Neumann.Berlin BCM104 Bedienungsanleitung
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Protecting & Cleaning Neumann Microphones
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic we assembled this note on protecting and cleaning Neumann microphones and
accessories. Especially for vocal and speech recordings, microphones are oen used at close proximity to the mouth,
possibly also by multiple users.
To reduce the risk of spreading diseases through bacteria and viruses, one or more remedies, explained in detail below,
may be used:
◻ideally, have just one user per microphone (including the accessories)
◻aer or before use, clean all surfaces, i.e. microphone housings, head baskets and accessories
◻leave the microphone unused for some time, possibly also applying elevated temperature to the microphone
◻utilize accessories such as windshields and thin plastic lm bags to add protection
Medical Disclaimer
This note assembles technical advice on which measures may be taken, and which materials should be used or not
used, to protect and clean microphones and accessories without harming them.
For medical information on disinfection and disease spread please consult your national and regional medical
authorities and follow their advice.
Contents
1. Cleaning Neumann microphones
2. Time and heat
3. Protecting microphones with foam windshields
4. Acoustical eects of foam windshields
5. Protecting microphones with plastic lm/bags
6. Acoustical eects of plastic lm/bags
7. Further notes
1. Cleaning Neumann Microphones
Cleaning the microphone housing
For cleaning Neumann microphone housings from soiling including human exhalations, you may use ethyl alcohol
(ethanol) or isopropyl alcohol (isopropanol). Used as a disinfectant, typically a 70% solution is used. Apply with
a disposable so cloth, a so brush or paper tissue. Make sure that the liquid is applied only to the outside of the
microphone and does not enter the inside or the capsule.
Do not use rough materials which might scratch the surface. Do not use any solvents stronger than ethanol or
isopropanol, as these might damage the surface.
Never use sprays, as these can deposit on the membrane and thus damage the microphone capsule!
Cleaning removable microphone head baskets
With some microphones, the head basket can be easily removed for cleaning (KMS 104/105, KK 104/105, KK 204/205
and BCM 104/705). Make sure not to touch or damage the capsule!
With the head baskets containing foam windshields, remove the inner foam and clean it separately as described below
(KMS 104, KK 104, KK 204/205 and the BCM 705).
Metal head baskets can then be cleaned also on the inside with ethanol or isopropanol. You may also immerse the
head basket in clean, hot water (e.g. 70°C/160°F). Do not use the dishwasher. Let the basket dry out completely before
re-assembly.
Georg Neumann GmbH • Leipziger Str. 112 • 10117 Berlin • Germany • www.neumann.com • Errors excepted, subject to changes • Publ. 05/2020 586187/A01
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Personalized head baskets
BCM 104 and BCM 705 were constructed for simple switching between personalized head baskets, so each user can
use his own basket. Baskets for BCM are available as spare parts:
Microphone Description Color Part no.
BCM /BCM Basket (BCM) Nickel
For hand-held microphones these head baskets are available as spare parts:
Microphone Description Color Part no.
KMS / plus Basket (KMS ) Nickel
KMS bk/ plus bk Basket (KMS bk) Black
KMS Basket (KMS ) Nickel
KMS bk Basket (KMS bk) Black
KK Basket (KK ) Nickel
KK bk Basket (KK bk) Black
KK Basket (KK ) Nickel
KK bk Basket (KK bk) Black
KK HD Basket (KK HD) Nickel
KK HD bk Basket (KK HD bk) Black
KK Basket (KK ) Nickel
KK bk Basket (KK bk) Black
KK Basket (KK ) Nickel
KK bk Basket (KK bk) Black
Cleaning the inner assembly/amplier
The inner assemblies/ampliers are typically enclosed in the housing and well protected from outside soiling. Cleaning
will hardly ever be necessary. Only a so brush should be used to clean o dust and soiling. Do not use any liquids or
solvents, as the insulation and sensitive parts of the circuit may be harmed.
Cleaning the capsule
If this should become necessary, it strictly must be done only by a skilled serviced technician. The membrane is too
delicate to be cleaned without the proper expertise.
2. Time, and applying heat to the microphone
By taking a microphone out of action for a minimum of 6 hours, before putting it back to use for another user, the
infectiousness of human exhalations deposited on the metal surfaces may be signicantly reduced. For plastic or cloth
accessories, an extended period of 48 hours or more is needed to achieve similar results. To accelerate this procedure,
Neumann microphones may be heated up to 60°C/140°F without aecting the properties of the microphone. As not
all details are 100% assured facts to this day, please consult your national or regional health authorities regarding the
possible transmission via surfaces.
