Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387

Lauten Audio is a respected brand in the field of audio equipment, and especially in terms of the quality of its microphones . One of the best-known innovations of this brand is that of “ multi-voicing ”. This is a technology by which the characteristics of a microphone can be changed from a switch or button built into it.

The Atlantis FC-387 is one of Lauten Audio's newest models The quality of its capsule and its other components also gives it a significant advantage compared to others on the market. The possible uses of this microphone are also very extensive, ranging from recording songs livestreaming activities .

Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 Microphone Overview

The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 is a studio microphone with NTE type semiconductors It was developed by Lauten Audio in collaboration with producer Fab Dupont , who was able to record the voices of celebrities like Jennifer Lopez and Shakira.

This studio condenser microphone is rather bulky with its 140 mm in length, 65 mm in diameter and a weight of 1.06 kg . It is advisable to acquire a sturdy stand with a good counterweight system to make this external microphone really usable.

Your hand can get tired quickly if you decide to hold the microphone for several minutes instead of using a stand. Choosing the right mount can also make this microphone as convenient to use as a headworn or gooseneck .

The Atlantis FC-387 condenser microphone comes in a stylish solid wood box with a felt-lined interior. The FC-387 box also contains a shock mount with a 3/8-inch adapter and a felt bag to store your recording equipment.

The body of the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 has a polished and lacquered metal . The multi-layer grid around the capsule filters out electrostatic interference from other condenser microphones or the magnetic field from a guitar amp. This grid also prevents the capture of background noise from a speaker or handling noise from a dynamic instrument.

The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 microphone has three slide switches. The first is a single pad/gain switch placed under the mic grille. It has the appearance of a 3-way slider and provides 10 dB preattenuation 10 dB gain boost .

The second slide switch is on the right side of the microphone and is used for multipattern adjustment . The last switch is an option unique to the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387. It allows you to adjust it to three modes represented by the letters F , N and G. Much like the Austrian Audio OC18 mic , the capsule of the Lauten Audio Altlantis FC-387 was handcrafted in the United States. It is similar to the capsule of other Lauten condenser mics like the Oceanus LT381.

The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 was not designed with the same power approach as a UHF or lavalier microphone. You need 48V phantom power to operate it. The manufacturers of this microphone have not a priori established specific requirements regarding the form of phantom power to be used. It is assumed that this is a standard external power supply device.

Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387: new technologies

The multi-pattern setting gives the FC-387 a significant advantage in its use compared to other condenser microphones on the market. This includes the Rode USB NT microphone or the Blue Snowball. The FC-387 even rivals a dynamic microphone like the SE Electronics V7 in terms of the presence of this multipattern function .

The multipattern function means that the FC-387 can function as an , bidirectional or cardioid microphone . This concept is primarily beneficial for driving dynamics in vocal recording . It also optimizes the recording of an acoustic guitar, as well as a snare drum or other acoustic instruments in a recording studio.

The other new concept of the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 is its unique pad and gain knob at -10 dB and 10 dB . Similar technology was used on Lauten's FC357. It aims to provide a stronger output to the preamp of an inexpensive microphone. The gain required at the preamp connectors can thus be reduced, as can the requirement for a wider bandwidth.

Most cheap preamps tend to lose bandwidth as the gain increases. +10 dB gain setting can also be useful for overdriving a tube preamp and giving character to your recording.

Linearity of sound pressures has never been the strong point of condenser microphones with a large diaphragm. It is therefore normal that the frequency response diagram on the 9 settings of the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 resembles a mountain range in profile view.

The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 microphone also stands out for the presence of its “ Neutral ”, “ Forward ” and “ Soft ” modes. The “front” setting was designed with the idea of , detailed and more revealing sound It transforms the FC-387 into an ambient microphone by making the voice more tangible . This is possible by increasing the response of ranges above 3 kHz by a few decibels.

The “neutral” mode delivers a more regular response with a view to a more classic sound. The “soft” setting complements the “forward” mode by attenuating the response above 3 kHz by a few decibels. The idea is to attenuate harsh or sparkling sources to sound more vintage . This mode can also be useful for using the microphone in monitoring .

