DPA 2011 Twin Diaphragm Cardioid Microphone

The DPA 2011 Twin Diaphragm Cardioid Mic is a directional microphone. The distinctive sound of this microphone is well balanced. It bridges the gap between the extreme sound quality of DPA’s pencil microphones and their well-known Lavalier microphones.

Two opposite-facing miniature capsules are custom rebuilt inside this microphone. They are placed into a double-diaphragm, one-capsule composition. This combines the advantages of small capsules with the lower inherent noise achieved from a larger diaphragm area. These capsules provide fast impulse response and large frequency bandwidth. The capsules are loaded to DPA’s supreme preamps, which gives the sound more air and precision.

Combine it with the preamp of your choice

As with all of DPA’s modular pencil microphones, you can combine the 2011 Twin Diaphragm Cardioid Mic Capsule with any of the DPA 19mm preamps. The MMP-A Mic Preamp is an ultra-transparent, transformerless preamplifier with active drive for impedance balancing. The MMP-C Compact Mic Preamp is an ultra-compact preamplifier with active drive for impedance balancing. It has a slightly softer character than the other preamps available in the range.

Additional preamps include the very small form factor types, including the MMP-E Modular Active Cable (XLR output) and MMP-G Modular Active Cable (MicroDot output), allowing for very slim set-ups. The MMP-G even allows you to match a larger microphone directly to a wireless transmitter.

The 2011A Twin Diaphragm Cardioid Mic is acclaimed for its close-miking excellence and hi-SPL handling. Optimised for onstage use, it has been used on many stages as well as recording sessions. It exhibits a previously unheard blend of clarity, richness and dynamic range.

The 2011C Compact Twin Diaphragm Cardioid Mic offers a subtle character alteration with a bit more “body” to the low end than the 2011A. It is also much easier to position than other cardioid mics.

At any time, and with no tools needed, it is possible to transform the 2011 Twin Diaphragm Cardioid Mic into a new configuration. The 2011 is very widely used as a snare drum mic but fits easily well on many other instruments.

A bit about cardioids

Named for its “heart shaped” polar pattern, a cardioid (or directional) microphone has the most sensitivity at the front and is least sensitive from the sides and at the back. They come in many variations – with wider or narrower angles of sensitivity (supercardioid, hypercardioid, wide cardioid etc.). Although cardioids also pick up sound coming in from the sides, this off-axis sound will normally be more or less coloured and damped. The unique DPA capsule technique however skips the colorisation of the sound coming from the sides or the rear of the mic and just reduces the sensitivity to these angles and thereby offers perfect sound stages. The amount of damping depends on the exact specifications of the mic.