New Instrument Mics Added to A-T's Artist Elite Series
 July 23, 2002
Audio-Technica has extended the Artist Elite line to include a series of three high-performance instrument microphones. The AE5100 is a large-diaphragm end-fire cardioid condenser; the AE3000 is a large-diaphragm side-address cardioid condenser; and the revolutionary AE2500, a combination condenser/dynamic model, is the ultimate mic for kick drums. All three microphones feature robust construction for extended life and maximum durability on the road, and include the new AT8471 isolation clamp. They also have an integral 80 Hz high-pass filter switch and 10 dB pad.
The AE5100 is a live-sound instrument microphone, delivering in a wide range of applications, most notably on drum overheads and percussion, acoustic guitar, strings and other acoustic instruments. The large diaphragm delivers an natural sound with accurate response, while the
end-fire design allows the AE5100 to be placed where microphones of this caliber have previously been unable to go.
The AE3000 is designed to take the highest sound pressure levels encountered on stage -- from such sources as guitar cabinets, toms, snare, tympani and overheads -- while still delivering uncolored performance, thanks to an open-architecture headcase and
large-diaphragm condenser capsule. The microphone features a small-format side-address design with tapered grille for optimum placement versatility.
The AE2500 features Audio-Technica's unique dual-element design. This revolutionary concept combines condenser and dynamic capsules within a single housing, positioned in a perfect phase relationship -- something that would be nearly impossible to accomplish with separate microphones. Ideal for kick/bass drum applications, the microphone will survive extreme SPLs while providing uncompromising audio quality. The AE2500's dynamic element cleanly captures the attack transients of the beater, while the condenser element renders the internal tonalities of the shell and the instrument as a whole.
"These new microphones extend the Artist Elite line by adding models that address the most common instrument miking applications for live performances," commented Audio-Technica's wired microphone product manager Michael Edwards. "Utilizing the same exhaustive field research that we put into the development of the Artist Elite vocal mics," he continued, "we were able to craft three microphones that combine robustness, versatility and consistent performance night after night in the most demanding areas of live sound instrument miking. They are the perfect extensions to the Artist Elite Series," Edwards concluded.
The AE5100, AE3000 and AE2500 instrument mics complement Audio-Technica's existing Artist Elite Series of live performance vocal microphones, which includes four handheld mics: the AE5400 large-diaphragm cardioid condenser microphone; AE3300 cardioid condenser microphone; AE6100 hypercardioid dynamic microphone; and AE4100 cardioid dynamic microphone.
The AE5100 and AE3000 microphones will be available in August 2002 and AE2500 in October 2002 with MSRPs as follows:
- AE5100 End-fire Cardioid Condenser Microphone -- $379.00
- AE3000 Side-address Cardioid Condenser Microphone -- $379.00
- AE2500 Condenser/Dynamic Microphone -- $699.00
For more information, visit their web site at www.audio-technica.com. | 
