Eighteen months ago, DPA Microphones unveiled its brand new 4099 clip mic range, which has proved to be a success with musicians worldwide. The range has now been expanded with two new additions: the 4099B and 4099C, with mounting accessories designed specifically for bass and cello respectively.
DPA believes that musicians deserve to get the best sound possible from their instruments when playing live. To that end, the company applied its ground breaking technology to create the 4099 range of cost-effective mics hand crafted in Denmark for a wide array of musical instruments, complete with robust carrying cases and gentle, discreet mounting solutions.
Since the launch of the first four models, DPA has carried out intensive experiments with other instruments. One of the areas where superior sound quality and high rejection are an issue is acoustic bass, so a new holder has been designed for that instrument. Bass players such as Rufus Reid, Chris Minh Doky and John Patitucci were already 4099 users before the launch of the new bass clip. Minh Doky was so confident he’d found the ultimate mic he took a deep breath and drilled a hole into the bridge, creating a permanent mounting solution. With the new bass clip, such drastic measures are clearly no longer necessary.
“When it comes to my bass sound, there are no compromises,” says Minh Doky. “I’ve finally found the microphone I’d been dreaming of for a long time. You can hardly see the mount, and as the mic is on the bass, you can move whichever crazy way you want onstage and still be in the sweet spot. There’s a lot of clarity right across the spectrum; you get a lot of the high end without losing the low end. The 4099 has definitely been a life saver for me; it makes me play better.”
A smaller version, the DPA 4099C, has been designed to fit the cello and, like the bass clip, it can be mounted on the outer strings of the instrument. This opens up new possibilities for solo cellists, string quartets and large string sections sharing the stage with a loud rock band, allowing the delicate nuances of their instruments to be reproduced clearly and distinctly.
An ever-growing lineup of musicians are now committed 4099 users. Among them are Sting, saxophonists Wayne Shorter and Bobby Ricketts, trumpet player Randy Brecker and violinists Mark Feldman and Nigel MacLean, who have adopted the range with great results.
All 4099 condenser microphones feature supercardioid polar patterns for high rejection and superior gain-before-feedback, while retaining the highly uniform off-axis frequency response DPA is renowned for. Capable of handling high sound pressure levels – particularly important for horn players – these microphones live up to DPA’s pedigree of breathtaking clarity and richness.
Despite their tiny, discreet size and lightweight design, 4099s are rugged and stable, while the versatile gooseneck provides stable positioning. Yet the mics can easily be unclipped, repositioned or moved to another instrument. Furthermore, the 4099 microphone mounting system is designed to be extremely gentle, never marring the finish of an instrument.
The MicroDot connector and more than 35 DPA adapters ensure compatibility with just about any wireless system, and the product can also be used as a standard 48V phantom powered microphone via its supplied XLR connector.
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