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Placid Audio Copperphone Mini

Pricing & Availability

  • MSRP: $325

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Copperphone Mini Documentation

CardioidPlacid Audio Copperphone Mini

Cardioid Dynamic Microphone

The Placid Audio Copperphone Mini is a physically smaller version of the company’s Copperphone model. Both are “effect microphones,” intended to color and modify the sound of the source. Effects mics are often used in conjunction with less-colored microphones, with the intention of blending in the effect mic to best suit the production.

The Mini has a different moving-coil cartridge than the Copperphone. It described as “higher performance” by Placid Audio. The Mini also lacks the Copperphone’s resonant chamber. However, the sound characteristics are similar in that both are limited-bandwidth microphones, suitable for putting a nostalgic color on recordings and performances.

Designer Mark Pirro originally conceived the Copperphone Mini as a hand-held “bullet” microphone for harmonica players. The size of the mic — 58mm by 44mm — is conducive to hand holding, and the limited-bandwidth sound, similar to that of the Copperphone, is naturally suited to a limited-bandwidth instrument like the harmonica.

However, unlike some dedicated harmonica mics, the Copperphone Mini terminates in a Switchcraft XLR connector rather than a 1/4-inch guitar plug. The XLR output allows for for greater flexibility in the studio and onstage where XLR connections are expected, but the mic can still be plugged into a guitar amplifier via the use of a XLRF to 1/4” impedance converter, such as the Whirlwind Little IMP (http://whirlwindusa.com/catalog/black-boxes-effects-and-dis/transformers-isolation-devices/little-imp). Placid Audio offers examples of this sound on their website.

The mic is sold already installed inside an aircraft aluminum ring mount, which is built to the same rugged standard as the mic itself. The ring mount acts as a functional shock mount for the mic, and also gives the mic a visually vintage character with its 1930’s styling, reminiscent of a Shure 5b carbon mic. (In part due to its distinctive styling, the band Rush made use of the mic as a crowd mic for their 2010 Time Machine tour.) If the ring is not desired, conversion hardware is included to remove it from the ring for use as a handheld mic or for closer placement to the source.

Like all Placid Audio microphones, the Copperphone Mini has a lifetime warranty.

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The mic was released in 2015.

Specifications

Pickup Patterns Pads & Filters
Cardioid (200 - 1.4kHz)
Coil Diameter Impedance SPL/Noise
n/a 150 Ohms (Low) SPL n/a
Weight Length Max Diameter Interface(s)
340g (11.99oz) n/a n/a
  • 3-pin XLR male (1)
Power Specifications

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