EV RE20

EV RE20 Directional Microphone Overview

The EV RE20 is a dynamic microphone with cardioid polar pattern . This is probably one of the most expensive condenser microphones that I have had the honor of testing so far. And I'm more than happy about it.

This professional microphone from Electro-Voice made its debut in 1969, more than fifty years ago. But why is it priced high compared to condenser and micro-USB mics?

Indeed, to buy a microphone of this kind, I had to save more. Buying a Blue Yeti, Rode NT USB or Neumann micro would not have cost me as much. While these are the best condenser microphones on the market.

When I tested it, I immediately understood the reason. A priori, the EV RE20 lavalier microphone offers more powerful and precise sounds than any other type of microphone.

I would even say that it is a real professional microphone for capturing, mixing, condensing and recording vocals in studios.

Real recording equipment dedicated to voice-over artists, it produces flawless acoustic and electrostatic frequencies.

Moreover, it can consider much more sound environment, magnetic field and sound wave than any other dynamic microphone.

A large diaphragm dynamic microphone

Much like Shure's SM58 microphone , the Electro-Voice RE20 uses a large, impedance-controlled diaphragm to pick up sounds. It minimizes handling noise and background noise with its high-quality integrated elements.

In particular, I am entitled to an amplifier, recorder, capacitor and voice coil which together allow me to power the dynamics .

In principle, you can also use it to amplify dynamics in home studio or live.

An excellent output level and a built-in speaker make this boom mic meet the needs of singing musicians.

So, with my acoustic guitar, I connected it with the vocal microphone via preamp and mixing board.

I subsequently obtained a rich, clear and precise electrical signal with a good sound system .

I even advise you to connect it to all kinds of acoustic instruments to better judge its voice recording.

In addition, also discover the Blue Yeti Nano microphone . A USB microphone with a cardioid polar pattern. This guide gives you a full review of this microphone, as well as full details and our review of Blue's Yeti Nano mic.

The power of a condenser microphone in a dynamic

When seeing a directional mic, I always wonder if it is a condenser or dynamic microphone . A priori, I am not the only one to do this.

So, when I saw the EV RE20, I immediately said to myself that it was a condenser microphone, perhaps like the Rode NT5 or the TLM 193 from Neumann . My judgment was immediately based on the quality of the studio sound recording it offers.

And yet, it is not a condenser studio microphone at all. It is purely a dynamic condenser microphone, but which functions like a microphone with a coil, a capacitor, an FET transformer.

But what is the difference between and condenser wireless microphones

In principle, a condenser microphone better considers sound sources in magnetic and electrostatic fields. It indeed offers a richer and more nuanced frequency response.

With this kind of microphone, I get different vocal recordings of better quality . However, this hypersensitivity comes at a price.

In fact, condenser microphones are mostly too sensitive to complex sound environments. They remain fragile in an environment with a high level of interference and sound pressure .

Also, to function correctly, they need an external power supply called “phantom”. This phantom power can be obtained using a stereo mixing ribbon amplifier .

Professional dynamic microphones, for their part, display the opposite of this dynamic description. In practice, they offer less favorable sounds, but easily adapt to any kind of sound and vibration environment.

This is due to the presence of an analog FET transformer , a sound wave converter and a PAD attenuator. To put it simply, they often remain in a stable dynamic range with or without a USB cable.

EV RE20: 2 types of microphone in a single model

You now understand the difference between condenser microphone and dynamic microphone. The EV RE20 displays these two natures of wireless lapel microphone in one model.

It goes well against the stereotypical dynamic stand mic models.

In fact, your radio microphone offers recordings with a well-nuanced response curve in a professional studio. And yet, at its core, it remains an excellent dynamic micro-level model.

Thus, at high frequencies or low frequencies, it is able to capture sound waves well. It goes even further by being less sensitive to the presence of humidity and the proximity effect .

In short, using an EV RE20 microphone is like enjoying a versatile singing microphone without an external sound card.

In addition, discover our guide which presents a list of the best ribbon microphones. This guide suggests the best ribbon microphones to choose for vocal recording in the studio, for a concert, or otherwise.

