recordinghacks

CardioidBlue Microphones Dragonfly

MSRP: $1,099 Cardioid Condenser Microphone

Blue Microphones Dragonfly

Description

Fast, maneuverable and beautifully engineered, the Dragonfly employs an innovative design that offers fine tuning and precise placement to please the most discerning recordist, combined with an ease of use that is without equal among contemporary microphones — and at a price that’s considerably less than anything in its class. Winner of both the 2001 TEC Award and an Electronic Musician’s 2001 Editor’s Choice award, the Dragonfly is a unique pressure-gradient cardioid condenser microphone, employing the Blue’s hand-built single-membrane large diaphragm capsule coated with a 6-micron mylar film of pure gold and aluminum. Enclosed within a rotating spherical grille, the capsule can be positioned and adjusted in the smallest spaces. Complete with an integrated elastic shockmount, the microphone’s electronics are based on a class A discrete circuit, with a transformerless output. Its sonic character gives flight to everything from vocals to percussion, electric guitar and bass, as well as more “difficult” sources such as saxophones and stringed instruments.

The Dragonfly Deluxe features gold trim and a deep-green hand-lacquered finish, and comes nestled in its own cherrywood box. The Dragonfly Deluxe is limited to a run of just 275 units, accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity.

The Dragonfly, like several of Blue’s early products, was the subject of an intellectual property dispute in 2006, when the original manufacturer, SIA Scruples/Violet Design, attempted to register a lookalike microphone with the EU’s “Office for the Harmonization of the Internal Markets” — essentially the EU’s trademark office. The OHIM called Scruples’ registration invalid, awarding the IP rights to Martin Saulespurens of BLUE. For a time, this mic was known as the Violet JZ-4 or JZ4.

The Blue Microphones Dragonfly is also known as: JZ4, JZ-4.

The mic was released in 1999.

Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
  • Cardioid (20 - 20,000 Hz)
Diaphragm size Impedance Max SPL
n/a n/a 132 dB
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
640g (22.58oz) 235mm (9.25'') 45mm (1.77'')
  • 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications
  • Requires Phantom Power

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