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My latest clean guitar tracks have all been a Princeton with a Mini K47 into an MCI pre. Gold. The Mini K47 should be the next mic in everyone’s locker after a '57.
- Paul Smith, 8 Days A Week Studio
The Mini K47 captures the tone of a vintage microphone, with modern performance specifications.
Like all Roswell microphones, the Mini K47 is designed, assembled, and tested in California.
"K47" refers to the capsule design. Our K47 capsule is modeled after the one in the most famous microphone of all time. It provides a full, balanced tone without any harshness or hype in the upper frequencies. It will record less sibilance and fewer mouth sounds on your next vocal track. It will add weight, body, and tone to high strings and electric guitars. It will reduce the jangle in strummed acoustic tracks.
We created a clean, transparent circuit design. It lets the sound of the capsule pass through without alteration. Self-noise and distortion performance are on par with microphones costing significantly more. The circuit incorporates the best tricks we’ve learned from modifying and upgrading other companies’ products.
Every Roswell microphone is subjected to a 24-hr "burn in" on our conditioning fixture, then tested extensively prior to shipping: polarity, noise, frequency response, sensitivity, and more. We perform an acoustic sweep test and multiple listening tests before any microphone leaves our facility.
The Mini K47 has a durable, heat treated finish. Each mic ships with our exclusive Cutaway™ shockmount, Roswell branded microfleece mic sock, and a flight case.
Recording drum overheads or other stereo applications? Click for matched stereo pairs of the Mini K47.
Click here to customize / personalize your Mini K47 via the Roswell Mic Builder.
The standard production Mini K47 uses a black metallic sparkle finish. We offer a series of limited-availability finishes. Click the link above to see current options.
The standard Mini K47 circuit is optimized for high dynamic range. It works well on sources from vocals to drum overheads, from piano to loud electric guitar cabinets. This is the best option for most audio engineers. This is the circuit that has earned all the superlative reviews you've seen about this mic.
If you only ever intend to record quiet acoustic sources, such as acoustic guitar, strings, vocals, voiceover, or ensembles, we can replace the standard circuit with a high output, high sensitivity design. These "High Output" microphones will not work well on loud sources such as drum overheads, horns, or amplified instruments. But they will deliver superior results on very quiet sources.
The High Output Mini K47 is built to order; allow 3-4 business days for assembly, testing, and burn-in.
We also offer the option of an internal pad switch. 99+% of users would never need this; the standard mic has sufficient headroom for vocals, guitar cab, and drum overheads. If you expect to record extremely loud sources, see the pad option in the Custom Shop.
If your budget is constrained, but you do not wish to compromise on the quality of the mic, you can buy the same Mini K47 at a lower price via the LC Edition. The microphone itself is identical; the LC Edition provides alternate, lower-cost packaging and accessories. Click here for more info on the LC Edition Mini K47.
We have a collection of audio clips below. See also the growing collection of demo videos for the Mini K47.
The most unique thing about the Mini K47 is its capsule: a true 34mm (large diaphragm) K47 type capsule, modeled after the capsule in the most famous microphone of all time. We selected this capsule because it delivers a sound that is impossible to achieve with any other capsule design: tight lows, beautiful midrange detail, and a neutral, rather than a hyped, top end.
Our component selection process for the Mini K47 benefits from a decade's worth of experience in upgrading audio circuits. The parts in this mic were chosen because they sound good, and they sound good together, and they give the mic the voice we want it to have.
Start with the main transistor, T3 in the photo at right. While most competing models use a generic low-cost part called the 2SK170, we don't, because the 2SK170 has crazy high input capacitance, which creates an unneeded attenuation pad in most of the mic implementations in which it is used. We favor an uncommon vintage transistor with superior performance characteristics. Then we manually "bias" each one in a custom text jig, which ensures that each Mini K47 has high SPL and low distortion.
The input coupling capacitor (not visible here, for reasons that are about to become obvious) is the first component a "modder" would change, because so many condenser mics use a low-grade part in this position. For the Mini K47, instead of upgrading the capacitor, we redesigned the input circuit to eliminate the need for this capacitor entirely. The best-sounding capacitor sounds a lot less good than not having one at all!
An added benefit to our mic's streamlined input circuit: the JFET "gate" (audio input) is held at higher impedance, which helps reduce noise. We form this critical audio input connection "dead bug" style, off of the surface of the PCB. It costs more to build the mic this way, but it sounds better, so that's what we do. These connections are hand-soldered, cleaned, and insulated with a special acrylic coating, to prevent signal degradation over time.
The main signal capacitors are vintage European parts, which we selected by ear after auditioning all the usual suspects and a fair few unusual ones.
