Saxophone Microphones

Saxophone microphones usually clip onto the rim of the bell, and you point the flexible gooseneck towards the sound source. This lets the player move freely without any change in volume, even when turning with the instrument. Here you will find clip-on condenser microphones such as the Audio-Technica PRO35 and ATM350U, Shure BETA 98H-C, AKG C 519, Sennheiser E 908 B, Superlux PRA-383D and TIE TCX308, as well as handheld and stand microphones, for example the Neumann KMS 105.

Clip-on at the bell or a microphone on a stand?

A clip-on microphone always keeps the same distance from the instrument, which makes it suitable for gigs where you move around and for a loud band with monitors on stage. The narrow cardioid pattern of the AKG C 519 and the supercardioid pattern of the Superlux PRA-383D reject sound from the surroundings. On a microphone stand, the Neumann KMS 105 or the dynamic Takstar PRO-38 work well, for example: they capture more of the whole instrument when you play in one place.

How do you connect a clip-on microphone?

Clip-on condenser microphones need 48 V phantom power. The Superlux PRA-383D comes with both a phantom power supply and a battery in the box. The Audio-Technica PRO35 has a 1.8 m cable with a TA3F connector, the AKG C 519 M has an XLR output and the C 519 ML version a mini XLR connector. For playing without a cable, there are the Sennheiser E908B EW for Evolution Wireless transmitters, the Shure WB-98H-C and the Audio-Technica PRO35CW, which need an instrument wireless system of the same brand.