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Coles 4038

October 31, 2023

The Coles 4038 is a ribbon microphone produced by Coles Electroacoustics. The microphone was designed and patented by the BBC in the 1950s[1] and was originally known as the STC 4038.[2] The sound of the microphone has been described as "British" with a "BBC politeness",[3] and its appearance has been likened to that of a waffle iron.[4] It is used in both sound recording and radio broadcasting.[5]

Two Coles 4038 microphones on display at the Beatles Story

History edit

The microphone was designed by the BBC in 1953 and the prototype was assigned the model number BBC PGS/1.[6] It was designed as a result of the BBC's request for a strong and affordable microphone that was smaller than previous models[7] (such as the Type A). The 4038 was an improvement on the Type A's frequency response, and was described as "less obtrusive".[8]

The microphone was produced by Standard Telephones and Cables[9] before their manufacturing was transferred to Coles in the mid-1970s.[10] Since its design in the 1950s, the technical specifications of the 4038 have remained unchanged.[11]

Use edit

Recording edit

In recording environments, the 4038 is often used as drum overheads and on brass instruments.[3][12] The microphone became a favourite of British recording engineers in the 1950s and 60s, but did not receive widespread use in the United States.[12] The microphone was described as recording sounds "bigger than life" – such as drums or amplified guitars – some Beatles and Led Zeppelin recordings featured 4038s as overhead microphones on the drum kit.[13][14]

In a 1994 interview, Steve Albini said that "if [he] owned one mic, this would be it".[1] Albini has also commented that "really nothing beats them as an overhead on a drum kit".[14]

Broadcast edit

At one point, Bush House (home of the BBC World Service) used the 4038 almost exclusively.[15]

Technical edit

The 4038's frequency response is flat, with a range of approximately 30–15,000 Hz.[16] The attenuation of high frequencies reduces sibilance on vocals, but also reduces detail.[3]

The microphone uses a bi-directional polar pattern.[17]

The microphone is connected using a Western Electric jack connector designated 4069, which adapts the microphone's 3-pin output to a standard XLR connector.[18]

Sensitivity (at 1,000 Hz Open Circuit Voltage)
-65dB re: 1 Volt/Pa[19]
Impedance
300 ohms
Produced
1950s–present

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b Schultz (2000, p. 72)
  2. ^ White (2010)
  3. ^ a b c Cotton (2007)
  4. ^ Fuston (2008)
  5. ^ Leonard (2001, p. 43)
  6. ^ Shaw (2008)
  7. ^ Streicher & Dooley (1997, p. 2)
  8. ^ Institution of Electrical Engineers (1961, p. 286)
  9. ^ Standard Telephones and Cables (1961, p. 2)
  10. ^ Coutant (2009)
  11. ^ Electronic musician (2005, p. 54)
  12. ^ a b Owsinski (2004, p. 40)
  13. ^ Streicher & Dooley (1997, p. 3)
  14. ^ a b Shechmeister (2011)
  15. ^ Hi-Fi News (1997, p. 57)
  16. ^ Coles (2002a)
  17. ^ Coles (2002b)
  18. ^ Standard Telephones and Cables (1961, p. 4)
  19. ^ Dooley (2006)

