Sound On Sound features the A‑Type 4 Ambisonic Mic
Sound On Sound did a write-up on the A‑Type 4, which was a pretty big moment for me. I’ve been working on developing these mics myself for years here in Hackney, so seeing it appear in Sound On Sound—a mag I’ve read for years—was a bit surreal.
I have copied the article below:
'Reynolds Microphones have announced the release of a new addition to their range of Ambisonic microphones, the Reynolds A-Type 4. Each of the company’s microphones are hand-built in the UK by Jack Reynolds, who says that this latest model is the result of years of product development and testing.
The A-Type 4 employs four closely matched 14mm cardioid electret capsules which the company say are capable of withstanding a wide variety of conditions ranging from humid jungles to hot, dry deserts, an important factor in a device primarily aimed at field recording applications. The body and head basket are made of SLS 3D-printed nylon, with a nickel coating offering electrical shielding and a hard-wearing surface.
This method of construction is said to offer a number of benefits, including a low susceptibility to condensation thanks to the nylon being more resistant to low temperatures than metal, and a lightweight construction, with the microphone weighing in at a minimal 75g.
The microphone utilises a LEMO 2B connector for its output, and includes a 3m breakout cable which provides the signals from the capsules on four colour-coded Neutrik XLR connectors. A selection of Rycote accessories are supplied with each purchase, including a custom BBG wind-shield, a BBG Windjammer, and an INV 7HG shockmount.
In terms of performance, Reynolds Microphones specify a self-noise figure of 10dBA, and a maximum SPL handling of 127dB. Sensitivity is quoted as -21dB, meaning that even quiet sources can be captured without the need for a large amount of gain.
Also included, is a VST plug-in designed by Atmoky, which is able to convert the microphone’s A-Format signals into B-Format for use in applications such as 360 video or audio for virtual reality, or as a spherical audio storage format that can then be decoded to binaural or a wide range of channel-based output formats.'
https://www.soundonsound.com/news/reynolds-type-4-ambisonic-microphone