AEA R44 Series & RCA 44 Case (44VC) — a vertical carrying case constructed from Cordura fabric over a plastic shell with thick internal padding, purpose-built for AEA R44, KU4, and original RCA 44 microphones, and the standard case shipped with every new R44 and KU4 purchase.
The RCA 44 and its AEA replicas are dimensionally and mechanically unlike any other microphone in a standard locker — over 1.5 kg of body mass, a freely suspended ribbon element inside, and a yoke and cushion mount as exposed external components susceptible to impact damage. No generic mic bag or standard pouch is engineered for this footprint or this level of internal fragility. The 44VC addresses that with a dedicated format: vertical orientation eliminates lateral loading on the cushion mount and yoke during transit, thick foam absorbs impact, and a rigid plastic shell under the Cordura outer skin prevents external deformation from crushing the assembly.
Vertical Orientation as a Technical Requirement
AEA's R44 owner's manual explicitly recommends storing and transporting the microphone in a vertical position — the only orientation in which the cushion mount works on its designed compression axis and the freely suspended ribbon is not deflected by its own weight. The 44VC enforces this by design: the microphone loads vertically with the cushion mount and yoke attached, and the internal foam geometry does not allow it to be laid on its side. The format accommodates all R44 variants with their full external assembly intact — R44C, R44CX, R44CE, R44CXE — as well as original RCA 44A, 44B, and 44BX units, and the KU4.
Standard Equipment, Not an Afterthought
The 44VC is included with every new AEA R44 and KU4 from the factory — AEA's position being that a microphone of this specification should not leave the manufacturer without purpose-built transport protection. For owners of vintage RCA 44 microphones without an original case (which after decades frequently no longer exists or is structurally compromised), the 44VC provides the first layer of protection for a multi-thousand-dollar instrument: abrasion-resistant Cordura, a rigid shell against lateral impacts, and dense internal padding that keeps the mic stationary regardless of what the surrounding bag is doing.
KEY FEATURES
- Vertical transport orientation — the only correct position for the R44 and RCA 44, eliminating lateral load on the cushion mount and ribbon stress during transit.
- Cordura/plastic shell construction — abrasion-resistant outer fabric, rigid plastic frame, thick internal foam padding.
- Dedicated internal format — foam geometry matched to the R44 with yoke and cushion mount assembled.
- Compatibility: AEA R44C, R44CX, R44CE, R44CXE, KU4 and original RCA 44A, 44B, 44BX.
- Standard factory inclusion — ships with every new AEA R44 and KU4 microphone.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
- Model designation: AEA 44VC (Vertical Case)
- Type: Vertical carrying case
- Outer material: Cordura fabric over plastic shell
- Interior: Thick foam padding
- Microphone orientation: Vertical storage
- Compatibility: AEA R44C, R44CX, R44CE, R44CXE, KU4 and RCA 44A, 44B, 44BX
- Country of manufacture: USA (Pasadena, CA)