The electrolytic capacitors in the center of the PCB were also selected by ear, despite not being in the audio signal path. It is likely that not everyone will hear the difference. Some will, though. Even if you don't, your Mini K47 gets the good parts anyway.
This circuit topology is essentially balanced at the JFET, with two equal output circuits that are mirrored in the PCB design. These two output legs benefit from having matched components. We use 1% tolerance resistors, and we hand-match the signal capacitors to 1% (or usually better).
This combination of components delivers a sonic profile that is much more musical and balanced than anything in its price category.
| Model: | Mini K47 |
| Acoustic Principle: | Pressure gradient transducer |
| Polar Pattern: | Cardioid |
| Capsule: | 34mm O.D. True Condenser, K47 style, single backplate |
| Frequency Range: | 20 - 20,000 Hz |
| Sensitivity: | 14 mV/Pa |
| Impedance: | 112 Ohms |
| Signal-to-noise: | 83 dBA |
| Equivalent noise: | <11 dBA |
| Supply voltage: | 48±4 VDC |
| Output: | Electronically balanced (transformerless) |
| Physical dimensions: | 150 × 44mm; 325g (mic only) |
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Overall rating: 5.0 / 5 from 66 reviews.
Did a personal shoot out between my mk47 and a Dachman, and although I still might purchase a Dachman in the future, the Mk47 won-out in versatility of sound for cab recording, vocals, voice over — you name it. Only thing I wish it came with was the carrying case — they were out of stock when I bought it. Would love to find a way to still get that :) Great mic — I made the right choice. Thanks for making quality gear, Matt.
Excellent as always
The Mini K47 with custom Seafoam green not only looks great, but has already displaced my previous favorite dynamic mic on my carbon fiber guitar cabinet that I designed and built , running the Frenzel mini-Bassman head. The Audio-Technica AE2300 was a nice step up from the Shure std, but the mini K47 has permanently replaced it after mixing down 4 songs this week with pedal steel. I have used and shown it here coupled with an old Shure 315 ribbon. Not sacrificing any transient detail or harmonics as I bring the tone forward with the Mini K47.
I'm pleased to report that the Mini K47 has not disappointed. Aesthetically, its tone really does have a certain 'quality finish', almost like a fine wood. It has that thickness, but still manages to sit at the front with a pristine presence.
I love this mic (mini K47)! It sounds so sweet through my Neve style preamp! Makes my vocals really come to life! I have quite a few others to choose from, but there is no reason I will ever have anything else on my voice while I’m in the studio! I hope you guys might come out with a small diaphragm for miking acoustic instruments. Whatever you come out with, I am already sold. Until then, I think I’m going to order something more from you soon.
I have stereo pairs of both the Mini K47 and Mini K87. How to describe in a single word? "Phenomenal". I'm testing with a LCR overhead on drums. 87/ 47/87 gives a wide smooth balanced kit with a prominent kick & snare. 47/87/47 allows for a very full aggressive drum sound nice body. As room mics the the mini K87 gives a balanced room sound and adds great depth to the kit sound.
The Mini K47 has now taken center stage at the David From Earth Music Hut. With its small footprint (or better "space print") and such a huge, lush sound it has beat out others of larger girth and price to be the go-to, default vocal mic, wired up and ready to go. The philosophy here is get music done, avoid obstacles, be ready for inspiration, stop fiddling with gear, just pull over the mic and go for it. The Mini K47 is perfect for this. BTW I took Matt's advice and eliminated the pop filter. Thank You, Matt, and the folks at Roswell
I’ve been a part time studio recording and live sound engineer for decades. I record mostly acoustic instruments and vocals for some well-known (360K+ subscribers) and of course many un-known YouTube singers/songwriters. I track, mix, shoot and edit music videos and even do some occasional voice over work or singing myself. I also live stream on Twitch.tv and I wanted a new mic that sounded great without having to fix it with EQ, came in a small, compact form factor, that was had a big high end studio mic sound and that looked like a million bucks on my stream (it has to distract viewers from looking at me!) It also had to be able to pull double duty as another mic in the studio now and then. But with so many options out there, what to buy? After reading a lot of reviews and watching hours and hours of YouTube mic reviews, I noticed a growing number of terrestrial sightings of some rather mysterious microphones coming out of Roswell Pro Audio. So I did what any self-respecting mic hunter would do, I called Matt McGlynn see if the truth really was out there. Matt was so gracious and generous with his knowledge, wisdom and time. He listened to my needs and concerns, helped translate what I had, wanted, and feared into what I probably needed but was unable to articulate or discern on my own. He patiently talked me through which products would fill my mic pallet best, by doing what I needed and adding more flavors beyond what I