Audio-Technica ATR1300X Dynamic Vocal And Instrument Microphone

Audio-Technica ATR1300x Dynamic Vocal/Instrument Microphone

The Audio-Technica ATR1300x is a handheld unidirectional dynamic microphone designed for vocals and instruments in live, rehearsal and home recording settings. Its dynamic element needs no power supply, handles loud sources without complaint, and its unidirectional pickup concentrates on the sound in front of the microphone while reducing pickup from the sides and rear. Audio-Technica packages it as a working kit: the microphone itself, an adjustable stand clamp, and a detachable 5 m cable that runs from the microphone’s XLR output to a 6.3 mm plug for compatible microphone inputs on karaoke systems, powered speakers, amplifiers and mixers.

Key features

• Dynamic element engineered for clear, full sound on vocals and instruments
• Unidirectional polar pattern that focuses pickup on the source and improves gain before feedback
• Frequency response of 70 Hz to 12,000 Hz, tailored to speech and sung voice
• On/off switch on the microphone body for local control between songs or segments
• Detachable 5 m cable, XLR at the microphone end and 6.3 mm plug at the equipment end
• Adjustable stand clamp included, with a durable metal construction and an easy-grip finish

Pickup pattern and feedback control

A unidirectional microphone hears most strongly from the front, which is the working principle behind the ATR1300x. Sing or speak into the front of the headcase at a close, consistent distance and the voice stays forward and intelligible; sound arriving from behind the microphone, where stage monitors and audience noise usually sit, is picked up far less. That directionality buys useful gain before feedback in a PA system, provided the loudspeakers are placed sensibly and the microphone is not pointed into them.

Directionality is not silence for everything else. Room reflections, a loud amplifier beside the singer and handling noise still register, so placement and distance remain part of good results. Working close also adds proximity-effect warmth to a voice, which many singers use deliberately; backing off a few centimetres thins the sound out again and helps with plosive bursts on hard consonants.

Sound, handling and build

The published frequency response of 70 Hz to 12,000 Hz covers the fundamental range and intelligibility region of the human voice without chasing studio extremes, and the same voicing suits instruments such as guitar amplifiers and percussion used at moderate distances. Open-circuit sensitivity is -52 dB and impedance is 500 Ohms, figures that pair normally with the microphone inputs found on mixers, portable PA systems and karaoke equipment. As a passive dynamic design it requires no phantom power and no battery, so it works the moment it is plugged in.

The microphone weighs 329 g without the cable, giving it a solid in-hand feel that resists accidental knocks off a stand. Audio-Technica builds the ATR1300x with a durable metal construction and an easy-grip finish, details that matter for a microphone that will be passed between speakers, packed with cables and used in school halls, places of worship, rehearsal rooms and small venues rather than kept in a studio drawer.

Connections, the supplied cable and stand use

The microphone’s own output is a standard XLR connector, so it works with ordinary XLR microphone cables into a mixer or interface whenever a balanced connection is preferred. The cable in the box is detachable and 5 m long, terminated with a 6.3 mm plug, which suits the microphone inputs fitted to many karaoke machines, guitar amplifiers with a microphone channel, and powered speakers. Check the receiving input before a show: a socket’s size alone does not confirm it is a microphone input with suitable gain, and a line or instrument input will leave the microphone sounding weak.

The included adjustable clamp holds the microphone on a standard stand for speeches, announcements and instruments, freeing both hands and keeping distance consistent. The on/off switch then serves as a simple mute when the microphone is passed to another speaker or set down during a break.

As a first serious microphone or a dependable spare for live work, the ATR1300x keeps the formula proven and simple: a rugged dynamic capsule, a directional pickup that helps on real stages, a long detachable cable and a stand clamp, all ready to work with common PA and karaoke inputs.

Buying guide: microphone for podcasting guide

Complete your setup: Pair the Audio-Technica ATR1300X Dynamic Vocal And Instrument Microphone with the Focusrite SCARLETT SOLO 4th Gen USB Audio Interface and the Samson BT4 Telescoping Boom Microphone Stand.