Microphones from Nevaton
Alexander Baranov

Nevaton serially manufactures ten models of professional microphones for various applications. The MK51 as well as MK416 are classical studio models with different transducer diameters (24 mm for the MK51 and 33 mm – for the MK416). These models support switching onto various polar patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid, wide-cardioid and figure-8. They also incorporate -10 dB pre-attenuation switches, which apply audio-signal attenuation at very high sound pressure levels. The microphone's front is designated by a LED.

The transducers are two-diaphragm symmetric pressure gradient sensors. The transducer diaphragm is made from 3µm ultra-thin gold-sputtered polyethylenetereftalate film (in the western world better known as Mylar, Dacron, Terylene). All transducer parts are subjected to a special procedure of artificial aging that provides parameter stability in its lifetime. The transducer is mounted inside the microphone body on a damper (i. e. shock-mounted). The amplifiers are built under Class-A transformerless scheme. The input transistors pass special selection for minimal noise figure.

For connection a gold-plated XLR-type output connector is used. The bodies of the models are made of brass. The transducer head has a three-layer metallic grille that effectively protects the transducer from mechanical impacts and influence from dust and dirt. The microphone body parts are finished with dark-grey non-reflective paint on an epoxy base, which is inherently immune to mechanical and atmospheric influences. The aforementioned solutions ensure not only outstanding technical parameters (low self-noise level, dynamic range above 120 dB, linear sensitivity characteristic over the entire audio-frequency range, good transient responses) but also operational flexibility and durability.

The microphones may be fitted with an elastic shockmount essentially lowering vibrational noise level. Both microphone models can handle the vast majority of sound sources: vocal, acoustic instruments, drama artist's speech, wind instruments, etc.

MK 51 microphone	Nevaton microphone
MK47	MK404 stereo microphone	MK401

Subjectively, one may estimate the MK51 as an "absolutely fair" microphone adding no coloration to the sound and delivering transparent trebles, clear midrange and natural bass. The same is about the MK416 with its warm sounding, so characteristic of the Vintage family microphones.

The new model MK420 is the replica of the MK51, but it has no polar pattern selector (only cardioid) and ensures lower equivalent noise level (14 dBA), at the very same time being more compact and not that expensive.

The MK47, MK48 and MK404 are studio microphones intended for XY-setup recording. As for their major technical features, they are just the same as those of the MK51 and MK416. One peculiarity of the MK47 and MK48 is that, unlike known western models, these ones have a special swivel adaptor to rotate the transducers synchronously in the opposite directions at equal angles with respect to acoustical axis of the microphone (for the MK47 - ranging from 0 to 90°, for the MK48 - from 50 to 140°). The specific design allows switching the microphones to monaural mode. Consequently, signals, caused by the transducers, sum up, and sensitivity doubles. In this mode, by rotating the transducers, it is possible to gradually change the polar pattern from cardioid to wide-cardioid. The MK48 pre-amplifier cuts ultra-low range off and has a switchable low-cut filter.

Granted, the MK404 stereo microphone is unique in its design. It has one dual-diaphragm transducer, where every diaphragm operates for its respective amplifier channel. The pick-up setup is XY at 180° . The MK404 may just as well be used as a monaural microphone. When using a single channel strip of an audio-mixer, only cardioid polar diagram is available. Using two channel strips makes it possible to gain omnidirectional or figure-8 patterns, but either in the left or right channel alone. Besides, by using two channel strips and applying PAN and EQ, it is possible to gain different polar patterns at different frequencies.

The variety of models offered allows choosing the right one for practically any application: be it studio or theater performance, concert stage or sometimes even live recording in the field.

Subjectively, the microphones feature sounding with no coloration, but the MK 404 with its transducer of 28 mm in diameter is characterized by a little bit softer sounding. By choosing the right microphone and setup, it is possible to achieve faithful localization of sound sources and create ambient image specificity. When using such microphones in a room with good acoustic properties one may make high quality stereo-recordings even of a big musical ensemble.

MK403

The MK 403 is a professional condenser microphone, disk-shaped, 80 mm in diameter and 10 mm in height. The microphone is intended for installation on flat surfaces (floor, wall, desk, scenery, etc.). In this case a number of advantages is gained: microphone sensitivity doubles, S/N ratio raises, polar pattern becomes hemispherical. Classical application of the microphone is "discussion-table" recording. You may just as well use it to record vocalists, small ensembles, drama performances, etc. It is also known to be successfully applied in stereo-recording sessions. The microphone transducer is a pressure sensor with a gold-plated diaphragm, 12 mm in diameter.

The MK 49 is intended for studio and off-studio recording. Its polar pattern is cardioid. The microphone transducer is a dual-diaphragm symmetrical pressure gradient sensor. The microphone has a design peculiarity: its electrode is divided into two electrically isolated parts. Each part of the transducer operates for its respective amplifier. Summing up of these amp responses doubles the microphone sensitivity, noise figure multiplying totally by a factor of 1.4. Headroom does not depend upon sensitivity and equals 140 dB. The transducer's head is parted from the body by a shock mount cutting vibrational and handling noise off. The microphone is used for installation on separate musical instruments, for speech, vocal and live ambient noise recording.

In the western world, the MK 401 is called a shotgun microphone.

Polar pattern – hyper-cardioid at bass/midrange and petal at trebles. An interference element, transducer and transformerless amplifier are all incorporated into the cylinder-shaped 250 mm long body, 20 mm in diameter. The transducer with a gold-plated polyethylenetereftalate diaphragm is connected and precisely calibrated with the interference element. Frequency response has smooth slopes at extensions.

MKA 400

The MKA 400 is a miniature lavaliere microphone. Its transducer is a pressure sensor produced according to the so-called "back electret" technology. The diaphragm is made from 3µm thick metallic foil. The transformerless microphone amplifier is divided into two parts (or stages, to be more exact). The input stage, which represents an electronic micro-assembly, is located inside the body (8 mm in diameter and 15 mm long) immediately beside the transducer. The output stage is placed inside the XLR connector housing. The microphone set is furnished with three foam windscreens of different colors, a rigid protective case, clamps for single or double miking as well as fasteners for mounting the microphone on musical instruments. All the microphone models are protected by patents of the Russian Federation.

Nevaton Open-Joint-Stock Company.

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