I made this video some months ago now. What do I think now? I think the AT4040 sounds the most natural and that the AT4033a has a distinct nasal quality that shows up on the sound sources I used. On other sources, if course, it may sound good or may not be noticeable. Looking at the frequency response curve published by AT reveals a small moderately wide 2dB peak in the frequency response around 560-580Hz. Experimenting after I made this video, I found that pulling down just that area in the eq by a few dB makes a big difference. Once that's done, I think the AT4033a sounds open and pleasant and very nice overall. I can see why it became popular. I also notice that the AT4040 lets in a little more room sound than the At4033a. The cardioid pattern of the AT4040 seems to be wider. This is more likely to be an issue for folks recording in their homes and who do not have professional room treatment. Where room sounds cause problems in recording, the answer is likely to be either placing the mic closer to the source and/or temporary or permanent room treatment.
That is a great observation and very useful to know. I too find the 4033 to be nasally with some sources, which I usually switch to a small diaphragm mic but I will try this next time. Thank you
Thanks for making this video, it was very helpful. I much preferred the 4040. The 4033 was too harsh to me, but I could see how it could be particularly good for certain instrument situations. It does not seem like it would be suited very well for most vocals.
@@SpunkyTheMunky000 It still gets used for that purpose, nevertheless - a pal with a deep, weighty voice did some recording a couple of years ago, and the mic the studio team chose for him was an AT4033a. I guess it suits some voices. I don't think it's for me, especially. It certainly can be made to work with a bit of eq effort, but the less eq work I have to do, the happier and more confident I am.
Frequency curves on AT website shows an almost perfectly flat response for the 4040 and a lot of peaks a deeps for the 4033. Also, don't forget 4033 is an electret from 91 and 4040 a "real condenser" from 2000's.They do not share the same S/N ratio (77dB for the 4033 and 82dB for its brother. This is why you hear more room with the 4040). This said, I think 4033 as much more character in it.
Yes, it's the Chatham. Go to the ABC Notation website and search for 'Chatham' and it'll pop up. A band I play with makes a pair of it with Bewick's Hornpipe, which is another really good tune and is also findable on that website.
@@Realtalkyou08 I think the 40 is wider and needs a treated room more, but is more natural. It doesn't seem to need the eq at 550Hz that the 33 requires. I also think the 40 can benefit from a bit of warming up somewhere in the 150kHz sort of range, however. I need to use it again to figure that out properly.
@@GavinAtkin okay, I have the 4033a but my room is terrible so I can get the best out of the mic. My next place I plan to treat the room and even buy a quieter laptop as well.
I guess I hoped people would hear what I hear, and ask about it! I'm also a bit reluctant to express strong opinions as my experience and knowledge is limited and I'm an older musician who must have fairly tired hearing by now. But here goes... I think the AT4040 sounds the most natural and that the AT4033a has a distinct nasal quality that shows up on the sound sources I used. On other sources, if course, it may sound good or may not be noticeable. Looking at the frequency response curve published by AT reveals a small moderately wide 2dB peak in the frequency response around 560-580Hz. Experimenting after I made this video, I found that pulling down just that area in the eq by a few dB makes a big difference. Once that's done, I think the AT4033a sounds open and pleasant and very nice overall. I can see why it became popular. I also notice that the AT4040 lets in a little more room sound than the At4033a. The 4040 seems to have a wider cardioid pattern. This is more likely to be an issue for folks recording in their homes and who do not have professional room treatment. Where this causes problems in recording, the answer is likely to be either placing the mic closer to the source and/or temporary or permanent room treatment. I hope this helps!
![@Lộ Trình Tập Luyện Kỹ Năng Hợp Âm [ Bài số 2]](/img/1.gif)
I made this video some months ago now. What do I think now?
I think the AT4040 sounds the most natural and that the AT4033a has a distinct nasal quality that shows up on the sound sources I used.
On other sources, if course, it may sound good or may not be noticeable.
Looking at the frequency response curve published by AT reveals a small moderately wide 2dB peak in the frequency response around 560-580Hz. Experimenting after I made this video, I found that pulling down just that area in the eq by a few dB makes a big difference. Once that's done, I think the AT4033a sounds open and pleasant and very nice overall. I can see why it became popular.
