GEAR REVIEW
LAUTEN AUDIO LA-120 SMALL DIAPHRAGM CONDENSER MICROPHONE | Steve Sattler
KEY FEATURES
• Great build quality
• Highly configurable for most live and studio applications
• Extremely sensitive transient response
• Backed by great customer service
• Competitively priced
Lauten Audio , based in northern California , United States , is a designer and manufacturer of premium microphones and related equipment . Actually , Lauten Audio coined the term “ multi-voicing™ which is a unique functionality where the sound characteristics of a microphone can be manipulated via switches or knobs to change its timbre without the use of external hardware .
The LA-120 is a premium quality small diaphragm condenser microphones Part of
Lauten Audio ’ s black range and are sold only in pairs . The LA-120 is designed to give you lifelike sound with a musical blend of transient response and natural compression that can successfully be used in a variety of live and studio applications . The LA-120 ’ s part of Lauten ’ s Black Range which are designed to provide distinctive Lauten Audio sonics , performance and onboard sound-shaping at accessible prices .
The Lauten LA-120 comes with 17 mm hand tuned Omni and Cardioid capsules and require 48 volt phantom power to operate . The LA-120 can withstand up to 130 dB of SPL 140 dB with the optional in line pads and provide 120 dB or more of dynamic range . They are only capable of handling extremely high SPL ( close-miking drums ) with the pads .
What sets the LA-120 ’ s apart from other small diaphragm condenser microphones in this price range are two sound shaping switches for fine tuning high and low frequency responses . The two sound shaping switches make the LA-120 more of a Swiss army knife kind of a microphone mic that can use a variety of different live and recording applications .
Without any of the sound shaping switches engaged , the LA-120 are fairly flat sounding condenser microphones . For low frequency sound shaping , the flat setting allows the full low frequency extension of your sound source to be captured while the 50 Hz setting reduces low frequencies and the 150 Hz setting greatly reduces bottom end while increasing overall clarity . For high frequency sound shaping , the flat setting provides a more modern articulate and bright sound while the 15kHz setting gives you smooth and transparent response . The 10 kHz setting gives you more of a punchy , dark and dense sound .
The LA-120 ’ s are extremely sensitive to transient responses , which for most applications is a
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