Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 3 stores. Prices updated .

Average Price: $2,025

High-end/Boutique

$100

$401+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 2 merchants for "Josephson e22S". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Unleash the full potential of your studio recordings with the Josephson e22S, a versatile condenser microphone that thrives in the heart of versatility. Engineered in partnership with the acclaimed Steve Albini at Electrical Audio, this microphone is not just another addition to your gear; it's a revelation in capturing the essence of your music. Whether it's the crispness of snare drums or the raw power of guitar cabinets, the e22S brings out the best in a wide array of instruments. Its prowess doesn't stop there; it beautifully articulates the nuances of delicate vocals, making it a quintessential tool for any serious sound engineer. Embrace the e22S and transform your recordings from good to extraordinary.

Key Features:

  • Designed in collaboration with Steve Albini, ensuring professional-grade sound quality
  • Ideal for a wide range of applications, from drums to guitar cabinets and vocals
  • Captures crisp, detailed sound with unparalleled clarity
  • Robust build quality, designed for longevity in studio environments
  • Versatile performance, excelling across various instruments and vocal types

Product specs

Microphone Type Dynamic
Polar Pattern Cardioid
Diaphragm Size 0.78" Capsule (20mm), 0.63" Diaphragm (16mm)
Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz
Max SPL 144dB SPL
Output Impedance 200 ohms
Self Noise 15dB (A weighted)
Sensitivity 3.0mV/Pa
Connector XLR
Features Side-address Orientation, Cascode FET, Lundahl Transformer
Power Source 48V phantom power
Dimensions 7.48" x 0.82"
Weight 0.4 lbs.
Included Accessories Mic Clip, Carry Pouch

FAQs

What is the primary application for the Josephson e22S microphone?

The Josephson e22S is designed for studio recording, particularly excelling in capturing drums and percussion due to its ability to handle high SPLs and detailed transient response.

How does the side-address orientation of the Josephson e22S benefit recording?

The side-address design allows for precise placement in tight spaces, making it ideal for close-miking drums and other instruments where space is limited.

Is the Josephson e22S suitable for recording loud sound sources?

Yes, the Josephson e22S can handle a maximum SPL of 144dB, making it well-suited for recording loud instruments like drums and brass without distortion.

What type of power does the Josephson e22S require?

The Josephson e22S requires 48V phantom power to operate, which is standard for many condenser microphones used in studio environments.

What is the polar pattern of the Josephson e22S and how does it affect recording?

The Josephson e22S features a cardioid polar pattern, which effectively isolates the sound source by rejecting off-axis noise, making it ideal for focused recording in noisy environments.

Matt Ingram

Matt Ingram

Matt Ingram Recording Drums at Urchin Studios

Video thumbnail for Matt Ingram Recording Drums at Urchin Studios by Matt Ingram

Matt Ingram Recording Drums at Urchin Studios

Matt Ingram

Matt Ingram

Video thumbnail for Spot mics - Toms - Josephson e22s by Big Bear Studios

Spot mics - Toms - Josephson e22s

Big Bear Studios

Big Bear Studios

Video thumbnail for Snare Mic Comparison - Sound Pure Gear Tip by soundpurestudios

Snare Mic Comparison - Sound Pure Gear Tip

soundpurestudios

soundpurestudios

Video thumbnail for Josephson e22S Side-Address Condenser Mic - Quick n’ Dirty by soundpurestudios

Josephson e22S Side-Address Condenser Mic - Quick n’ Dirty

soundpurestudios

soundpurestudios

Video thumbnail for Josephson Mikrophones - Teil1 - www.drumxound.de by drumxound

Josephson Mikrophones - Teil1 - www.drumxound.de

drumxound

drumxound

Video thumbnail for Josephson Mikrofone Teil 2 - www.drumxound.de by drumxound

Josephson Mikrofone Teil 2 - www.drumxound.de

drumxound

drumxound

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Josephson e22S.

Use cases and applications

  • The Josephson e22S is praised for its versatility, excelling on various instruments and recording situations, making it a worthwhile investment despite its premium price.

    Source
  • The Josephson e22S microphone is highly recommended for capturing snare sounds, offering a very natural or beefy sound suitable for various music styles.

    Source
  • It's noted that the e22S excels not only on snares but also on hi-hats and toms, providing versatility in drum kit recordings.

