Austrian Audio CC8-SC

Austrian Audio CC8-SC — a supercardioid small-diaphragm condenser microphone with the OCC7 capsule, built for precise source isolation in tightly packed drum setups and delicate acoustic recordings.

The CC8-SC is built around the same OCC7 capsule as the original CC8, but voiced as a supercardioid with a narrowed pickup angle and a gentle roll-off at the top and bottom of the range. A 13 dB(A) self-noise ranks among the lowest in its class, and a maximum SPL of 155 dB with a 132 dB dynamic range gives enough headroom for the quietest piano passage and the loudest cymbal crash alike. Transformerless electronics keep a linear frequency response across 20 Hz–20 kHz.

A narrow pattern as a solution to bleed

A common problem when miking a tightly packed drum kit: the hi-hat mic picks up the snare, the ride mic picks up the hi-hat, and separating each element at mix time means tedious work with gates and automation. The CC8-SC's narrowed supercardioid pattern focuses precisely on the source directly in front of the diaphragm, cutting bleed from neighboring kit elements enough that the snare barely leaks into the overhead or ride mic's track.

Rolled-off extremes instead of a raw, unshaped response

A standard flat-response pencil mic can exaggerate sharp transients and stage rumble, requiring extra EQ work before mixing. The CC8-SC has a built-in, gentle roll-off at both the top and bottom of the range, taming harsh sibilance and stage rumble right at the capture stage, giving the engineer a cleaner starting signal and more room to shape the sound further without risking amplifying unwanted artifacts.

KEY FEATURES

• Supercardioid small-diaphragm condenser microphone with the OCC7 capsule
• Class-leading 13 dB(A) self-noise
• Narrow pattern reducing bleed between neighboring mics
• Built-in, gentle roll-off at the top and bottom of the range
• Switchable 60/120 Hz high-pass filter (2nd order)
• Switchable -10 dB / -20 dB pad
• Factory-calibrated to ±0.5 dB tolerance at 1 kHz
• Rugged, compact build weighing just 140 g

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Polar pattern: supercardioid
• Frequency range: 20 Hz - 20 kHz
• Sensitivity: 18 mV/Pa
• Equivalent noise level: 13 dB SPL(A)
• Dynamic range: 132 dB
• Maximum SPL: 155 dB SPL
• Low cut filter: 60 Hz (2nd order) or 120 Hz (2nd order)
• Pad: -10 dB, -20 dB
• Impedance: 275 Ω (symmetrical)
• Load impedance: >1 kΩ
• Supply voltage: 48V (<3mA)
• Connector: 3-pin XLR
• Dimensions: 140 x 23 x 23 mm
• Weight: 140 g