Detail 01
152 dB max SPL
Sits inches from a snare or trumpet bell without the capsule breaking up.
Product detailSKU #1273887989111
Audio-TechnicaATM450 Cardioid Condenser Instrument Microphone
1/6
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
Slim cardioid condenser built for loud instrument sources — drums, cabs, brass. For engineers miking instruments in tight spaces, not for vocals.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Hi-hat, snare and overheads inside a crowded kit
- Close-miking loud guitar cabinets and horns
- Live rigs where a fat mic body won't fit
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Singers wanting a large-diaphragm vocal sound
- Boards or interfaces with no phantom power
- Very quiet sources — 69 dB S/N leaves audible hiss
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
10 dB pad switch
Drops level before your preamp input, so the mic stage stays clean on the loudest sources.
Detail 03
80 Hz roll-off, 18 dB per octave
Steep cut that clears stage rumble and kick bleed out of a hi-hat or overhead channel.
Detail 04
5 inches long, 0.83 inch diameter
Pencil body slots between cymbals and under toms where a wide mic won't physically go.
Detail 05
-41 dB sensitivity into 200 ohms
Hot output for a condenser, so most preamps need modest gain and stay quiet.
Detail 06
11–52V phantom, 3.5 mA
Runs off standard 48V and also off the lower-voltage phantom on small mixers.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Includes AT8471 isolation clamp, 3/8-inch thread adapter, windscreen and soft pouch
- 02Needs phantom power — there is no battery option
- 03Sold as a single mic; a stereo overhead pair means buying two
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Does the ATM450 need phantom power?
Yes. It takes 11–52V DC phantom, drawing about 3.5 mA. Any standard 48V preamp, interface or mixer channel will run it; there is no battery option.
02Can I use it on vocals?
It will work, but it is built as an instrument mic. The narrow body and steep 80 Hz filter suit drums, cabs and horns more than a lead vocal.
03Will it handle a loud snare up close?
Yes. Maximum input is 152 dB SPL, and the 10 dB pad gives extra headroom before your preamp on the loudest hits.
04Does it come with a stand?
No. You get the AT8471 isolation clamp for 5/8-inch-27 threads, a 3/8-inch-16 adapter, a windscreen and a pouch. The stand or drum mount is separate.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
4 detailsSound
- Polar Pattern
- Cardioid
- Impedance
- 200 ohms
- Low Frequency Roll Off
- 80 Hz, 18 dB/octave
- Frequency Response
- 40-20,000 Hz
2 detailsPickups & controls
- Switches
- Flat, roll-off; 10 dB pad
- Open Circuit Sensitivity
- -41 dB (8.9 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Gray
3 detailsConnections & power
- Output Connector
- Integral 3-pin XLRM-type
- Phantom Power Requirements
- 11-52V DC, 3.5 mA typical
- Maximum Input Sound Level
- 152 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.
2 detailsSize & weight
- Weight
- 98
- Dimensions
- 126.9 mm (5.00 inch) long, 21.0 mm (0.83 inch) diameter
3 detailsOther
- Signal to Noise Ratio
- 69 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa
- Accessories Furnished
- AT8471 isolation clamp for 5/8 inch-27 threaded stands; 5/8 inch-27 to 3/8 inch-16 threaded adapter; windscreen; soft protective pouch
- Dynamic Range Typical
- 127 dB, 1 kHz at Max SPL
