Dragonf

This Microphone or related part is warranted under the conditionsoutlined below to its original, registered owner, provided the purchasewas made from an authorized Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics(BLUE) dealer. This Microphone or related part is guaranteed toremain free from operating defects for one year from the date ofpurchase. In the event that service is required, all necessary partsand labor will be furnished free of charge during this period exceptfor tubes, which are guaranteed for 90 days against defects. Thiswarranty is void if the serial number has been altered, removed ordefaced. The warranty is void if the equipment is altered, misused,mishandled, maladjusted, or is serviced by any parties not autho-rized by Baltic Latvian Universal Electronics (BLUE) The warrantydoes not included transportation costs incurred because of the needfor service unless arranged for in advance. Baltic Latvian UniversalElectronics (BLUE) reserves the right to make changes in designand improve upon its products without obligation to install theseimprovements in any of its products previously manufactured. Thiswarranty is in lieu of any or all expressed or implied.

Dragonfly

Warranty

Classic microphones, made without compromise

P.O. Box 910Agoura Hills, CA. 91376-0910

Phone 818.986.2583Fax 818.784.7564www.bluemic.com

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ongratulations on your purchase of the the BLUEDragonfly, a classic modern microphone made theold-fashioned way, without compromise.

Like its insect cousin, the Dragonfly is fast, maneu-verable, beautifully engineered, and wonderful tolook at. Fortunately, unlike its namesake, BLUE'sDragonfly won’t fly away the moment you open thecase, and it doesn’t eat mosquitoes. In order tofamiliarize yourself with this microphone’s special-ized and unique features, please take the time toread this manual, and be sure to try the suggestedrecording tips. With proper care and feeding, thisDragonfly will reward you with many years ofrecording enjoyment.

The Dragonfly is a pressure-gradient cardioid condensermicrophone, employing the BLUE single-membranelarge diaphragm capsule. For this hand-crafteddiaphragm we have selected a 6-micron mylar film,sputtered with a mixture of pure gold and aluminum.Enclosed within a rotating spherical grille, the cap-sule can be positioned and adjusted in the smallestof spaces. This innovative design offers fine-tuning

and precise placement to please the most discerningrecordist, combined with an ease of use that iswithout equal among either vintage or contempo-rary microphones.

The microphone’s electronics are class A discrete, withtransformerless output. In plain English, this meansthat the sound which arrives at the diaphragm istransduced (converted to electrical energy) as accu-rately as possible, with minimal coloration and nointegrated circuits (a.k.a. “IC’s”) in the signal path.In other words, what you hear is what you get!The Dragonfly’s overall sonic character is neutraland always pleasing to the ear, making it an idealmicrophone for recording vocals, drums and percussion,electric guitar, bass, and any acoustic instrumentincluding “difficult” sources like saxophones andstringed instruments.

the soundhole to capture a blend of low end and picksound. If you need more lows, move the microphonecloser to the soundhole. For more high end detail,move the Dragonfly farther from the guitar, eitherat the same neck position, or above the instrumentup by the guitarist’s head.

DrumsThe Dragonfly’s slim profile, rotating capsule, andfast transient response offer numerous advantageswhen recording drums. For kit and hand drums, beginby placing the microphone two to four inches abovethe rim or hoop (where the head is secured to theshell). Angle the capsule toward the player’s stick orhand to pick up more attack and definition. Turningthe capsule toward the shell will soften the sharpattack of a hand drum, or pick up more of the bright,crackling buzz from a snare. Moving the microphonecloser to a drum generally increases the low end,shell resonance, and separation from other soundsources, while more distant placement emphasizesthe interaction of the drum and the environment,producing a blended, airier sound.

Saxophones and ReedsThe smooth, natural high end response of the Dragonflymakes it an ideal choice for miking saxophones andother reed instruments. For soprano sax, clarinet andrelated instruments, position the mic directly aboveand in front of the keys between the middle of thehorn and the lowest pads. Try rotating the capsuleor moving the mic up or down along the length ofthe body to adjust the balance of airy highs (towardthe mouthpiece) and cutting midrange (toward thebell). For other members of the saxophone family,start by placing the Dragonfly two to six inches infront of the lip of the bell. Turn the capsule up towardthe mouthpiece to capture more air, brightness, andhigh notes. For a mellower sound, rotating the capsuletoward the floor emphasizes the low range of thesax, and tames the biting upper mids that projectstraight out of the bell.

Limited edition pairs of Dragonfly microphones, pack-aged in a cherry wood box, are available by specialorder. These sets, offered in custom colors, arematched and measured in our anechoic chamber toprovide a balanced sound for critical stereo recording.

