Behringer ECM8000 Measurement Condenser Microphone

Performance:BEST VALUE CONDENSER MIC!If you looking for budget, flat-frequency response mic, look no further, go for this Behringer ECM8000. Apart of using as measurement mic, it can be used as "audience/ambience mic" as well.Recommended!

Exceptionally cheap for what is an apparently flat frequency response. I don't have any way to prove how accurate it is, or I wouldn't need it in the first place. It sounds just as bright and nasty as other measurement mics I have tried, and has a nice sturdy construction.

Fabulous condenser mic at any price!

I bought this as a simple test mic. In a pinch I used it as a condenser mic a couple of times and it is phenomenal! It is so transparent and clear. You don't hear the mic - you just hear your source material. It is my go-to condenser mic now. The vocals in the included videos were all recorded with it.

Good sound quality, flat response

Used this to compare frequency response of different mics I have built. Relatively flat frequency response. Self noise is worse than my Rode M5, but that is likely due to the internal FET in the capsule. You could change the capsule but sacrifice the flatness of the response. However recording my piano it's actually quite a nice omnidirectional mic. Doesn't have a calibrated frequency response chart. Feels solid.

My (2) ECM8000's Don't Match DBX RTA-M Response Recommendations!

I am attaching images of the different RTA measurements I got comparing the DBX RTA-M and (2) ECM8000 mic.'s. Read on to understand the images.I did one RTA mic. at a time measurements of the same speaker, with the front of each RTA mic. the same distance off the floor, the same distance from the grill on the speaker to ea. mic., all mic.'s perfectly horizontal on axis with the tweeter and all attached to the same microphone stand who's base never moved during the testing. (Basically the closest someone like myself could do to ensure all three mic.'s where hearing the identical response in the nearly exact same listening location in the room.)Results:Both ECM8000's had virtually identical response curves 40-20kHz. despite one of them had previously face planted ... MoreI am attaching images of the different RTA measurements I got comparing the DBX RTA-M and (2) ECM8000 mic.'s. Read on to understand the images.I did one RTA mic. at a time measurements of the same speaker, with the front of each RTA mic. the same distance off the floor, the same distance from the grill on the speaker to ea. mic., all mic.'s perfectly horizontal on axis with the tweeter and all attached to the same microphone stand who's base never moved during the testing. (Basically the closest someone like myself could do to ensure all three mic.'s where hearing the identical response in the nearly exact same listening location in the room.)Results:Both ECM8000's had virtually identical response curves 40-20kHz. despite one of them had previously face planted into gravel and had been cleaned and reassembled - a huge surprise to me.Corrections based on measurements using a dbx RTA-M mic. would result in me EQ'ing out and sending less frequencies below 100Hz. to the speaker after making system corrections via an EQ. Also important is that the ECM8000 mic.'s would indicate I need to send a 7db boost to frequencies centered at 13kHz. vs. the dbx RTA-M suggestions. From 100-3kHz. both measured frequency responses were within .5db of each other so I consider themessentially equally adequate for RTA analysis in that their agreement on the results.My ears agree the 7db louder 13kHz. region based on ECM8000 mic.'s is too bright. When I EQ according to the dbx RTA-M from 3k-20kHz. I find the sound much more relaxed and natural.Most people I'm around tend to lean on the side of liking heavier bass vs. erring on the side of weak bass. So I believe most folks will prefer the results they would get if they EQ'd according to the use of the ECM8000 below 100Hz. vs. the dbx RTA-M.I was able to use TrueRTA software and create my one calibration file that when applied while using my ECM8000 mic. alters the displayed results above 100Hz. to indicate the response I would have gotten if the dbx RTA-M mic. had been used.Bottom line suggestion, if the RTA results sound bright to you based on using this mic. they probably are. In that case the attached image might be enough knowledge for you to attempt to a pulling down the region I found boosted too hot as a friend's dbx RTA-M mic. suggested in comparison.I hope this is helpful info. Good Luck to you all!

Review of Behringer ECM8000 Condenser Microphone

Bough to meassure a the room on a venue.. didn't use it for that one but when used was perfect.. no need to buy an expensive one as i compared and they do the same job with sane results. Also.. does work well to pic some cabinets and for field recordings if u have a portable rig..

Rises Above its Critics

I am still amazed at the price of the ECM8000 and most measurement microphones in general. The story on the street is that even though they have a very flat response, these microphones are not the best for recording because of the noise figure. Well, there aren't very many published specs on them, so I had to take matters into my own hands. I went out and made a music recording with two of them! I couldn't detect any noise except the air conditioning sytem that I recorded, and the music sounded great.I then hooked one into my Behringer DEQ2496 and did some EQing. I ran it as an RTA and it seemed very accurate. I then did the Auto EQ function, and it worked well. I then put on a test disc of pink noise and measured that, and it was the same as the internal pink noise ... MoreI am still amazed at the price of the ECM8000 and most measurement microphones in general. The story on the street is that even though they have a very flat response, these microphones are not the best for recording because of the noise figure. Well, there aren't very many published specs on them, so I had to take matters into my own hands. I went out and made a music recording with two of them! I couldn't detect any noise except the air conditioning sytem that I recorded, and the music sounded great.I then hooked one into my Behringer DEQ2496 and did some EQing. I ran it as an RTA and it seemed very accurate. I then did the Auto EQ function, and it worked well. I then put on a test disc of pink noise and measured that, and it was the same as the internal pink noise measurement from the 2496. I refined and tweaked the equalizer settings and measured a very smooth room curve, exactly what I wanted.There may be costlier measurement microphones, but IMHO you really don't need them. This one does the job, and does it well.

Solid measurement mic

This is my second ECM8000. Both work perfectly even though the first is more than 10 years old now. Crazy value at the current pricing.I use it for simple RTA work at home and professionally. I even use it with pink noise to set basic levels on a car stereo. Great little device and a must have if you own a Behringer Ultracurve.