Lewitt LCT441 Flex - ‘Best Microphone in its Class’ 

Thank you. It is a terrific mic for sure. I like it a lot.

It’s a lovely mic, Cory. Build is like a tank and such a clever pop filter and shockmount. It focuses on the treble more, but actually, for voice, I really like that. It can easily be taken down anyway and it sounds a little more like the Rode. Although it has a strong top, it doesn’t feel too bad to me either.

Well I’m 67 Banditman! My hearing is still ok even though I’m an ex musician and teacher. I started making these videos in the first place because so many RU-vid videos (as you say) demonstrate mics in studios or soundbooths. The result is that the viewer might well buy something and be very disappointed with what they get. For me, it’s not just the sound of the mic, but also the polar pattern and how it deals with reverb in normal kinds of rooms. Most people can sound fantastic in a studio, but not a living room!

It’s nice to use because you get such a pleasant surprise in post, Dave. It needs little doing to it. It takes a few seconds to switch patterns; I think probably for phantom power to power up or down fully for each capsule.

Thanks Jon. I used it out on the patio by just placing on a table where we were all eating and set it in omni mode. Really good. I have a really good power supply gadget that supplies 48v phantom power and I can even connect it direct into my camera. I’ll demo it I think because it works so well. For Lucy’s birthday, I set it up in front of me in figure 8 and it did a great job picking us both up really well. It’s a great mic but not a cheapo.

Thanks Sunrise. I like Lewitt mics for their clarity. Also have a nice Lewitt pencil mic which has that same Lewitt sound.

It has a lovely crisp sound. The nice thing about any EQ’ing is that subtractive EQ works well, so if the top is too much, just take it down a small amount. Much better than additive EQ. For music, I tend to leave it with the top end because it cuts through thick mixes well. For speech, I sometimes bring the top down a bit so it sounds more ‘Rode’ like, or even a bit more so it sounds more in line with many other mics. The biggest bonus for me are the multi polar patterns. Close mic’ing something, you can play around with them and they are subtely different because of their rejection characteristics. The reverse patterns are useful if you are close mic’ing as well, because you can see the panel for the polar patterns still, without moving the mic. It fast became my favourite mic tbh. You got a good deal there too.

I guess so, but the shockmount is actually shaped to fit against cabinets from the front. The shockmount is flat on the front to get it closer, and rounded on the back. That’s why I was a bit puzzled. I just guessed that it’s for a group of vocalists, although there’s nothing to stop you using on guitar cabinets from the rear capsule. The shockmount design isn’t designed that way round though. It is specifically designed to go up flat against cabinets …… from the front!

I never tried the NT2. I have the 1 and 1a. Both are great little mics.

It is the NT2 a. Excellent and a lot of kilo for the money.

The sound is between the 1 and 1a.

I just looked it up and actually, it’s selling at a really good price as well. Nice mic. 👌

The sensitivity of the 441 is pretty much the same as the 440. Both sound and behave in a very similar way. As far as tolerances go, I’m not certain. They seem very ‘on the ball’ and both the 440 and 441 have a great build quality. I think two 441’s would give great stereo personally and extremely low noise too. Both are fantastic mics really.

@@iancraig Thank you Ian..

I still have it now. Also the other Lewitt mic, the smaller version. Both very good.

I don’t know. Never used an Aston Spirit. The Spirit has more self noise though.

If you are using the home as a studio, rather than worry about the mic, really you need to sound treat the room for anything professional, whether you use a condenser or dynamic. Dynamic mics drop away quicker with distance so background is perhaps less noticeable but I would never chance it in a house for anything important. If you have more than one mic per person, then you need space between the mics or shielding is needed. Each mic will pick up the other people anyway and you’ll probably get phasing problems. You would need a mixer with enough inputs to take multiple mics and the mics would need to be separated so that they don’t pick up the other singers. Also, the acoustic and timbre at each mic (if there is room reverb going on) could be quite different so you would end up with quite a muddled recording. For acoustic singers balancing with each other live, the wide cardioid setting on this mic works well. I let the singers do the balancing and just put them onto a single track. Doing it properly in a house setting is going to be very difficult unless you multi track everything and have each singer record separately with headphones on while the other tracks play in the headphone. Personally, I wouldn’t use the Shure sm7b for in studio voice recording. OK for speech but not open and extended enough for proper voice. I think a condenser is way better suited tbh.

@@iancraig thanks for getting back...I will look into condensor mics then and sound proofing my home... I am trying to choose between this mic and a mic from Sontronics, like Orpheus or Sigma 2 as I like the look as well on them, the vintage feel... But perhaps Lewitt makes higher quality mics?

With mics, it’s best to choose the one that you like the sound of. Not just what someone thinks is better. Might help to compare frequency response charts in order to help compare and take a look at specs. Ultimately though, it’s you who needs to like the sound. With sound treatment, try to eliminate room reverb. Then you’ll get the most out of your mics. This demo isn’t the mic at its best. It’s in a box room with no treatment, but I’m not recording music via mics in there. I use a clothes cupboard for vocals! The box room holds recording gear and keyboards.

@@iancraig thanks, they do not let you test the mics in stores here, so yt becomes a needed-go-to-place to hear out what professionals like you got to say about the mics

Have a good listen on RU-vid where you’ll get lots of examples from different people. Especially take note of their room and how far away the mic is and it can help you make a decision. These mics aren’t cheap so it’s as well to get a good idea before investing.

Hi Claudio. I'm a retired oboist! Used to record for film and shows. Plus loads of other bits! No mic is dead flat to be honest. This one has more in the treble so would accentuate Reed and key clicks maybe a little easier. You do get a very clear 'hear through' sound with this. Good harmonic content with instruments which can give a really lively presentation. The big advantage with the Flex is the fact that you can vary the polar pattern. Great for room tuning or even recording two people live with one mic. I think it's a good instrumental mic with very low self noise too.

Thanks a lot for your reply, Mr. Craig! Cool to know you are also a double reed player! Good points you made: unfortunately there are no examples online with orchestral instruments. I agree the mic has a fresh modern sound, closer to a cd recording. I do not intend to EQ or post-process: I am looking for a flex mic to use with the Zoom H5 that could please me. I might email Lewitt and see what they say, because the website does not mention the orchestra. About the frequency response, I was concerned, to record a flute and cello for example, since the low end is softer, but again I don't know much. But to reiterate, I enjoy the Lewitt sound better than examples by the other flex mics I was into. Thanks again, all the best, cheers, Claudio.

This is a multi polar patterned mic though and is more useful if you record in different situations. The top is easily reduced and tbh, I can get it sounding quite close to a Rode.

@@iancraig... Yes it seems a great mic Ian if you can make use of it's many features, and like you say a bit of EQ twiddling can work wonders...happy with my NT1 though...just seems to suit my singing voice...great review by the way.