DPA APE40RS

DPA APE40RS Acoustic Pressure Equalizer, 40mm Ball
The APE40RS, a Ø40 mm sphere, offers a more noticeable on-axis boost between 2 kHz and 8 kHz. It also offers stronger off-axis attenuation than the Ø30 mm version. This gives a marked increase in the directivity of your recordings (at 4 kHz, the front-to-back sensitivity ratio is 8 dB). It also decreases the effects of reverberation and off-axis sources.
When using Acoustic Pressure Equalizer, 40 mm Ball, you can modify the spectral characteristic of a source by simply altering the angle of incidence to give a frequency boost, a flat response or attenuation.

More on acoustic modification
The Acoustic Pressure Equalizers – APEs – are passive acoustic processors functioning as both spatial and spectral modifiers. They use surface diffractions to modify the sound field near the microphone diaphragm. This technique is only possible on omnidirectional pressure microphones.

Two primary changes occur when using APEs:
1. An upper-midrange/high frequency boost (without changing the low end). This is due to the pressure build-up at certain frequencies depending on the element’s size.
2. More directionality at higher frequencies (focus).

A presence (upper-midrange) lift is often desirable in rhythmical genres, to make a voice or an instrument cut through a mix or simply to make it more intelligible or well defined. For symphonic music, the frequency response of certain legendary vintage types of microphones can be obtained using an APE. However, you will achieve a much higher degree of naturalness and detail when using a precision-handcrafted d:dicate™ 4006A Omnidirectional Microphone.