Samson R11 User manual

SAMSON®
Congratulations on purchasing the Samson R11
Hyper-Cardioid Neodymium Microphone! This
professional quality dynamic mic is specially
designed for use in live performance and public
address environments where unwanted ambient
sound is occurring from many different directions.
Its hyper-cardioid pattern ensures maximum
rejection of these signals (thus minimizing feedback
problems) while delivering a strong, crisp signal
from the audio source directly in front of the mic
capsule.
In this manual, you’ll find a more detailed
description of the features of your R11 microphone,
as well as instructions for using your R11, and full
specifications. You’ll also find a warranty card
enclosed—don’t forget to fill it out and mail it in!
This will enable you to receive online technical
support and will allow us to send you updated
information about other Samson products in the
future.
SPECIAL NOTE: Should your R11 ever require
servicing, a Return Authorization number (RA) is
necessary. Without this number, the microphone will
not be accepted. Please call Samson at
[phone] for a Return Authorization number
prior to shipping your microphone. Please retain the
original packing material and, if possible, return the
R11 in its original carton and packing materials.
Features
The Samson R11 utilizes state-of-the-art
microphone technology. Here are some of its
main features:
• Rugged dynamic capsule enables the R11 to
be used with high sound pressure level signals
(such as drums and amplified instruments) and
ensures reliable performance in even the most
demanding environments.
• Transformless design for reduced noise and
low distortion.
• Hyper-cardioid pattern minimizes feedback
problems and effectively rejects signals not
originating directly in front of the mic capsule.
• High energy rare earth Neodymium magnet
provides 6 dB of noiseless gain.
• Full range frequency response allows natural
reproduction of all audio sources.
• Handy on-off switch for on-stage control.
• Low impedance output enables the R11 to
send strong, full bandwidth signal over long
cable runs.
• Lightweight and compact, the R11 can be
mounted on any standard microphone stand
(using the included mic clip) or can be easily
handheld for long periods without inducing
fatigue.
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DYNAMIC MICROPHONE
R11 frequency chart

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Using Your R11
The R11 can be connected to any standard mixer,
mixer/amplifier, or mic preamp using a standard low
impedance microphone cable. Connect the female XLR
end directly to the R11 and the other end (normally a
male XLR, although some mixers use 1/4" connectors) to
the mixer, mixer/amplifier, or mic preamp.
The R11 can be mounted to any standard microphone
stand (using the included mic clip) or can be handheld. If
handheld, take care not to cover the head grille with your
hand. Be aware of a phenomenon called the proximity
effect which causes a noticeable increase in low frequen-
cies (bass response) when a microphone is close to the
audio source. This can have positive impact—for exam-
ple, it will cause your voice to sound much fuller when you
sing close to the mic than when you sing at a distance.
On the other hand, the proximity effect can make some
instruments too boomy when the mic is too close—for
example, when miking an acoustic guitar, you may want to
move the R11 back six inches or more from the front of
the guitar body. The key is experimentation, along with
awareness of the general principle that, the closer the R11
is to a signal source, the greater the bass response.
Every microphone has a characteristic polar pattern that
determines how well it accepts or rejects signal coming
from various areas around the microphone. For example,
omnidirectional mics accept all signals regardless of
wherever those signals originate (in front of the mic,
behind it, to the side, etc.). In contrast, directional cardioid
mics are specifically designed to accept mostly signal
coming from directly in front, and to reject signal coming
from behind or from the side. The most extreme variation
of cardioid is the hyper-cardioid pattern utilized by the
R11; this yields maximum rejection of signal coming from
any direction other than directly in front of the mic. For
this reason, the R11 excels in environments where there
is a good deal of unwanted ambient sound—it reproduces
those signals originating directly in front of the mic cap-
sule itself while rejecting those that originate from behind.
Specifications
Type Dynamic
Polar Pattern Hyper-cardioid
Frequency Response 60 Hz - 18 kHz
Sensitivity (0 dB = 1 V /
94 dB SPL@ 1 kHz) -75 dB ± 3 dB
Max. Input Level (1 kHz) 130 dB SPL
Samson Technologies Corp., 575 Underhill Blvd., Syosset, NY 11791
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
SAMSON
Output Impedance (@ 1 kHz) 400 ohm (Lo Z)
Connector 3-pin XLR male (pin 2 hot)
Dimensions
Head length 2.1 in. / 53.5 mm
Main unit length 4.75 in. / 120.5 mm
Total length 6.85 in. / 174 mm
Weight 8.8 oz. / 250 g
®
R11 Polar Pattern
The polar pattern also determines how prone a particular
mic is to inducing feedback . Feedback is that characteris-
tic nasty howling sound that occurs when a mic is placed
too close to a loudspeaker—the signal from the
loudspeaker is fed into the mic, then into the loudspeaker,
then into the mic, over and over again until an oscillating
tone is generated. Because the hyper-cardioid pattern
utilized by the R11 is so good at rejecting signal not
coming from directly in front of the mic, you’ll find that the
R11 greatly minimizes feedback problems when used in
live performance.