Wildtronics Amplified Pro Mono Parabolic Microphone


Our Best Selling Parabolic Microphone with a Direct Headphone/Line Output.


Wildtronics Amplified Pro Mono Parabolic Microphone

The Wildtronics Amplified Professional Mono Parabolic Microphone includes built-in preamps that can connect to almost any recording device, plus it has a direct headphone output. The built-in preamp makes it especially useful for obtaining professional recordings with low cost, portable equipment.


  • Includes a Very Low Noise Electronic Microphone Preamplifier with step-less analog gain control.
  • New for 2019! Pro Amp Mono models now have a 3 position filter, normal, 220Hz High Pass, and 3KHz Low Pass available for the 3.5mm outputs.
  • Provides Quick Easy Plug-in Headphone Use, a line level output for low cost recorders, and an amplified mic level output for DSLR, camcorder, or wireless transmitter.
  • Balanced XLR Microphone Outputs are Maintained and unamplified.
  • A lightweight, 22-inch, clear polycarbonate, highly accurate parabolic dish. The dish is flexible, yet rigid enough to maintain critical shape, and thick enough for good rear sound isolation. Polycarbonate is a virtually unbreakable plastic that can withstand temperature extremes. Available in the Standard 0.060 inch thick or the Feather Light 0.030 inch thick rollable version.
  • Very low noise mono parabolic mic array. The microphone array, by itself, has a noise floor of just 10dBA, which rivals standard microphones that cost >$1000. Low mic noise allows you to hear faint sounds that would normally be lost in the noise of lesser microphones.
  • Patent pending integral Booster Discs increase the gain to that of a 30-inch dish. This technology also improves low frequency response by eliminating the well known "bass dip" phenomenon, achieving superior sound quality. All competing parabolic microphones have a distinctive bass response dip (500-1000Hz), with accompanying peaks and dips at higher frequencies, causing a tinny sound.
  • Both balanced XLR and 3.5mm outputs are on the back panel, and you can even use the outputs simultaneously to connect multiple equipment.
  • Built-in, metal 1/4-20 threads in the base of the handle allows solid, reliable, and easy mounting of the Parabolic Microphone to a tripod.
  • Power the microphone using your equipment's phantom power or the internal, replaceable 9V battery. A 9-volt battery is required to power the internal preamp.
  • A foam suspension system reduces handling noise and dampens the dish. The suspension system is a carefully thought out design that isolates major components, and not only a cushioned hand grip. Nothing makes any creaking sounds when the unit is moved during use.
  • Weighing just 2 lbs 4 oz (1 lb 12 oz w/ Feather Light Dish), the lightweight unit assembles and disassembles into three smaller pieces in under a minute for ease of transport and travel. The dish is flexible so that it may be "rolled" to fit into luggage and carrying cases.
  • 80 PPI (pores per inch) pro grade windscreen included.
  • Designed and tested to withstand severe temperature and humidity extremes.
  • Shielded throughout to reduce the effects of EMI/RFI, even from cell phones.
  • Optional Accessory Bars and the Secondary Windscreen can be used to extend the usability of this model.

Testimonial:"I can honestly say I am stunned. I turned the gain up to 65: no noise or hiss. The volume of the birdsong was actually painful on the ears but no distortion. Superb range. I used the microphone on a singing Chaffinch at 50 feet, a Common Starling 100 feet away, a Song Thrush I couldn't see but I guessed to be at least 300 feet off and a nearby Wood Pigeon. So a broad range of structure, pitch, note fullness and shape and volume and all recorded with fullness and accuracy. "Martin, from the United Kingdom

 

The Wildtronics Amplified Professional Mono Parabolic Microphone includes built-in preamps for the 3.5mm outputs that can connect to almost any recording device. The Line Output jack can also be used as a direct headphone output. This innovative approach will simplify and improve the way sounds are recorded at a lower overall cost. Applications include nature recording, sports broadcasting, videography, recording sound effects, surveillance, field recording, or just to improve your hearing for enjoyment.

The internal, low noise, professional microphone preamplifier will add no audible noise to the already exceptionally low noise Wildtronics Parabolic Microphones. Up to 55dB of step-less gain is available, providing full line level output from even low level sounds with our high level output microphones. Using the 3.5mm line level output with low cost, hand-held recorders will dramatically improve the recorder's signal to noise ratio, often resulting in performance comparable to that of recorders costing over $1000. The main weakness of low cost recorders is high microphone input noise. Using our low noise amplifier and selecting line input, on your recorder, eliminates this weakness. Therefore, you can reduce your total equipment budget, and make your equipment much more portable as well. All balanced XLR microphone outputs are maintained, and are not affected by the amplifier, for those who have high quality XLR compatible equipment. Read more about using low cost recorders in our our article here.

