Designed as a special effects microphone for professional use, the Bing Carbon Microphone adapts the technology of the telecommunications industry to provide a unique way of grabbing sounds. It can be used to achieve a desirable "lo-fi" aesthetic or blended with a high fidelity sound to impart an interesting texture. The sound of the mic can be described as a bandwidth limited, granulated distortion with rich harmonic overtones. It achieves saturated and compressed distortion while imparting way less noise than high gain clipping distortion, making it a viable alternative to stomp boxes or plugin processing.
To understand what makes the sound of a carbon microphone have interesting characteristics, it is important to consider how it converts the physical vibrations of the air that we perceive as sound into an electrical signal. Source sound waves cause sympathetic vibrations of a diaphragm which applies a varying pressure to a capsule containing carbon granules. The changing pressure causes the electrical resistance of the mass of granules to change. Since a DC voltage is applied to the granules, their changing resistance modulates the current thereby creating an AC waveform or audio signal that is a mechanically distorted representation of the sound source.
The Bing Carbon Microphone has been engineered for use with phantom powering, commonly used to power condenser microphones. It provides a 150Ω transformer balanced output which is capable of driving long cables. With it's durable powdercoated aluminum housing and adjustable mic stand mount, The Bing Carbon Microphone is designed for long life and functionality. Plus it's backed by a lifetime limited warranty!
NEW VERSION FEATURES
-Phantom powered
-High frequency tone control switch with three positions (high cut - normal - high cut 2x)
-Standard 5/8" mic stand mount with adjustable angle
-Durable aluminum housing
-High quality Switchcraft XLR connector
-Rugged carbon element is not damaged by high SPL or impact
-Hand crafted in Michigan
SPECIFICATIONS
OUTPUT: Transformer balanced, Impedance 150Ω, XLR pin 2 positive
GENERATING ELEMENT: Single button carbon
POLAR RESPONSE: semi-cardioid
REQUIRES PHANTOM POWER
LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
With normal use and care, the Bing Carbon Microphone should continue to operate for many years. However, if your microphone stops working or a part of it breaks, please contact us for information on how to arrange for a repair. If the problem is found to be caused by defects in materials or craftsmanship, the cost of parts and labor will be covered by Bing Carbon Microphones.
SOUND SAMPLES
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| A/B/COMBO comparison of three different drum beats by Colin Dupuis. First, the sm57, then the Bing Carbon, and then a combination of sm57 and bing carbon. Recorded as 24 bit 96khz wav files via Metric Halo 2882 interface using the solid state preamps in an ADM console set to the same gain. Normalized and converted to 320 Kbps mp3. | A/B/COMBO of clean reverb guitar, and distorted guitar. First, you hear the sm57, then the Bing Carbon, and then a combination of sm57 and bing carbon. Tracked directly into an M-Audio firewire interface as 24 bit 96k WAV files using the onboard mic preamps set to the same gain. Normalized and converted to 320 Kbps mp3. | A/B/COMBO of a cranked to slight distortion Rhodes and a normal rhodes. First, you hear the sm57, then the Bing Carbon, and then a combination of sm57 and bing carbon. Tracked into Metric Halo 2882 interface as 24 bit 96k WAV files using the solid state preamps in an ADM console set to the same gain. Normalized and converted to 320 Kbps mp3. |
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| Bing Carbon mic used on vocals in Paul Fleishman's cover of David Bowie's "Lady Grinning Soul" | Bing carbon mic used on vocals in a cover of Bowie's "Moonage Daydream" performed by Craig Brown. | A demonstration of the Bing Carbon Microphone being used as an effect's mic on vocals. The clip starts with a soloed carbon mic. The rest of the mix gradually then fades in to show it's placement in the mix. The singer and writer is Kelly Jean Caldwell and the song is "Hatchet Man". |
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| A composition with acoustic guitar, a tom, and a cymbal. The cleaner sounding tracks were recorded with an sm57 and the more distorted tracks recorded with the Bing Carbon Micropohone. |
Approximately 5 tracks of acoustic guitar recorded with the same Bing Carbon mic. |
A longer demonstration of the mic being used as an effects mic on a drum kit and vocals. The descriptive introduction vocal was recorded with the carbon mic as well. The clip ends with the full recording of Kelly Jean Caldwell's "I Wanna Go Outside." |
A video of live use. Craig Brown at Pj's Lager House performing "When the time is right..."