This unique switch on the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 does not function as a simple equalization stage. It acts in fact on the loading of the capsule and the overall operation of the impedance conversion stage. This button also provides different effects depending on the directionality chosen. The elevation in “forward” mode can notably start at 200 Hz on the 8 directivity .

The third switch of the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 not only equalizes it in three different ways. It actually gives you the impression of having three different types of microphones in a single product by varying the pressure levels.

The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 additionally uses custom-made field-effect transistor output transformer These elements do not in themselves give a specific sound component to this recording equipment. They do, however, make their presence felt when you plug another microphone into the same mixer with the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387.

Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387: dynamic characteristics

The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 has been specified at a frequency response range of 20 Hz to 20 kHz . The cardioid and figure-8 mode plots nevertheless show that this response approaches a range of ±4 dB relative to 1 kHz between 40 Hz and 15 kHz .

The diagram shows a large reduction in microphone volume with the center at 0.5 kHz and an equivalent rise in the range below 100 Hz . The range below 100 Hz is however the essential range to satisfy in the case of a microphone for singing. The proximity effect is added to the equation if the microphone is used close to the source on one of the chosen directivities.

The frequency response also tends to drop quickly above 15 kHz due to the large diaphragm. You can remedy this by adding a high-pass filter to the mic preamp. The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 microphone does not in fact have an integrated preamp.

The absence of a high-pass filter at the preamp level is particularly noticeable with close recordings. Lacking such a feature, you still have to pass the low frequencies through the converter and transport them to the DAW . The approach is disadvantageous from a technical point of view, but this is understandable given the price range of the Atlantis FC-387.

It is useful to have a window of ±5 dB for this frequency range when the mic is used in omnidirectional mode. A significant peak in the bass can also be observed at nearly 75 Hz , compared to 50 Hz for the 8 directivity. This is equivalent to 4 or 5 dB more than the sensitivity at 1 kHz .

The sensitivity of the FC-387 is set at 16 mV/Pa . You can a priori increase it to 50 mV/Pa by activating the gain of +10 dB . The standard sensitivity seems normal for this type of microphone. The additional gain adjustment nevertheless makes the Altantis FC-387 a unique piece of condenser microphones.

The maximum sound pressure level is 130 dB for 0.5% THD at 1 kHz . This value can a priori rise up to 140 dB by activating the 10 dB attenuator . The self-noise is higher than one might imagine with such a large diaphragm at 12 dB (A) . The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 nevertheless remains quieter than a radio microphone, a shotgun microphone like the AT2035 microphone from Audio-Technica , or a wireless lavalier microphone.

It should be noted that the phase frequency response of a signal can reveal unexpected effects in the interaction with another electrical signal. Using different EQs or settings can greatly affect the sound source signals in the mix. This is a point that you should not ignore before equipping yourself with a microphone like the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387.

The 31.25mm diaphragm makes the high-frequency quality as noticeable as the rapid response to changes in sound pressure. The large surface area of ​​the movable diaphragm also allows the capsules to exploit a greater voltage difference for voice recording.

The value of 16 mV/Pa at the output of the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 seems quite low compared to a dynamic microphone. This is due to the transformers of this stereo microphone. Self-noise remains within reasonable limits at 12 dB (A) , with 0.5% THD achieved at 130 dB (SPL) . So you can roar without the distortion getting out of control.

The mixed signal from the two capsules of this microphone is transmitted to three selectable equalization circuits . This solution is more accommodating than other condenser microphones. It is in fact more common to modify the frequency response curve of a capsule signal by varying the sound pressure in the amplifier of an omnidirectional microphone.

Phases and impedances also have a role to play in this dynamic description process. The output impedances of the respective circuits are different, but the input impedance of the next stage remains the same. A modification of the frequency band can thus be obtained.

In addition, discover our complete test of the Austrian Audio OC18 . In this guide, we have developed the characteristics as well as some advantages of using this microphone. Also discover in this guide our opinion on this microphone and some usage demos.

