Distortion microphone

The DirtMic-01 is an original take on overdrive and distortion in the studio. It is an unapologetic colouring tool; but instead of the usual lo-fi or vintage sound, DrAlienSmith built a distortion pedal circuit into an existing microphone (the Superlux D112).

Modern, practical distortion

The circuit was designed to run on 48 V phantom power and is transformer-balanced, so it works alongside the mic over a single XLR connection. It is a simple solution that needs no batteries, extra pedals, DI or guitar amp. Gain is controlled by the "pre-gain" knob on the mic itself. Turn up the gain for a really dirty sound from any source, or try lower settings for more subtle colouration.

Designed for the studio, also useful live

This mic was designed for recording, but its use on stage has attracted a lot of interest. Given the nature of live distortion, it is not guaranteed to work without feedback. But if you manage feedback well on stage and keep the mic gain low, you have a good chance of using it successfully live.

Tips for harmonica players

This mic is not meant to be plugged into an amp like a traditional harmonica mic: it is meant to be used INSTEAD of an amp and plugged directly into a mixing desk or preamp. If you need to plug it into an amp, you will need an external phantom power supply for the mic to work.

The DirtMic-01 comes with a DirtMount mic stand clip and a manual.