The e 604 is a cardioid microphone for miking brass and woodwinds
The compact, sturdy, and cleverly designed e 604 microphone from Sennheiser is a dynamic cardioid instrument mic that is primarily intended for percussion instruments and has proven itself in numerous applications. Its impact-resistant fibreglass-reinforced housing provides optimum protection against accidental hits, so despite weighing in at just 60 grams (a full 80 grams lighter than its bigger brother, the e 906), this model doesn't cut any corners in terms of durability. Excellent flexibility and ease of positioning are also ensured by the microphone's highly compact design as well as the integrated microphone stand mount and the MZH 604 drum clip included in the scope of delivery.
The diminutive design envelope of the Sennheiser e 604 somewhat belies its impressive capabilities: Small though it may be, this mic will deliver a punchy, open-sounding reproduction of sources with an SPL of up to 160dB without distortion. According to the manufacturer's data sheet, the e 604 provides a slight boost between 1.5kHz and 7kHz, which also lends a pleasing characteristic to the sound. With a frequency response that ranges from 40Hz to 18kHz, the Sennheiser e 604 is highly versatile in application and will cut an equally fine figure when used with brass and woodwind instruments as well.
The list of potential users for the Sennheiser e 604 is extensive yet easily summed up, since anyone looking for a compact and robust solution for recording wind or percussion instruments and fully capturing their sonic characteristics will find what they are looking for here and can be sure that it will perform reliably in every situation, from the safe confines of the studio to the rigorous live performance environment. What is more, the e 604's price-performance ratio makes it an interesting proposition for professional as well as semi-professional users.
In June 1945, Prof. Fritz Sennheiser founded the Wennebostel Laboratory, which initially produced measuring equipment. Commissioned by Siemens in 1945, the young company developed the MD-1 microphone, which was launched in 1946. After the development of further microphones, the company was renamed Sennheiser Electronic in 1958. Two years later, Sennheiser introduced the MD 421 dynamic microphone, which is still in production today and still held in high esteem by many sound engineers. Further groundbreaking developments, such as the HD 414 headphones and the MD 441 microphone classic, hugely enhanced the company’s international reputation, eventually making Sennheiser one of the leading manufacturers of microphone and headphone systems in the world.
Probably the most "classic" way to position the Sennheiser e 604 is to attach it directly to the rim of the respective drum using the included rim clip - a method that is both quick and easy as well as secure. Should the instrument in question not have a rim, it is of course also possible to attach the mic to a stand, which thanks to the integrated stand mount can be done without requiring any additional hardware, allowing Djembés and similar rimless drums to be miked easily and effectively. And since numerous recording applications require several of these microphones to be deployed at once, a bundle comprising three e 604s is also available.