Core Sound Stealthy Cardioid Microphone Set™
Core Sound is pleased to offer our new Stealthy Cardioid microphones. The Stealthy Cardioids are a pair of matched miniature condenser microphones especially suited for recording situations where you are distant from the sound source, recording in a venue with an inherent bass boom, and/or want to exclude crowd noise. They are specifically designed for recording very loud concerts from the audience.
Unlike our very popular Core Sound Binaural microphones, the Stealthy Cardioids are designed to *not* have a flat frequency response. Their slightly peaked high frequency response is ideal for recording from afar, and their gentle bass frequency roll-off is perfect for audience recordings from sound reinforcement systems in large halls. Their cardioid (heart-shaped) pickup pattern works wonders at eliminating much of the crowd noise that an omnidirectional microphone can't help but record. (These same features make the Stealthy Cardioids less suitable for binaural recording or for stereo recordings when a flat frequency response is necessary -- use our Binaurals in these situations.
The Stealthy Cardioids are provided as a matched pair and provide a level of sonic performance and stealthiness unmatched in their price range. Their transient response is clean and fast, typical of condenser microphones. They provide a very pleasing frequency balance and the ability to record tremendously loud sounds with very low levels of distortion. When combined with portable DAT and Mini-Disk recorders (e.g., Sony TCD-D8, PCM-M1 and MZ-R900) they make a very small, rugged, easy-to-use and good sounding recording setup.
Core Sound microphones are used by professional and for-pleasure tapers all over the world, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, China, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, England, Scotland, Italy, Norway, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Poland and others.
The Core Sound Stealthy Cardioids are engineered with the same extensive modifications that give the Core Sound Binaurals their ability to record extremely loud sounds without distorting
Stealthy Cardioid Microphone Description & Mounting Options
The two microphone cartridges are each mounted in their own satin-black metal shell. The shell is approximately the size of a jelly bean: roughly a quarter-inch (.6 cm) in diameter and a half-inch (1.2 cm) long. Being all metal, the microphone mounts are very durable. The black finish is heat-fused plastic and is much more durable than paint. Removable black foam, light duty windscreens and heavy duty windscreens are available.
The microphone cable enters the shell from the side. The shell can have either a fixed or a removable miniature alligator clip attached to its base. The clip can be used to attach the microphones to any convenient mounting surface, including your eyeglasses, lapels, collar, shoulder, hats, headband, lighting grids and many others. The alligator clips are finished in black and their handles are covered with a pliable black plastic. The fixed clip is permanently fastened to the microphone shell. The removable clip sits on a black nylon disk that snaps into and out of the microphone shell.
A very flexible shielded cable (designed expecially for us) exits the microphone. The cables from the two microphones join into a single cable roughly twelve inches from the microphones. The cable runs for six feet and terminates in a high reliability locking multi-pin connector; also connected to the multi-pin connector (in a "Y") is a two foot cable terminating in a gold-plated mini-stereo 1/8" (3.5mm) phone plug -- other connectors can be supplied on request. (October 4, 2002: A high quality right angle plug is now available as an option.)
If necessary, the cable can be easily split for its entire length, so that the microphones can be separated as much as 12-feet apart. This is especially useful if you use the microphones for interviews: one microphone can be mounted on the interviewer and the other on the interviewee.
The microphones are very small and unobtrusive. When the cable is routed down a shirt or sweater, there's little evidence that you are creating a very high fidelity recording of a sound event. (We strongly recommend that before you record, you obtain permission to do so.)
Stealthy Cardioid Microphone Specifications
The Core Sound Stealthy Cardioid microphones have a frequency response of from 40 Hz to 18 kiloHertz. They have a slightly rising frequency response over that range with the exception of a slight (2 dB) peak between 9 kHz and 12 kiloHertz and a bass response fall off of roughly 6 dB per octave starting at 100 Hertz. (The bass response is very similar to our Core Sound Binaural microphones' with the bass roll-off filter).
We match the microphone pair to within one dB of each other. One of our modifications alters the microphone's sensitivity to approximately -70 dB (0 dB = 1 Volt per microbar), making them ideally suited for recording extremely loud sound sources without danger of overloading your mic pre-amp. This very low sensitivity makes these mics less suitable for recording quiet sound sources. The microphones have a cardioid pickup pattern, rejecting sounds that are 90 degrees off-axis by at least 6 dB and at 180 degrees by at least 20 dB (measured at 1 kHz).
Thanks to our modifications, the microphones have an undistorted dynamic range of over 90 dB, compared to the unmodified capsules' approximately 60 dB dynamic range. They will handle sound pressure levels of more than 138 dB. They are designed to operate into a nominal impedance of between 4.7 and 10 KiloOhms. (If you need other impedances, please contact us.) Their self-noise level is approximately 35 dBA. This is far below the ambient noise level at concerts. (Note that the self-noise specification also makes these mics not especially suitable for recording very quiet sound sources.)
The Core Sound Stealthy Cardioid microphones require a bias voltage that is supplied by its accompanying battery box, the same that is supplied with Core Sound Binaural "battery box" microphones. Powered by a standard 9 Volt alkaline transistor radio battery, the box also contains associated electronics (top quality metallized polypropylene capacitors hand matched to 1%, and 1% metal film resistors) and a high reliability, US-made locking multi-pin connector. The battery box itself is roughly half the size of a cigarette pack, is made of sturdy die cast aluminum, and is finished in a durable black crinkle finish. The battery lasts approximately 500 hours and should be replaced at least once a year. The output to the recorder is a mini stereo phone plug; other connectors can be supplied upon request.
