The Lewitt MTP W950 Stands as the Ultimate Versatile Microphone, Serving Both Stage and Studio Performances with Excellence.
The Lewitt MTP W950 Stands as the Ultimate Versatile Microphone, Serving Both Stage and Studio Performances with Excellence.
Have you ever attended a live show of your favorite musician and were left a tad underwhelmed due to the disparity between their studio recordings that you're so familiar with and the live sound, which while filled with energy, lacked the intricate detail and clarity you expected? You're not alone in feeling this way. It's equally disappointing for the artists, aiming to deliver their finest live performance.
One of the complications with live sound is the microphones used on stage, which capture less nuance compared to the large diaphragm condenser microphones in recording studios. However, the latter are too sensitive and fragile for live use, potentially creating feedback loops with excessive feedback. So, how can we find a middle ground?
Many live acts resort to the dependable Shure SM58, a microphone that's been in use for over half a century. While not subtle, it's robust enough to handle rough handling. But can we achieve the subtlety and clarity of a large diaphragm condenser microphone in a design that can reject bleed from other instruments while still capturing the singer's vocal nuances?
Lewitt believes it can. Their offering in this regard is the Lewitt MTP W950, a flagship condenser microphone that combines the benefits of a dynamic microphone and can be used wired or wirelessly. If you're in need of one versatile microphone for live shows while still offering studio-quality sound, the MTP W950 could be your best bet. Stevie Wonder attests to this, having the W9 capsule (the capsule is designated as W9, while the mic handle is MTP50) on his wireless mic and three MTP W950 wired microphones at his separate keyboard stations.
Lewitt was founded in 2009 by Roman Perschon. His ambition was to revolutionize microphone design with the latest advancements travelling hand in hand with simpler life for beginners and professionals in the audio field, allowing them to achieve the best audio quality, whether performing live or recording in a studio.
Lewitt's product range is extensive and has proven to lead the industry with industry awards for its innovation. As a microphone brand, Lewitt claims to be one of the fastest-growing companies in the market. The company's design headquarters is situated in Vienna, Austria, while manufacturing is centered in China. Lewitt takes an unconventional approach to manufacturing by sourcing materials from the production area itself, thereby ensuring an outstanding price-to-performance ratio.
With teams in Europe, China, and the USA, Lewitt has constructed an international network that allows them to stay close to users while profiting from advanced and cost-efficient manufacturing processes. To maintain the highest level of quality, Lewitt invested heavily in an advanced quality control system that can be utilized to measure and test every single microphone that emerges from the assembly line, allowing for consistency and reliability.
The Lewitt MTP W950 is the answer to the prayers of artists and engineers, seeking the optimum sound quality while addressing common issues in live microphone use that are easy for vocalists to handle during their time on tour. As experienced live sound engineers, Lewitt possesses the knowledge to tackle these issues. In a rehearsal room, there may not be room for setting up a full wireless mic system, thereby requiring a wired setup. But this could mean using a different microphone on stage, potentially ruining the preparation completed in the rehearsal room.
For this reason, Lewitt designed the MTP W950 to be compatible with both wired and wireless usage, enabling seamless transitions between rehearsal rooms and the stage. The MTP W950 uses a 1-inch true condenser capsule, capable of reproducing studio-quality sound that exceeds what most stage mics can deliver.
The goal of the microphone's design is to deliver every detail in a singer's voice, replicating the experience of a recording studio. As artists move on stage or get too close to drum kits or guitar amplifiers, excess noise can infiltrate the vocal mix, disrupting the overall sound balance. To combat this, Lewitt engineered the MTP W950 to reduce sonic bleed and spills to a minimum due to an industry-leading 90% rear rejection.
Another issue that the MTP W950 addresses is cupping. The more a singer cups the mic in their hand, the more the initial cardioid pattern will transform into an omnidirectional one, potentially leading to feedback issues. Lewitt employs a cupping-safe design, allowing the artist to hold the microphone high on the basket before requiring an adjustment to the sound. Furthermore, a natural barrier is integrated into the head basket to hinder the tendency for artists to grip further up, commonly observed among rappers.
The designers of the MTP W950 conducted drop testing on the microphone, aware that the last thing required during a live performance is for the microphone to slip from the vocalist's hand. The MTP W950 is designed to withstand at least six falls from a height of two meters on each side, rotated 45 degrees each time, as well as two more falls against the front and back. It seems more durable than a wrestling contender.
