Nearly as handy in the studio as Gaffer's Tape and Tony Visconti, the Lauten Audio Horizon LT-321 is one utilitarian mic. Though it's only capable of a cardioid pickup-pattern, the switchable -10db, -20db pad makes this mic suitable for a huge range of applications, from vocals to snare drum and everything in-between.

The lollipop-shaped head and grill also make the LT-321 suitable for playin' ping-pong, killin' flies and grillin' flapjacks, all of which are demonstrated by Lauten Audio founder Brian Loudenslager in this video.*

*not really.