I also notice that the AT4040 lets in a little more room sound than the At4033a. The cardioid pattern of the AT4040 seems to be wider.
This is more likely to be an issue for folks recording in their homes and who do not have professional room treatment. Where room sounds cause problems in recording, the answer is likely to be either placing the mic closer to the source and/or temporary or permanent room treatment.
That is a great observation and very useful to know. I too find the 4033 to be nasally with some sources, which I usually switch to a small diaphragm mic but I will try this next time. Thank you
@@Espresso101 I hope it works for you. Let me know please!
Thanks for making this video, it was very helpful. I much preferred the 4040. The 4033 was too harsh to me, but I could see how it could be particularly good for certain instrument situations. It does not seem like it would be suited very well for most vocals.
@@SpunkyTheMunky000 It still gets used for that purpose, nevertheless - a pal with a deep, weighty voice did some recording a couple of years ago, and the mic the studio team chose for him was an AT4033a.
I guess it suits some voices. I don't think it's for me, especially. It certainly can be made to work with a bit of eq effort, but the less eq work I have to do, the happier and more confident I am.
Frequency curves on AT website shows an almost perfectly flat response for the 4040 and a lot of peaks a deeps for the 4033. Also, don't forget 4033 is an electret from 91 and 4040 a "real condenser" from 2000's.They do not share the same S/N ratio (77dB for the 4033 and 82dB for its brother. This is why you hear more room with the 4040). This said, I think 4033 as much more character in it.
I'm not sure about the mics but I love the tune! I've never heard that one before.
Thanks - and now I can't remember it's name! Perhaps it'll come to me.
It's The Chatham Hornpipe, I think. Most ports of any size in England have a hornpipe named after them.
Yes, it's the Chatham. Go to the ABC Notation website and search for 'Chatham' and it'll pop up. A band I play with makes a pair of it with Bewick's Hornpipe, which is another really good tune and is also findable on that website.
@@GavinAtkin Thanks, I found it
The 33a needs a treated room but sounds pretty good on vocals.
@@Realtalkyou08 I think the 40 is wider and needs a treated room more, but is more natural. It doesn't seem to need the eq at 550Hz that the 33 requires. I also think the 40 can benefit from a bit of warming up somewhere in the 150kHz sort of range, however. I need to use it again to figure that out properly.
@@GavinAtkin okay, I have the 4033a but my room is terrible so I can get the best out of the mic. My next place I plan to treat the room and even buy a quieter laptop as well.
would be a great video if you shared your opinion at the end - still good job!
I guess I hoped people would hear what I hear, and ask about it! I'm also a bit reluctant to express strong opinions as my experience and knowledge is limited and I'm an older musician who must have fairly tired hearing by now. But here goes...
I think the AT4040 sounds the most natural and that the AT4033a has a distinct nasal quality that shows up on the sound sources I used.
On other sources, if course, it may sound good or may not be noticeable.
Looking at the frequency response curve published by AT reveals a small moderately wide 2dB peak in the frequency response around 560-580Hz. Experimenting after I made this video, I found that pulling down just that area in the eq by a few dB makes a big difference. Once that's done, I think the AT4033a sounds open and pleasant and very nice overall. I can see why it became popular.
I also notice that the AT4040 lets in a little more room sound than the At4033a. The 4040 seems to have a wider cardioid pattern.
This is more likely to be an issue for folks recording in their homes and who do not have professional room treatment. Where this causes problems in recording, the answer is likely to be either placing the mic closer to the source and/or temporary or permanent room treatment.
I hope this helps!
0:33, 1:17
i literally cannot tell the difference between the two, if I didn’t know any better, i’d assume they’re the same microphone
What are you listening through?
@@GavinAtkin through my ATH M50s
@@cosmochoom That's interesting. With my Beyerdynamic DT990s the at4033 definitely has a more nasal quality that I think will suit some sources.
@@GavinAtkin I plan on doing vo work with the 4040, and if the 4033 is inferior to the 4040, then I think I made the right call