Myburgh Ships M28 Microphone

Myburgh tells us that their M28 microphone, the second in their Heritage series is now shipping. Here's the story in their own words...

The M28 follows the M1, which established the Heritage Series' approach of taking landmark microphone concepts as a starting point for original modern designs. For the engineer, producer, or artist who wants a microphone with a voice of its own rather than a well-made version of someone else's, the M28 delivers the air and clarity this iconic capsule is prized for and arrives somewhere no other microphone arrives.

Unlike the M1's pairing of a U47-style M7 capsule in a tube microphone, the M28 takes the CK12 capsule of the C12 in a different direction, using an original tube-like FET circuit whose character becomes richer with level. The M28 has a sound of its own.

Its wider bandwidth and higher SPL capability let that character work across a broader range of sources, while its FET design brings the reliability and practicality of phantom-powered operation. Rather than being a good copy of a vintage model, it's a microphone that arrives somewhere different and distinctive.

A Modern Approach to an Iconic Capsule
The M28 incorporates one of the most respected capsules ever created. Developed over several years, the M28's German-made CK12 capsule is based on a selected vintage example. It shares the flattering top-end voicing of vintage C12s and 251s which made this capsule so revered but without the problems of variability between examples and the maintenance issues and cost of vintage microphones. It offers the C12's presence and polish but with the consistency of a modern production unit and reliability backed by a 2-year capsule warranty.Rather than being a recreation of a 1960s microphone circuit the remainder of the signal path is an original design conceived by Drew Myburgh, Eckehard Dux and Andreas Grosser. Its proprietary FET amplifier has a level-dependent response, remaining clean at lower levels before introducing subtle amounts of second-order harmonic content when driven harder. The result is a tube-like response in a mic which can be run on phantom power."

After years of testing and development, we designed a proprietary FET circuit that delivers the exact audio characteristics and behaviour of a genuine vacuum tube. We achieved this by carefully tuning multi-stage solid-state components to match the high-voltage curve and dynamic response of the original tube." - Eckehard Dux

The output stage uses a custom transformer designed by Pikatron. It differs from the transformer used in the original C12 and contributes to the M28's extended low-frequency response. The microphone's 30Hz–20kHz frequency response gives you access to the unadulterated sound of the CK12 capsule.

Expanded Versatility
The M28 is versatile within its own character. Its 134dB maximum SPL without the -6dB pad makes this mic suitable for louder sources such as drums and brass, while its extended low-frequency response reveals more from sources such as acoustic bass and piano. On vocals, the M28 creates intimacy on softer notes, while always staying controlled and polished-sounding across the range, even in the loudest parts.

Five polar patterns extend that range further, with each pattern bringing its own voice as well as a different directional response. Wide cardioid, for example, combines some of the open character of omni while favouring sound from the front. If the M28's voice is the one you want, its SPL capability, extended low end, and pattern choices give you fewer restrictions on where you can use it.

"Originally, Andreas Grosser and I designed the M28 to be a cardioid-only mic. However, that changed when Eckehard and I decided to make it more flexible, ultimately implementing five polar patterns in the final design." - Drew Myburgh

Built to Outlast Your Studio
The M28 brings the desirable top-end character of the Austrian classics without the five-figure price tag, the servicing requirements, and tube supply issues. Being FET-based, the M28 runs off standard phantom power, so there's no separate power unit to forget or maintain. It's backed by a 5-year warranty, with a 2-year warranty on the capsule. The five polar patterns are selected on a miniatures tepped switch, chosen after a long search for a durable mechanism because switches on microphone bodies can often be a point of failure. Custom-designed and manufactured in-house in Myburgh's Berlin workshop, the M28 is built to outlast your studio.

Pricing and Availability:
The Myburgh M28 is available immediately through the official Myburgh dealer network at a retail price of €4,850.00 excluding VAT.

More information:

• M28

• NAMM 2023: Myburgh M28 Mic Launches 14-Apr-23
• Tube Condenser Microphone Ships 06-Jan-20