Audio-Technica AT4053b Review
Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
- Dialog Boompole Microphone
- Transformerless Circuitry
- AT4053b-EL Hypercardioid Head Capsule
- Switchable High-Pass Filter
- Additional Capsules Available
- -10 dB Pad
- Direct-Coupled Balanced Output
- AT4900b-48 Body
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Audio-Technica AT4053b. For example, 90% of 38 users who have commented on the Value for money of the Audio-Technica AT4053b have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 42 Reviews
Excellent microphone for indoors
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I have been using this microphone for the past two and a half months, recording indoor interviews. I record into a Tascam DR-100, which provides the phantom power (and other features) not available on my Canon 60D. This microphone's frequency response is fabulous, capturing the full vocal range. As a hypercardioid, the AT4053b is a significant improvement on the on the Sennheiser ME66, the microphone I was using for interviews before, which yields a very thin sound when used indoors. I boom the microphone, getting it as close as possible to the subject's mouth. As a result , the AT4053b's flat frequency response, you need to use an EQ, attenuating a few decibels between 100 to 200 dB. I wouldn't consider the flat frequency a drawback, as it is very useful in certain contexts (e.g., capturing someone with a deep voice). But it something you need to be aware of, especially when recording a few inches from a person's mouth. ... More
Intelligibility & Dynamic Range - WOW
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Carlos on B&H Photo Video
I was completely impressed by the dynamic range and intelligibility of this microphone. It is not just good but it blows away other microphones in this category. I did a blind test comparison video where you can judge for yourself in a controlled environment and known trouble spot. You can check out the video from my Vimeo Channel https://vimeo.com/118881135
Verified lower noise.
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by David on B&H Photo Video
This is not scientific but might be useful to others: we just got this today to take the place of a Samson C02 (our budget is tight!). Our camera is a Sony HXR-NX80, and right now we are recording straight into it. So, I plugged both mics in so I could compare the result at the computer. I did not expect significant noise difference because our experience is that the HXR-NX80 is quite noisy in the audio department. Nevertheless, the AT4053b actually yielded a difference we could see easily on the meters in the software (Premiere Pro). Not epic, but clearly there. How much of the difference is self noise and how much the result of the AT4053b doing better at ignoring some of the environment is hard for us to say as we are not expert; we do not have a wonderful room to record in (you can hear the hum of the traffic). But in either case that result is the main reason I asked for us to make the purchase. As for quality of sound: I myself would rather be recorded with the AT4053b because I found the result a little thicker you might say. The Samson sounds a bit thin or reedy by comparison. However, the quality difference was more subtle than the noise difference. I just wanted to share a result with anyone else who is struggling with whether to make the leap from inexpensive but reputable mics to something pricier. I think we made the right decision, but I am hoping we can get the Sound Devices MixPre 3 to really make it pay off. My goals are (a) to cut down on time and discussion in post-processing and (b) to have people sound their best within our budget constraints. ... More
This mic did the trick
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Martin on B&H Photo Video
I bought the new Tascam DR-60DmkII 4-Channel Portable Recorder as a secondary device to record audio and tried my existing mic's with this unit. The problem was that both my other 2 mics did not pick up well without a lot of ambient noise too and definitely didn't do well in a echoey type room setting. Now I do have a couple of wireless mic's also but sometimes those don't fit the bill. I needed a mic, on a boom pole & stand that picked up good interviews that didn't have that echoey tone to it and also picked up the voice loud * clear enough so when I imported it into FCPX I had an audio track I could deal with and edit. After watching some video's of this mic and hearing some online samples, I thought I'd try this even though it was very pricey for mainly one purpose. Once it arrived I was really anxious to test it and after about an hour of testing, adjusting levels, bringing samples into FCPS & so on, I was very pleased. This is one thing I won't have to worry about anymore. So with the the Tascam recorder & this mic, and the extra wind screen, I got about what....$$into this solution. But audio is so important I felt relieved I had solved the problem. I also bought the Windtech 1200 Series - 3/4 Inside Diameter - Black Windscreen (B&H # WI1200B) to put on this mic because it's a little bulkier and helps block echo sound. The wind screen that comes with the mic is a little small & thinner.One more thing about this. I have the new Sony a7s, I will be hooking this camera up to the new Atomos Shogun monitor/recorder and using this mic with that unit, plugged right into the Shogun's XLR inputs for close personal interview type work. ... More
Great mic for dialogue.
