recordinghacks

Search Microphones


Share This Page

CardioidHypercardioidAudio-Technica ATM250DE

Combination Microphone

The ATM250DE is a second-generation, lower-cost version of the AE2500 dual-element microphone. Both can be used for kick drum, snare, or other instrument miking (e.g. guitar cabinets).

Both mics contain both a dynamic and a condenser capsule, mounted side-by-side in perfect phase alignment. This pairing is especially useful inside a kick drum, where the dynamic element captures the impact and definition of the beater, while the condenser element captures the resonance of the drum shell.

Like the AE2500, the ATM250DE has a 5-pin male XLR jack on the mic body, and the mic includes a 5m breakout cable to provide two separate outputs, one from each capsule. It is of course not necessary to use both capsules, but if you do, you’ll need two preamp channels.

The condenser element’s response can be altered by two onboard switches: a high-pass filter (80Hz) and a -10dB pad.

The mic ships with an “isolation mount” (p/n AT8471) and the aforementioned breakout cable.

What are the differences between the ATM250DE and the AE2500?

  • Cost: The ATM250DE is 25% less expensive, in part because the two capsules on the ATM250DE were “borrowed” from existing ATM-series products; e.g. the dynamic capsule is used in the ATM250. The two capsules in the AE2500 were created specifically for that application.
  • Frequency response: the ATM250DE has a somewhat limited low-end response (-3dB @ 40Hz) as compared to the AE2500 (-3dB @ 20Hz).
  • Directionality: the dynamic capsule in the ATM250DE is hypercardioid. In the AE2500, the dynamic capsule is cardioid.

Sound On Sound - 2012
So many dedicated kick-drum mics are ‘one-trick ponies’ that always produce the same sound regardless of the size or tuning of the actual kick drum. While that might be useful or convenient in some circumstances, I much prefer to capture what’s actually there in the first place, and the ATM250DE allows that with considerable flexibility. Its inherent neutrality and very high SPL capability also makes this microphone ideally suited for use with other loud and dynamic sources, such as bass and electric guitar cabs, and brass instruments too.

The Audio-Technica ATM250DE is also known as: ATM-250DE.

The mic was released in 2006.

Specifications

Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!
ATM250DE Cardioid Frequency Response Chart
Frequency Response - HypercardioidClick Graph to Compare!
ATM250DE Hypercardioid Frequency Response Chart
Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
Cardioid (3.5 mV/Pa; 40 - 20,000 Hz)
Hypercardioid (2.2 mV/Pa; 40 - 15,000 Hz)
  • Pad: -10dB (Via Switch)
  • Filter: HPF @ 80 Hz (Via Switch)
Capsule Dimensions Impedance SPL/Noise
n/a n/a Max SPL: 148 dB
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
320g (11.29oz) 144mm (5.67'') 55mm (2.17'')
  • 3-pin XLR male (2)
  • 5-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications
  • Requires phantom power
  • Phantom voltage: 11-52v

Did we get anything wrong on this page? Please let us know!