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Our INTEGRAL MICROPHONE SYSTEM (IMS) seamlessly integrates a custom designed dynamic microphone system with the speaker frame itself, directly within the cabinet making the system invisible and simple to use.
The dynamic microphone capsule itself was custom designed for this precise purpose, sounds great, and simplifies
A gold plated contact XLR output is provided ready for studio and live applications. The IMS is provided for each speaker in a cabinet, so for instance, a 2 x 12" cabinet will have two IMS's installed with an XLR output for each speaker, thus allowing each speaker to be mixed separately for maximum control!!!
All cabinets we build are equipped standard with our INTEGRAL MICROPHONE SYSTEM (IMS).
No need for bulky microphone stands, and all the associated pitfalls.
A custom, purpose built dynamic microphone that delivers pure analog sound directly off the speaker!
100% analog.
Reduces sound spillover in any live or studio environment.
Quick, clean, easy fit and forget installation.
Fits easily onto rear mounted or front mounted speakers. Plug in and go.
The IMS capsule has a super-cardioid pattern providing superior isolation and practically no bleed.
Available for mono or stereo output.
Delivers the true sound and tone.
Save set-up time, space and money.
No power supplies or batteries required.
These proprietary internal speaker microphones (IMS) that were developed by Integral were conceived to combine the idea of diffusing sound emanating from a speaker with a mechanism to support a microphone to capture that diffused sound at close quarters, without any coloring from ambient sound or microphone characteristics.
Many sound engineers gladly exploit the ability to move a microphone to different positions in front of a speaker because they want to capture specific characteristics. This has been the accepted norm for 60 plus years but, in the live situation that will always be a compromise because whilst a sound check may produce the desired effect, it will be short lived when the gig starts with a vengeance. There is no guarantee that the mic will stay in place during the performance and so the sound will be compromised very quickly. Add to that overspill from other sources close by such as other instruments, drums etc., the engineer on the desk will have his work cut out for sure.
The IMS uses a dynamic microphone capsule, requiring no phantom power, placed within the space of the speaker cone and which is positioned and aimed towards the edge of the speaker. At first sight it would appear to be in the wrong place being mounted centrally on the face of the speaker. However, the mic capsule lays on a cradle which places it sideways on to the center of the speaker cone.
The Microphone capsule has a super-cardioid pattern which gives a high rejection of sound coming towards the sides and rear of the capsule. This means that all those harsh frequencies emanating from the centre of the speaker are largely rejected. Similarly, overspill is also rejected too. This leaves the target area for the mic as the outer edge of the speaker. The Integral mic is housed and fixed under a domed “pepper-pot” cover which creates diffusion of the speaker sound. Thus the capsule now collects a rounded sound from the whole of the speaker requiring very little attention during set up and despite having a super-cardioid pattern, Integral’s capsule can be described as collecting sound from 360deg within the speaker cone. The microphone cannot move to compromise the sound and will be consistent for every performance.
For a live band mix it is quite normal that the EQ for a regular mic will need to be adjusted for the guitarist to cut through and be heard clearly in the mix. Generally this will mean some bass being rolled off and perhaps some top end having to be added in. It is quite likely that adding top end will also introduce hiss creating even more issues for the sound man to deal with. Integral already incorporates this specification and for the most part will mean the E.Q. on the desk will be set pretty flat out of the starting gate.
This system is not only great for live music as the microphone has a clear advantage of only hearing the true sound coming from the speaker it is mounted in front of. So, for studio work it is a great starting point because it enables a transparent base to work from in the recording process. As the project proceeds ambient can be added with additional mikes which would probably be the case anyway, using a blend to get the end result required.
Connection to the desk is via a standard XLR jack conveniently located on the rear jack-plate your cabinet.
Spec sheets are available on request. However, if they are wanted to make a comparison with other mics then this may not be realistic.
To elaborate….. All microphones are tested to an international standard which dictates that the microphone is positioned square on to a sound source (i.e. a speaker) at a 0.50m distance. In Integral`s case this is impossible to replicate because the mic capsule is presented sideways on and would be at 0.00m during use. Thus, the info is interesting showing a flat response but, any comparison would be meaningless because the criteria is different.
If you observe a speaker in use you will see the cone moving backwards and forwards with the most movement being in the center and the least at the edge of the speaker. The center (most movement) is where the harshest of the sound emanates from and is why the sound from a speaker cab is not normally fully formed for at least 10-20 feet in front of the cab. Indeed, if anyone has stood directly in front of a screaming guitar or bass cab, they will have experienced the kick in the chest. Moving away off center of the cab is a more comfortable experience.
This explains why a sound engineer mic'ng up a cab will spend some time positioning a microphone on a stand in front of the cab, and will move it across the face of the speaker until he is happy he has found his “sweet spot”.
A Sonic Diffuser is a circular, dome shaped obstruction placed centrally in front of a speaker to bounce around (diffuse) those harsh frequencies before they leave the speaker cone with the effect that the overall sound heard Front of House or in the Studio is a blend of all the frequencies coming off the speaker and not just the harsh bits from the center..
The design of Integral combines this concept with a mounting for a microphone capsule and removes the need to find a sweet spot at each sound check because, whatever the situation or venue, the circumstances are identical each time. The microphone can only receive the total diffused sound coming off the speaker and cannot be affected by the room, other instruments or other sound sources in the vicinity, including sound bouncing off hard surfaces nearby. Integral gives complete separation.
Reduces sound spillover in any live or studio environment.
Delivers the true sound and tone.
Save set-up time, space and money.
100% analog.
No power supplies or batteries required.
No need for bulky microphone stands, and all the associated pitfalls.
Delivers pure analog sound from the speaker to the mixing desk.
Available for mono or stereo output.