The heart of any microphone is its capsule. The integrity of the capsule, more than any other element, determines the microphone's character and quality as a transducer.
The L47MP capsule, shown here without diaphragms, was designed by Gene Lawson following years of research and design. His goal was to achieve classic, vintage sound from a new microphone. He turned to such classic favorites as the U47, M49, and C12. The U47, a personal favorite, became his template.
The Lawson L47MP one-inch capsule design is based on the M7 capsule used in the U47/M49 microphones. A significant deviation from the U47 was Gene Lawson's use of a 3-micron diaphragm to improve transients and extend high frequency response. The U47 used a seven-micron diaphragm. (One micron is one thousandth of a millimeter. Three microns is equal to one ten-thousandth of an inch.)
The L47MP capsule is manufactured in the Lawson machine shop in Nashville, Tennessee. It is machined from solid brass then hand-lapped in the Lawson lab to meet specific tolerances. Gold sputtered three-micron diaphragms are critically tensioned as they are applied to the capsule.
Inside the microphone head, Lawson uses a proprietary internal shock mounting system that eliminates the need for external shock mounting systems. Lawson's proprietary shock mount system is superior to and more efficient than other shock mounting systems by filtering out vibrations that may travel through the mic cable into the microphone.
After nearly 50 years, the U47 and M49 are still undisputed favorites among engineers, musicians, and recording artists. These legendary microphones stand as a testimony to the correctness of the Lawson L47MP capsule design.