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Lauten Audio Eden LT-386

Multi-Pattern Tube Condenser Microphone

The Lauten Audio Eden is a modern tube condenser microphone with three polar patterns and multiple “voicing” options.

The capsule is Lauten’s proprietary 38mm O.D. design; it is an edge-terminated capsule with dual backplates. The diaphragm diameter is 31.25mm. Although this design is also used in the company’s Atlantis and Oceanus microphones, the Eden capsule is tuned differently.

The circuit follows a tube-and-transformer topology. The tube is an EF806S from JJ Electronics. The EF806S is a 6.3V pentode. Lauten puts selected tubes through a proprietary “aging” process before using them in the Eden microphone.

Three switches on the mic body, positioned immediately below the headbasket, allow for 9 “voicings” within each of 3 polar patterns.

• Switch 1 allows selection of the mic’s polar pattern: Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8
• Switch 2 allows selection of a high-pass filter. Specifications for the filters have not been published, but we gather that the “Stage 1” or “kick shaper” is a steep subsonic filter, while the “Stage 2” or “vocal shaper” is a less steep rolloff with a higher corner frequency.
• Switch 3 allows selection from 3 low-pass filters, termed “Forward,” “Neutral,” and “Gentle.” This feature was originally developed for the Atlantis and is the source of the Eden’s “multi-voicing” characteristic. The Eden does not replicate the voicings of the Atlantis, but this switch is conceptually the same: it provides significant reshaping of the mic’s response above 1kHz.

The circuit feeds an output transformer, described by Lauten as being custom wound in the US specifically for this microphone.

The Eden ships with its power supply, cable, and custom shockmount, in a hard-shell flightcase.

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The mic was released in 2015.

Specifications

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Omnidirectional (16 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz) Cardioid (16 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz) Bidirectional (16 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Diaphragm diameter: 31.2mm Capsule diameter: 38mm	n/a	Max SPL: 120 dB Self-noise: 20.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
n/a	n/a	n/a	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Includes tube power supply

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