User Guide
Table of Contents English . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What’s in the box? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Sputnik Microphone . . . . . . . . . . . . . Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sputnik Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Philosophy Behind a World-Class Tube Microphone What’s in a Name? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of M-Audio’s Sputnik multi-pattern vacuum tube large-diaphragm condenser microphone. Studio artists around the world rely on M-Audio microphones to capture acoustic performances with clarity and accurate tonal balance. The Sputnik tube microphone from M-Audio improves upon that reputation as a topof-the-line solution for applications requiring the smoothest, world-class sound.
9) Select the polar pattern and attenuation level appropriate to your recording setup by using the switches on the body of the Sputnik mic. 10) Now you can adjust your mic preamp gain level, phase, etc. as appropriate. English 3) Screw the M-Audio shock mount onto a sturdy Recommendations mic stand and then place the Sputnik mic into the shock mount. The threaded mounting ring at 1) Preamplifiers: the bottom of the shock mount screws into the for best results, use the best mic preamp you can.
Sputnik Features Multiple Polar Pattern Selection For maximum versatility, we designed the Sputnik capsule to be double-sided (dual diaphragms with The Sputnik’s custom double-sided capsule is the back-to-back dual backplates), so you can use cardioid, heart of the Sputnik mic and it’s the element primarily omnidirectional, and figure-8 pickup patterns at will. responsible for the mic’s sensitivity and transparent sound characteristics.
User Guide - English Also noteworthy about the Sputnik’s head amp is that the cascode topology uses both the aforementioned vacuum tube and an n-channel depletion-mode JFET. The 6205M tube is on the top (with the JFET at the cathode) so the amp exploits the best properties of each device. In terms of voltage, the tube is actually doing all of the heavy lifting and it allows the overall circuit to maximize headroom and give the widest possible bandwidth.
M-Audio Shock Mount The Sputnik’s capsule is rubber-mounted internally, but you should still be careful to protect it from physical shocks and abuse. Always use the Sputnik with the included M-Audio shock mount on a sturdy mic stand. It’s a comfortable, stable structure in which to seat the mic and it aids considerably in reducing unwanted low-frequency vibrations from your recording setup that can transduce into the audio path.
Coming back to the issue of microphone accuracy: our cascode tube circuit (described in the Features section) utilizes all of these desirable tube properties in order to allow you to record sounds more faithfully and realistically than with an “equivalent” transistor design.
Concluding Remarks M-Audio is committed to developing studio microphones for those who demand the most accurate and true sound. We believe a well-designed mic should be clear and detailed, and should yield recordings that require little or no post processing in order to sound “correct”—which makes your job easier and more enjoyable. We encourage you to compare the Sputnik with any other mics on the market, and we trust you’ll agree it’s a microphone par excellence.
English Instructions for Use The instructions contain the following: • Protection against splashing of water / do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture • Minimum distances to other objects (6”) • Cleaning instructions (wipe with damp cloth) • Do not install near heat sources • Do not defeat the safety purpose of the ground plug / proper grounding according to Article 820-22 of NEC • Protection of the power cord / do not use polarized plug with extension cord, receptacle or other outlet u
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