The Berserker sells out… in under three minutes!

The Berserker sells out... in under three minutes!

The Berserker from Extinct Audio is a low noise ribbon microphone aimed at recording voices, but which can be used for pretty much anything. The sound is somewhat 1940s vintage in character but with modern output levels and extremely low noise for a passive ribbon microphone. The Berserker gives voices a larger-than-life sound, perfect for jazz queens and rock gods of all eras.

It has internal windscreens to reduce sibilance and pops and sounds most natural around 6 to 12 inches away from the sound source, which makes it perfect for vocals. 

The Berserker’s body and yoke are cast from solid brass using a traditional lost wax process. These bespoke parts were made in small batches in the south of England, and of course the rest of the microphone is made in our facility in York. 

We have made just six of these microphones.

About the name

In old Norse legend, Berserkers were fearsome warriors who (maybe) wore bear skins and (allegedly) ate magic mushrooms or other hallucinogenic substances to sustain them in battle. Our Berserker is rather better behaved! The looks of the microphone are inspired by an obscure 1940s ribbon microphone made by Birmingham Sound Reproducers. BSR gave us the name BerSerkeR.

Technical specifications

• Output impedance = 300 ohms at 1KHz
• Directional Pattern: Offset figure-8.
• Frequency range*: <30 Hz – 15 kHz @ ±3dB. (excludes proximity effect)
• Sensitivity: -50 dBv/Pa
• Self noise (thermal): -131 dBV at 20ºC (20 kHz bandwidth)
• Signal to noise (1kHz at 1 Pa): 81 dB.
• Proximity effect: Strong
• Electronics: Passive. No power required
• Output configuration: Transformer balanced
• Output Connector: XLR3, Pin 2= +ve, Pin 3 = -ve, Pin 1 = Ground
• Weight: 1200g approx (microphone only). 2000g with box.
• Size: 220 x 90 x 60 mm approx. (microphone). 350 x 110 x 105 mm boxed.

November 17, 2021