already had. Matt is that rare person who knows music as a musician, designs mics as a musician and is just as interested in helping his customers find the most musical mic for their music making. Exceptional insight and advice from an exceptional person. But it didn’t stop there. When I mentioned that I loved the look of the K47 KD (Kick Drum) with its black body, black basket and classy brass badge (which would look better on my stream and be less obtrusive than the silver basket grill of the K47’s silver basket, dark brown body and painted logo badge), Matt went deep into Roswell’s Top Secret Research Lab, unlocked a classified vault and pulled out a one of a kind stipple black prototype body (which may or may not have anti-gravity technology in it), called me back and said, I can do a custom version for you! You may never get the pleasure of meeting or talking with Matt. But you can get to know him through one of his mics. Roswell mics are a physical expression of their creator. Like him, Roswell mics are humbly affordable, honest and un-hyped, thoughtfully and artfully made and they bring a generously musical, sweet kindness to your ears and tracks. It’s almost as if you bring a little bit of Matt into your studio each time you plug in a Roswell mic. Matt may be right there in your studio, but Roswell mics are out of this world. As a voice over mic, the Mini K47 has generated comments on my stream like “Your voice is like Morgan Freeman quality! – You should do commercials!”, “Your voice sounds so soothing and interesting”, “You should narrate books like Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings!’” and “You sound so good, what mic is that?” I love this mic! It’s different from my other large condensers. It’s supposed to be. It’s rich, vibrant, articulate, clean, and open without being brittle or harsh. It has a nice, full bottom end without a hint of boominess. It’s smooth and musical and makes my voice sound like a million bucks without a touch of EQ. It’s compact, un-obtrusive but very classy and high end on camera or from 4 inches away. It sounds fantastic and it’s got a little bit of my new friend, Matt McGlynn’s genius and some secret alien technology built into it. Yes, I’ve started saving for one of his boutique vocal mics down the road, but for now one thing is certain - I’ve been abducted by Roswell Pro Audio and I’ll be a fan for life.
Superb for radio broadcast voice and instruments alike; high-quality build, excellent customer relations, competitive with mics that run several times the price, a studio gem.
Love this mic; I use it for everything. The sound of the mic is balanced with a warm low end. This mic is worth at least three times what it costs, and as a small-time musician with a home studio and a lot of audacity, I'm so grateful I found my way to this mic.
I was looking for a good mic mainly for acoustic guitar recording but also good for vocals as well. Just by chance I ran across the mini K47 and the good reviews on it and the company itself. I couldn’t be happier with my decision to go with Roswell and this mic. I love the sound I’m getting with little to no EQ. It’s perfect for what I needed in quality and budget. Thanks to Matt and all at Roswell!
I'm REALLY happy with my matched pair of Mini K47s. New to home recording, learning as I go, I have a small 9x12 room with a few acoustic panels on the walls,nothing fancy and i'm using a simple 4 mic set up with a Scarlett 18i20 interface. An SM57 on the snare and an Audix D6 outside the kick, most of the sound is coming from the K47's as overheads, and it sounds amazing. I sent some files to a producer i'm working with on a couple of tunes and he was more than happy which was great to hear.
Love this mic! Will he used in our studio for years to come!
Matt makes the BEST mics in the industry. Period. His mics capture everything and it make it sound like audio gold.
Love this mic! Sounds natural and transparent. This is my new go-tp vocal mic!!
The Mini K47 is great. Audio, both instrument and voice, is clean and clear. Although I have a small space, the microphone pattern is able to pick up the intended subject without capturing a lot of reflected sound. The Mic and the shock-mount are very well made, and work perfectly with my Rode desk-mount boom arm. I have yet to try it in a larger space, but am looking forward to the chance to take it on the road.
As you can probably see from my garbage photo, I have limited space and limited budget for recording. I don't have the money or the storage to buy high-cost, specialist mics. I needed a mic that would record multiple sources well, make up for the deficiencies in the space, and not break my yearly gear budget. This mic does it all! It's amazing as a drum overhead, warms up the space when recording my guitar and bass, and sounds amazing as a vocal mic, getting rid of the high end harshness I was getting with other mics. It takes EQ like a dream, but it turns out I'm using less EQ because I'm getting such a great sound from the mic itself. I would recommend this mic to anyone and everyone who is doing recording, podcasting, or even just a lot of video calls. It doesn't take up much space, the mount is solid, and it sounds amazing. What more could you possibly want out of a mic!
