An updated version of the VIP-50, the Milab VIP-60 from Pearl Microphone Labs is a large-diaphragm multipattern condenser microphone built around the classic Milab 2700 capsule originally developed in the 1980s. The original VIP-60 capsule's unusual rectangular design delivers a distinctive sound profile that combines the vintage warmth of a ribbon mic with the crisp high-end of a condenser, making it a popular choice as a vocal microphone for a wide range of artists including Michael Jackson, Drake, Jeff Buckley, Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, and many others. This VIP-60 version of the capsule was developed over a rigorous 18-month testing period, delivering an update with superior performance and a 4 dB lower noise floor.
The dual-membrane capsule allows the VIP-60 to offer a variety of polar-pattern options, giving it an amazing amount of versatility in the studio; choose from cardioid, wide cardioid, hypercardioid, omnidirectional, or bidirectional pickup, depending on your application. The transformerless circuitry delivers a crisp, natural sound with a frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, and you can engage the high-pass filter at 200 or 500 Hz if you need to remove unwanted low-end frequencies. For louder sources, the two-stage pad offers settings at -10 and -20 dB, allowing the mic to handle SPLs up to 138 dB.
The VIP-60 sports a durable Nextel coating and features a gold-plated XLR connector; 48V phantom power is required. The mic includes a shockmount to reduce vibrations and handling noise and a customized SKB 3i case is provided to protect it during transport and storage.