Detail 01
Hypercardioid pattern
Narrower pickup than cardioid, with a small rear lobe. Off-axis sources drop away fast, but aim is unforgiving.
Product detailSKU #1273887988743
Audio-TechnicaAT4053B Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
1/8
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Hypercardioid condenser for close-miking one source in a loud or leaky room. For engineers who need isolation on drums, guitar cabs, or theater stages.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Miking a snare or hi-hat where cymbal spill ruins the take
- Guitar cabs and horns at high volume without distortion
- Theater and film work where the mic must reject the room
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Wide stereo room capture — the pattern is too narrow
- Anyone whose interface has no 48V phantom power
- Broad, flattering vocal-booth tone; this is a tight tool mic
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
145 dB SPL, 155 dB with the pad
Handles snare, brass, and cranked cabs without the capsule breaking up. The pad buys headroom before the preamp.
Detail 03
80 Hz roll-off switch, 12 dB/octave
Cuts stage rumble, HVAC, and handling noise at the mic instead of fixing it later in the mix.
Detail 04
16 dB SPL self-noise
Quiet enough for soft acoustic sources and dialogue without an audible hiss floor under the take.
Detail 05
50 ohm output, 48V phantom required
Drives long cable runs cleanly, but needs a phantom-capable preamp or interface — nothing passive will work.
Detail 06
21 mm body diameter, 155 mm long
Slim pencil body fits into tight drum kits and under cymbals where a large-diaphragm mic will not.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Needs 48V phantom power at 4.8 mA from your interface or console
- 02Ships with the AT8405a clamp, windscreen, and carry case
- 03Clamp fits 5/8-27 stands; European 3/8 stands need an adapter
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Does the AT4053B need phantom power?
Yes. It requires 48V DC at about 4.8 mA. It will not produce usable output plugged into a device without phantom power.
02What does the 10 dB pad do?
It lowers the mic's output before the preamp, raising max handling from 145 dB SPL to 155 dB SPL for very loud sources.
03Does it come with a stand clip?
Yes — an AT8405a clamp for 5/8-27 threaded stands, plus a windscreen and a protective carrying case.
04Is hypercardioid better than cardioid for drums?
For isolation, yes. The tighter pattern rejects more cymbal and neighboring-drum bleed, but you must aim it carefully or the source goes off-axis.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Black
22 detailsOther
- Category Source
- detail
- Audio-Technica Case Style
- S1
- Noise
- 16 dB SPL
- Signal-To-Noise Ratio
- 78 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Element
- Externally polarized (DC bias) capacitor
- Output Connector
- Integral 3-pin XLRM-type
- Dimensions
- 155.0 mm (6.10") long, 21.0 mm (0.83") maximum body diameter
- Korena Special
- false
- Dynamic Range (Typical)
- 129 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
- Weight
- 127 g (4.5 oz)
- Maximum Input Sound Level
- 145 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.; 155 dB SPL, with 10 dB pad (nominal)
- Phantom Power Requirements
- 48V DC, 4.8 mA typical
- Open Circuit Sensitivity
- -34 dB (19.9 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
- Low Frequency Roll-Off
- 80 Hz, 12 dB/octave
- Accessories Furnished
- AT8405a stand clamp for 5/8"-27 threaded stands; windscreen; protective carrying case
- Switch
- Flat, roll-off; 10 dB pad (nominal)
- Tier
- new
- Polar Pattern
- Hypercardioid
- Source Id
- site51273887988743
- Prop65
- WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Frequency Response
- 20-20,000 Hz
- Impedance
- 50 ohms
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