Neumann BCM 104 Large diaphragm cardioid condenser, built-in popscreen, removable basket, internal shockmount

Neumann BCM 104 Large diaphragm cardioid condenser, built-in popscreen, removable basket, internal shockmount

The Neumann BCM 104 Large Diaphragm Condenser Broadcast Microphone from Neumann comes featuring a large-diaphragm, cardioid condenser capsule. It comes with a frequency response that is flat up to 3 kHz and then capable to gradually boosted in the higher frequencies. If truly needed, the internal switches is capable to be used for compensating the proximity effect and for the reduction of the sensitivity by 14 dB.

The microphone headgrille is designed twisting off for quick cleaning. In front of the capsule, mounted on a frame holder, a fine gauze is in place serving as a built-in popscreen. The microphone comes equipped with an elastic mount against structure-borne noise, that is compatible to use along with standard broadcast-segment microphone arms.

The microphone headgrille is housing the K 04 large-diaphragm capsule, which comes with a flat frequency response up to 3 kHz. Higher frequencies are made with an increased presence up to 2 dB. Since the above-mentioned microphone characteristics are obtained without the use of resonance effects, the microphone comes featuring an excellent transient response and capable of transmitting all transient phenomena of music and speech having without any coloration.

Its pop screen is not only preventing the occurrence of plosive pop noises in vocal recordings, but it is also efficiently preventing unwanted particles, from respiratory moisture, nicotine, to food remnants, from settling on the diaphragm. The pop screen is capable to be removed for cleaning without the use of tools.

Instead of a transformer to couple the microphone output to the supply voltage, the BCM-104 comes with an electronic circuit which, like a transformer, is capable of providing for good common mode rejection. Interference induced in the balanced modulation line is thus suppressed effectively. Comes with a very low self-noise of 7 dB(A), and an overload capability extending to 138 dB SPL, the BCM-104 comes with a dynamic range of 131 dB (A-weighted).

The BCM-104 amplifier comes with a linear operation down to 20 Hz. An active filter that is capable to efficiently suppresses signals below this frequency. In order to compensate for the proximity effect, an electronic high-pass filter, activated by a switch, is built into the microphone. This filter is designed for reducing the frequencies below 100 Hz by 12 dB/octave. A 14 dB pre-attenuation switch is provided in order to adjust the sensitivity, if necessary, to circuits designed for dynamic microphones. But this will increase the self-noise accordingly. Both switches are placed and can be found inside the microphone housing, since they will normally be operated only once, when the broadcasting facility is set up.

The preferred mode of operation is to suspend the BCM-104 from a standard studio boom arm. A thread adapter to fit different connector threads is included. In order to provide protection from structure-borne noise, both the capsule and the microphone in its mount are elastically suspended.

• Large-diaphragm condenser capsule
• Cardioid directional characteristic
• Integrated pop protection and elastic suspension
• Mechanical compatibility with standard studio boom arms
• High-pass and pre-attenuation internal switches