    Source

Comparisons

  • Josephson microphones are highly regarded, with the e22S often mentioned alongside the equally esteemed C42s as go-to options for small diaphragm condenser mics.

    Source
  • The e22S stands out as a small diaphragm condenser with a sound profile more akin to a neutral-to-dark large diaphragm condenser, unlike typical SDCs.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners of the e22S note its consistent performance across different recording environments, highlighting its ability to handle heavy-handed drummers and reflective spaces effectively.

    Source
  • Owners report that the e22S provides excellent results when used as an outside kick mic, showcasing its adaptability across different percussion elements.

    Source
  • It's described as fat and neutral-to-dark sounding, unique among small diaphragm condensers, providing versatility across various recording contexts.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The Josephson e22S is noted for its side-address design and high SPL handling, making it suitable for diverse applications like floor toms, guitar cabs, and violins.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Review: Josephson E22S — AudioTechnology

audiotechnology.com

A sonic revelation for drum kits and beyond, the Josephson e22S microphone delivers uncolored, honest tones with versatility across various instruments. Its solid construction ensures easy placement and durability, though its premium price might deter budget-conscious buyers. A winning choice for those who demand quality.

positive

Mixdown's Picks: Josephson e22S - Mixdown Magazine

mixdownmag.com.au

The Josephson e22S is lauded for its precision and versatility, with a design tailored by Steve Albini for seamless placement in tight drum setups. Its ability to handle high sound pressure levels and minimize bleed makes it a standout for snare and toms, while also excelling with acoustic instruments. Though its premium price might deter some, the e22S's robust build and professional-level performance justify the investment. Its sleek, high-tech design adds aesthetic appeal, making it a top choice for those seeking Albini's signature drum sound and beyond.

positive

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Billie Joe Armstrong uses Josephson e22S

Billie Joe Armstrong

Singer, Guitarist

Green Day

...
Verified via Photo

Billie Joe Armstrong used the Josephson e22S microphone while recording "Love Is For Losers," as seen in his Instagram post.

See how Matthew Bellamy uses Josephson e22S

Matthew Bellamy

Singer, Guitarist

Muse

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Mix engineer Tommaso Colliva on recording Drones : "For the final takes [we used a] Sennheiser 421 and Josephson e22s on the modded Marshall 1959HW or Ampeg V4 with Mills cab."

See how Steve Albini uses Josephson e22S

Steve Albini

Singer, Guitarist

Big Black

...
Verified via YouTube

video recorded at Electrical Audio, Steve Albini's studio, item shown at 4:10

See how Nathan Followill uses Josephson e22S

Nathan Followill

Drummer

Kings of Leon

...
Verified via Photo

Used on the toms on Only by the Night, as stated by producer Jacques King in this December 2008 Sound on Sound interview.

"The microphones on the drums changed a lot from song to song. On the kick it could be a Beta 52, sometimes it was an RE20, or a [Sennheiser] 421, or a [Neumann] FET 47, or an NS10 [i.e. the driver from a Yamaha NS10 monitor used as a mic], or a combination. It depends on what I was trying to achieve. The mics were usually in front of the kick, or just barely inside. On one song, 'Crawl', I did put a U87 on the batter side of the kick, next to the pedal, which gives a very attack-orientated sound, with a Led Zeppelin-ish quality. On 'Sex On Fire' I used the 52, FET 47 and NS10 on the kick. I had all the kick mics on a Neve BCM10 sidecar and I'd submix them and run them through a GML EQ and then to one track on the tape. I didn't want to keep them separate. It was a matter of get the sound, make the decision, and move on.

"The snare was recorded in similar fashion to the kick. I had the option of various mics that all went through a BCM10 and were submixed, through a GML 580 EQ, then a [Empirical Labs] Distressor, just to give it some control and make sure the snare hit the tape at the right level. On the track sheet a transformerless Shure SM57 is indicated. It was something I read about a couple of years ago, and it's a really good thing. It gives a nicer, more transparent, usable sound that requires less EQ. You lose a bit of level, but typically the things that you record with a 57 are so loud anyway that it doesn't matter. So I asked the people at Blackbird to take the transformer out of one of their 57s and they were gracious enough to do this. After recording I also ran the snare and kick through an Eventide DSP4000 on a Big Muff setting, and recorded that in Pro Tools during the transfer to the computer.