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Rikk Wolf on B&H Photo Video
This is an impressive microphone, allowing the user to pick up crisp and clear dialogue from quite a distance (3' - 4'). It produces a great, natural sound from the room within its placed and is a great mic for indoor recording, as it is a hypercardiod mic. Excellent off-axis rejection is critical for an interior recording, especially a reflective one, and the AT4053b delivers within reason. Record in a shower and you'll get nasty echo, though - don't think this mic is the end all solution to unwanted reflections. All in all, for the price, this is a good mic for Indie productions looking to capture good, clean dialogue. I'm unaware of a higher end hypercardiod mic. It also makes a great overhead boom mic for recording acoustic guitars, provided the room is music-friendly. ... More
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Good value, good sound.
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by David on B&H Photo Video
Recently I decided I wanted a hypercardioid condenser to compliment my Audio-Technica BP4029 MS stereo short shotgun (which works for about 80% of my sound recording scenarios). I was looking for something with a wider pattern. After some research and listening, I eventually settled on this microphone. With the generous B&H return policy, I had plenty of time to run several tests. After lots of recording and listening, decided It is perfect for recording dialogue and sound effects when you can get the microphone close to the source. The built-in low-cut filter is essential since the microphone has a very good (some might say exaggerated) low-frequency response that sometimes needs to be tamed right at the microphone. If you have the budget for a better sounding microphone, that's great, but you'll have to spend a lot more to find a hypercardioid condenser microphone that outperforms this little critter. This ain't no Schoeps, this ain't no Sennheiser, but it is a good solid value and when mounted in a good suspension with the right placement, it will provide you with good sound. ... More
More than just an indoor mic
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Rob on B&H Photo Video
While I bought I bought this for the benefits of the hypercardioid pattern for indoor use, on a recent outdoor shoot (in a Rycote BBG and WJ) it performed quite well also. While not as directional as a shotgun, the wider pattern provided enough rejection of unwanted sound and gave a little wiggle room for keeping the talent on mic.
Solid Kit
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone Kit 1
Reviewed by Mark on B&H Photo Video
I bought this Kit specifically for the AT4053b. After a ton of research, I felt this was the best bang for the buck. I've only had it for a few days, but my initial tests sound amazing. Obviously there are other mics that are considered industry standards, but if your on a budget, you can't beat this kit. It came nicely packaged and the pole and mic are incredibly light. My only complaint so far would be there's a little rattle at the base of the pole where the XLR connects. But overall I'm very pleased. Just FYI, I wasn't that familiar with Hypercardioid mics, but I knew there had to be an option for interior dialogue, that beat the issues with my shotgun. After a few tests I realized you could easily keep the mic out of frame at a distance of almost 2 feet and still maintain stellar audio. And working the mic between multiple talents is extremely easy due to it's reach and weight. ... More
Be wary of RF interference
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Paul on B&H Photo Video
The AT4053B used to be our go-to interior dialogue mic. It had served us well for five years until a recent shoot in NYC (usually we film in Canada), where it suffered terrible RF interference. We filmed in 7 interior locations in NYC, and in 3 of those locations, the AT4053B experienced very bad RF interference. I don't know the source, we were not using wireless gear on-set and everyone on-set had their cell phones off or on flight mode. NYC is full of wi-fi signals of all kinds etc. The AT4053B suffered such bad interference, it ruined the AT4053B boom audio at two of the locations we filmed at. Thankfully we had on-camera Rode NTG mics and they captured great audio and did not suffer the same RF interference issues the AT4053B did. Audio-Technica need to refresh the AT4053B to make it less sensitive to RF interference. ... More
WOW
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
First time I used it was to mic a performance in a concert hall (theater play with music and vocals through speakers). The sound guy would not let me hook into his board so this was my back up plan. I ran the mic from a mounted boom to my Panasonic DVX100b video cam. After adjusting the settings I got a clean record 100 ft from the stage. Had to clean some hiss in Soundbooth, but no problem. The lows were surprisingly clear for the distance. In the end the client was thrilled, so in turn I am very thrilled with the performance of this mic. I would not recommend mounting this mic to your camera as it is VERY susceptible to handling noise. ... More
This is perfect for me
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Not a Beginner but not quite Pro on B&H Photo Video
I am not an audio professional by any means but I have been learning more and more, and purchased this for indoor dialogue use. This is my first Hypercardioid, and it sounds absolutely wonderful to my somewhat untrained ear. In audio tests I listened to I will admit it doesn't sound quite as good as say a Sennheiser MKH-50 or a Schoeps CMC641, but for me those mics don't sound twice or three times as better than this... as the price of these would indicate. Law of diminishing returns in my opinion. This mic sounds great, appears fairly sturdy, comes with a foam windscreen, mic stand holder, and nice case. ... More
Location dialog and music mic
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Mike on B&H Photo Video
I've been getting nice results in recording on location for documentary-style video work, including both dialog and acoustic music. It's been working well in a zeppelin style wind screen (by Rode) with a dead cat cover. Without the shock mount and wind protection, it's very susceptible to handling noise and air movement, but with protection, it's been really good.