Directly plug in your 3.5mm headphones, without any other equipment, to improve hearing for enjoying wildlife, surveillance, or for research and other tactical needs. The headphone output will provide up to 35 milliwatts and has half the noise of many professional headphone amplifiers. While you are using headphones, you can also output an amplified mic level signal (3.5mm) to a DSLR or video camera to obtain quality audio for your wildlife or other video projects. You can also use the line level or XLR outputs for your recorder, while the mic level output drives your camera to further extend your audio quality and synchronization. For sports broadcasting, you can use the headphone output while still providing a mic level signal to the wireless transmitter. Plus, we can customize, for sports broadcasting, to meet your specific needs of inputs and outputs, such as including a monitor input to the headphones.

This Mono Parabolic Microphone is used to isolate and capture sounds from a single subject. For microphones with added stereo background features, see our Mono-Stereo models. Our parabolic microphones can extend the range of your subject about 10 times compared to a standard microphone. These are the most advanced and best performing professional parabolic microphones on the market, include the microphone, and still cost a fraction of competing units. The new, original design combines multiple techniques to increase audio gain, broaden the frequency response, reduce mic self-noise, improve isolation of the subject, and minimize handling noise. Use this parabolic microphone for sound reinforcement on football and baseball fields, recording birds and nature sounds, wildlife research, law enforcement, paranormal investigation, or anytime sounds need to be amplified and isolated beyond the capabilities of other microphones. If you want to use your own, high quality microphone, see our Pro Universal Parabolic model.

The large, 22-inch, parabolic dish is optimally sized to balance portability and low frequency response. The dish is clear so you may accurately sight your target, even with the Secondary Windscreen installed. The Wildtronics' parabolic shape was optimized for a focal point to match the microphone's polar response, shield undesired sound pickup, and offer a compact package. The paraboloid was accurately CNC machined to create a master mold. This accuracy is necessary for precision focus at higher frequencies. The microphone assembly is easily removed and reinstalled without altering it's precisely located, factory set focal point. The Standard molded plastic dish is 0.060-inch thick polycarbonate for best all around durability, critical shape retention, and allows some bending to fit into larger airline luggage. Also available is the Feather Light 0.030 inch thick polycarbonate dish that can roll into a 6 inch diameter for easy transporting, and will drop the weight of the microphone by 8 ounces. For more information on the parabolic dish types available, see our parabolic dishes for sale page.

Integral booster discs are designed into the microphone assembly to increase the audio gain, boost low frequency response to that of a 30-inch parabolic dish, and help isolate the sound pickup to only the focused target and avoid other stray sounds. This amazing booster disc technology further sets the Wildtronics Parabolic Microphone apart from all others.

Not just one, but an array of low noise microphone elements are used at the focal point of the parabola. Array technology not only increases the audio gain, but reduces self noise to that of the lowest noise microphones on the market. Combined with the parabolic dish and booster discs, the signal to noise ratio is higher than any other parabolic microphone system available. A military grade foam windscreen is built-in for winds up to 10-12MPH. For wind speeds up to 20MPH, a Secondary Windscreen is available and we highly recommend it for outdoor applications.

There are no special or custom cables needed to connect the Wildtronics Parabolic Microphone to your amplifiers or recorders. Both standard, balanced XLR and 3.5mm connectors are conveniently located on the back panel. You can use 11-53 volt phantom power or the internal 9-volt battery to power the XLR output. 9-volt battery life is about 40 hours, so you can save battery life in your other equipment by turning off it's phantom power. The microphones are heated using excess phantom power to decrease condensation problems in humid environments. A 9-volt battery is required to power the 3.5mm amplified output. On the 3.5mm connector, the mono signal is on both contacts of the stereo 3.5mm connector. With the signal available on both contacts, you can record one channel at a lower gain to be sure you don't clip an important recording.

The entire microphone assembly is engineered to reduce the effects of handling noise and inadvertent bumps. A special foam suspension system helps isolate the microphone assembly from handling noise. In addition, the comfortable, foam handle grip was carefully selected with a texture that minimizes noise from hand movements.

The lightweight aluminum alloy parts are powder coated for durability. A black, low reflectivity finish is used throughout to increase stealth. Optional Accessory Bar-1 Kit and Mini Accessory Bar Kit are available that allow versatile mounting of additional equipment. With the Accessory Bar-1 Kit, you can mount cameras, tripods, recorders, preamps, wireless transmitters, and install the included dual handles that give improved comfort and superb balance. The Mini Bar Kit allows mounting a hand-held recorder directly to the handle, and uses just one short cable.

