Product Description The new Sputnik large-diaphragm studio tube condenser microphone is based on classic vacuum tube design principles and manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities to exacting standards, this multi-pattern, large diaphragm studio condenser delivers the lush, classic sound that is normally associated with rare and expensive vintage mics. Building on years of expertise, the M-Audio engineering team conducted exhaustive research into signature microphones and listened extensively to clean, vintage recordings, examining what gives the world's best high-end studio condensers their ineffable qualities. They distilled the best characteristics of classic vacuum tube designs into a single world-class mic with M-Audio's trademark value pricing. When tweaking the Sputnik mic's capsule, M-Audio's design team worked closely with top Los Angeles recording engineers. In final side-by-side listening tests, these pros put it up against some of the world's finest vintage mics costing many times more. In particular, many observed that Sputnik exhibited the coveted low and low-mid qualities of the Neumann U47 and the upper-mids and highs of the AKG C12making it ideal for faithfully recording a wide range of sources including both male and female vocals. All agreed that Sputnik performed flawlessly for the most critical recording situations. Sputnik's combination of military-grade vacuum tube, ultra-sensitive 3-micron evaporated gold Mylar diaphragm, solid brass construction, and selectable cardioid, omni and figure-8 polar patterns makes it ideal for a wide variety of voices, instruments, and applications. The Sputnik mic circuitry is designed around a military-grade 6205M vacuum tube -- a diminutive pentode wired as a triode yielding output behavior like that of a perfect current source (making it tolerant of a wide range of load conditions). The tube operates at high voltages -- allowing an enormous dynamic range- but with less heat dissipation than other designs. This means, in part, that users can easily hang this mic upside down or orient it upright without having to worry about overheating the capsule. M-Audio also mounted the tube itself upside down to facilitate shorter connections that, in turn, make for more controlled impedance and less stray capacitance -- a design trait shared by German mics like the revered Telefunken 251. The Sputnik also employs a socketless design eliminating the potential for impedance mismatch, signal deterioration and contact corrosion. Research shows that tubes go bad within the first 10 hours. They hand-pick military-grade tubes to ensure the highest specs, consistency and reliability, then burn them in for a week so users do not have to worry about changing tubes in the first place. The M-Audio Sputnik is a multi-pattern vacuum tube microphone with a solid brass body and a tuned solid brass backplate. Its 1" Mylar capsule has evaporated gold and SPL handling up to 132dB. Sputnik features a 6205M military-grade vacuum tube wired as a triode. It provides cardioid, omnidirectional and figure 8 polar patterns for optimum flexibility. The Sputnik also features a 10dB pad and a low cut filter at 80Hz, both switchable. Its dual-layer steel grille protects the capsule from damage. The microphone includes a dedicated power supply, shockmount, 7-pin microphone cable, carrying bag and a flight case. Product Highlights Cardioid, Omnidirectional and Figure 8 1" Diaphragm Mylar Capsule 6205M Military-Grade Vacuum Tube 132dB SPL Handling Solid Brass Body and Tuned Backplate