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3. Protecting microphones with foam windshields
Foam windshield are mostly used to reduce wind and pop disturbances. But they also serve to protect a microphone,
at least partly, from rain, water, soiling and human exhalations. Nylon pop screens are very thin and will hardly protect
the microphone from exhalations.
For almost all Neumann microphones, foam windshields are available:
Foam Windshield for Microphone Color Part no.
WNS all KM microphones (not KM ) Black
WNS all KM microphones (not KM ) Black
WS all KM microphones (not KM ) Black
WNS KM Black
WS TLM Black
WS TLM , U fet Black
WS SM , USM Black
WS KMR Black
WS KMR Black
WS M Tube, TLM , TLM , TLM , U , U Black
WS TLM , U Black
WSB KU Black
WSS KK S, KK S, all KMS mics Black
Cleaning foam windshields
Foam windshields may be cleaned with warm-to-hot water, up to 60°C/140°F. If necessary, dish washing liquid may be
applied. Thoroughly rinse the foam and let it dry before putting it back to use. Moderate heat of up to 60°C/140°F may
be applied for faster drying. Do not use ethanol, isopropanol or other liquids or solvents. Do not use the dishwasher.
4. Acoustical eects of foam windshields
Neumann foam windshields will aect the sound only slightly to moderately, depending on the thickness of the foam.
Typically, the high frequencies above 5 kHz will be slightly attenuated. This can be easily remedied with some equal-
ization of the recording. Likewise, small changes in the low frequencies, including the bass boost by proximity eect,
can be remedied with a low frequency EQ.
Figure 1 shows the slight eect (–2 dB @ 10kHz) of a small WNS 100 foam windshield on a KM 184 cardioid micro-
phone’s response. An additional curve shows that a half-wet WNS 100 (aer washing with water & dish washing liquid)
produces a severe roll-o in the high frequencies. So, let the foam dry out completely before putting it back to use.
FIGURE 1: On-axis response of KM 184, with (dry) WNS 100 windshield, and with half-wet WNS 100.
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5. Protecting microphones with plastic lm/bags
This is not a typical use for microphones, and only some recommendations can be given here. The main aim is to
provide help for situations where no other solution can be applied.
A foam windscreen will help, but it may not protect a microphone 100% from exhalations. So, especially for multi-user
applications, additional plastic lm or bags may be used as cover. Take separate disposable thin lm material for each
user. Use bags with no ventilation holes and dispose of them aer single-use. Enclose all parts of the microphone that
may become soiled.
Some hints:
◻Use very thin plastic material
◻Choose so, exible material to minimize crackling, uttering, rustling, or rubbing noises during the recording
◻Leave some air volume around the capsule (e.g. the head basket, or use a foam windshield)
◻Do not tension or stretch the lm tightly
◻Make test recordings to become acquainted with your specic solution, how to noiselessly handle the plastic
lm and how to best equalize the signal
6. Acoustical eects of plastic lm/bags
Plastic lm or bags will aect the sound of a microphone. Still, especially for speech recordings, the response may be
equalized to obtain usable quality. Typically, plastic bags will produce these eects, increasing with the thickness and
stiness of the lm:
◻Mid-range frequencies will be the least aected
◻Roll-o at high frequencies, e.g. above 4-8 kHz
◻Reduced directivity
◻Reduced proximity eect at low frequencies
◻Roll-o at low frequencies
As gure 2 shows, low and high frequency boosts of a few dB may serve to linearize the response of a microphone
inside a plastic lm bag. These plots serve just as indication of the eects of plastic bags. The specic values will vary,
depending on the microphone and plastic bag conguration.
Cardioid microphone, without windshield and plastic bags
Recommendable solutions: thin lm/bags, not tensioned
Not recommendable solutions: stretched or thick plastic lm/bags
FIGURE 2: Exemplary measurements of KM 184 with dierent plastic bag and WNS 100 windshield congurations (measured at 1 m)
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7. Further notes
Omnidirectional microphones
These microphones are less aected by foam windshields and plastic bags. Contemplate the possibility of using
omnidirectional microphones also for situations where otherwise you would have chosen a directive microphone.
With plastic bags, a simple high frequency boost above 3 kHz may already linearize the response suciently.
Further Information
For further information please contact us at [email protected] or contact your national Neumann distributor
and service partners.
Andere Handbücher für BCM104
1
Dieses Handbuch passt für folgende Modelle
17
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