Sontronics STC-20 Pack Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone Bundle

The STC-20 is the plainest microphone Sontronics makes and the argument for it is exactly that: one cardioid pattern, no pad, no filter, nothing to set wrong at 2 am. Response runs 20 Hz to 20 kHz at 16 mV/Pa with a 125 dB ceiling, which covers a vocal, an acoustic guitar and a podcast without asking the operator a question.

Self-noise is 18 dBA and impedance stays under 200 Ohms, into a 3-pin XLR on 48 V phantom. The Pack is the whole starting kit: spider shock mount, popshield, a 5 m XLR cable and a microphone pouch. The mic measures 194 x 53 x 53 mm and weighs 0.62 kg on its own.