Schoeps CCM 8 L Figure-8 Compact Microphone

Schoeps CCM 8 L Figure-8 Compact Microphone 

As with all other Schoeps microphones and microphone capsules, the figure-8 is a single-membrane system that uses no electronic equalization. It is a genuine dipole and thus a pure pressure gradient transducer.

It is very well suited for recordings with the M/S technique and for Blumlein stereo recording. The suppression of side-incident sound is greater than 20dB throughout the entire frequency range. The directional pattern remains constant at all frequencies.

The directivity index of a figure-8 pattern is the same as that of a cardioid; if microphones with these two patterns are placed at the same distance from a sound source, a quantitatively similar balance of direct and reverberant sound would be picked up. In practice such a comparison would be deceptive, however, since a figure-8 does not respond to sound coming from the sides, from above or from beneath its main axis as does a cardioid. The figure-8 has a rear lobe equal in sensitivity to its front lobe, and this exactly makes up the quantitative difference – but in normally reverberant settings, the sound reaching a figure-8's rear lobe will be delayed and dispersed to a considerably greater extent than the reverberant sound energy which a cardioid picks up from its front and sides; the reflected sound will typically be subject to far more high frequency absorption as well. Thus the reverberant sound energy picked up by a figure-8, though theoretically equal in amount, is quite different in character from that which would be picked up by a cardioid in the same position.

The sound quality of the MK 8 is clear and neutral. The frequency response rolls off above 16kHz.

The CCM represents the logical next step in the miniaturization of classic condenser microphone technology without any compromise in quality. The capsules are identical to the corresponding Colette models, while the amplifiers follow the same circuit principles as CMC amplifiers, with low-impedance balanced output circuitry that allows the use of microphone cables up to hundreds of feet long without interference. The self-noise is as low as that of the Colette System - absolute studio quality.

The capsule and amplifier of the CCM (“Compact Condenser Microphone”) form an inseparable unit in a single housing. The capsules cannot be interchanged as in the Colette modular system. There are two general varieties offered. 1) The CCM _U type, where a robust XLR cable is permanently attached to the microphone, and 2) The CCM _L type which has a thinner, detachable XLR cable with a Lemo plug at the microphone end, this enables the use of the widest range of accessories that resemble Active Accessories of the Colette series.

There are twenty different CCM compact microphones, with omnidirectional, wide cardioid, "Open Cardioid," cardioid, supercardioid, and figure-8 patterns as well as a mechanically switchable microphone (cardioid / omnidirectional). In addition, several microphones specifically designed for close pickup of speech are available. Add this together to the wide range of accessories and you have a truly comprehensive microphone system suitable for any situation.