Description

The IS-6 Outdoor Parabolic Microphone is an integrated system. There are no loose parts to be purchased separately and put together by you. The unit is shipped with 2 clip-on earphones, mains charger and car charging cord all in a heavy duty storage bag.

The unit consists of three essential elements:
The parabolic reflector, the SME (Supersensitive Mic Element) and the wind-shield.

The SME is a special arrangement of microphone capsule placed together in such a way that the signal produced by the elements are always exactly in phase, irrespective of the position of the sound source relative to the capsules. Two capsules are better than one – twice the signal output. Not only do the built-in NI-Cad batteries provide long periods of use between charging cycles, they are also cost effective means of providing the power required for the system. Recharging can be done by means of a mains charger or the 12v charging cord which connects to the cigarette lighter of a motor car. The mains charger and the charging cord are supplied with IS-6.

The reflector is made of Aluminium which has been accurately shaped to form a parabola. Aluminium is lighter than polycarbonate or fibreglass and has proved to be sufficiently strong enough to withstand the rigorous handling that a product of this nature is likely to receive in normal use outdoors. Due to its low mass, this microphone is comfortable to use for extended periods in the bush.

The windshield is an integral part of the system. While it provides a limited form of protection for the SME, its main function is to reduce the effect of air movement caused by the wind in the immediate vicinity of the SME. Highly sensitive microphones are prone to this form of interference but the windshield used on the IS-6 is so effective that this microphone can be used in conditions which would normally render other microphones useless.

The universal mounting bracket incorporated in the IS-6 allows the microphone to be fitted to any conventional microphone stand or camera tripod. For the normal handheld use, the handle supplied with the unit is fitted to the bracket. Handling noise is minimised by the open cell polyurethane foam hand grip.

By designing the system to have a focal point well within the perimeter of the reflector, not only is the SME protected from damage but peripheral sound pick-up is greatly reduced. Due to the high sensitivity of the SME, it has been possible to design and manufacture a compact, highly efficient outdoor microphone with excellent directional properties that make it ideal for the location and recording of sound.

The Brodan outdoor amplifier provides the option of using the IS-6 without a tape recorder. This compact, lightweight device features two headphones sockets, a volume control, a recording output socket and a connection to the IS-6. The amplifier is powered by means of a single 9-volt battery. The unit has been designed with a belt clip for ease of handling – simply clip it on your belt and you have one less thing to carry.