Recovery Effects took a new-old stock telephone and transformed it into something genuinely weird and wonderful, turning the handset into a microphone that captures sound with unmistakable character. It's the kind of gear that makes you rethink what a microphone can be.
The ExMic Deluxe is built around that converted telephone handset, which connects via a 1/4" jack to a separate preamp base. The handset itself becomes your microphone, while the base unit houses the preamp circuitry and handles your audio routing. Everything is point-to-point hand-wired, and the whole thing runs off a standard 9V DC Boss-style power supply. You get one mono input and one mono output, keeping things simple and focused. The device ships with a mic clip for mounting on a standard stand, making it easy to position however you want.
What makes the ExMic Deluxe special is how it embraces lo-fi character rather than fighting it. Vocals are the obvious choice, but the preamp is equally happy processing guitars, bass, synths, or even room ambience captured from across the space. The telephone's inherent tonal coloration gives everything a distinctly compressed, slightly gritty quality that works beautifully for experimental recording and performance. It's designed and assembled in Seattle, comes with a one-year limited warranty if registered within 30 days, and ships as a made-to-order item with a 2-3 week lead time. The ExMic Deluxe has found a devoted following among producers and performers who value unconventional character over clinical precision.
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