Rycote HC-15 Hypercardioid Microphone

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For more than 50 years, Rycote has leveraged its audio expertise to design and manufacture industry leading windshield kits, shock mounts and other accessories. From condenser to lavalier, many categories of mic accessories have either been created by or improved upon from Rycote. We make specialty kits for many of the world’s leading microphone companies. The one thing we hadn’t done was to design and create our very own high-quality professional broadcast microphones — until now.  

The HC-15 and HC-22 are high-quality hypercardioid shotgun microphones. Both of these mics offer performance equal to or better than many of the more expensive professional microphones, while also offering a self-noise level lower than almost any equivalent sized shotgun mic at any price. 

How did we do it? We kept things simple.

The HC microphones are shipped with only a case — no mic clips, no foams, no other accessories. To reduce costs, we decided to minimise the packaging and shipping costs by not paying to send “air” across the world. We ask that you please find compatible Rycote foams, Softies, windshield kits, shock mounts and other accessories near you.

Our new microphones were designed in-house and are made at Rycote in our factory in the U.K. As such, we are able to utilise much of our current manufacturing and testing resources we use to make other Rycote products. Therefore our investment costs for production was not as high as if we had started making mics from scratch. This combined with a modular material and components design allowed us to create two hypercardioid mics cost effectively and pass on more value to you.


How do they sound?
 So how do the microphones sound?  Well, that all depends on how you personally describe sound. 

We’d say the HC mics are “precise”.

In our words that means the microphones reproduce an accurate reflection of what is being recorded. We think the mics offer a crisp sound with some additional warmth. How warm will vary ear-to-ear but in our view the mics are somewhere in the middle — not quite as warm as a really warm mic and far from sounding sterile.

Overall the HC shotgun mics are great all around and can be used on live broadcast, sound design, ENG, TV, cinema and field recording.

Polar Pattern    Hypercardioid
Capsule Type    Back Electret Condenser
Frequency Range    50 Hz - 20 kHz
Self Noise Level    8.5 dB (A-weighted)
Maximum SPL    133 dB
Signal-to-Noise    85 dB (A-weighted)
Powering    P-48V
Dimensions    Ø-19mm; L-155mm
Weight    90 grams

For more information, please visit this products webpage.