Cactus
Congratulations on your purchase of the Blue Cactus, a premium large-diaphragm, multi-pattern tube microphone made the old-fashioned way, without compromise. In the tradition of the world’s best (and most expensive) vintage vocal microphones, the Cactus has been designed to provide commanding, intimate presence and larger-than-life detail in a wide variety of professional recording applications.
The Cactus System and Electronics The basic Cactus microphone system includes the Blue S2 Shock, a Champagne tube microphone cable, and the model Power Stream power supply with adjustable pickup pattern control, shipped in a ATA flight case approved for the utmost protection. In order to familiarize yourself with the specialized and unique features of the Cactus microphone, please take the time to read this manual, and be sure to try the suggested recording tips.
Cactus | Omni Capsule and Pattern Characteristics At the heart of the Cactus is a multi-pattern variation of the B7 Bottle microphone capsule. This large diaphragm, single backplate capsule is our contemporary version of the unmistakably warm sound ascribed to the great 1950’s tube microphones. A boost in the upper midrange response brings out just the right amount of intimate detail for vocal tracks, without emphasizing sibilance.
Recording Applications Acoustic Guitar Vocals For a balanced sound with plenty of sparkling high end, position the Cactus facing the guitar neck, right where the neck joins the body (usually around the 12th-14th frets). For starters, use the cardioid pattern, keep the capsule as close as possible, and angle it toward the sound hole to capture a blend of low end and pick sound.
middle of the piano body to get a more resonant and blended tone. When using these methods, it is conventional to employ a coincident stereo pair, with one microphone capsule oriented to pick up the treble strings, and the other focused on the bass range of the instrument.
Percussion On tambourine, shaker, bells, clave, and orchestral percussion the Cactus offers astounding clarity and realism, and can be positioned quite close to a percussive source without distortion or undue proximity effect. Start by placing the Cactus about a foot from percussive instruments. Selecting a cardioid pickup pattern, or moving the mic closer to the source will emphasize detail and tone, as well as decreasing the proportion of ambient room sound on a track.
deteriorate the valuable microphone tube. After approximately 80 seconds-- when the cathode is fully heated-- the plate voltage is gradually applied starting from 10V to 120V (or other voltage depending on the microphone circuitry). During this time the output of the microphone is muted. After about three minutes the tube is settled in its correct operating mode, the muting is disabled, and audio is present.
Blue Microphones 5706 Corsa Avenue, Suite 102 Westlake Village, CA 91362 www.bluemic.com sharp Warranty This Microphone or related part is warranted under the conditions outlined below to its original, registered owner, provided the purchase was made from an authorized Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics (BLUE) dealer. This Microphone or related part is guaranteed to remain free from operating defects for three years from the date of purchase.
