With the vast range of options available, choosing your first main studio mic can seem like a daunting task. Luke Goddard checks out an affordable solution in Imperative Audio’s Lucent.

Do I Need An Expensive Mic?

Most studios, from large multi-room facilities down to the smallest of bedroom setups have their go-to mics for front-and-centre sources such as vocals. The only difference is the size of the budget available to buy them. The simple truth is that if everything else is good (the acoustics, mic positioning, tuning, timing, and sound quality of the voice or instrument) you stand a fighting chance of getting good results with almost any mic that “agrees” with the source. 

Imperative Audio Lucent First Impressions

Getting out of that lesser-known budget end of the market can be a bit of a minefield for people buying their first mic. At £129 the Imperative Audio Lucent sits in that zone that gets the first time buyer into that  “cheap enough to own, expensive enough to deliver” price bracket that means you can relax if everything else is good.

The mic comes in the classic dual large-diaphragm studio condenser microphone form with an included elastic suspension shock mount with ⅜ thread adaptor, large black foam windshield, and leatherette “pencil case” style protective bag. This mic certainly looks professional and has a classy matte black body and grille rounding off the look.

Lucent Features And Specs

The mic has 10dB pad and low cut switches to deal with very loud sources or rumbles up the mic stand, but the Lucent’s headline feature is its switchable polar patterns. You get cardioid, Omni, and figure of eight to play with thanks to Lucent’s VPM (Voltage Phase Matrix). This is imperative Audio’s take on the classic technique of switching the second diaphragm in or out or changing its polarity to give different patterns.

For a mic, this affordable, Lucent’s specs are totally respectable.

• Frequency Range: 20Hz - 20kHz- this mic can hear at least as many frequencies as you can

• Sensitivity: -37dB +/- 2dB (0dB = 1V/Pa @1kHz)- you won’t need to use all of your mic preamp’s gain for all but the quietest of sources

• Output Impedance: ≤ 200 ohms- you can plug it into just about anything with a mic input socket.

• Max SPL: 125dB for 0.5% THD- you can use Lucent close up on all but the very loudest of things.

• S/N Ratio: 76 dB- the mic’s own electrical noise will be similar to, or lower than other sources of electrical or acoustical noise in your studio.

Lucent’s Sound

Lucent has a clean, bright flavour that gives a really hi-fi sound to vocals and acoustic instruments, but of course you can point it at anything. It will work really well with quiet things due to its healthy output, but you might want to put it up alongside a darker sounding mic on unknown vocalists to sidestep any over-brightness.

Overall, Lucent is a very capable studio workhorse that will do most sources justice. In the video you can hear for yourself just how convincing it sounds on different sources.  

Final Thoughts

For a long time now, the community has debated whether or not we need to spend a lot of money on “star” mics to get great results. The jury might still be working that one out, but one thing is certain: there’s no doubt that if everything in front of the mic is high quality, the Imperative Audio Lucent deserves to be the last piece in your puzzle.

For more info, head over to our friends Studiospares' website to find out more.