Hands On: Avlex Hm81bc-30 Hanging Microphone
Brian Crabb, owner of Thunder Sound and Lighting in Marion, Ill., which specializes in design, installation, and service of audio, lighting, and media systems for commercial and house of worship applications, weighs in on the Avlex Hm81bc-30 Hanging Microphone.
Brian Crabb, owner of Thunder Sound and Lighting in Marion, Ill., which specializes in design, installation, and service of audio, lighting, and media systems for commercial and house of worship applications.
MY PICK: Avlex HM81BC-30 hanging microphone
LIST PRICE: $158.00
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT IT: I like the ability to change the capsule from cardioid to super cardioid or to omni. This mic is good up close, as well as serving as a distant or ambient mic. It has excellent gain before feedback.
WHAT I WOULD CHANGE: I required a windscreen on each microphone for a vocal application. Although it is an optional accessory, I wish windscreens came standard with the mics.
WHERE I USED IT: Guadalajara Grill in Baldwin Park, Calif.
MY RESULTS: In this club I had to install 10 microphones to pick up background vocals and five violins. This is a mariachi band with 10 musicians on stage and, at the start and end of the set, they play while two dancers perform traditional Mexican dance. We could not use any floor-supported stands because of the dancers. Plus they would distract from the look of the stage, which was very ornate. The only option was to hang the mics.
I started by looking for a small mic profile and tried the HM81BC-30 in a close-up application for vocals and violin. I was pleasantly surprised with the mic’s ability to pick up the vocals and the violins. And with all the ornate metal over the stage, the mics were very well hidden.
MANUFACTURER’S SPECIFICATIONS
Element: Condenser
Pattern: Cardioid
Frequency response: 30 Hz–18 KHz
Impedance: 250 ohms +/- 30 percent
Sensitivity: -65 dB +/- 3dB
Max SPL: 135 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio: 65 dB
Dynamic range: 100 dB
Mute switch: None
Power requirements: 22 volts–52 volts DC phantom
Output connector: Three-pin XLR male
Weight: 171 grams (6.03 ounces)
Cable length: 30 feet
