By Jon Matthews
Electro-Voice ND Series Microphone Collection
For me , the Electro-Voice brand is synonymous with quality , history , value , and performance . Their microphones first came to light in the broadcast world ; watch just about any televised music performance or interview from the ‘ 60s or ‘ 70s and you ’ re likely to spot one . EV is also responsible for a bona fide classic in the venerable RE-20 , a mainstay in radio and recording studios around the world .
My own pair of EV 635as are frequently used on drums in the studio or as a hanging amp mic for live sound ; therefore , I jumped at the chance to explore the company ’ s ND Series of mics .
First Impressions When I flipped open the flight case , I was greeted by a very handsome family of microphones . I was immediately struck by the satisfying weight of each of the eight models – the hefty die-cast zinc bodies seem reassuringly well manufactured and the grilles look like they ’ d stand up to some serious bumps . The black polyurethane paint and grey accents make for a sleek , professional look that shouldn ’ t stand out onstage while exuding class up close . Off to a good start ...
In Use There are four vocal mics : the ND76 and ND76S ( with on-off switch ), ND86 , and ND96 . Like all of the models in the series , each of these was designed with a very specific use in mind . The ND76 and ND76S are considered “ general purpose ” – large-diaphragm dynamics with a cardioid polar pattern . Moving up to the ND86 , you get a super-cardioid pattern designed for further rejection of offaxis sounds and feedback . The ND96 boasts a hyper-cardioid pattern that should prove useful on exceptionally loud stages , as well as a frequency scoop switch that further smooths out low-mid boxiness . Cleverly , each of these mics has a distinctly different grille design , making them easy to identify at a glance , which speaks to the attention to detail here .
I tested these live on both male and female voices on a small soft-seater show and was very pleased with the results . Each offered the shared characteristics of a smooth , detailed top end , plenty of mid punch , and big , round lows that sounded weighty without straying into boomy territory . I was particularly fond of the ND86 , which seemed especially flattering to its male vocalist .
Moving on to the instrument microphones , the ND44 and ND46 are both aimed at louder tasks such as drums , guitar amps , and horns , but different enough to stand apart from each other both in looks and application .
The ND44 is the smaller unit , featuring a pivoting head that makes placement on drums a breeze , especially with the included rim-mount clip . Its flat grille and diminutive stature also make it a natural as a hanging mic for guitar cabs . I used this mic on a jazz guitarist and found it delivered a full , accurate reproduction of his amplified tone . On toms , it offers plenty of attack and more than enough bottom , and with the pivoting head , it ’ s a no-brainer for this particular assignment , either live or in-studio .
The big brother ND46 cuts an impressive figure , and I believe it ’ s one of the gems of the ND line . Based on the rotating head design of the older N / D468 , the ND46 ups the game by concealing the signal wire inside the yoke and adding an ingenious locking mechanism , allowing you to set the mic head in many positions , from straight to just past 90 degrees in either direction . The locking mechanism feels quite robust and can be released with one finger , which makes the mic a joy to position . The ND46 ’ s larger diaphragm allows it to reach down lower than the ND44 while offering a slightly smoother tone , and I just loved it on studio guitar cab and snare duties , where it sounded rich , bright , and open with excellent off-axis rejection of hi-hats . A real winner .
For bass instruments , there ’ s the ND68 supercardioid dynamic . As one might expect , the sound on offer is somewhat tailored to kick drums , with some low-mid scoop and high-mid boost , but it ’ s not as “ pre-EQ ’ d ” as , say , the Audix D6 . I might be more inclined to use this microphone on a jazz- or roots-style kick as opposed to rock , although with some sculpting , I ’ m sure it would still deliver the goods as it ’ s got more than enough thump . The ND68 also excelled on floor tom and bass
cab , delivering a detailed , full-bodied fretless bass tone that perfectly fit the mix .
Finally , we have what I consider to be another star : the ND66 small diaphragm condenser . Before I even heard it in action , I was impressed by its pivoting head , with a locking mechanism similar to the ND46 . It also features a selectable -10dB or -20dB pad and a high pass filter ( 75 Hz or 150 Hz ). In a shootout , I put this mic up against a Josephson C42 and was shocked at how well it held up . On overhead , the two mics sounded very close , both providing a fast , sparkly , detailed mono representation of the drums and cymbals with tremendous attack and fullness . On acoustic guitar , the differences became a little more apparent , with the C42 ’ s highs sounding perhaps a little sweeter and the ND66 representing the midrange more honestly . I ’ d actually be more than happy to use either one , and considering the ND66 is half the price and adds the high-pass and pad features , it is truly a steal of a deal for the recordist or live sound engineer on a budget .
Summary In my estimation , elegant looks , top quality fit and finish , big league performance , and down-to-earth pricing should make Electro- Voice ’ s new ND line a massive success , and I ’ m happy to recommend them for live and recording use at any level . Not a bad way for the company to ring in its 90 th anniversary . Now , to crack the piggybank and pick up some of these killer tools for myself …
Jon Matthews is an acclaimed producer and studio and live sound engineer based in Charlottetown , PE . He is the owner / operator of The Sound Mill and is a 2017 East Coast Music Award nominee for Producer , Studio Engineer , and Live Sound Engineer of the Year . For more information , visit www . thesoundmill . ca . Facebook : www . facebook . com / thesoundmill Twitter & Instagram : @ redmudmusic or @ thesoundmill .
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