Heres some reviews from some guys in the industry.
We have an old U47fet and really I haven’t heard anything that's as good on bass guitars. I just use it every time as it just seems to have it all for the bass. I probably don’t use the mic as much as I should but I will occasionally use it for vocals, though I think that it lacks a bit of mid range clarity compared to the U87s. However it does have a lovely top end and of course the bottom is really round and full so I guess it works well on particular singers. I have tried the Neumann U47 on most things over the years but I haven't really tried it on drums just because of the shear physical size of it sometimes its hard to get something that big into a drum kit. I've always been a bit scared of putting it in front of kick drum because it is getting on a bit now but I know that some people think its the killer kick drum mic and companies like Soundlux are bringing out mics designed to emulate the U47. Another is the Audio Technica 4047SV, a mic that I have just got to know and really like. One thing I've done a lot is use it on acoustic guitars about 3 or 4 foot away with something like a KM84 closer in for the detail and I think it works because it doesn't push the midrange around 500 Hz which I just hate. All in all a classic.
Audio Technica 4047/SV
The Audio Technica 4047/sv design is based on the early Fet mics, namely the U47 fet from which it gets its name and the amplifier is transformer coupled with a specially tuned element intended to emulate the fantastic bottom end of the classic German mic. It's not quite as detailed in the highs as the other Audio Technica studio mic, the 4050, but the top end has a very distinctive mellow/ velvety character that really gives it a special feel. The mic has a dual diaphragm, cardioid polar pattern and a maximum input sound level of 149 dB SPL which means it can handle some serious volume. It's typical self-noise is only 9 dB SPL (A-weighted) so at maximum SPL it has a dynamic range of 140 dB.The mic is finished in matt silver unlike the usual AT studio range of black mics and at the bottom of the body a pair of switches engage a 10 dB pad and a 12 dB/octave, 80 Hz low-cut filter.
Recording
When I worked in the studio full time I discovered that I could get a great kick drum sound by using a large diaphragm dynamic such as a D12 or Sennheiser 421 inside the drum near the beater but the secret weapon was to use
the Neumann U47 fet a few inches outside the front skin. The bottom end on the Neumann was like nothing else I could get from the other mics in the studio, so when I heard that Audio Technica had designed a mic to emulate the characteristics of the 47 fet I went out and bought one for the mobile. I had always liked the sound of the Audio Technica mics and they seem very good value for money. The Audio Technica 4047 is very attractive with its matt silver finish. It's a solidly built piece of kit and comes with a very nice shock mount. To emulate the Neumann, the amplifier is transformer coupled and has a specially tuned element to create that "oh my god" bottom end of the original and while it still doesn’t have all the character of the Neumann it's a great option for anyone who can't find/afford the original. It really is great on close headed kick drums about 8" off the front head and aimed dead centre it gives a really nice balance of highs and lows. Obviously most kick drums are pretty heavily EQ'd and compressed but the more you have to start with, the better the end result. So while the bottom end is pretty good the Audio Technica 4047 also has a really nice top end and while it's not quite as detailed in the highs as some other large diaphragm condensers it sounds great on most acoustic instruments and vocals. It's a very smooth classy top end and I always use it on female vocals but whatever you use it on won't disappoint. It's obviously good on bass instruments but I've used it on loud rock guitars with great success. All in all a really smooth performer that makes a pretty good job of anything you throw at it. Occasionally on a mobile I set up a mid and side pair closer to the choir than the Soundfield for some more detail and the AT 4047 is great as the mid mic with plenty of output and very quiet. It would be very interesting if AT made a multi pattern version.JR.
Having been a recording engineer for nearly thirty years it now takes quite a lot to get me enthusing about mics but occasionally one comes my way which is a delight to use. The AT4047 is just such a one. I have rarely used a mic which is so versatile, being capable of accurately reproducing many different sound sources well and the attenuator and Hi pass switch make this a fantastically flexible and capable studio mic.
I've used it on everything from guitars (acoustic and electric), vocals, bass guitar, percussion and even in a bass drum. It's quiet, efficient, robust and well built.
Even recording some Tibetan singing bowls at incredibly low volumes caused no noise problems. Granted the mic was going through a hi quality preamp but the singing bowls can highlight problems you never knew existed. But not with the 4047. It is frightened of nothing and with some accurate placement gives a smooth response across the frequency range and can handle high SPLs.
It's a great mic to reach for when your U87 is just a little too revealing on that female singer with a very peaky voice or that guitar combo which is just a tad too gritty for other condensers.
The 4047 has a wonderful way of smoothing and rounding signals with losing any of the attack or compromising the transients in a performance. A true all-rounder.
It's not often I say this but if you are looking for a mic to do most of your home recording with and have around £300 to spend then this is one of the strongest candidates. If you can afford a nice preamp and compressor to go with it then you will have a set up which will stand you in excellent stead for a long, long time.
The 4047 is the only Audio Technica mic I have direct experience of but hopefully we may get chance to use some others in the range soon. JS
