Melodium LIP Microphone

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We have two examples of Melodium LIP microphones in our collection, an older grey model with a horseshoe magnet and black handle, which appears to be the same as that shown in the 1954 Melodium catalogue, and a later model with hammertone silver paint, a cylindrical magnet and silver handle.

Description taken from a translation of an original 1954 Melodium Brochure:

Based on an entirely new principle, the LIP ribbon microphone is designed to be used in places where ambient noises, which should not be picked up, or are very loud.

The LIP microphone is presented in the form of a cylinder with milled lateral slots, anodised oxide finish, in gun-bronze colour. It is mounted asymmetrically on a black moulded handle, with a shielded two-conductor cable with a rubber sheath (length 1.50 m).

The LIP microphone, unlike other Melodium microphones, is deliberately made insensitive. It makes use of this particular property of ribbon microphones: the predominant influence of the pressure of acoustic waves on their velocity close to the sound source. Thanks to judicious electroacoustic compensations, it has advantages which particularly characterise it:

• Complete absence of self-oscillation (Larsen effect), even if the microphone is placed in the immediate proximity of loudspeakers.
• Total insensitivity to ambient noise.

These properties make it suitable for equipping advertising vehicles, fairground installations, for use in mines, factories, workshops, aviation, etc., anywhere where undesirable noise covers the speaker’s voice. The LIP microphone is therefore a microphone usable only for speech, the apparatus being placed right against the lips. It is not suitable for the reproduction of music at a distance.

Characteristics:

• Output impedance: 10 ohms, plus or minus 10% at 800 p/s.
• Frequency Response: 100 to 8,000 p/s.
• Output level: - 68 dB for a pressure of 10 bars in open circuit (reference: 1 milliwatt)
• Magnet: TICONAL (Alinco), hardened magnetically.
• Output: 1.50 m cable, 2-conductor microphone cable.
• Dimensions: Height: 150 mm. Width: 130 mm. Thickness: 40 mm.
• Weight: 430 grams.