Both the BCM 104 mt's capsule and the microphone are elastically suspended in order to provide protection from structure-borne noise and rumble. The foam pop screen protects the capsule from dirt, moisture, and nicotine. For increased hygiene, the head grille twists off easily for quick cleaning. The BCM 104 mt attaches to most standard microphone boom arms.
- The large-diaphragm condenser capsule of the BCM 104 mt captures each nuance of your voice without coloration or unwanted artifacts. The electronic circuit has an extremely low self-noise of only 7 dB-A and can handle enormous sound pressure levels of up to 138 dB without distortion.
- The mic's balanced output operates transformerless to ensure minimal hum interference and high common-mode rejection against extraneous signals, e.g. from computer screens.
- A subsonic filter suppresses frequencies below 20 Hz. For close speech operation, a switchable 100 Hz low-cut is available to compensate for the proximity effect. A second switch activates a –14 dB pre-attenuation to reduce the BCM 104’s output level for use with equipment designed for dynamic microphones (which typically have a much lower sensitivity than condenser microphones).
- Both switches are hidden inside the microphone as the low cut and pre-attenuation options are usually selected only once, at setup.
Neumann BCM-104 Specs
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Neumann BCM-104 Reviews
A VERY Good Broadcast Microphone
This is a VERY well designed and thought out electret condenser mic, even for the Neumann line, and in this lineup is well priced for what it offers, compared to other Neumann mics. Specifically, The BCM 104 includes a built-in and very effective shock mount, switchable high pass filter and attenuator, and a (decent but not perfect) internal pop filter. Maintenance has been thought through and its grill is easily removed for cleaning - BUT BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE CARTRIDGE!. In comparison to the Neumann TLM 103, it offers a somewhat similar sound but more (very useful) features, some of which are a significant extra expense (like the shock mount) on the TLM103. Its simply more capable and versatile than the TLM 103 or 102, yet is less well known - a "sleeper" mic. Compared to the venerable Electrovoce RE20 and popular Shure SM7B? I put them in the same category of quality/capability, but with distinctly different strengths, weaknesses and required EQ. As dynamics, the RE20 and SM7B are way tougher, still VERY versatile, do not require phantom power but need a LOT more preamp gain and different EQ for any given job. That said, all three mics take EQ very well and are a pleasure to use (for me). Is the BCM 104 worth the the more than 2x premium over the RE20 and SM7B? Depends - its always about the right tool for the job. The BCM104 is probably somewhat better for mixed broadcast/studio AND voiceover work, where the mic is NOT physically abused, and it CAN be used effectively on instruments as well, if you're careful about its handling. Also, its way smaller than the two other mics, so it intrudes less on voice talent. But the BCM is also more fragile internally - electrets usually are - and will likely not stand up to shock, moisture and heat quite as well as the dynamics DON'T manhandle the BCM 104 - the case is REALLY solid - but that terrific electret element is like a "bird in a cage". DON'T bang it up! The SM7B and RE20? They're pretty tough, go anywhere, do almost anything mics with a slightly more mellow sound and lower cost to replace if you make a mistake. Much more popular in broadcast and podcasing than the BCM104. But that "Neumann Sound" is alive and well in the BCM 104 is still pretty much king in voiceover, especially for clients who demand raw, unprocessed recordings. In the end, YOU need to decide if this is the right tool for YOUR work - and is worth the premium over other choices.
Nothing but the Best
Neumann makes great stuff all around and this microphone does not disappoint. Clear, crisp, and great sound pattern. Highly recommend for anything with vocals.