PAiA MS Microphone

This is a mid side microphone (MS) using three mic elements, center and two sides. A nicely designed circuit board, and a thin metal case. Adjustments are
controlled by two potentiometers, side level and mid level.
I changed a few things for my particular use, and taste. First I lined the thin metal case with a thick foam tape, to cut down the tinny sound that the mic had at
first. Then covered the mic openings in the case with a thin brass screening to keep out dust and dirt.
External power is provided by two 9 volt batteries in a small case mounted under the unit with velcro. Good idea for portable use! 12 volts would be better if
possible.

This unit is easy to use. The assembly manual, as this is a kit, is quite straight forward and clear. This microphone is designed to be modified it seems, and I
have done some modifying.
Paia has provides a wall mounted (wall wart) power supply with many of their units to be permanently wired to the circuit board.
I hate this. I always install a coax power input jack or batteries.

This thing sounds very good, especially when you consider the mic elements. Hi and mid ranges are excellent, suprisingly. Lows are what you may expect from
mic elements this small.
After adding the sound deadening tape to the inside of the case I was able to get quite acceptable (to my old ears) sound from this unit.
I recorded a small mountain stream with it and a good recording unit and when played back was pleased with the depth of sound.
Not bad, if you are willing to modify the unit a little bit, and experiment.

I have used this thing, in it's modified version for about 4 years now. Not extensively, but have thrown it in my backpack many times and taken it in the woods
to capture close sounds and have had no trouble with it.

If this mic was lost I would replace it.
There is nothing that I can find, for the price, to come close, providing you are willing to modify it somewhat and experiment with it.

Paia has some excellent ideas, this is certainly one of them.