ART Pro Audio M-Five
Bidirectional Ribbon Microphone
The M-Five is a passive bidirectional ribbon microphone built in the now-traditional “Fathead” lollipop style.
The ribbon transducer is a single sheet of 2.5-micron corrugated aluminum, suspended in the gap between a pair of Neodymium magnets. A transformer in the microphone body completes the circuit.
ART describes the ribbon as two inches in length, but it is more likely that the actual length is is 45mm, and that the active portion — the portion between the magnets — measures 37mm. See the sidebar link to Michael Joly’s analysis of common ribbon motors for photos and a length chart. (We welcome corrections from anyone with an opportunity to measure this mic.)
As are all China-made ribbon mics, the M-Five is a good candidate for modification. Aftermarket transformers from Lundahl, Cinemag, or AMI can improve the mic’s frequency response. A ribbon swap will likely yield improvements in sound quality, depending on the quality control of the factory and at ART.
The M-Five ships with an elastic shockmount in a padded aluminum flightcase.
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The mic was released in 2009.
Specifications
Pickup Patterns | Pads & Filters |
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Bidirectional
(2 mV/Pa; 30 - 15,000 Hz) |
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Ribbon Construction | Impedance | SPL/Noise |
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Gauge: 2 microns | n/a | Max SPL: 148 dB Self-noise: 18.0 dB(A) |
Weight | Length | Max Diameter | Interface(s) |
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200g (7.05oz) | 160mm (6.30'') | n/a |
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Power Specifications |
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