AT 4041

The Audio Technica AT4041 is a great microphone to own two of, because it works excellent in a stereo pair. Its clean, crisp, low priced, and competes well with much higher priced microphones.

The AT4041 is a small diaphragm condenser microphone, and it has a bass roll off switch, which is very useful as well.

I've used it as a pair; for drum overheads, live recordings, ambient micing, acoustic guitar, and I believe that a pair would be great for many more applications. The response of the microphone is very quick and precise.

As drum overheads, the mics captures the whole drum set very realistic. I've used them as drum overheads numerous times.

-In an XY set up - They capture the drum set with ease. The cymbals shimmer, the snare cracks, and the toms sing.   The bass drum cuts through, but doesn't possess the oomph that I've gotten from the AT4040s used in the same situations. But the AT4041s do a better job capturing the cymbals and attacks of the drums. If a bass drum mic is added the drum set sounds awesome. I especially like putting them through my Grace 201 microphone preamp. This style of micing works well for capturing the drums realistically, and is good for styles along the lines of Jazz.

-I find I typically use these microphones in an A B micing positing to create more emphasis on capturing the cymbals, and have the bass roll off turned on. I then add one microphone for each drum, and achieve very good results for any style along the lines of Rock and Hip Hop.

A pair of AT4041a work excellent as stereo field microphones.   In the few times recording acoustic guitar, they provided a superb sound to mesh well in the recording.

I am very happy with the AT4041s and especially like using them in traditional stereo micing techniques. Check out my review of the AT4040 for a good large diaphragm alternative to this microphone. - Adam