MICRO NEUMANN BCM 104
With its large-diameter static capsule and cardioid directional characteristic, the BCM 104 is ideal for faithful reproduction of speech and music. This is due in particular to its flat frequency response down to 3 kHz, with a gradual rise in the treble. If required, internal selectors can compensate for proximity effect or reduce sensitivity by 14 dB. The BCM 104 is a universal microphone, suitable for a wide range of applications: news, round-table discussions, radio dramas, music recordings...
Mechanical features
The microphone grille is easily unscrewed for quick cleaning. Neumann offers optional color-coded grids, allowing each presenter to use his or her own grid for hygienic reasons. In front of the capsule, mounted on a support frame, a very fine gauze serves as a built-in pop screen.
The microphones in the Broadcast Line range also feature an internal suspension that absorbs noise transmitted through the stand, ensuring compatibility with articulated microphone stands specifically designed for broadcast applications.
Acoustic features
The microphone grille houses the K 04 large-diaphragm capsule, with a flat response curve up to 3 kHz. At high frequencies, the presence hum reaches 2 dB.
As these characteristics are achieved without the use of resonance effects, the microphone ensures excellent transient response, and transmits all acoustic phenomena (music or speech) without coloration.
Integrated pop screen
The pop screen not only attenuates plosives, which cause unpleasant noise during voice recording, it also prevents any undesirable substances - sputters, nicotine, water vapor from breathing, food particles... - from attaching themselves to the membrane. It can be easily removed for cleaning, without tools.
Electrical features
Instead of an audio transformer, the BCM 104 uses an electronic circuit to couple the microphone output. Like a transformer, this circuit provides excellent common-mode rejection.
Interference on the symmetrical signal path is therefore effectively suppressed.
With a very low background noise level of just 7 dB(A) and a maximum permissible sound pressure level of 138 dB SPL, the BCM 104 offers a dynamic range of 131 dB (A-weighted).
Filter and pre-attenuation
The BCM 104's built-in amplifier ensures linear response down to 20 Hz. An active filter effectively suppresses signals with frequencies below this limit. To compensate for the proximity effect, the microphone incorporates an electronic high-pass filter, which attenuates frequencies below 100 Hz with a slope of 12 dB/octave.
A 14 dB pre-attenuation selector allows you, if necessary, to adjust the mic's output level to circuits designed for dynamic models. Naturally, the level of background noise will increase accordingly.
These two selectors are located inside the microphone, since they will be activated only once, when the studio is set up.
Mounting
The recommended use is to mount the BCM 104 or BCM 705 on a standard studio boom stand.
A thread adaptor is supplied for screwing onto different types of stand. To ensure effective protection against noise transmitted by the stand, both the capsule and microphone feature elastic suspension.
The optional SG 5 swivel mount allows the microphone to be tilted +/-90 degrees.
Technical data:
Acoustic operating principle Pressure gradient transducer
Directivity Cardioid
Frequency range 20 Hz to 20 kHz
Sensitivity at 1 kHz, load 1 kOhm 22 mV/Pa
Attenuator -14 dB engaged 4.4 mV/Pa
Nominal impedance 50 Ohms
Nominal load impedance 1 kOhm
Equivalent noise level, CCIR 18 dB SPL
Equivalent noise level, A-weighted 7 dB SPL (A)
Maximum SPL at THD = 0.5% 138 dB
Maximum SPL at THD = 0.5%2) with pre-attenuator 152 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio, according to CCIR (at 94 dB SPL) 76 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio, A-weighted (at 94 dB SPL) 87 dB
Maximum output voltage +10 dBu
Dynamic range of microphone-integrated preamp (A-weighted) 131 dB
Supply voltage (P48, IEC 61938) 48 V ± 4 V
Current consumption (P48, IEC 61938) 3.2 mA
XLR3M output connector
Weight 500 g
Diameter 64 mm
Length 110 mm
Height (without suspension) 85 mm
Highlights:
Large-diameter static capsule
Cardioid directionality
Optimized design for enhanced functionality
Integral anti-plosive protection for high sound neutrality
Integrated elastic suspension
Easily removable grille, customizable for each user
Different colored rings to distinguish replacement grilles
Easy grille disassembly (bayonet fixing) and cleaning
Mechanically compatible with standard studio microphone arms and stands
Internal selectors: high-pass filter and attenuator
Application examples:
Broadcast and studio microphone
This is just one of the most widespread applications for this model. There are many others. We recommend you try it out without hesitation, to use this microphone to its full potential.