Mojave Audio MA-301fet: Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone ...

Building upon the features of the MA-201fet microphone designed by David Royer, Mojave Audio introduced the MA-301fet, a new condenser microphone that adds a number of requested features, including a 3-position pickup pattern selector, a 15 dB pad, and a switchable bass roll-off.

You can use the MA-301fet on vocals, voice-over and broadcast, electric guitar, piano, acoustic instruments, both drum overheads and room mics (drum ambience), and high SPL sources such as kick drums and bass guitar amps.

Mojave Audio's MA-301fet is said to provide warm, full-bodied reproductions of vocals and instruments without the shrillness and high-frequency artifacts so often encountered with modern condenser microphones. The microphone's warm, military grade FET circuitry, superb Jensen transformer, and custom designed low-noise resistors combine to deliver an ultra-clean signal path with low noise and high-quality performance reminiscent of some of the best-loved classic condenser microphones, the manufacturer says. Overall, the MA-301fet is a versatile, multi-purpose solid-state, large-diaphragm condenser microphone with a hand selected, 3-micron thick, 1-inch (diameter) gold-sputtered capsule.

Thanks to its selectable polar patterns -- Cardioid, Omnidiectional, and Figure-8 (Bi-directional) -- the MA-301fet adds greater flexibility for recording a multitude of instruments, voices, and other sound sources.  With switchable 15 dB pad and switchable bass roll-off, you can attenuate loud sources for optimum pickup level and compensate for low frequency "boom" if necessary.

About the new mic, Dusty Wakeman, Mojave Audio's president, said, "The new MA-301fet draws upon the success of our MA-201fet and adds a number of features that many recording engineers have been asking for. With the addition of multi-pattern capability as well as the switchable 15 dB pad and switchable bass roll-off, this new microphone is an incredibly versatile recording tool that, I'm confident, will find a home in a wide range of environments."

Mojave Audio plans on shipping the MA-301fet in February, 2012 for $895 (MSRP). More information on the microphone is available at mojaveaudio.com.

For more information, visit the official Mojave Audio Web site.

Tracy Katz is freelance contributor for Gearwire.