sE4400a Large Diaphragm Multi Pattern Condenser Microphone

Product Information

As such, I guess it might be also recommended to first time home studio owners or small production room rookies as the “do-it-all” mic, a safe, clean and sonically healthy step before entering the hazy world of multiple mic choices and shootouts, colour mics and vintage vibe, mics as enhancers of this or that vibe, feel, sound, voice, instrument. It has a strong character and a very warm sound ... I like this color! (Especially when it comes to him a little -20 in with a TBP binding in this case, it offers a beautiful clarity that comes out very well the harmonics of an acoustic instrument or the sound of a voice ... T]he frequency plot is somewhat more revealing and shows a nominally flat response, but with a gentle presence peak at around 10kHz. This type of response tends to produce a largely natural sound, but with an extra sense of clarity at the high end… Its presence peak gives it a slightly flattering, larger-than-life vibe, but in a pretty subtle way that doesn’t make things sound too harsh, and the low end gains useful support from a little added warmth… In addition to the proximity effect, the general tone of every pattern is properly thought out and will deliver the sound appropriate to the direction of it. I really dig the Figure 8 pattern for some M/S recording techniques on this mic.

In fact, it has been suggested that this mic is named as it is because uses a twin pair of the capsules used in the older (and much loved for its' versatility) single pattern sE 2200a, an entirely differently and more conventionally shaped model. I would personally add that if sE thought of “cloning” something of the venerable AKG 414 in its' various versions (EB, ULS, B-TLII, XLS, etc), then it must have been cloning its' universality and ubiquity in studios around the world. Actually, the word would not be “cloning”, but rather... earning.We tested the mic on spoken and sung vocals, getting excellent results on the spoken voice recordings, as well as on acoustic guitar and violin. Across the board we were impressed, with a very good performance and full-bodied sound emanating from the guitar in particular. Whether you're searching for a single microphone to carry out all of your recording tasks, or looking to add to an existing library of models with a microphone you can throw into a bag for a session and pull out for almost any application, the 4400a is definitely more than up to the job. Another day – another review. Now we have the sE4400a from sE Electronics– a brand that we all know to be good and are on the market for a long time. The basic input for this mic before we even start is that it has 4 polar patterns, an upgraded metal grille that protects the membrane, bass cuts, and a vintage appearance with a modern touch – something that we really like! Given the generous polar pattern choices on offer and the tightness of cardioid and hypercardioid, I for one would have appreciated a wide cardioid pattern, as well. Matched pairs are available as an option for a slightly increased cost, but these come in a camera‑style case, with a sturdy metal mounting-bar so that you can use the mics as a spaced stereo pair. Performance

If you're looking for a C414 clone....these aren't necessarily them. Yes, the physical design and feature set reminds you of that AKG. Recently, 414's have come across as a bit nasal and shrill in the high frequencies. I find when talking to other engineers, when the 414 is spoken of favorably it tends to be the older models, the famed version with brass in the capsule. The 4400's are DARK sounding, warm...not sharp at all, more like those earlier 414's. So i would say they actually out 414 the current 414's. I appreciate his multi-directional microphone that actually suited to any situation in the studio or on stage ... The mic is built to last. With all the controls on the microphone made from metal, you are sorted out in terms of longevity. Firstly there are the polar pattern switches that will shift you between these settings – something pretty standard. On vocals, both male and female, this is a mic that will make you think less of you mic choice, and perhaps more of otherwise induced “colour” (the eq? The compressor? The preamp? Some tubes somewhere down the line?), or more importantly about the vocal and the singing itself. We have four different patterns consisting of cardioid or hyper cardiod, which are selected by choosing cardioid patter and, via another switch, you choose your needed cardioid pattern. There is also the ever useful omni which, in my experience, gives you a great room sound that can be used in surround sound applications. Finally you have figure of 8 which is most usefull when you have 2 singers to record simultaneously or as part of a wider setup e.g. mid-side.Being truly versatile is 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 important for the budget conscious home studio user who needs one mic to suit every occasion. Pattern selectivity...kudos to SE for going with actual toggle switches instead of the electronic gismos that the rival 414's now use...those always seem to add noise in my opinion, just take a listen the next time you switch the pattern on a new 414...pop hiss.... I found that acoustic guitar was handled without problems by the mic, which delivered both the depth and woodiness of the body sound, and the transient detail of the strings. I also managed to coax a very sweet, woody sound out of a mandolin when the mic was positioned about 12 inches from the sound hole. The SE4400a sounds good on hand percussion too, including bodhran, so it should work as a drum overhead or general percussion mic too. Because the response is pretty flat, with plenty of low‑end extension, there's no reason not to expect a stereo pair to turn in good results on piano, although I didn't have the chance to try this during the review. Full range of frequencies that it captures, pads and low cut filter, 4 polar patterns– practically the microphone is made to offer you versatility when it comes to studio recording. But aside from studio usage, will give you great results on live acts as well if you use them on an acoustic guitar, or violin, or in a pair as overhead microphones. The sE4400a is a multipattern FET condenser in a compact, familiar form factor — it looks a lot like AKG’s C414.

The sE4400a performs superbly on my vocal and acoustic guitar recordings. In the past I've generally used for these purposes my AT4047. I think the sE4400a sounds very similar on my vocals and acoustic guitar as the AT4047. Maybe even a little superior to the AT4047 in that the sE4400a to my hearing has a little more presence and air. I really like the sound of the sE4400a and I'm hesitant to say this, but I will... I think that I might like the sE4400a better than my AT4047, which I think is saying a lot, since the AT4047 is generally regarded as being a fairly good large diameter condenser microphone. The sE4400a does not seem to be prone to sibilance, at least no more than the AT4047. I also always use a Shure Popper Stopper plosive filter, which I find indispensible for any vocal recording. I've been recording my vocals for nearly 30 years and I find that effectively controlling plosives and sibilance has much to do with using good microphone vocal recording technique. You can find any number of Chinese‑built microphones at the budget end of the market, but SE are one of the very few companies to own a microphone factory in China — rather than having their mics made for them in one of the huge factories in Shanghai or Bejing that specialise in building mics or capsules for third‑parties. Certainly, this has helped SE to build a strong reputation for value at the affordable end of the market, but they also make more up‑market microphones, many with innovative design features, such as the Titan's titanium diaphragm or the Gemini's dual-tube, transformerless circuitry. OverviewThe mic also sounds great on piano, violin, clarinet, toms, and even handclaps. And with its integrated pad switch, I have yet to overload its all-discrete Class A FET electronics. It's not always the most flattering mic, but it's never a bad choice. The SE4400a is clearly designed as a general‑purpose mic, so I wasn't surprised to find that it had no overbearing tonal characteristics. Its presence peak gives it a slightly flattering, larger‑than‑life vibe, but in a pretty subtle way that doesn't make things sound too harsh, and the low end gains useful support from a little added warmth. The general tonality also remained reasonably consistent between patterns — taking the proximity effect out of the equation, of course. The sE4400a is a large diaphragm microphone as expected and this is one thing that makes this mic a good choice for a vocal recording. We tested it for vocals and got really nice results, so based on that we give you these details.