The MTP W950 microphone's output is notably more robust than many stage dynamic microphones due to its utilization of studio condenser technology. This means it doesn't require excessive gain to deliver outstanding audio quality, unlike many dynamic microphones.
Caleb James, a prominent audio engineer and CEO of Stay Faded LLC, has become a devoted user of the MTP W950. His company is responsible for sound engineering for several notable figures in the music industry.
"During a recent Victoria's Secret fashion show," James shared, "Rapper Lalisa Manobal of Blackpink intended to perform using her custom microphone. However, upon taking the stage, the mic proved useless due to poor vocal isolation. The problematic audio reflections in the venue, which resembled an old, abandoned warehouse, only exacerbated the issue. The sound quality was far from satisfactory."
"Thankfully," he continued, "I had a Lewitt W9 capsule on hand. We promptly substituted it in, adjusted the polar pattern to super-cardioid beneath the grille to enhance vocal isolation, and Lalisa's vocals instantly became the standout in the mix, delivering exceptional clarity. The challenging acoustics of the room were no match for the Lewitt W9. It truly saved the day."
Stevie Wonder is another artist James collaborates with. He uses an MTP W9 capsule on his wireless mic and employs three MTP W950 wired microphones at his individual keyboard stations. Six W9 capsules are utilized for his background singers' wireless microphones.
"I appreciate the numerous built-in switchable options beneath the grille of all these Lewitt capsules," James stated. "These include a 12db pad, low-cut filter, and cardioid/super-cardioid polar patterns. All the capsules on stage are set to super cardioid with low-cut and the 12db pad engaged. This allowed us to reduce the stage bleed into the capsules, thus providing optimal vocal isolation. The setup performed flawlessly and delivered exceptional audio clarity, even with Stevie and his full band, choir, and 12-piece orchestra performing simultaneously on stage."
"Transitioning to artist Lil Yachty," James mentioned, "the Lewitt W9 once again excelled. I utilized the 12dB pad to manage the extreme SPL levels stemming from his energetic rap vocals. The capsule performed admirably, even when he cupped the mic. The response curve of his vocal didn't significantly degrade, as it would with most other microphone capsules."
Conclusion: The Lewitt MTP W950 is a versatile mic, indeed. It's uncommon to find a condenser microphone that can excel in both studio and live performances. And thanks to its competitive pricing, artists don't have to spend a fortune to enjoy the best of both worlds. Austrian design, engineering, cost-effective manufacturing, and a passionate workforce that prioritizes music production all point to a promising future for the MTP W950, which might become as ubiquitous as the Shure SM58, albeit with a more nuanced and refined sound.
Pricing & Availability: The Lewitt Audio MTP W950 is currently available on the Lewitt website for $689 / £689 / €689.
Technical Specifications:
- Type: Condenser, externally polarized.
- Operating principle: Pressure gradient transducer.
- Transducer Ø: 25.4mm, 1 inch.
- Polar pattern: Cardioid, Super-cardioid.
- Sensitivity: 8.1mV/Pa, -41.8dBV/Pa.
- Self-noise: 21dB (A).
- Max SPL: 140dB SPL (0.5% THD).
- Dynamic range: 119dB (A).
- Signal-to-noise ratio: 73dB (A).
- Attenuation: 0dB / -12dB.
- Low-cut filter: lin, 120Hz.
- Internal impedance: 217Ω.
- Supply voltage: 48V ± 4V.
- Current consumption: 7.5mA.
- Connector: Gold plated 3-pin XLR, Capsule thread: 11⁄4-28UN-2A.
- Microphone dimensions: 51 x 183mm.
- Weight: 397g.
Despite its robust design, the Shure SM58 microphone often falls short in delivering the subtlety and clarity found in studio recordings. To bridge this gap, artists and sound engineers search for a versatile microphone capable of capturing vocal nuances while rejecting bleed from other instruments. This is where the Lewitt MTP W950 comes into play, combining the benefits of a dynamic microphone with studio-quality sound. Lalisa Manobal, a prominent singer, once encountered poor vocal isolation during a live performance, but swapping her malfunctioning microphone with a Lewitt W9 capsule instantly improved the sound quality.