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Audio-Technica AT5045

Cardioid Pencil Condenser Microphone

The AT5045 is the second mic in Audio-Technica’s premier “50 series,” and the second to use the company’s innovative new rectangular capsule technology. It is a side-address, large-diaphragm condenser in a pencil microphone form factor.

The capsule was developed specifically for this microphone. It is a rectangular electret, similar in some ways to the larger, segmented element in the AT5040. Its surface area is larger than most round 34mm capsules, which qualifies the AT5045 as a “large diaphragm” microphone.

(Audio-Technica has not published the dimensions of the capsule. We will update this profile with specifics when the information is made available.)

Because large diaphragm capsules are inherently lower in self-noise than are small-diaphragm capsules, the AT5045 has a much lower self-noise rating than most pencil microphones: just 8dBA.

As with the AT5040, the AT5045 eschews switches in favor of a simpler, direct, pristine signal path. The circuit board has relatively few components. The output circuit uses a transformer for balancing, with low output impedance of 100Ω.

Audio-Technica bills the AT5045 as their “premier studio instrument microphone,” citing the mic’s dynamic range, high max SPL (149dB @ 1% THD), high sensitivity, and very low self-noise.

It ships with the AT8481 isolation clamp, a foam windscreen, and a hard-shell carrying case.

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The mic was released in 2014.

Specifications

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
CHART Cardioid (17.7 mV/Pa; 25 - 20,000 Hz)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Diameter n/a Diaphragm gauge: 2 microns	100 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 149 dB Self-noise: 8.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
197g (6.95oz)	177mm (6.97'')	25mm (0.98'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power Phantom voltage: 48 ± 4v

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