A contact microphone does not listen to the air. It listens to the object it touches.

Inside every Cortado is a piezo transducer that converts mechanical vibration into an electrical signal. When you attach the sensor to a guitar soundboard, a metal railing, or a wooden floor, you are recording the way that material resonates — not the sound waves radiating into the room.

Why the tone is different

Air microphones capture pressure waves. Contact mics capture structure-borne energy. That is why a Cortado on an acoustic guitar can sound more intimate and detailed than a condenser in front of the instrument: you hear the wood, the bridge, and the body working together.

Phantom power and balanced output

Cortado MkIII and Xe models include active circuitry that outputs a balanced XLR signal. Connect to any mixer or interface supplying 24–48V phantom power — no batteries required.

When to choose a contact mic

Contact microphones excel for:

Acoustic instruments where you want minimal stage clutter
Foley and sound design on solid objects
Installations where an air mic cannot be placed (under floors, on goal posts, inside structures)

Explore the Cortado Xe and MkIII to find the right tool for your application.