WHEN I VISIT YOUR PLANET I CHOOSE THE ROSWELL MINI K47 MICROPHONE THE ROSWELL MINI K47 REMAINS THE ONLY REASON I BOTHER TO ADD YOUR MISERABLE PLANET EARTH TO MY INTERGALACTIC TOURS
A great mic from a great U.S. company. Very solid, no frills, beautifully built mic and shockmount, with a quality hard case. Very rich 3-dimensional tone, sounds great on vocals and acoustic instruments.
This microphone is a huge upgrade from my AKG p220. So far I've tracked some male metal vocals and they sounded great!
Nice Mic.
I'll use it mainly for acoustic guitar recordings. It sounds really warm and clear. That's the sound I was looking for. Thank you! :)
The mics got to Nova Scotia, Canada a lot faster than I was expecting. Set them up as overheads and WOW! Couldn't believe the picture they were capturing. Love them. Can't to start recording stuff to release with them.
I purchased a Mini k47 for my studio years ago. I use it for acoustic guitar. My friend, Jim Soldi (former lead guitarist for Johnny Cash and Ricky Scaggs) has asked to borrow it for a couple of years. Rather than lend him mine, I purchased one for him. He immediately used it for a clients vocal and acoustic guitar tracks. He called me elated. He loves it. Christopher Dean
Brilliant microphone!
The Mini K47 is amazing. I’ve owned a couple of inexpensive condenser mics before. The difference between this mic and the ones I had previously is astounding. A really clear full sound without the accentuated highs that you hear in cheap condenser mics. It works great as a vocal mic, which is primarily what I bought it for. I’m very happy with the sounds I’m capturing with it.
- It's a mic - delivers as expected - like the small size - thanks
This mic is an absolute goat. Incredible value and quality for the money
Am a seasoned professional voice-over person, and was the voice of clients like Baskin-Robbins, Seiko Watches, Beneficial Finance, and Honda Motorcycles, among many others. Also was the animated voices of Captain Marvel and Billy Batson on the "Shazam" television series. I now use the Roswell Mini K47 for all of my audition tracks. It's the best sounding microphone that I've ever used in over 40 years of work. I will now be carrying it into the studios with me in order to spread the good word. Many thanks to Matt and his staff. BURR MIDDLETON September 27, 2024.
Great microphone and a great price
Love this mic for acoustic instruments. Even resonator guitars, which are notoriously tricky to record, sound terrific. Best sound I have gotten out those instruments. The K87 also falls into this category of excellent sounds in studio from these mics.
Amazing microphone! I knew it would be good, but it was actually great! My new go to mic for almost anything!
So far, I've used my new Mini K47 on electric guitar and snare drum. The mic pairs beautifully with my 1073-style preamp. The guitar sounds bright and detailed but not too harsh. The snare's detail is fantastic as well. It's punchy and cuts through the mix in just the right way. I have another large diaphragm condenser that was much more expensive and I like my new Mini K47 more!
My new Mini K47 is a very nice mic with a truly BIG sound! I've used it on vocals and guitars and it shines on both. It lives on my mic stand and is becoming a studio staple. Great job Roswell!
I purchased this mic to help me make a pro-sounding drum tracking room out of my basement, which has a 7ft acoustic tile ceiling. Matt assured me that the Mini K47 would be great for that monumental task because the mic would hear more of the kit and less of the room, despite being a large diaphragm condenser. I am paraphrasing a bit, but this is exactly what this mic does. Having used an AKG 414, a Rode NT2a, and a Rode NT1a, they were all too harsh on the cymbals and not big enough on the kit. The Mini K47 brought my drums forward, especially the snare, and the cymbals aren’t harsh, but crisp and nicely separated in the mix. I highly recommend the Mini K47 to anyone looking for a great overhead drum mic. Naturally I will be buying a second one soon!
We are thrilled with our new pair of Roswell Pro Audio Mini K47 microphones! Their commitment to providing a quality product, exceptional customer service, and community outreach via educational seminars ensures a great user experience. Highly recommended!
Great sounding microphone! Small microphone, big tone. A lot of bang for the buck.
Sept 2022 I have a home studio, using Universal Audio gear. I have the mini k 47 and 87. I have never used a several thousand dollar mic, but, I have used a lot of $99-200 mics. These mics were like night and day. Matts claims are true for me. Recording a good take, sonically got easier, vocals, guitars, bass and piano took a leap forward just plugging them in. My next mic will be either the Delphi or Colares. Bite the bullet and do it, you won’t regret it, it is solidly built, you can feel it when you pick it up. Also comes with a really nice shock mount and a Aluminum Flight Case, all Pro Grade. Support Small Business. Keith
A-B with other mic's I have and this blew it away. Nice clean clear sound and plenty of head room. A great mic at a great price. Chet @ trailer trash productions.
So far so good...I've used this on acoustic guitar and love the way it sounds!
