Earthworks SR314 Handheld Vocal Condenser Microphone - Stainless Steel

Product Information

There is literally no reason not to use the 2028 live once you have it unless you can't use a phantom-power supply. The stage was a Stageline SL100 with windowalls on three sides, which made for a very reflective environment. I don't have a "GREAT" ear to hear all the differences and the knowledge to know which of them would be "the one" for my vocals. I've yet to put it through its paces on recording other than voice, but I can imagine it doing very well on cello, flutes and other melody instruments. I tested it both live and in the studio, on male and female voices and on instruments such as acoustic guitar.

If I was in a band, I would probably go with the 441, but since I'm mostly doing wedding cerimonies and private events, I think that maybe a condenser would be nicer to bring more detail in the vocals. The quick responsiveness provides punch, and the top end offers a smooth and detailed sound that pushes vocals to sit comfortably on top of the mix. A highpass filter on the SR314 set to a frequency of 160 Hz helped but did not cure the problem, and we had to swap it out for a different microphone. The sonic character embodies the amazing speed, clarity and definition that EW is so famous for; but there is something very special about this mic.Off-axis rejection is good throughout the frequency range, and any spill that is captured sounds natural. The contents of this article are subject to worldwide copyright protection and reproduction in whole or part, whether mechanical or electronic, is expressly forbidden without the prior written consent of the Publishers.

The SR314 has perfect clarity and smoothness making it easy for it to cut in a mix and sit on top without overpowering any other elements in the mix. I was a bit worried about running into bleed issues with cymbals on stage, but it never created any issues for me.

You should note that the pickup pattern of this mic is very tight which will require the singer to stay on axis for consistent performance and as such it is not the best microphone for ambient duty in my opinion. As a result, the SR314 picked up quite a bit of spill from the instruments on stage, as well as from the rear wall and ceiling.