Audio-Technica AT897 - Manual

SCALE IS 5 DECIBELS PER DIVISION

Polar Pattern

200 Hz

LEGEND

5 kHz

1 kHz

8 kHz

240

180

210

270

300

330

0

150

120

90

30

60

12" or more on axis (flat)

100

50

200

LEGEND

Roll-off

10k

5k

1k

500

2k

20k

Frequency in Hertz

Frequency Response

Response in dB

10 dB

• Designed for video production and broadcast (ENG/EFP) audio

acquisition

• Short length (11") ensures mic stays out of the shot – even when

used with compact digital cameras

• Smooth, natural-sounding on-axis audio quality

• Provides the narrow acceptance angle desirable for long-distance

sound pickup

• Excellent sound rejection from the sides and rear of mic

• Switchable low-frequency roll-off

• Operates on battery or phantom power

The AT897 requires 11V to 52V DC phantom power or a 1.5V AA
battery for operation. A battery need not be in place for phantom
power operation.

Battery installation: Unscrew the lower section of the microphone
body, just below the nameplate. Inser t a fresh 1.5V AA batter y
in the handle compar tment (“+” end up), then reassemble the
microphone. Alkaline batteries are recommended for longest life.
Remove the battery during long-term storage.

O u t p u t f r o m t h e m i c r o p h o n e ’s X L R M - t y p e c o n n e c t o r i s l o w
impedance (Lo-Z) balanced. The signal appears across Pins 2 and
3 ; P i n 1 i s g r o u n d ( s h i e l d ) . O u t p u t p h a s e i s “ P i n 2 h o t ” –
positive acoustic pressure produces positive voltage at Pin 2.

To avoid phase cancellation and poor sound, all mic cables must
be wired consistently: Pin 1-to-Pin 1, etc.

An integral 80 Hz high-pass filter provides easy switching from a
flat frequency response to a low-end roll-off. The roll-off position
r e d u c e s p i c k u p o f l o w - f r e q u e n c y a m b i e n t n o i s e ( s u c h
as traffic, air-handling systems, etc.), room reverberation and
mechanically coupled vibrations.

The microphone is RoHS compliant–free from all substances
s p e c i f i e d i n t h e E U d i r e c t i v e o n h a z a r d o u s s u b s t a n c e s .

Avoid leaving the microphone in the open sun or in areas where
t e m p e r a t u r e s ex c e e d 4 3 ° C ( 1 1 0 ° F ) fo r ex t e n d e d p e r i o d s .
Extremely high humidity should also be avoided.

AT897 SPECIFICATIONS

†

ELEMENT

Fixed-charge back plate
permanently polarized
condenser

POLAR PATTERN

Line + gradient

FREQUENCY RESPONSE

20-20,000 Hz

LOW FREQUENCY ROLL-OFF

80 Hz, 12 dB/octave

OPEN CIRCUIT SENSITIVITY

–40 dB (10.0 mV) /

(Phantom / Battery)

–41 dB (8.9 mV) re 1V at 1 Pa*

IMPEDANCE

(Phantom / Battery)

200 ohms / 300 ohms

MAXIMUM INPUT SOUND LEVEL

129 dB / 115 dB SPL,

(Phantom / Battery)

1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.

SIGNAL-TO-NOISE RATIO

1

77 dB, 1 kHz at 1 Pa*

DYNAMIC RANGE

(typical)

112 dB / 98 dB,

(Phantom / Battery)

1 kHz at Max SPL

PHANTOM POWER

11-52V DC, 2 mA typical

REQUIREMENTS

BATTERY TYPE

1.5V AA/UM3

BATTERY CURRENT / LIFE

0.4 mA / 1200 hours typical
(alkaline)

SWITCH

Flat, roll-off (recessed)

WEIGHT

(less accessories)

145 g (5.1 oz)

DIMENSIONS

279.0 mm (10.98") long,
21.0 mm (0.83") diameter

OUTPUT CONNECTOR

Integral 3-pin XLRM-type

ACCESSORIES FURNISHED

AT8405a stand clamp for

5

/

8

"-27

threaded stands; AT8134
windscreen; battery;

5

/

8

"-27 to

3

/

8

"-16 threaded adapter;

protective carrying case

†In the interest of standards development, A.T.U.S. offers full details on its test

methods to other industry professionals on request.

*1 Pascal = 10 dynes /cm

2

= 10 microbars = 94 dB SPL

1

Typical, A-weighted, using Audio Precision System One.

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Audio -Technica U.S., Inc.,

1221 Commerce Drive, Stow, Ohio 44224

Audio -Technica Limited,

Old Lane, Leeds LS11 8AG England

www.audio-technica.com

P51973 ©2007 Audio -Technica U.S., Inc. Printed in Japan

AT897

LINE + GRADIENT CONDENSER MICROPHONE