Sources edit

  • Coles (2002a), , Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire: Coles Electroacoustics Ltd., archived from the original on 8 July 2011, retrieved 5 May 2011
  • Coles (2002b), , Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire: Coles Electroacoustics Ltd., archived from the original on 4 March 2011, retrieved 5 May 2011
  • Coutant, Stan (2009), STC Brochures, Drums, PA: Coutant.org, retrieved 5 May 2011
  • Cotton, Jon (2007), Ribbon Mics On Test, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Sound on Sound, retrieved 5 May 2011
  • Dooley, Wes (2006), (PDF), Pasadena, CA: Audio Engineering Associates, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2011, retrieved 8 May 2011
  • Electronic musician (2005), Electronic Musician, vol. 21, New York, NY: Penton Media, retrieved 5 May 2011
  • Fuston, Lynn (2008), "Coles Electroacoustics 4038", EQ Magazine, Recording Hacks, retrieved 25 September 2011
  • Hi-Fi News (1997), Issues 1-6, vol. 42, Poole, Dorset: Link House Publications, retrieved 8 May 2011
  • Institution of Electrical Engineers (1961), The Proceedings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers Part 2, vol. 108, London: The Institution, retrieved 8 May 2011
  • Leonard, John A (2001), Theatre Sound, Abingdon, Oxfordshire: Routledge, ISBN 0-87830-116-X
  • Owsinski, Bobby (2004), The Recording Engineer's Handbook, Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard, ISBN 1-932929-00-2
  • Schultz, Barbara (2000), Music Producers: Conversations with Today's Top Hit Makers, Milwaukee, WI: Hal Leonard, ISBN 0-87288-730-8
  • Shaw, Alan A (2008), , Haywards Heath, West Sussex: Harbeth Loudspeakers, archived from the original on 7 October 2010, retrieved 5 May 2011
  • Shechmeister, Matthew (11 January 2011), Relics Reborn: Ribbon Microphones Rally for Vintage-Audio Geeks, San Francisco, California: Wired Magazine, retrieved 8 May 2011
  • Standard Telephones and Cables (1961), 4038 Ribbon Microphone (PDF), London: STC, retrieved 5 May 2011
  • Streicher, Ron; Dooley, Wes (1997), (PDF), Pasadena, CA: Audio Engineering Associates, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2011, retrieved 5 May 2011
  • White, Paul (2010), NI Abbey Road 60s Drums Sample Library, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Sound on Sound, retrieved 8 May 2011

Further reading edit

  • Shorter, D E L; Harwood, H D (1955), "The Design of a Ribbon Type Pressure Gradient Microphone" (PDF), BBC Engineering Division's Monograph #4, London: British Broadcasting Corporation

