Detail 01
90° / 127° / M-S switch
Two fixed stereo widths, or raw mid-side out so you set width later in the mix instead of at the session.
Product detailSKU #1273887988968
Audio-TechnicaAT4050ST Stereo Condenser Microphone
1/5
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
A single-point stereo condenser with switchable width and true mid-side output. For engineers recording rooms, ensembles, drum overheads or ambience to two tracks.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Capturing a room, choir or ensemble from one stand position
- Drum overheads where you want a locked stereo image
- Location and film ambience that must stay mono-compatible
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Anyone with a single preamp channel — it needs two
- Handheld or live vocal duty at 517 grams
- Simple mono podcast or voiceover setups
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Cardioid and figure-of-eight capsules
Mid capsule aims forward, side capsule picks up left and right. Collapse to mono cleanly, which spaced pairs often will not.
Detail 03
5-pin XLR output, supplied 16.5 ft breakout cable
One cable off the mic splits to two 3-pin XLRs. Both channels ride together, so you need two inputs at the desk.
Detail 04
48V, 6.4 mA total draw
Higher current than a typical single condenser. Cheap phantom supplies and some multi-channel mixers sag when every channel is loaded.
Detail 05
149 dB max SPL, 10 dB pad
Handles drum kits and brass up close. Engage the pad before the preamp rather than after clipping the capsule.
Detail 06
80 Hz roll-off, 12 dB/octave
Trims floor rumble and HVAC at the mic. Useful on a boom or a stand sitting on a live wooden floor.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01You need two preamp channels with 48V and two record tracks
- 02M-S mode needs a decoder or matrix plugin in your DAW
- 03Budget a heavy stand and boom; 517 grams droops on light hardware
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Can I use it as a mono microphone?
Yes. In M-S mode the mid channel alone is a standard cardioid signal. Record just that channel and ignore the side output.
02What is the difference between the 90 and 127 degree settings?
Both are internally decoded stereo. 90 degrees gives a tighter, more focused image; 127 degrees spreads wider. 127 is also the more sensitive of the two.
03Do I have to use the supplied cable?
Yes. The mic body has an integral 5-pin XLR, so it needs that 8-conductor breakout to reach two 3-pin inputs. Standard mic cable will not fit.
04Will it work on battery or USB power?
No. It is an externally polarized condenser and requires 48V phantom power from an interface, preamp or mixer.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
4 detailsSound
- Polar Pattern
- Cardioid and Figure-of-eight
- Impedance
- 50 ohms
- Low Frequency Roll Off
- 80Hz, 12dB/octave
- Frequency Response
- 20-18,000 Hz
2 detailsPickups & controls
- Switches
- 90, 127, M-S; Flat, roll-off; 10dB pad (nominal)
- Open Circuit Sensitivity
- Stereo 90: -42dB (7.9 mV)dB re 1V at 1 Pa; Stereo 127: -41dB (8.9 mV) dB re 1V at 1 Pa; Mid: -36dB (15.8 mV) dB re 1V at 1 Pa; Side: -36 dB (15.8 mV) dB re 1V at 1 Pa
3 detailsConnections & power
- Output Connector
- Integral 5-pin XLRM-type
- Phantom Power Requirements
- 48V DC, 6.4 mA typical (both channels total)
- Maximum Input Sound Level
- Mid and Side: 149dB SPL, 1kHz at 1% THDNoise: 14dB
2 detailsSize & weight
- Weight
- 517
- Dimensions
- 193.0mm (7.60 inch) long,, 53.4mm (2.10 inch) maximum body diameter
2 detailsIn the box
- Cable
- 5.0m (16.5') long, 8-conductor, shielded, vinyl-jacketed stereo cable with 5-pin XLRF-type connector at microphone end and two 3-pin XLRM-type connectors at output end
- Audi Technica Case Style
- R1
4 detailsOther
- Noise Stereo 90
- 25dB SPL, Stereo 127: 16 dB SPL; Mid: 15dB SPL: Side: 17dB SPL
- Signal to Noise Ratio
- Stereo 90: 69dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa, Stereo 127deg;: 78dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa, Mid: 79dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa; Side: 77dB, 1kHz at 1 Pa
- Dynamic Range Typical
- Mid: 134 dB, 1kHz at Max SPL, Side: 132dB, 1kHz at Max SPL
- Element
- Externally-polarized (DC bias) condenser
