Audio-Technica ATR-55 Microphone - Talk to me!

If you've ever heard of a Faioe microphone or even used one, you're a very geeky audiophile.

I got one of those Chinese-made microphones super cheap and have been trying to use it for some hobby Voice-over work I like to do. It has worked decently with quite a bit of compression and sweetening. When my wife and I were cleaning out the garage, she stumbled onto my big box o' electronics (doesn't every guy have one?). Amongst millions of RCA cables and telephone cord that I felt the need to keep, was my old Audio-Technica ATR-55 Microphone that I used back in my film school days with my standard on-the-shoulder VHS camcorder. Thinking it couldn't be any worse than my cruddy Chinese obscure mic, I gave it a shot for VO work. I'm pleased with the results and at the same time reminded that this is a very consumer-level microphone. So for my 100th review, I figured I'd relax and review something that was 10 years old, but still had no reviews for it. And probably will make squat in income share.

•• Hardware ••
The Audio-Technica ATR-55 Microphone is a condenser microphone with 2 unidirectional modes. The first mode is a standard unidirectional cardioid, which picks up sound from the front and to a lesser extent, the sides. It blocks most sound coming from the rear. The second setting is also cardioid, but in a telephoto pattern called supercardioid. It picks sound up from in front, but reaches further away. It picks up less from the side.

What this means to the casual user is that one setting is normal for close and medium ranges, while the other is for things far away. This microphone is meant specifically for video use, so it's primary design is voice at a distance for things such as weddings. As such, the frequency response is 70 - 18000 Hz. This range represents a good range for vocals as it won't capture much bass and cuts off before the tinny highs come through.

So in practice, I stick this on my mic stand with the included wind screen and a pop filter and record into my PC. This has served me well and performs much better than the previous microphone. Since this mic is only about $50, it will not compare to a Neumann, Sennheiser, or even a Shure. This is a consumer mic which will require a bit of sweetening in post. It isn't particularly warm and it's tolerance for louder volumes is rather bad. So no yelling into it unless you want harsh distortion.

In telephoto mode, the sound quality diminishes noticeably. It picks up less bass and more mid range. Highs are muted and the sound overall seems flat and a hollow. But this sound degradation comes with a benefit, you can pick up sounds a good 30 feet away depending on the volume of the source. This is extremely useful in situations were the videographer can't get close or can't patch into the sound board. Weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc. And usually in those situations, the main sound is voice, and the quality is adequate for that.

That said, this is an excellent mic for its intended purpose - video. It has a good reach and certainly looks good on a camcorder, but it isn't particularly better than the microphones that come standard with most camcorders. It isn't stereo and it isn't omnidirectional. It picks up voice and ambiance well, but when the first dance of the wedding you are recording comes around, switch to a better mic.

One of the glaring problems with the mic that makes it only good for consumers is its lack of XLR balanced lines. It has has fixed 3 foot cord curled into a spring in the center. It ends at a terminated 1/8 inch miniplug. This is perfect for camcorders, and totally unacceptable for anything else. Lacking a balanced line ending in an XLR connector means the microphone will pick up noise if a long cord is used. I have mine connected to an extension cable so it reaches the back of my computer. Sure enough, recording in a quiet room provides a low buzz in the file. It is easily removed with a decent noise reduction program, but that's extra work you shouldn't have to do and ultimately degrades the quality of the sound.

Included in the box is a windscreen that does an excellent job of blocking wind as well as the pops from vocals. An additional pop screen eliminates all but the most aggressive pops. Also includes is a shoe for mounting on a camcorder. This is a standard photo shoe with a small female thread underneath. This is useful for screwing the microphone to an extra video tripod. As well, there is a handle that can be used for either hand-holding the mic or attaching it to a standard mic stand. I use this for my home studio and it fits on a generic Radio Shack mic stand.

•• Conclusion ••
Those looking for a good video mic that picks up sound at a distant will do well to look at the Audio-Technica ATR-55 Microphone. While it works as a casual vocal mic for studio purposes, this does not even fall under the category of prosumer. Strictly for amateurs, but a good one at that.

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