October 31, 2023
coles, 4038, ribbon, microphone, produced, coles, electroacoustics, microphone, designed, patented, 1950s, originally, known, 4038, sound, microphone, been, described, british, with, politeness, appearance, been, likened, that, waffle, iron, used, both, sound,. The Coles 4038 is a ribbon microphone produced by Coles Electroacoustics The microphone was designed and patented by the BBC in the 1950s 1 and was originally known as the STC 4038 2 The sound of the microphone has been described as British with a BBC politeness 3 and its appearance has been likened to that of a waffle iron 4 It is used in both sound recording and radio broadcasting 5 Two Coles 4038 microphones on display at the Beatles Story Contents 1 History 2 Use 2 1 Recording 2 2 Broadcast 3 Technical 4 Footnotes 5 Sources 6 Further readingHistory editThe microphone was designed by the BBC in 1953 and the prototype was assigned the model number BBC PGS 1 6 It was designed as a result of the BBC s request for a strong and affordable microphone that was smaller than previous models 7 such as the Type A The 4038 was an improvement on the Type A s frequency response and was described as less obtrusive 8 The microphone was produced by Standard Telephones and Cables 9 before their manufacturing was transferred to Coles in the mid 1970s 10 Since its design in the 1950s the technical specifications of the 4038 have remained unchanged 11 Use editRecording edit In recording environments the 4038 is often used as drum overheads and on brass instruments 3 12 The microphone became a favourite of British recording engineers in the 1950s and 60s but did not receive widespread use in the United States 12 The microphone was described as recording sounds bigger than life such as drums or amplified guitars some Beatles and Led Zeppelin recordings featured 4038s as overhead microphones on the drum kit 13 14 In a 1994 interview Steve Albini said that if he owned one mic this would be it 1 Albini has also commented that really nothing beats them as an overhead on a drum kit 14 Broadcast edit At one point Bush House home of the BBC World Service used the 4038 almost exclusively 15 Technical editThe 4038 s frequency response is flat with a range of approximately 30 15 000 Hz 16 The attenuation of high frequencies reduces sibilance on vocals but also reduces detail 3 The microphone uses a bi directional polar pattern 17 The microphone is connected using a Western Electric jack connector designated 4069 which adapts the microphone s 3 pin output to a standard XLR connector 18 Sensitivity at 1 000 Hz Open Circuit Voltage 65dB re 1 Volt Pa 19 Impedance 300 ohms Produced 1950s presentFootnotes edit a b Schultz 2000 p 72 White 2010 a b c Cotton 2007 Fuston 2008 Leonard 2001 p 43 Shaw 2008 Streicher amp Dooley 1997 p 2 Institution of Electrical Engineers 1961 p 286 Standard Telephones and Cables 1961 p 2 Coutant 2009 Electronic musician 2005 p 54 a b Owsinski 2004 p 40 Streicher amp Dooley 1997 p 3 a b Shechmeister 2011 Hi Fi News 1997 p 57 Coles 2002a Coles 2002b Standard Telephones and Cables 1961 p 4 Dooley 2006 Sources editColes 2002a 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone Hoddesdon Hertfordshire Coles Electroacoustics Ltd archived from the original on 8 July 2011 retrieved 5 May 2011 Coles 2002b 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone Technical Specification Hoddesdon Hertfordshire Coles Electroacoustics Ltd archived from the original on 4 March 2011 retrieved 5 May 2011 Coutant Stan 2009 STC Brochures Drums PA Coutant org retrieved 5 May 2011 Cotton Jon 2007 Ribbon Mics On Test Cambridge Cambridgeshire Sound on Sound retrieved 5 May 2011 Dooley Wes 2006 Coles 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone PDF Pasadena CA Audio Engineering Associates archived from the original PDF on 28 September 2011 retrieved 8 May 2011 Electronic musician 2005 Electronic Musician vol 21 New York NY Penton Media retrieved 5 May 2011 Fuston Lynn 2008 Coles Electroacoustics 4038 EQ Magazine Recording Hacks retrieved 25 September 2011 Hi Fi News 1997 Issues 1 6 vol 42 Poole Dorset Link House Publications retrieved 8 May 2011 Institution of Electrical Engineers 1961 The Proceedings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers Part 2 vol 108 London The Institution retrieved 8 May 2011 Leonard John A 2001 Theatre Sound Abingdon Oxfordshire Routledge ISBN 0 87830 116 X Owsinski Bobby 2004 The Recording Engineer s Handbook Milwaukee WI Hal Leonard ISBN 1 932929 00 2 Schultz Barbara 2000 Music Producers Conversations with Today s Top Hit Makers Milwaukee WI Hal Leonard ISBN 0 87288 730 8 Shaw Alan A 2008 BBC Monitors 1922 1960 Haywards Heath West Sussex Harbeth Loudspeakers archived from the original on 7 October 2010 retrieved 5 May 2011 Shechmeister Matthew 11 January 2011 Relics Reborn Ribbon Microphones Rally for Vintage Audio Geeks San Francisco California Wired Magazine retrieved 8 May 2011 Standard Telephones and Cables 1961 4038 Ribbon Microphone PDF London STC retrieved 5 May 2011 Streicher Ron Dooley Wes 1997 Coles 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone User s Guide PDF Pasadena CA Audio Engineering Associates archived from the original PDF on 28 September 2011 retrieved 5 May 2011 White Paul 2010 NI Abbey Road 60s Drums Sample Library Cambridge Cambridgeshire Sound on Sound retrieved 8 May 2011Further reading editShorter D E L Harwood H D 1955 The Design of a Ribbon Type Pressure Gradient Microphone PDF BBC Engineering Division s Monograph 4 London British Broadcasting Corporation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coles 4038 amp oldid 1163532911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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