EV RE20, an excellent XLR ambient microphone

In the recording studio, the Electro-Voice RE20 minimizes the handling noise and hiss that I often hear in front of a microphone.

It's fascinating how a dynamic studio microphone is able to deliver such rich sounds from a condenser mic.

This remark is equally valid for recording an electrostatic bandwidth over short as well as long distances.

Shockproof, your directional microphone has an imposing appearance that resists all types of shock. In principle, it can handle high-level sound pressures without reproducing percussion.

You can check this by plugging in headphones while recording the voice.

Also, this is also a great external XLR mic . This means that you will need a digital recorder or a connection connected to DPA electrical current to use it.

You can also use a mixing board to start capturing the treble and bass of your dynamic instrument .

Whereas with a USB microphone , you don't need phantom power to pick up the mic and make recordings. Indeed, with USB microphones, I can make do with a connector and a cable to use them.

However, I greatly appreciate the EV RE20 for its impeccable performance in humid environments . Whether on or without a tripod, studio equipment can withstand enormous temperature variations without degrading.

This is why I highly recommend it to fans of podcasts and voice-over artists. You can use it both in studio recording and live outside.

Built-in pop filter microphone without proximity effect

The Electro-Voice RE20 stereo microphone has an anti-pop filter that covers all of its acoustic openings.

Indeed, the microphone input is sensitive to any sound source, regardless of the magnitude and distance away from them. Therefore, you can pick up the mic and sing without worrying about proximity effect .

With this microphone in hand, this effect so well known to artists disappears as if by magic. I can assure you of this by having tested it to within 1 cm.

My lips even almost touched the USB micro capsules , without having heard any deep voices.

A priori, the acoustic performance of the EV RE20 which distinguishes it among the best studio microphones and professional recording equipment does not come only from this anti-wind filter. In fact, the absence of proximity effect comes mainly from its “Variable D” design .

The latter relatively suppresses bass accentuations when approaching the sound and acoustic source.

The vocal recording therefore remains stable and natural, no matter how far you are from the axis of the microphone.

Electro-Voice has used it since the launch of this universal microphone until today. And thanks to this wise choice, its precious cardioid microphone is just as powerful as any omnidirectional microphone.

Focus on the frequency response of the EV RE20

Just like most dynamic microphones, the EV RE20 features a non-linear frequency response.

In low frequencies and monitoring , a vocal change is noted from 70 Hz. This also explains why it is mainly used as a bass drum microphone.

When listening, I notice some noticeable cutoffs every time I lower the frequency range between 2 and 4 kHz.

And when I go above 5 kHz, I start to feel a more or less significant difference. This subtle increase in tone in cardio bias reaches its maximum value between 7 and 8 kHz.

Beyond this value, tones decrease, although it still considers bandwidth the same.

In practice, the diagram obtained displays curves which rise and fall according to the amplitude considered.

But no matter how variable the sounds are, this mic is just like the Warm Audio WA-47jr mic , it will help you perfect your recording technique in the studio .

Using the EV RE20 dynamic microphone

In its early days, the EV RE20 dynamic microphone was used for studio and film recording.

But as the years went by, more and more people also used it to record and broadcast sounds.

voice-over artists have wanted to test the limits of the micro EV in different kinds of environments.

And the results of the various tests they have carried out are simply impressive.

A priori, your boom microphone can both naturally reproduce human voices and the sounds of acoustic instruments.

Versatile, the Electro-Voice RE20 largely meets the needs of beginners and sound professionals.

The technical characteristics of the EV RE20

• Type: dynamic microphone
• Directivity: cardioid
• Frequency response: 45 Hz – 18 kHz
• Sensitivity: 1.5 mV/Pa
• Variable D Design
• Built-in pop filter and switchable speaker
• Weight: 737g
• Dimensions: 49 x 54 x 217 mm

Our opinion on the EV RE20 microphone

To conclude, the EV RE20 dynamic microphone is an excellent studio microphone and external microphone. Cardioid polarization, sounds without proximity effect and shock resistance to any sound environment, it has everything a professional microphone has to offer.

EV RE20 Demo

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