The Lampifier Model 711 Professional Microphone is a high performance, phantom powered, large diaphram supercardioid mic paired together with the built-in, patented, fully analog, dynamic reduction circuit. The 711 also features an on-handle switch for easy and quick muting functionality.
Why do we need dynamic reduction? Live sound reinforcement always requires dynamic reduction, since the voice naturally has too much dynamic range for sound reinforcement needs. Whether in music or speaking applications, the lower volume moments will tend to drop out and become at times inaudible, even as strong moments become brash and overly emphasized. Also, the plosives "b" and "p" tend to pop, and sibilents "s" and "sh" can sound harsh. To tame such audio irregularities, we present the on-board, fully analog circuitry inside every Lampifier microphone, which reduces the dynamic range naturally, transparently, and best of all, automatically!
Okay, so we need compression. But what's so special about the Lampifier compression? Well, it's a different animal altogether. Although compression is essential in sound reinforcement, as a rule singers hate it for stage monitoring because the top-down compression on mixing boards reduces dynamics above a set threshold level. Singing into this type of compression tends to cause singers to push even harder to achieve desired (real) dynamics and thus blow out their voice early in the set. The Lampifier circuit, however, operates differently: Harsh plosives and sibilants and strong passages are controlled as light, breathy nuance and subtle detail is increased, yet dynamics are maintained... in the ideal range. So singers can still feel and work with their normal dynamic range, the mic remains dynamically responsive, yet at the same time it delivers to the sound engineer within a controlled range. So it's the best of both worlds. The singer feels their own natural dynamics, but without the harshness or getting buried in the stage mix, and it makes the sound engineers job easier because the levels delivered to the board are already in the ideal range.
Can you get the same thing out of other mics? Sure, with a good soundman and a rack of expensive processing. But for this you must rely on the soundman to get it right. (And let's face it... how often does that really happen?) With the Lampifier mic, it's "set it and forget it." Just plug it in and go! Comparing a Lampifier's self adjusting dynamic tones to a standard dynamic vocal mic is simply an unfair comparison. It's comparing a polished pro sound to a harsh, untamed amateur sound. There is a difference! And it's huge.
Furthermore, the fully analog Lampifier circuitry adds no digital conversion, because it's not a digital circuit. That means we have zero added digital noise or coloration. The sound is warm and real. It's a game changer! Note: Although the dynamic reduction is significant, it's designed to be transparent, without the common artifacts of standard compression technology. So you may not even notice it... it just "sounds better" when you A/B between a Lampifier and another mic. And that's exactly what it's supposed to do!
Built in noise gating, combined with a supercardioid pickup pattern, offers added feedback rejection. Also, both the noise gate and the dynamic compression levels are user adjustable (by altering jumpers inside the mic handle) but this is generally unnecessary as the circuit is to a degree, self adjusting--the result of the compression ratio changing automatically based on input signal level. That's largely the magic of the Lampifier technology.
What's the difference between the 711 and the 111(b)? Besides the capsule design and switch, the EQ of the mics are notably different. Where the 111 features an upper midrange boost to help cut through a dense mix (a la the Shure SM58 or Beta58), the Model 711 offers a wider frequency response. The lows are a bit stronger as are the high highs. So the 711 excels on vocals in a less dense mix environment... singer/songwriter or other less competitive sonic environment... where the voice stands apart easily in the mix. In other words, the 711 delivers a "bigger" sound that allows the voice to stand alone in a wide range of frequencies, while the 111 cuts through a dense mix more easily. It's not a matter of better or worse, it's a matter of what EQ is best suited to your voice and your application. Both mics are equally smooth, forgiving, and transparent.
Resouces:
Read the Promo Sheet Overview.
Read the 711 data sheet.
Read the 711 user guide.
Read the 711 programming guide.
