DPA MICROPHONES
d:facto™ 4018
Vocal Microphone
The DPA d:facto™ series brings true studio sound to the live stage and broadcast studio. These microphones are available in both ultra-linear and high-end boost versions. The modular design of the d:facto™ DPA 4018 series allows both the capsule and adapter to be changed, making it the most flexible vocal microphone on the market.
- Exceptionally natural sound
- Perfectly uniform supercardioid polar pattern
- High separation
- Extreme SPL processing
- Low noise floor
- Slim design
- Flexible adapter system for most professional wireless systems
The d:facto™ is designed specifically for on-stage vocal performance and features a supercardioid capsule that reproduces every nuance of the human voice transparently, consistently, and with care. Two versions are available. The d:facto™ Linear Vocal Microphone (4018VL) is extremely linear. The d:facto™ Vocal Microphone (4018V) is linear, but with a high-end boost. The 4018V is often chosen because it "comes through" on a TV, where content is typically delivered to built-in TV speakers with limited audio quality.
Except for linearity/gain, these microphones are identical. Both feature an isolation-optimized supercardioid polar pattern. This polar pattern offers the best of both cardioid and supercardioid. These microphones can pick up loud voices with a three-stage pop screen and best-in-class noise handling. They also provide excellent sound reproduction with full detail and the balanced linear phase and frequency response that users have come to expect from DPA microphones.
A little about supercardioids
A supercardioid is similar to a cardioid - it is most sensitive to sound coming from the front and least sensitive to sound coming from the back. Supercardioid microphones usually have a much narrower acceptance angle - they are even more focused than a "normal" cardioid microphone. This off-center sound is more or less colored and attenuated - and the narrow acceptance angle significantly increases the area of attenuated sound. However, the unique DPA capsule technology eliminates the coloration of sound coming from the sides or back of the microphone and simply reduces the sensitivity to these angles, providing a perfect soundstage. The amount of attenuation depends on the exact specifications of the microphone.
By their very nature, supercardioid microphones are often used on live stages - both concerts and spoken word events - to capture the focused sound of an instrument or voice. The narrow acceptance angle helps prevent other sounds from becoming too prominent on a busy stage. Supercardioid microphones have a proximity effect that increases bass response the closer the microphone is placed to the sound source. Also, supercardioids are much more sensitive to wind, pop, and handling noise than omnidirectional microphones, so take appropriate precautions.
Optimized for live performances
d:facto™ vocal microphones are the ultimate stage microphones, whether the performance is in a cozy club or the largest concert hall. Like traditional supercardioid microphones, the d:facto™ series features high side and rear attenuation, with at least 9 dB of attenuation to the sides. However, it is not bound by the less desirable aspects of the supercardioid, such as uncontrolled and nonlinear rear lobes.
The d:facto™ series has a wider frontal acceptance angle than most supercardioids. The opening angle is identical to a first-order cardioid at ±60 degrees from center, resulting in the same sound field as a cardioid, but with extremely high and uniform side and rear attenuation.