"The toms were recorded with three Josephson E22S mics, which are a modern type, and they're fantastic on the toms. There were a rack of toms plus two floor toms, and I also submixed the tom mics via a BCM10 to a stereo pair, panning the toms as was appropriate for the track. The overheads were recorded with a Telefunken Elam 251 going through a Neve 1081 preamp/EQ, then an Urei 1176, and then to tape. The ride cymbal and the hi-hat were recorded with RCA77 ribbon mics, the ones that David Letterman used to have on his show. When I use a mono overhead, as I did in this case, I like using ribbons, for a good stereo spread between ride and cymbal.

"I had half a dozen mics up for the room sound: a Neumann U67, M49, AKG C12, RCA 44, and/or a Royer SF12 in the echo chamber. I'd leave the door to the echo chamber open so the sound of the drums was happening in there as well, and I'd move the room mics around to get the sound that I wanted for a particular song. I would then bus different combinations to the two room tracks, depending on the song. In the case of 'Sex On Fire' I used a U67 and an RCA 44 for Room 1, and an RCA4 4 and an SF12 for Room 2. Some of these mics went through Neve preamps, some through an old RCA tube mic that Blackbird customised. The combination of room mics was bussed through a Fairchild 670."

See how Matt Halpern uses Josephson e22S

Matt Halpern

Drummer

Periphery

...
Verified via YouTube

In the descrition, Matt states that he uses Josephson E22S' on his toms.

See how Neeraj Khajanchi uses Josephson e22S

Neeraj Khajanchi

Music Producer, Audio Engineer

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video titled "ニラジ・カジャンチ『プロのバンド・レコーディング全公開』前編" by SoundRecordingJP, Neeraj Khajanchi is shown using the Josephson e22S condenser microphone for professional band recording. The microphone features a cardioid directional pattern, a frequency response of 20-20,000 Hz ±2 dB, and a sensitivity of 3.0 mV/Pa, making it suitable for capturing high-quality audio in studio settings.

See how Josh Hoffman uses Josephson e22S

Josh Hoffman

Singer, Guitarist

Grandfather

...
Verified via SonicScoop

Used for the toms on Why'd I Try, as stated by bandmate Michael Kirsch in this self-written October 5, 2010 SonicScoop article.

Drums (Kentucky)

Bass Drum Front: Beyer M380 -> 1176 Limiter Slow Release, 20:1

Bass Drum Batter: Shure SM98

Snare: Sony C37e -> NTI EQ

Rack Tom: Josephson E22s Top and Bottom

Floor Tom: Josephson E22s Top and Bottom

Overheads: Royer 122 (L&R) -> 1178 Limiter -> GML EQ + 678k + 3726k

M-S Stereo: AKG C24 M.S (0 + ?) -> Electrical M-S Matrix

Room Ambience: Neumann CMV563 + N55k Capsules (L&R) -> 20ms Stereo Delay

Rimshot: Shure SM98 -> GML Limiter

See how Johnathan Silverman uses Josephson e22S

Johnathan Silverman

Bassist

Grandfather

...
Verified via Sonicscoop

Used on Why'd I Try, as stated by bandmate Michael Kirsch in this self-written October 5, 2010 SonicScoop article and as visible in this photo from the article captioned "1966 Fender Bassman miked with a Beyer M380 (low) and Josephson E22 (high)".

Bass Guitar (Alcatraz)

Low: Beyer M380 -> Urei LA12 Limiter “Auto” – 3dB

High: Josephson E22s -> John Hardy M2 Preamp -> HPF 280Hz

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Josephson e22S, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Neumann U47 FET
Neumann U47 FET Condenser Microphones
3
Shure SM57
Shure SM57 Dynamic Microphones
3
Sennheiser MD 421-II
Sennheiser MD 421-II Dynamic Microphones
2
Royer R-122
Royer R-122 Ribbon Microphones
2
Neumann U67
Neumann U67 Condenser Microphones
2
Fender Bassman AB165 Amp
Fender Bassman AB165 Amp Guitar Amplifier Heads
1
Telefunken ELA M 251
Telefunken ELA M 251 Condenser Microphones
1
ARP 2600
ARP 2600 Synthesizers
1
AMS Neve 1073
AMS Neve 1073 Preamps & Channel Strips
1
Royer SF-12
Royer SF-12 Ribbon Microphones
1

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