Focus on the sound quality of the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387

The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 microphone can a priori function as a 3-in-1 model given its three directivity settings. The design of the capsule nevertheless hinders the effectiveness of this formula. Changes in sound do not tend to be significant when the output voltage is transferred from one module to another by a small switch . The basic sound of the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 is also very recognizable on the three available settings.

The dual capsule design preserves the character of the switch in both omnidirectional and bidirectional positions. Treble tends to decrease as you go off-axis. However, off-axis linearity is not the primary goal of a microphone like the FC-387.

The Lauten Audio Atlantis 387 FC produces very flattering sound right to your ears. The microphone's large diaphragm transmits midrange with astonishing speed. Credit goes to both encapsulated and other downstream components. The high design quality of these components, as described in the FC-387 description, therefore seems to apply wonderfully.

The microphone signal overall seems very pleasant. It is never creaky or awkward, but always expands lightly. The signal also maintains its transparency even at high levels. The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 microphone is likely designed with a vocal microphone in mind. This can be seen in the character options and the basic sound of the mic itself. The vocals have volume and a good foundation, as you would expect from a major manufacturer like the Atlantis.

The character switch doesn't just change the treble. The adaptation differences are felt at a more complex level than on other microphones (just mentioning the Blue Bluebird SL , Superlux S502, and Slate Digital ML-1). Changes in the midrange range also deserve to be treated with more attention. The voice in the “soft” setting is slightly sustained to sound a little more compressed, but also more intimate and closer.

The creative frequency response setup cuts a fine figure in the treble. It is certainly difficult to push the microphone to emit very clear sounds in S , but the sound produced remains very present. It seems legitimate to seek more brilliance and airiness in the signal. However, a microphone with receivers at huge pressure gradients is not a good choice for this purpose.

The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 microphone is a reasonable solution if you only need one microphone at home. At least this is the case if you have a limited number of different voices to record. The FC-387 can also be tuned to certain types of instruments . However, it should not be considered as an instrument for universal use.

The frequency response curve of the Atlantis is not in itself a significant constraint. It is always possible to shape the sound with an equalizer so that it is loud enough without risking signal collapse. The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 is therefore unlikely to show any failures, as is the case with many inexpensive microphones.

Warm Audio WA-8000 microphone review guide . This guide introduces you to the microphone in detail as well as its features and capabilities. Also discover through this guide our opinion on this microphone.

The characteristics of the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387

• Microphone type: condenser microphone
• Style: studio microphone
• Polar pattern: Cardioid, Omnidirectional and Figure-8
• Diaphragm size: 31.25 mm
• Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz
• Maximum sound pressure level: 130 dB
• Output impedance: 200 ohms
• Microphone sensitivity: 16 mV/Pa (-36 dB)
• Own noise: 12 dB
• Buffer: -10 dB
• Connector type: XLR
• Power Source: 48V Phantom Power
• Accessories included: Shock mount, wooden box

Our opinion on the Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 microphone

The Atlantis FC 387 from Lauten Audio is a fairly unique model of condenser microphone. It seems difficult to find competitors given its large diaphragm and its original sound profile switching. The basic sound is as you would expect from a microphone of this price, but it nevertheless benefits from good optimization for voice. It must be said that the FC-387 has a sound all its own, with a pleasant smoothness at the end of its sonic range.

Character switching provides decent, but not extreme changes from the base sound. This idea is very honorable considering that manufacturers often set extreme changes with each switch to impress during in-store testing.

The FC-387 does not a priori offer the same convenience as a micro-USB for the needs of a modern user. The transmission quality of a signal with an XLR connection, however, outperforms the transfer quality over a USB cable by a large margin. The only constraint posed with this in mind is having to obtain an external sound card for connection to a computer.

The Atlantis FC-387 is very close to one's idea of ​​the perfect microphone. Lauten Audio had the good idea of ​​combining a quality capsule with three vocal options to give this microphone more character. By adding the 3 patterns and the gain and attenuation switch, you can have several different mics in one product.

The Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 was designed with a vocal microphone in mind. The settings it offers and the quality of its components nevertheless make it a microphone suitable for other uses. This includes podcasts, livestreams, or recording acoustic instruments.

Lauten Audio Atlantis FC-387 Demo

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