I have always been a fan of Audix microphones when it comes to drum kits. I started years ago with the Fusion FP basic kit, and then moved on to first purchase a pair of i5s, perfect for snare drums and electric guitar amps to which the D6, which has now become a standard in bass drum microphones, was then added. or bass amplifier.
However, I had never had the opportunity to try an Audix microphone of a completely different breed ... and that's when the opportunity arose to receive theAudix SCX25A, a microphone that I have often heard well spoken about, but which I have never had the opportunity to try.
This is the updated version of the SCX25, a microphone released on the market in 2005 and which differs from its predecessor, keeping the vast majority of its characteristics, for a different construction that also makes repairs much easier to carry out and a better response on the low frequencies.
THE MICROPHONE
The microphone comes with a foam-lined wooden case and a plastic microphone clip, aesthetically it is quite particular, in fact it is equipped with a large diaphragm capsule of 25 mm, but on a surprisingly small body, which gives it the shape of a lollipop! The body is made of brass and is black anodized. The grids in front of the membrane are also black. The integrated pop filter can be safely removed to obtain an even more open shooting image. Despite its small size, the Audix SCX25A is a full-fledged large diaphragm microphone.
The single membrane has a size of 1", the frequency response is 20 Hz 20kHz, the noise floor a 14db (A) is very low, while the maximum bearable sound pressure is 135 dBwhich is quite normal for a microphone of this type. From the Audix website it turns out that there is also a version SCX25A \ LO, which goes up to 150db!!
For the rest it is a microphone without too many frills, it has a cardioid polar figure, no pad, no Low cut, obviously this is surprising up to a certain point, since with this type of body it would have been impossible to add more electronics. From the data sheet inside the package, it turns out that the SCX25A has a fairly linear frequency response, which increases slightly starting from 3kHz up Around the 10kHz where it returns linear. Since the capsule is already internally decoupled, the supplied micro-clamp is sufficient for instrumental use. For use as a vocal microphone, Audix also offers an additional support, called SMT-25.
Audix offers this microphone, as well as for vocal use, also for a variety of instruments, such as piano, strings, classical guitars ed acoustic, as well as how overhead for a battery.
TESTS puedo modificarlo
As a vocal microphone, the SCX25A was very linear, without any particular peculiarities. The proximity effect is very low. For use as a vocal microphone, thanks to its neutrality, it can be safely used with a wide range of preamps while working very cleanly. the sound is coherent and there are no disturbing frequencies. The response is very good, the sound is wonderfully open, the high range sensitive, without being too jarring. Below you will find a video made at the studios ofMusikactive Association from Salerno to whom we sent the microphone for further tests on classical guitar.
As per details received from the resident sound engineer, "the standard miking was carried out by positioning theSCX-25A on the hole of the sound box, at approx 25/30 cm away. The recording, passing through a Mic channel of the UAD Apollo 8, was acquired on Logic Pro X.51 a 24bit e 96KHz, allowing you to acquire a correct sound image. The "corrective" optimization interventions were carried out with a Channel EQ (Filter on 60hz approximately with slope a 48db/octave, and a Shelving of -3db at 115Hz) (Fig.1).
The setting given with a Ultra Reverb of Eventide, he then requested another small correction with the Linear Phase Eq of Logic before an essential Mastering action carried out with theOxford Inflator andiZotope Ozone 9. (Fig.2)"
CONCLUSION
With the SCX25A, Audix has created a studio microphone that can be used for a wide variety of applications. A balanced and neutral sound take is combined with a quick and direct response. The very low proximity effect is excellent, the slight increase in the treble supports the clarity of the signal and thanks to its compact size and low weight, it can be placed even in hard-to-reach places (e.g. in a grand piano).
Useful Information
Product: Audix SCX25A
Italian distributor: Adagio Italy
Price: around 825 Euros
Video Realization
Recording studio Musikactive Association
Musicista: Massimo Santoro
Music Partners: AgeOfAudio
Microphone provided by Cav. Music House Fifth Fabio
Video shoot: Frederick Fasulo
