The BCM-104 large-diaphragm condenser microphone for broadcasting from Neumann features a large-diaphragm cardioid condenser capsule. Its frequency response is flat up to 3 kHz, then progressively emphasised in the high frequencies. If necessary, internal switches can be used to compensate for proximity effect and reduce sensitivity by 14 dB.

The microphone grille unscrews for quick cleaning. In front of the capsule, mounted on a bracket, a fine gauze serves as an integrated pop filter. The microphone has elastic mounting against structure-borne noise, compatible with standard broadcasting microphone boom arms.

The microphone grille houses the large-diaphragm K 04 capsule, which has a flat frequency response up to 3 kHz. Higher frequencies have increased presence up to 2 dB. As the microphone characteristics mentioned above are achieved without the use of resonance effects, the microphone offers excellent transient response and transmits all transient phenomena of music and speech without any colouration.

A pop shield not only prevents the occurrence of plosive noise in vocal recordings, but also effectively prevents unwanted particles, from respiratory moisture to nicotine to food residue, from settling on the diaphragm. The pop shield can be removed for cleaning without using tools.

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

The BCM-104 amplifier has linear operation down to 20 Hz. An active filter effectively suppresses signals below this frequency. To compensate for proximity effect, an electronic high-pass filter, activated by a switch, is integrated into the microphone. This filter reduces frequencies below 100 Hz by 12 dB/octave. A 14 dB pre-attenuation switch is provided to adjust sensitivity, if necessary, to circuits designed for dynamic microphones. But this will increase self-noise accordingly. Both switches are located inside the microphone housing, as they will normally only be used once, when setting up the broadcasting installation.

The preferred operating mode is to suspend the BCM-104 from a standard studio boom arm. A thread adapter to fit different connector threads is included. To ensure protection against structure-borne noise, the capsule and 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

- Internal switches for high-pass filter and pre-attenuation