Avantone CV-12 Large-Diaphragm Multi-pattern Tube Microphone

Looks aren't everything. So when you're looking to enter the world of tube microphones, why consider the beautiful Avantone CV-12 Switchable Tube Condenser, with its elegant red finish and polished nickel trim? Well, despite its immediate resemblance to a particular (and legendary) Austrian microphone circa 1952, the Avantone CV-12 stands on its own as a variable-pattern tube microphone capable of delivering smooth, balanced, and warm sonic character.

Superstar Vocal Sound at an Affordable Price Although the CV-12 pulls its solid-brass weight on acoustic guitar, mandolin, piano, or as a room microphone, this premium tube mic truly shines on vocalists. In fact, country superstar Taylor Swift used only the Avantone CV-12 to track vocals on her albums "Speak Now" and "Fearless," two of the top-selling albums of 2009 and 2010. And rock legend Robert Plant sang into the CV-12 on his 2010 release "Band of Joy." Certainly, world-class artists like Taylor Swift and Robert Plant wouldn't be bothered to use an ordinary $500 mic when they could choose literally anything. But as it turns out, the CV-12 is no ordinary condenser. Its transformer coupled tube circuitry is based on European vintage mics, and it has a subtle sonic character all its own, with a warm and present sound that's been found to thicken up thin vocals. But perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of the CV-12 is that it brings quality to the marketplace at such an affordable price.

Shock Mount, Cables, and Custom Power Supply Professional tube microphones always come packed in a box of goodies, and the Avantone CV-12 is no exception. Within the padded aluminum road case, you'll get an elegant padded wooden box for the mic itself, a custom retro shock mount with extra elastic bands, and a long, flexible 7-pin XLR cable. Of course, there's also the matching bright red power supply that lets an engineer silently switch to any of 9 pickup patterns. Try the CV-12 in omni mode at the center of a room, in bi-directional figure-8 to capture two vocalists, or in cardioid mode for a solo singer. Or try any of the six positions in-between, to dial in the right amount of "room" on your source.

Hand-selected Tube Electronics Up until early 2009, Avant Electronics included two spare tubes with every CV-12 microphone, allowing engineers to swap tubes to achieve different sounds. Of the three premium-grade Russian vacuum tubes (the 6072a, ECC81 and ECC83) that came with the mic, Avant and their customers found that the 6072a tube that now comes pre-installed in the CV-12 was the best-balanced and smoothest of the lot. Since then, this tube in this microphone has been studio-tested and proven its worth many times over as a top-shelf vocal microphone. Its beauty really is more than skin-deep.

Avantone CV-12 Large-Diaphragm Multi-pattern Tube Microphone Features

• 9-pattern switchable tube condenser
• Dual 32 mm gold sputtered thin Mylar capsules
• Metal toggle switches for -10 dB pad and 80 Hz roll-off
• Hand-selected Russian-made 6072a Tube
• Custom retro shock mount with spare elastic bands
• Avantone PS-12 multi-pattern power supply with cables
• Elegant padded genuine wooden mic box
• Padded aluminum storage/travel case