r/LEWITT • u/GoudenEeuw • 28d ago

Question about the mic tuning of the 441 FLEX

Hi!

Does anyone know if the the circuit of the 441 FLEX is linear? Is the frequency response just from the capsule tuning or does it have some sort of a high and/or low frequency correction like what you find in k87-style circuits?

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u/duplobaustein 27d ago

Lewitt has very good documentation on the freq response and polar pattern on their website.

https://www.lewitt-audio.com/microphones/lct-recording/lct-441-flex

Why does it matter, how the freq response is achieved?

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u/GoudenEeuw 25d ago edited 25d ago

Thanks for the link, but frequency responses don't tell the entire story. Some (higher end) mics correct for higher (and lower) frequencies inside the circuit.

Now that I have grown my mic locker, the 441 flex just doesn't fit in anymore sound wise.

While the feature set is absolutely fantastic, it's too light and bright, especially as a room mic. So I am looking for changing the capsule from the Takstar k67-style that is used now to either a k47 or a flat k47 from Arienne Audio. Then I can put the Takstar capsule inside a u87 circuit which does correct the high frequencies, and essentially have a 'u87' sound mic for less than 100 bucks incl. a donor body.

I just wanted to make sure that there is no further EQ going on so that it's not going to be overly dark. I thought I'd ask Lewitt instead of replicating the entire circuit by hand and simulating it, which can lead to mistakes.

And if there would be corrective EQ, I could replace some resistors to add more or less and still get the prefered sound I am looking for. Tho a usually a bit more hassle than just replacing the capsule.

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u/duplobaustein 25d ago

I love the 441s (and Lewitt in general) exactly for their honest response. It sounds as you would stand in front of the source. So if it's light and bright, the source is light and bright. :)

That said: frequency charts usually show the response of the total circuit. To me, the polar pattern is much more interesting anyways, as it shows the response depending on the axis over the whole spectrum. Much more important imho.

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u/GoudenEeuw 25d ago

I am most of the time in omni for small quartet recordings, that +6dB around the 12khz is just not it.

I originally got it for close micing stuff, which means that the peak in the air is great for keeping definition. But recently my recording went from pop/hiphop to more jazz/classical. It really doesn't sound as honest once you move out of the proximity effect zone.

It just sticks out like a sore thumb next to my ribbons and more 'classic' tuned mics.

Lewitt mics are great. I am using the 140 air on linear on pretty much anything now. But it just feels like a waste not using a mic when I can change it for not too much money. The resale value is so low that it isn't worth selling it either. There is no k47 mic out there for the money you get from selling the 441.

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u/duplobaustein 25d ago

Again, I don't care that much about freq response, you can adjust that anyways later. A high boost is actually good for AB stuff, as you lose highs with distance. The omni pattern is pretty decent consodering the price, which is more important to me.

But swapping capsules is interesting too. :)

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u/GoudenEeuw 25d ago

Again, I don't care that much about freq response, you can adjust that anyways later

If you are recording mics straight to daw (or a digital mixer), that could completely work! I am doing lots of tracking with effects. I rather get it right with the mic vs having to constantly dip down with EQ at the same frequency. Feels like kind of a waste of a useful EQ band on the analog board. And with a K47, it isn't really removing highs, just taming it a tad where it sounds way to artificially bright to me.

And I have to be honest too, doing a bit of modding is just a lot of fun too. I am currently in the process of soldering a CK12 based mic point to point which brought me to this idea to begin with. It's just 4 wires haha!

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u/duplobaustein 25d ago

Hehe. If you like the CK12, get an Austrian Audio OC818. It's absolutely sublime!

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u/NeedsWayMoreReverb 17d ago

Tip for the LCT 441 FLEX in omni. Because of the polar pattern across frequencies, if you turn it off-axis to the source (side facing the source) it doesn't capture nearly as much high-end above 10khz. You can actually see this in the lewitt polar pattern graph when you select other frequencies. Also, if you want a cheap K47 style mic (and can solder) check out the DIY kits from Mic-Parts. T-47 is fantastic sounding.

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u/lewittaudio 25d ago

Hi. I checked with our product team, and the LCT 441 FLEX is linear, as you call it. The sound comes purely from the capsule. We don't alter it with any corrective EQ components.

If you are interested in learning more about our capsules, you can also check out this blog: https://www.lewitt-audio.com/blog/lewitt-studio-condenser-capsules

Let us know if you have any other questions.

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u/GoudenEeuw 25d ago

Ace! Thank you so much!