Enter to Win a $8000 PA System!

Audio-Technica AT5040 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone

Large-diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone with Shockmount and Hardshell Carrying Case
$2,999.00

Earn $150 back in Bonus Bucks OR pay $125/month with 24 month financing*

We Can Get It Fast!

While this isn't an item we normally stock, we can still get it to you as fast as possible due to our great relationship with Audio-Technica. Go ahead and place your order and we'll follow up shortly to let you know when to expect it.

Add to Cart
Notify me about deals

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

What is a Sales Engineer?
Sweetwater Gear Exchange

Have one to sell?
Check out Sweetwater's Gear Exchange!
Learn More

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

Audio-Technica AT5040 Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone
We Can Get It Fast!
$2,999.00
Add to Cart
Add to list
Back to navigation

This article was Written By

Our Product Research Team

Get to know them!

Audio-Technica's Next-generation Microphone!

Designed as the flagship studio microphone for Audio-Technica, the AT5040 employs new design and premium components to deliver high-definition audio. An all-new rectangular element combines four matched diaphragms together to create a single cohesive unit. With an area twice the size of the usual 1" diaphragm, the AT5040 delivers realism, depth, presence, and purity of sound. A fast transient response makes it perfect for vocals and acoustic instruments such as piano, guitar, strings, and saxophone. As soon as the sound of this mic hits your ears, you'll know you're on to something special. Bring the high-definition sound of the Audio-Technica AT5040 to your studio today.

Audio-Technica AT5040 Cardioid Condenser Microphone at a Glance:
  • State-of-the-art diaphragm delivers high definition sound
  • Internal shockmount keeps unwanted noise away
  • Transparent highs, rich lows, and low noise
  • Precision-built diaphragm and electronics
State-of-the-art diaphragm delivers high definition sound

Using recent breakthroughs in sound-capture technology, Audio-Technica has developed a four-part rectangular element for the AT5040. These four matched ultra-thin diaphragms function as a single unit (with outputs proprietarily summed) and provide a surface area that is twice the size of a standard 1" diaphragm. By using four diaphragms in a single capsule, you get all the benefits of an extra-large element with an extremely low noise floor. The cardioid polar pattern of the Audio-Technica AT5040 rejects unwanted sound from the sides and back of the mic, making it perfect for recording in the studio.

Internal shockmount keeps unwanted noise away

Audio-Technica has gone to great lengths to make sure the AT5040 delivers only the purest of sounds. An internal shockmount decouples the capsule from the body. This cuts down any handling noise and extraneous vibrational noise that can creep into your take. The included AT8480 shockmount further cuts down any vibrations.

Transparent highs, rich lows and low noise

The AT5040 produces transparent highs and mids balanced by rich low-end qualities, while its advanced acoustic engineering guarantees extensive performance capabilities and highest quality. The Audio-Technica AT5040's condenser design offers a remarkably musical performance, with a profound realism and depth that you have to hear to believe. Ideal for studio vocals, this mic gives you a wide dynamic range with exceptionally low noise.

Precision-built diaphragm and electronics

The Audio-Technica AT5040's 2-micron-thick, vapor-deposited gold diaphragm is just the beginning of this amazing mic's sound. Only carefully selected discrete components are used in the AT5040 to deliver optimized capsule performance. Each microphone is hand assembled and inspected ensuring the highest quality control available.

Audio-Technica AT5040 Cardioid Condenser Microphone Features:
  • Flagship vocal cardioid condenser mic from Audio-Technica
  • Four-part rectangular element provides an area twice the size of a 1" diaphragm
  • Internal shockmount decouples the capsule from the mic body
  • Hand assembled and inspected
  • Includes the advanced-design AT8480 shockmount and hardshell case
  • Requires +48V phantom power
Capture stunning vocals with the Audio-Technica AT5040 condenser microphone.

Additional Media

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage

Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Tools Icon

Save money with free parts & labor!

Fast Icon

Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time.

Award Icon

Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department.

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • Microphone Type: Condenser, Fixed-charge back plate
  • Polar Pattern: Cardioid
  • Diaphragm Size: 4 x Rectangle Diaphragms (2 micron)
  • Frequency Response: 20Hz-20kHz
  • Max SPL: 142 dB SPL
  • Output Impedance: 50 ohms
  • Sensitivity: 56.2mV/Pa (-25dB)
  • Signal to Noise Ratio: 89 dB
  • Self Noise: 5 dB SPL
  • Connector: XLR
  • Color: Aluminum and Brass body with Black finish
  • Power Source: 48V phantom power
  • Dimensions: 6.51" x 2.24"
  • Weight: 1.28 lbs.
  • Included Accessories: Hardshell Case, Custom Shockmount
  • Manufacturer Part Number: AT5040

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

Write your review
Rated 5/5

Polished vocals on first take

The best Mike ever. This is one of the best microphones on the market.if you want a clear real sounding vocals get this. I don't use autotunes at all so I need great sounding vocals to this is my number one vocal Microphone. I also use it on all string instruments. I love it.
Music background: Musical Artist , producer
Rated 5/5

Outstanding Microphone

I have a client that bought this microphone and uses it in my studio. It is an exceptional mic. We matched his vocal recorded against AKG 414 XLS, AKG 414 XLII, AEA N22 and this mic. All of the mics sounded great on his vocal (he's a great vocalist), but this mic had a perfect balance for his vocal and a perfect amount of warmth that still allowed his vocal to have great clarity, yet sound full. In my opinion, I couldn't imagine a better microphone for his vocal. The output of this microphone is a lot higher than the 414's due to the new technology they are using. I used a Vintech 473 as the preamp and found myself keeping the gain at the absolute lowest setting (output turned all the way up as recommended by Vintech) to catch the right output. Perhaps a -10 db pad on this microphone would have been nice, but overall, I LOVE this mic and I would say it is definitely worth the cost. I wish I owned it so that I could try it out on even more vocalists and other sources.
Music background: Recording Engineer/Music Producer/Studio Owner
Rated 5/5

Very Detailed

I found myself intrigued by the concept of this mic, but more drawn to high end German mics because I thought that they could magically add some special "voodoo" or something. The 5040 doesn't have that kind of mythic heritage, but it is the most amazingly detailed mic I've ever recorded with. This has the detail and dimesionality of a ribbon, but without the uneven frequency response or noise (plus far better transient response). It's also the quietest mic I've ever used. It's so flat and even in its response that I find it requires a bit of EQ to bring out the sweet spots in any given performance, but this is an advantage since you can choose to customize those eq curves to each artist.
I've used this mic so far in a sampling session for a high end music gear manufacturer and on several female vocalists and been very pleased each time. The sampling session required a big sound with super low noise with lots of gain, so this mic was perfect. It's been very even and big on the vocalists as well. One client re-recorded a track she had previously done with another of my LD condensers, and the most amazing thing was how much easier it was to get her vocal to sit just above the mix without sounding like it was too far out front. It was just very natural and big sounding, and didn't need as much compression to push it forward. So far it has been well worth the investment.
Music background: Musician, engineer, producer, arranger.
Rated 4/5

Clear and flat

what I have done very little, but is an excellent microphone, if you want a microphone for voice only, this is the level of Neumann, but is quite limited, it has a sweet spot to record, and if the artist is not an expert, you'll to take some time to achieve, but you will have an excellent recording.
Music background: Recording studio owner
Close Close $8,000 PA System Giveaway -- input your email address below to enter or click here to learn more.

See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners!

Success!

Your email, test has been entered to win this giveaway. Good Luck!