Our compact body (85mm) true condenser type with integrated capsule and amplifier is available in two models the MBNM 440 cardioid and the MBNM 410 omni. Using advanced SMD technology with an extremely short signal path and low phantom power consumption plus the ability to accept voltages from 22 to 48 V, these microphones are well suited for battery operation. With a non-reflective lacquered mat black housing, precise and stunning sound reproduction is available at an entry-level price.

What you are looking at is not an extraterrestrial spa-cecraft but a "Schneider disc". The Schneider disc is a variation of the Jecklin disc developed by Jürgen Jeck-lin for his stereo microphone technique known as Opti-mal Stereo Signal (OSS). The idea behind OSS is to use a pair of spaced omnidirectional microphones approximately 6 inches apart (roughly the distance bet-ween the human ears) with a disc placed in between the spaced pair. The disc is covered with a thin layer of foam intended to absorb high frequencies - thus impro-ving stereo separation between the microphones. The difference between the two types of discs is the foam sphere at the center of the Schneider disc, which redu-ces the amount of high-frequency energy reflected from the disc, and results in an increase of stereo separation.Below approximately 200 Hz, the Schneider disc has little (if any) effect on the stereo signal because the audio wavelength is large enough to bend around thedisc, equally reaching both microphones. However as frequency increases above 200 Hz, the Schneider disc's foam sphere increases stereo separation between the spaced pair.

90°vertical rotation Windshield foam for all capsules

The Schneider disc may be used in OSS technique for stereo recordings of orchestral or chamber music, as well as for stereo micing of solo instruments. In order to properly implement OSS, the microphones should be identical, omnidirectional and should be set for equal output to avoid unbalancing of the stereo image (this can be checked using headphones). For the best balance between direct and room sound, the Schneider disc should be located at the distance from the source where the direct sound and the diffuse sound from the room are at equal strength. This distance  is known as the diffuse-field distance and can be located by careful listening.