Crown Studio Reference II User manual

POLAR
PATTERN
The Crown®Sound Grabber II is an
updated version of the original Sound
Grabber. It utilizes the same Pressure
Zone Microphone®technology in which
sound waves reinforce themselves in the area
nearest a flat surface, usually referred to as
the boundary.
Top recording engineers all over the world
are using professional versions of the
Crown PZM®(Pressure Zone Microphone)
to improve the quality of their recordings.
The Sound Grabber II is one version of that
technology, designed to meet the needs of
the home or business recordist and bring the
benefits of PZM technology within the reach
of many more people.
Because of this new technology, Sound Grab-
ber II offers you the opportunity for vast im-
provement in the quality of your recordings.
The Sound Grabber II will pick up sounds at
distances you never thought possible and
it will pick them up with a clarity that other
microphones, because of the limitations of
their construction, simply cannot match.
The Sound Grabber II does not need to follow
the action, since it has a wide-angle pickup
pattern. So long as the mic “sees” the sound,
in whatever direction or angle, it will pick it
up clearly; it does not need to be between
you and the other person. Speakers or vocal-
ists can move freely around the Sound Grab-
ber II without their tone quality changing.
For your greatest enjoyment of the Sound
Grabber II, we urge you to read these instruc-
tions thoroughly so you can be familiar with
this new technology.
Installing the Battery
The Sound Grabber II is powered with an
alkaline 1.5 volt AAA battery. One is furnished
with the microphone, but it must be inserted
into the microphone.
Your battery will supply the needed power
for the microphone for at least six weeks and
possibly much longer.
To install the battery open the cover (see Fig.
1) and insert the AAA battery. Please orient
the battery as shown.
SOUND GRABBER II
Fig. 3
Fig. 1 Installing the Battery
Dimensions
PRESSURE
ZONE
MICROPHONE
3Grab cover
here and lift
2Grab tab
1Remove boundary “paddle”
Mic Holder
– Battery +
Hinge
Fig. 2
Features
• PZM design makes the sound
clearer and more natural
• Ideal for recording conferences,
interviews, home videos
• AAA battery powered
• Medium-impedance unbalanced output
• 1/4” phone, 3.5mm phone, or 2.5 mm
phone connector
Specifications
Transducer: Electret condenser
Frequency response (typical): 50 Hz to 16 kHz (see
Fig. 2).
Polar pattern: Hemispherical (half-omni) on a large
surface.
Impedance: 1,600 ohms, unbalanced. Recommended
minimum load impedance 10,000 ohms.
Open-circuit Sensitivity: 20 mV/Pa* (-54 dBV/Pa).
Power sensitivity: –42 dBm.
Equivalent noise level (self noise): 21 dB SPL typical,
A-weighted (0 dB = .0002 dyne/cm2).
S/N ratio: 73 dB at 94 dB SPL.
Maximum SPL: 120 dB SPL produces 3% distortion.
Cable: 10 foot with mini phone plug, 1/4” phone plug
and micro phone plug adapters.
Power: One 1.5V AAA alkaline battery.
Battery life: Approximately 45 days.
Current drain: 0.5 mA.
Materials: High-impact plastic housing.
Finish: Satin black.
Dimensions: See Fig. 3.
Weight: 4 ounces (115 grams).
Included accessories: 1.5V AAA battery, 1/4” phone
plug adaptor, 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm adaptor.
*1 pascal = 10 dynes/cm2= 10 microbars = 94 dB SPL.
.607”
(1.5 cm)
.732”
(1.86 cm)
5.90”
(15 cm)
3.409”
(8.7 cm)
3.129”
(7.9 cm)
.579”
(1.5 cm)

Crown International, Inc.
1718 W. Mishawaka Rd.
Elkhart, IN 46517-9439
TEL: [phone]
FAX: [phone]FAX
www.crownaudio.com
© 2005 Crown Audio®, Inc. Specifications subject to change
without prior notice. Latest information available at
www.crownaudio.com. Crown, Crown Audio, PZM and Pres-
sure Zone Microphone are registered trademarks of Crown
International.
7/05 101502-1A
Using the Sound Grabber II
Conference Recording
Place the Sound Grabber II flat on the confer-
ence table somewhere near the center of the
table. One microphone should be able to pick
up groups of twelve or less at distances up to
5 feet. Larger groups may require additional
mics depending on the distances involved.
See Fig. 4.
The Sound Grabber II shold not be covered
with papers or books, as this could make the
sound muffled.
Interviews can also be miked with the Sound
Grabber II mounted on the ceiling or in an
overhead light fixture.
Pulpits, Lecterns
Because it lies flat on any surface, the Sound
Grabber II is ideal for picking up speech at a
lectern or pulpit. It is invisible to the audience
and can be placed anywhere on the surface
so as not to interfere with any books or pa-
pers. See Fig. 6.
Cassette Recording
The Sound Grabber II is equipped with an 8
foot cord with a 1/8” mic plug, 1/4” phone-
plug adaptor, and micro phone-plug adapter.
SOUND GRABBER II
Should you wish to record a conference
group which is meeting without a table, the
Sound Grabber II could be placed on the
floor in the middle of the group or on a wall.
Double-faced adhesive tape can be used, pro-
viding the wall finish will not be damaged.
Interviews
For two-person interviews, see Fig. 5. If the
interview is being recorded on television,
the mic can easily be positioned out of the
camera range and still have excellent audio
pickup.
The Sound Grabber II will provide an output
signal that will record easily on any standard
cassette recorder. Because of the mic’s novel
design, you probably will find that your
recorder performs better than it ever has
before.
Video
For video recording with a fixed camera posi-
tion, simply plug the mic into the camera and
position the mic as needed for the type of
recording you are doing. If the camera will
be moving, you can tape the mic to the front
of the camera or ask an assistant to hold the
mic.
Stereo Recording
Mount two Sound Grabber IIs head high
on a wall or on the floor and about 3 to 10
feet apart, facing the performers. The mics
should be 5’ to 15’ from the performers (see
Figs. 7 and 8).
Warranty
Crown professional microphones are guar-
anteed unconditionally against malfunction
from any cause for a period of one year from
date of original purchase. Please refer to the
blister pack for more details.
Fig. 6
Fig.8
Fig. 5
Service
If the microphone does not function prop-
erly, check that it is aimed correctly and is
connected as described in this data sheet. If
service is required, return the microphone in
its original packaging to Crown Factory Ser-
vice, 1718 West Mishawaka Road, Elkhart,
Indiana 46517-9439. For further assistance
or technical support call 800-342-6939.
Fig. 4
Fig. 7