Excellent - Favorite for Film
Audio-Technica AT4053B Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Michael Pearce on Guitar Center
This is my favorite microphone of any that I own, and I prefer it over my more expensive shotgun for indoor film work on a boom. It has a great frequency response curve that yields rich and bright recordings for speech, capturing both the low frequency and high frequency vocal components well. This is certainly a step up from an NTG2 or NTG3. Unlike a shotgun, a hypercardioid has very little off-axis frequency distortion. Off-axis frequency distortion is caused by widely varying polar patterns at different frequencies, and shotgun microphones are particularly susceptible. This makes off-axis sound sources sound tinny and distorted. The problem is particularly noticeable if an actor is moving away from the mic. Indoors, it better to use a hypercardioid like this one for film work than a shotgun for this reason. Solid, durable construction. ... More
Great Microphone at a great price
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Jeff on B&H Photo Video
I expected to have to pay closer to $ for a Hypercardioid mic that sounds this good. The sound quality is great and I've used it on shoots paired with the Sennheiser 416 Supercardioid and the sound it comparable.
Great Sound
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Myke on B&H Photo Video
Very nice for indoor use. Does the job perfect by keeping the reverb down and echo. I would definitely buy another if I had to.
Best Mic I Own
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Jonathan on B&H Photo Video
I have owned this mic for a little over 10 years now. I've used it for everything from outdoor boom mic, indoor boom mic, voiceover, multiple instruments (amazing on a cello!!).... simply put, it's better sounding and better control than any other mic I've used. When in doubt, put the 4053 on it, and you'll smile from ear to ear. It has yet to disappoint me. I eventually sold my NTG3 because this sounded better by a LOT. never used the NTG again after I got this mic. It's my favorite mic. I'm VERY tempted to get another... probably replace my studio podcast mic with it. It can sound full and warm without having that muffled/dark sound the SM7B and others of its ilk tend to sound like. ... More
Top shelf small diaphragm Audio Technica
Audio-Technica AT4053B Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by DAVID on Guitar Center
For those in the know, this is one of those industry standard microphones sporting the usual practical bells and whistles: high sensitivity, fast transient response, very low distortion, very low noise, high headroom, LF roll-off switch, pad for loud sources, brass housing, windscreen and interchangeable capsules for various polar patterns. This hypercardioid version has a flat response, making it useful in nearly any situation, and is at home in the studio, on stage or mounted on a boom pole for location work. Like many high-end mics, it is not intended for use as a hammer, nor being dropped on concrete from great height, so handle with respect and give the roadies an SM57 to hang. ... More
Solid Buy!
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Christian on B&H Photo Video
This was the first mic I purchased. As a starter mixer I figured that a good indoor microphone would cover most of my needs. Instead of getting something for half the price and having to worry about the recordings, I went all out and got this beauty. In controlled environments I knew it's going to sound perfect. In environments where I have little control, I knew it would hold up so long as I did my best. Even though I'm a beginner, I feel like a pro with this in my kit.
Very nice
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Scottfs on B&H Photo Video
This mic is widely recommended for interior use, and with good reason. I was using a shotgun mic, and having lots of problems with echo, distracting, poor quality sound. This is a great improvement. I love it!
A fantastic choice for a microphone
Audio-Technica AT4053b Hypercardioid Condenser Microphone
Reviewed by Tim the filmmaker on B&H Photo Video
I use this michrophone out in the field for recording in a boom capacity. The sound quality is the same with and without wind. It records sound as if you are in someones living room. For the price, the quality, and the performance... this product is a must purchase!