TECHNICAL DATAType of mic amplifier: Solid State Class A DiscreteAcoustic operating principle: Pressure gradientDirectional Pattern: CardioidConnector: 3 pin XLR-typeFrequency range: 20hz-20,000 hz Sensitivity @ 1khz into 1 kohm: 21mV/PaRated impedance: 50 ohmsRated load impedance: not less than 1kohmsS/N ratio CCIR468-3: 76dbS/N ratio DIN/IEC 651: 87db-ANoise level DIN/IEC 651: 7db-AMaximum SPL for THD 0.5%: 132dbDyn. range of mic amplifier: 76dbSupply voltage: 48V phantom poweredNet weight: 630gDimensions (mm): 165 x 60

Optional Accessories:Cranberry (CB) or Kiwi (KB) high definition mic cable

C

Dragonf

desired source. For example, if you are speakinginto the mic, the shiny hemisphere will be in frontof your mouth, and the solid metal ring around thecircumference of the grille will be aligned vertically,with the two screw holes on top. The Dragonfly isa cardioid mic, and is designed to reject off-axissound arriving at the back of the capsule (the dullmetal hemisphere). And now, here are some record-ing tips that will allow you to get the most out ofthe Dragonfly and its elegant rotating capsule!!

VocalsHere’s a little-known secret—vocalists love singinginto unique and impressive mics like the Dragonfly.Put it in front of any singer and you are guaranteedto get a 110% inspired performance. For a “big” vocalsound, get the vocalist within one to four inches ofthe capsule (be sure to use a mesh windscreen orpop filter!). Tilt the capsule up (toward the forehead)for more projection and head tone, straight on at themouth for maximum brightness and intelligibility,or down toward the chest for more robust full lowsand smoother highs.

Electric GuitarThe Dragonfly is an excellent mic for any clean ampsound, ranging from bright rhythm chords to warmjazzy tones. Rotate the capsule toward the center ofthe speaker to capture more highs, or turn the cap-sule toward the edge of the cone for a fuller soundwith more low end. For overdriven or distorted tones,move the mic towards the outer edge of the cone,or back it away from the amp a foot or more to adda little room sound and soften the extreme high end.Give the Dragonfly a try on electric bass, too!

Acoustic GuitarLarge diaphragm mics require careful placement whenused on acoustic guitar, but the Dragonfly’s clarityand superb transient response are well-suited to thisjob. For a balanced sound with plenty of sparklinghigh end, place the microphone facing the guitarneck, right where the neck joins the body (usuallyaround the 12th–14th frets). For starters, keep themic as close as possible, and tilt the capsule toward

To get the most out of any quality microphone, itis essential to pair it with a good microphone pre-amplifier. Most professional recordists prefer to haveoutboard preamps on hand, and will choose solid-state or vacuum tube models based on their uniquecharacteristics. To maintain the integrity of yoursignal, we suggest using one of our Cranberry orKiwi, BLUE high definition, top grade microphone

cables going into the mic preamp. And, wheneverpossible, connect the mic preamp output directly toyour recorder or A/D converter, bypassing the mixingboard and any unnecessary components.

Each Dragonfly comes with its own ingenious all-in-oneswivel/shockmount. To put the Dragonfly on a stand,you may find it easiest to 1) loosen the boom standarm or threaded end of the mic stand, 2) grasp themic and shockmount assembly in one hand, and 3)screw the mic stand threads into the Dragonfly mount.This procedure will assure that the elastic shockmountbands stay in place, and eliminates any possibilityof damage to the mic. The swivel mount can beangled over 180° by adjusting the large thumbscrew.

To secure the delicate capsule during transport andstorage, two brass set screws are provided. Thesescrews go into the solid metal ring around the cir-cumference of the spherical grille, and should be inplace when you take the mic out of its case. Removethem before using the Dragonfly, and replace themat the end of a session.

The Dragonfly requires 48 volt phantom power, whichis provided by most mic preamps, mixing consoles,or separate phantom power supplies. It is importantto note that some units, though rated at 48 volts,may supply insufficient or unstable phantom power,which can result in distortion and/or degraded per-formance when used with the Dragonfly.

To avoid damage to audio components when connect-ing phantom power, follow this simple procedure:1) turn down the mic preamp gain, headphones, andyour studio monitors, 2) connect microphone cableto the Dragonfly and microphone input jack, 3) turnon phantom power, 4) turn up the mic preamp gain,etc. To disconnect or re-route the Dragonfly, 1) turndown the mic preamp gain, headphones, and yourstudio monitors, 2) turn off phantom power and wait10 seconds before disconnecting the mic.

Once the Dragonfly is on the stand and powered up,make sure that the active, on-axis side of the capsule(the shiny hemisphere of the grille) is facing the

Deci

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20 30 50 70 100 200 300 500 800 2K 3K 5K 7K 10K 22.05K

Frequency (Hz)

Dragonfly Capsule Frequency Response

This frequency chart of the Dragonfly capsule is only a start. It gives the recordist a basis of thesound provided. How the microphone reacts in a particular application will differ greatly because ofmany variables. Room acoustics, distance from sound source (proximity), tuning of the instrumentand microphone cabling are only a few of the interacting issues. For an artist or engineer, how themicrophones are used creates the basis of the sound.