Stealthy Cardioid Microphone Recording & Care Tips
The microphones should be aimed toward the sound source.
When recording loud sound sources with your CSB microphones we recommend using your recorder's low sensitivity (-20 dB) setting. When recording very loud sound sources with the "battery box" set, use your recorder's line level inputs.
To prolong battery life, disconnect the battery box connector when not in use.
Avoid installations that would abrade or cut the cable. Do not clip the microphones to their cable and do not severely bend the cables at the points where they enter the microphone cartridge shells.
The cable can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
Stealthy Cardioid Microphone Usage Tips
The microphones should be aimed toward the sound source.
When recording loud sound sources with your CSB microphones we recommend using your recorder's low sensitivity (-20 dB) setting. When recording very loud sound sources with the "battery box" set, use your recorder's line level inputs.
To prolong battery life, disconnect the battery box connector when not in use.
Avoid installations that would abrade or cut the cable. Do not clip the microphones to their cable and do not severely bend the cables at the points where they enter the microphone cartridge shells.
The cable can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
Stealthy Cardioid Microphone Recordings
Here’s a link to a recording of Michael Rose made by James Simpson with the Stealthy Cardioid microphone set at a concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=kpW5Rsh5DkA
Stealthy Cardioid Microphone Ordering
We are happy to accept orders via phone, email and postal mail.
The Core Sound Stealthy Cardioid microphone set (two microphones, battery box and all cables with fixed clips) is priced at $250. Please add $15 for the removable clip mounting option.
A 15-foot extension cable is $28.
Payment
Payment is via any major credit card (Visa, Mastercard or American Express), a PayPal account, personal checks, money order (available from the Post Office or bank), traveler's checks, wired funds, cash or certified check, US funds only. Please allow some additional time for personal checks to clear the bank prior to shipment. COD shipments are available in some situations -- contact us for details. You may wire funds directly to our bank account -- please contact us for details.
PayPal handles our credit card processing. You need not have a PayPal account to pay with a credit card.
We also accept purchase orders from pre-qualified US universities, corporations, and state and federal governments.
Checks should be made out to "Core Sound LLC" and sent to:
Core Sound LLC
405 Cedar Lane, #1
Teaneck, NJ 07666
USA
Orders are typically shipped within two or three days but delivery times vary with our order load. We can usually accommodate "rush" orders, including same day shipments -- call and ask!
If you have questions, call and ask for Len Moskowitz. He can be reached at (201) 801-0812. His electronic mail address on the Internet is:
moskowit@core-sound.com
Customs Taxes
If you are ordering from outside the United States or Canada, your government may (or may not) charge you import taxes. Those taxes are your responsibility. If you are not certain, please ask your local Customs authority for more information.
VAT and Sales Taxes:
Core Sound LLC collects only State of New Jersey sales tax. We do not collect UK/Europe VAT taxes or any other taxes
Stealthy Cardioid Microphone Trial Offer
To give you a chance to try them out and decide if they're for you, Core Sound provides a 30 day trial period. All microphone sets returned within 30 days of shipment qualify for a full refund (minus shipping and handling charges) provided that they are returned in as-new condition.
Stealthy Cardioid Microphone Limited Warranty
The microphones are sold with a one year limited parts and labor warranty. If a Core Sound Stealthy Cardioid microphone set requires repair during that period, ship them back to Core Sound postage paid with a description of the problem, and then please call us once we have them to discuss the problem. We will repair or replace them and ship them back to you at no charge. No consequential damages are covered by this warranty.
Stealthy Cardioid Microphone User Comments
S.R. wrote:
“I just wanted to say I finally had the chance to use my new mics to their full potential and the results were truly stunning. The last concert I went to back in August, was the the DTE in Clarkston and I was unaware how difficult it was going to be to tape from the pit in front of the stage as you are between the stacks.B B Safe to say, due to my position, that tape didn't turn out.
Fast forward to last Thursday, and I was able to see the band Ghost at our local events center, I positioned myself FOB right in the middle, and ended up getting the best sounding tape I've ever made. Crystal clear sound during the highest of highs and even when I was worried about some of the super low bassy synths, my Stealthies performed flawlessly. Feel free to check it out, aside from toning down the pyro, I didnt make any changes to the recording. MEGA Thanks again for coming through with a great set of mics!”
C.F. wrote:
“I purchased my Core Sound Cardioids with the fixed battery box last May and have been delighted with the results. I have recorded between 50 and 60 shows, mostly rock bands, during that time frame and have found the recordings to be excellent, even in different acoustical settings.
...your product has been an exceptional performer for me and I appreciate your work!”
M.A. in Wisconsin wrote:
“Order Received!!! ...the stealthy cards arrived. I thought my previous mics were good but yours are GREAT! I love the quality and they really are nearly perfectly matched. My old mics (diff vendor) were WAY off with the left channel being extremely low. Nonetheless thanks for using top quality gear, even the cables are impressive. Thanks for excellent service.”
A. in France wrote:
“I've bought few years ago (in 2005) one stealthy cardiod mic and I have to say that this is one of my best bought I've done in my life. (really) These mics is real treasure and gave me lot of pleasure with personnal recordings.
(first, sorry for my english, I'm french but I try to write english)”
D.T. wrote:
“I bought these from you about a year ago , to say I am delighted is an understatement, great recordings.”
R.M. wrote:
“I debuted your cardioid mics this evening...
SUPERB PERFORMANCE !!!”
T.H. wrote: