Mojave we’ve always been more moved by the sound than model numbers or ‘mojo’,” said Mojave Audio President Dusty Wakeman,” Using this player will allow our customers to trust their own ears and make the choice that is right for them.”

Boutique microphone manufacturer Mojave Audio have announced the latest addition to their family of best-in-class handmade microphones: the MA-37. A modern take on the classic Sony C-37a – a workhorse from the Golden Age of Hollywood recording favoured by The Wrecking Crew, Leonard Bernstein, and Mel Blanc — the MA-37 is a high headroom large-diaphragm tube condenser that updates the original design with modern components and workmanship for a rich, natural sound that imparts a smooth musicality on any instrument or voice. As with all Mojave Audio microphones, the MA-37 is hand-built and is available now for $3499 MAP.

“The MA-37 is an updated take on a classic sound that is the perfect addition to any recording studio,” said Mojave Audio President Dusty Wakeman. “It excels with loud sound sources and smoothing out brittle high-end frequencies, bringing the natural sound of any instrument or voice forward and minimising the need for excessive EQ-ing or post-processing.”

The heart of the MA-37 is based around a special capsule design that sets it apart from other vintage-inspired microphones. Like the original C-37a, the MA-37 takes a unique mechanical approach to the choice between cardioid and omnidirectional polar pattens with an adjustable tuned acoustic chamber. In keeping with Mojave Audio Founder David Royer’s approach to microphone design which emphasises simplicity, the circuit is based around a single-stage tube amplifier powered by an EF806 tube and utilising a Lundahl transformer. The MA-37 has hi-pass filter controls located on the power supply and offering three options: flat (M), 100Hz (V1) and 200Hz (V2) for complete control of its smooth, signature sound.

“I’ve admired the original for decades, it is incredibly unique and has been a ‘secret weapon’ for those in the know for a long time,” Royer said. “We’re thrilled to offer an updated take on a classic with the build quality and performance that we bring to all Mojave microphones.”

Specifications:

• Frequency response: 30 to 18,000 Hz. +- 3dB. (“M” setting)
• Bass cut: M flat
• V1 -3dB at 100 Hz.
• V2 -3dB at 200 Hz.
• Sensitivity: -46 dBv referred to 1 volt per pa.
• Distortion: Not to exceed .5 percent at 134 dB.
• Noise: Better than 18 dB.
• Polar pattern: Choice of cardioid or omni; via mechanical shutter.
• Impedance: 170 ohms, floating. Recommended load 1500 ohms or higher.
• Power required: 115 or 230 VAC, 50 or 60 hertz; 5 watts.
• 6 volts DC at 200 mA.
• 140 volts DC at 1.5 mA. from dedicated power supply.