Microphones are somewhat boring to read about since they usually don’t have many bells and whistles, which is why most articles are based primarily around its specs. In the case of the new Austrian Audio CC8-SC, things are different in that it’s finally the alternative to the Sennheiser 441U supercardioid microphone that we’ve been waiting for.
While the 441 is an excellent microphone and one that you’ll fall in love with as soon as you use it in the situations it excels at, it’s expensive at more than $1,200 retail. That’s kept it from being a staple in many studios mic closets, especially if you’re a home studio.
The beauty of the CC8-SC is that it’s available in the US for just $599, making it a viable candidate for any mic locker.
A supercardioid microphone excels at many typical studio applications where leakage rejection is required. This includes under snare, ride cymbal, orchestral spot mics, acoustic guitar, vibes, and even on the foley stage.
The condenser CC8-SC can take a very high signal level at 155dB SPL, has a switchable -10dB and -20dB pad, and two high-pass filter selections at 60Hz and 120Hz, making it extremely versatile.
Plus, according to Austrian Audio, every CC8-SC is individually measured and calibrated at the factory to within ±0.5 dB sensitivity at 1kHz, which means that any CC8-SC can be seamlessly match-paired with another, no matter when it was produced for consistent stereo recording.
As stated above, it’s just $599USD, and comes with an OCH8 clip 18mm, a CCW8 windscreen, and carry case. You can find out more here, or watch the video below.
