BBC STC 4038 Pair of Bidirectional Ribbon Microphones
The Coles 4038 was developed in the BBC’s laboratories, which designed and adopted it as a daily work tool for broadcast and studio sessions requiring a clear and defined response, zero distortion on transients, and high fidelity recording. This selected stereo pair provides you with two matched units of the same bidirectional ribbon microphone, ensuring a stable stereo image and identical tonal character across both channels.
The principle is simple: anything the microphone fails to capture during recording cannot be recovered, not even with the best editing or the most sophisticated post-production. The 4038 excels precisely in this regard, capturing the sound source with a naturalness and smoothness that have made it an industry standard for decades.
Designed by the British Broadcasting Corporation and manufactured by STC, and later by Coles Electroacoustics, the 4038 has been used by the BBC since its introduction. This choice speaks volumes: for a broadcaster that has made audio quality a global benchmark, the microphone had to guarantee consistency, durability, and faithful sound day after day. Even today, it can be found in the most prestigious recording studios, particularly prized as a drum overhead, for brass, strings, spoken vocals, and acoustic ensembles.
All Coles microphones are tested in an environment free from field interference. For a stereo pair, this check is crucial: two capsules with aligned response and sensitivity ensure a centered image and a natural stereo image, without the need for post-processing corrections.
The Coles 4038’s frequency response is exceptionally linear across the entire usable range. The result is a balanced sound, free of harshness in the high frequencies and with a full, well-defined midrange. With bright sources, such as cymbals and brass, this character delivers detail without harshness, giving you room to work with during mixing.
The figure-8 pattern maintains its shape essentially constant at all frequencies, both vertically and horizontally. In practice, the off-axis sound remains consistent with the on-axis sound: the room is captured naturally, and the side nulls are predictable—a real advantage when you need to isolate a sound source or manage feedback. With two identical figure-of-eight patterns, you also have the classic Blumlein configuration at your disposal, one of the most realistic stereo techniques available.
The transducer uses a damped, low-mass ribbon designed to control the transient response. Attacks are reproduced with precision, without the distortion and artificial emphasis typical of less accurate transducers, with distortion remaining below 1% even at 125 dB SPL.
The internal wiring is designed to neutralize hum, while magnetic shielding between the ribbon and the line transformer attenuates magnetic interference by 30 to 40 dB. This detail makes all the difference in studio and broadcast environments, where power supplies, cables, and equipment generate electromagnetic fields.
The solid, perforated brass housing protects the capsule without altering its response. The hinged connections allow for 90° vertical rotation and horizontal orientation in any direction—whether the microphone is mounted on a stand or suspended—for quick and precise positioning.
With a sensitivity of -65 dB re 1 V/Pa and an impedance of 300 ohms, the Coles 4038 pair performs best with a clean microphone preamp offering ample gain, capable of bringing out its character without adding noise.
Technical Specifications: Coles 4038 Stereo Pair
Power Type
Passive
€ 2.565,00 € 2.119,83 + VAT
Normally shipped in 10-15 working days
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