Strings Magazine, June 2009 
As many gigging string players know, getting a natural bowed sound through a microphone or pickup is a huge challenge. DPA, a familiar name in pro audio, has launched the DPA 4099 Violin Clip Microphone, a tiny, clip-on condenser mic that delivers a transparent, natural sound. The tiny boom-style mic, housed in a windscreen and shock-mounted on a gooseneck, clips gently but securely anywhere on the edge of the instrument with non-marring feet. The clip, a crucial detail where many miniature mics fall short, is an elegant design: it’s stable, yet it can be moved or transferred to another instrument with little effort using just one hand. The gooseneck bends easily for ideal placement but is stiff enough to retain its shape when you put it away. The included XLR adapter allows the DPA 4099 to work as a regular 48-volt phantom-powered mic, or you can order it with an adapter designed for wireless use. The adapters have a balanced output and built-in low-cut filter that minimizes wind and handling noise.
I took the 4099 on a test drive with expert sound man Marty Brenneis at a Valentine’s Day dance in a cavernous hall. The band was just fiddle and acoustic guitar. Time for sound check: the fiddle sound from the monitor was strikingly clear and natural. In fact, it sounded like no monitor at all, just louder. “It sounds just like you,” Brenneis called from the back of the room. “Out here!” Even with a hall full of dancers the sound was loud, free of feedback, clear, and remarkably detailed. I played better, so did the guitarist, and the crowd responded accordingly.
Download PDF