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Audio-Technica AT4081 Active Ribbon Microphone

Active Ribbon Microphone with Low-profile Body, Figure-8 Pickup Pattern, and Phantom-powered Electronics
$749.00

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Audio-Technica AT4081 Active Ribbon Microphone
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This A-T Ribbon Mic is Sure to be Active in Your Studio!

The Audio-Technica AT4081 active ribbon microphone gives you the amazingly smooth and natural sound of a quality ribbon mic, but also adds a higher output than you'd expect! A-T built the AT4081 around their revolutionary, active ribbon transducer — but the AT4081's slender build more closely resembles that of a pencil condenser microphone body, which allows you to place it in wide variety of positions. Given its low-profile design and versatile placement options, the great-sounding AT4081 is ideal for miking strings, horns, drum overheads, and guitar cabinets.

Audio-Technica AT4081 Active Ribbon Microphone at a Glance:
  • Classic ribbon sound, modern capabilities
  • Tough, innovative ribbon design
  • Step up to 40 series quality

Classic ribbon sound, modern capabilities
Delivering the warmth and natural sound of a classic ribbon microphone, Audio-Technica's handcrafted AT4081 offers a robust build for long-lasting performance and higher output for maximum compatibility with microphone preamplifiers. With its low-profile stick design, this microphone is a natural for use on a wide range of instruments (horns, strings, drum overheads, orchestras and more) and guitar cabinets in recording studios and live-sound settings.

Tough, innovative ribbon design
Equally at home in recording studios and live-sound settings, the microphone features Audio-Technica's innovative MicroLinear ribbon imprint, which protects the dual ribbons from lateral flexing and distortion. Audio-Technica's innovative ribbon transducer advances the evolution of ribbon microphone design!

Step up to 40 series quality
Audio-Technica's 40 series microphones let you capture great sound, and they let you do it the way you want. Designed from the ground up for premium performance, these 40 series mics are also built to keep on performing over the long haul — any of the great mics in this series makes a perfect addition to your mic locker! Best of all, these 40 series mics provide top-shelf A-T quality that's suitable for elite studio facilities — at prices that put them well within your reach!

Audio-Technica AT4081 Active Ribbon Microphone Features:
  • Low-profile stick design maximizes placement options
  • Smooth, warm and natural sound tuned for instrument reproduction
  • Audio-Technica ribbon design with 18 patents pending including proprietary MicroLinear ribbon imprint for superior durability
  • Innovative dual ribbon construction for increased sensitivity
  • Extremely powerful N50 neodymium magnets for high output level
  • Superfine mesh guards against ribbon damage
  • High SPL capability and extended frequency response
  • Handmade production, including ribbon corrugation, imprint and assembly
  • Phantom-powered active electronics provide stable impedance and higher output for maximum compatibility with microphone preamps
  • Polar pattern: Figure-8
  • Frequency response: 30Hz-18kHz
  • Open circuit sensitivity: -42dB (7.9 mV) dB re 1V at 1 Pa
  • Impedance: 100 ohms
  • Max input sound level: 150dB SPL, 1kHz at 1% T.H.D.
  • Noise: 25dB SPL
  • Dynamic range (typical): Mid - 125dB, 1kHz at Max SPL
  • Signal-to-noise ratio: 69dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa
  • Weight: 5.4 oz.
  • Dimensions: 6.1" length; 0.83" maximum body diameter
  • Output connectors: Integral 3-pin XLRM-type
  • Included accessories: AT8471 isolation clamp for 5/8"-27 threaded stands; 5/8"-27 threaded adapter; windscreen; protective carrying case
  • Requires +48V phantom power
The Audio-Technica AT4081 active ribbon microphone gives you A-T quality, a low-profile design, and classic ribbon-mic sound!

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Tech Specs

  • Microphone Type: Ribbon
  • Ribbon Type: MicroLinear Dual Ribbon
  • Polar Pattern: Figure-8
  • Frequency Response: 30Hz-18kHz
  • Max SPL: 150dB
  • Output Impedance: 100 ohms
  • Signal to Noise Ratio: 69dB
  • Self Noise: 25dB
  • Connector: XLR
  • Weight: 0.34 lbs.
  • Included Accessories: Shock Mount, Windscreen, Carry Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: AT4081

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Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

This shouldn’t be the sleeper microphone that it is…

So I bought a pair of these a few months ago and just tried them on an acoustic guitar. Unbelievably good! To make sure I wasn't just hearing things I put up several other microphones in my collection including some vintage and modern tube microphones and other ribbons and the 4081 was better than most of them and equal to microphones that were a lot more expensive. 100% worth buying.
Rated 5/5

Lovin' it on Acoustic and Vox!

Probably the best sounding mic I own right now. I have a shure sm7b and an AT4033/cl and a blue bluebird among others, but I really dig this mic. I'm a small studio and I don't have the best pre amps (presonus studio channel) but this mic makes the most out of what I have.
Rated 4.5/5

love this sound

I like the character of AT mics, this is perhaps there most natural sounding mic. I bought this from watching online videos, when it arrived I was very pleased with its clarity, smoothness, lack of hype in the top end. The bass is of course ribbon like and very warm and some of the low mids needed eq on my recordings but I do believe that after using this in a straight forward mid-side recording of classical guitar that I couldn't have got a better sound without spending another $500. The sound this mic captured with my tascam UH7000 was such a good clean palate that my mastering engineer was able to convert it into something worthy of Deutsche Grammaphon. I'm thinking about a second one now for future stereo recording.
As a side note it feels and looks great, perhaps one of the most aesthetic mics ever made (its like a lady) with refined and detailed shapes. I think the ribbon holes are a great innovation too.
Music background: Bachelor Music 1st class honours
Rated 4.5/5

Sweet Tone

Great ribbon sound...enough said.
Music background: Hobbyist
Rated 4/5

My new favorite guitar amp mic

Stick it in front of an amp a hand width away. I run it flat with a bit of HPF. Sits in the mix effortlessly.

Not 5 star because the ribbon makes it not as rugged as I'd like for a road mic.
Music background: 25+ yrs live FOH engineer.

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What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?

Carson McClain

Gold stars across the board for the Audio-Technica AT4081! Here in the studio, we recently recorded some vocals and guitars with it, and the results were great. Sure, there are other more expensive ribbon mics out there, but after hearing an acoustic guitar sound so rich and full, a Fender amp producing thick and crunchy tones, and such warm and present vocals, I would personally choose this mic.
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