ETL-Louise
The Ear Trumpet Labs Louise Condenser Microphone is made from materials like, brass, copper, junked metal and found objects. This highly industrial looking range of studio condenser microphones look like a pieces of art. Louise combines her 1930s broadcast stylistic heritage with modern transparent sound designed specifically for live micing small acoustic groups. She is designed to maintain a consistent, full sound from six inches to three or four feet distant, with an exceptionally natural tone. Cardioid pickup pattern (directional) with great rejection of off-pattern sound makes for easy use in a live mix, with the best feedback rejection available for this purpose. Extremely stylish, yet unobtrusive when in use. The chrome pivoting joint between the ring and body is an elegant visual touch and allows for extra flexibility in placement. The open basket and capsule suspension allows a remarkably clear, vivid, detailed sound that works great in studio recordings too.
Type: Condenser Microphones
Ear Trumpet Labs are boutique American mic manufacturers whose unique selling point is a slightly bizarre desire to construct microphones using junk metal — for want of a better description! Philip Graham, the company's proprietor, describes himself as a 'bricoleur' — bricolage meaning the 'art of assemblage', or making artwork from found or re-purposed objects and materials. Apparently the French root of the word means to fiddle or tinker, which seems quite appropriate!
ETL mics look like they've been knocked together from the debris shaken out of a a plumber's toolbox or found on a bicycle-repair shop floor, but don't be fooled: despite some design hints at early broadcast mics, the Ear Trumpet Labs range isn't about old reproductions of anything specific — these are all original 'assemblages', although the preamp circuitry is derived from a classic transformerless Schoeps design....Sound On Sound