The Wildtronics family of microphones were developed by Bruce Rutkoski, who has professionally recorded nature sounds for over a dozen years and originated new recording techniques, in addition to an electronic and mechanical engineering background. Bruce's recordings are available through Natureguy Studio in CD and MP3 formats.

Click here for a Wildtronics Pro Mono brochure.

Click here for the Wildtronics Pro Mono Parabolic Microphone manual.

Click here for a Amplifed Parabolic Microphone User Guide.


Here are some audio samples from subjects from 50-600 feet away, illustrating the incredible range of the Wildtronics Amplified Pro Mono Parabolic Microphone. Maximum range is achieved with a combination of low noise microphones, increased gain of a true parabolic reflector, and subject isolation improved by using our exclusive booster plates.




Frequency response: 20-20kHz

Dish gain: 0dB @ 200hz then +6dB/octave to 30dB @13kHz

Equivalent self noise @1kHz: -4dBA, @10kHz: -24dBA

S/N Ratio: 98dB @ 1kHz, 118dB @10kHz

Sensitivity @ 1kHz: XLR -8dB (400mV)/Pascal

Sensitivity @ 1kHz: 3.5mm -14dB (200mV)/Pascal

Max input sound level: 108dB @ 1kHz

Preamp gain: 3-55dB @3.5mm outputs Preamp

EIN: -129dB @ max gain 3.5mm output signal S/N ratio: 115dB @ min gain

9 Volt battery life: 40 hrs/ 20 hrs with headphones

3.5mm Mic Out: -30dB referenced to 3.5mm Line Out

Headphone Output Power: 35mW with 32 ohm headphones

3.5mm Output Connectors: Line/Headphone output: 3.5mm stereo; Microphone output: 3.5mm stereo

3.5mm rugged outputs are safe from accidental phantom power application. Line level reference is 0.775Vrms

Power: 9 Volt battery ( and or 11-53 volt phantom power for XLR only output)

Output impedance: 1K ohm XLR, 25 ohm 3.5mm Line output, 10 ohm on 3.5mm Mic output

Power: 9 Volt battery or 11-53 volt phantom power

Weight: 2 lbs 4oz (1lb 13oz w/ feather light dish)

Dimensions: 22.5x22.5x8 inches

Maximum storage temperature: 200/93 degrees F/C

Made in the USA, RoHS lead free, with CE conformity.

Click here for a Wildtronics Pro Mono brochure.

The most popular Accessories are listed here. Please visit our Web Store for ordering. Select the main product type and then select the Accessory tab in that section to find all the accessories for that product group.


parabolic microphone windscreen

Secondary Windscreen

This highly recommended and popular sock-like cover slips over the all of our Pro and All Purpose Parabolic Microphones and extends use in winds up to 20 MPH. Best of all, it does not block the view through the clear dish, allowing you to aim and track subjects. Without this additional windscreen, wind protection is good for winds up to 10-12 MPH using the primary windscreens included with each microphone. The material may be sprayed with silicone waterproofing spray, when off of the microphone, to increase the weather resistance of the parabolic microphone.


mini-accessory bar

Mini-Accessory Bar

This popular accessory, allows you to mount a small recorder directly to your Wildtronics Pro model parabolic microphone handle. It includes a 1 foot cable with 3.5mm connectors. Used with our amplified models, this accessory bar makes a very portable, cable free system capable of producing professional recordings with even low cost recorders. The portability and ease of using a system without tangling cables makes run and gun recording much easier.


shoulder strap

Shoulder Strap

If you intend to carry your parabolic microphone for hours, you will be thankful that you have this adjustable shoulder strap to give your arms a rest. It connects to the 1/4-20 tripod threads in the base of every Wildtronics parabolic model we make.


accessory bar kit

Bar-1 Kit

Popular for sports broadcasting, this bar allows you to use dual handles and gives you the ability to mount additional equipment to your Pro model parabolic microphone. The dual handles makes it easier to hold for hours at a time. This versatile kit may also be used for pairing to a video camera or building a cable-free, fast deploying audio system. The bar is made from solid, 5/8 inch thick, 6061 aluminum and is powered coated.


smart phone adapter

Smart phone adapter

This Smart Phone Adapter will allow you to connect an external, powered microphone to your smart phone, iPad, or tablet. With this adapter, you can use your smart phone, iPad, or tablet as a recorder using a recording app, saving you from buying a dedicated audio recorder. Your device must have a 4 connector, 3.5mm headphone/mic jack using the CITA standard, which most late model devices have. You will also need a commonly available, 3.5mm male-male cable to connect your microphone to this adapter.