BL8 - Microphone SE Electronics - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL BL8 SE Electronics

BL8 User Manual2 User Manual - EN Thank you Thank you for choosing an sE product! In addition to some basic safety precautions, this manual includes details and specifications to help you get the most out of your microphone. Please take a few minutes to read through it. Capturing excellent audio is our passion. We sincerely hope you’ll enjoy using this microphone as much as we’ve enjoyed designing and building it for you. Happy Tracking, The sE Team Brief description The BL8 is a half-cardioid boundary microphone, utilizing the same capsule as the celebrated sE8 small- diaphragm condenser. Its hand-crafted, true condenser capsule utilizes an ultra-thin three-micron gold- sputtered diaphragm for superior transient response. The BL8 is designed to reproduce low frequencies with stunning accuracy, often eliminating the need for an additional outer kick drum mic. It is also compatible with The KellyShu

Flatz Isolation System, making it ideal for touring applications. The BL8’s transformerless Class-A circuitry ensures plentiful headroom without distortion, while its low- noise electronics deliver transparency and clarity. The integrated low-cut filter, the switchable attenuation pad and the EQ shaping switch make it a very versatile microphone; excelling at ambience recording, room miking, and can even be used on grand pianos. A switchable attenuation pad keeps high-SPL sources from overloading your mixer’s input. Robustly built, the BL8 features an all-metal construction, a dent-proof grille, and gold-plated XLR contacts to ensure long-term reliability. What’s in the box Your packaging should contain the follow items. If anything is missing, please contact your sE Electronics dealer for assistance.

• Pouch Controls The BL8 features three switches on the bottom, allowing you to shape its tone and prevent overloading your mixer, microphone preamp or audio interface.3 Low Cut This switch allows you to the curb low-frequency response at two different frequencies or leave it flat. For applications like room miking or speech, the low-cut switch reduces unwanted footfall noise and rumble. It can also be used to minimize proximity effect. Att Pad The attenuation pad reduces the microphone’s signal by 10 or 20 dBs when activated, preventing loud sources from overloading your mixer, preamp or audio interface. In its center position, the pad is disactivated, and the microphone’s output is unaffected. We recommend initially activating the 10dB attenuation when miking a kick drum. For very loud sources you may need to activate the 20dB attenuation. Moderately loud sources should be fine at the 0dB setting. Character The ideal studio kick drum tone is often different than our preferences in a live sound environment. Similar to our award-winning kick-drum mic, the V KICK, the BL8 offers “Classic” and “Modern” character voicings. These options both cut and shape the low-mids to emphasize transients and punch. In its center position, the capsule’s neutral response is retained, which is ideal for a plethora of other applications. Changing the capsule To switch the BL8’s capsule, first make sure it’s not connected to an XLR cable. Then, turn the screw at the center of the microphone’s grille counter-clockwise until it’s loose. Once the screw has been removed, the grille can also be removed. Turn the capsule-retainer screw counter-clockwise, until it can be removed.4 Lastly, turn the capsule counter-clockwise and remove it. Turn the replacement capsule clockwise to lock it. Refasten the capsule-retainer screw. Place the microphone’s grille back on its base, and finish by replacing the exterior screw. Mounting on a surface Using screws, the BL8 can be mounted to a surface, wall, ceiling, or the lid of a grand piano. Open the microphone as described in the section “Changing the capsule”. The two mounting points are covered with black stickers; remove them with a sharp tool. Then use a sharp tool to punch through the underlying protective foil, and mount as desired with screws (not included). At last, please close the microphone as described in the section “Changing the capsule”.5 Technical specifications Capsule Hand-crafted small-diaphragm true condenser capsule Polar patterns Half-cardioid Frequency range 20 – 20,000 Hz Sensitivity 25 mV/Pa (-32 dBV) Max. SPL (0.5% THD) 143 / 153 / 163 dB SPL (0/10/20 dB attenuation pad) Equivalent noise level 14 dB(A) Dynamic range 129 / 139 / 149 dB (0/10/20 dB attenuation pad) Signal-to-noise ratio 80 dB Low-cut filter 80 / 160 Hz, 6 dB/oct, switchable Attenuation pad 10 / 20 dB, switchable Powering 48 Volts according to IEC 61938 Electrical impedance 60 Ohms Recommended load impedance >1k Ohms Current consumption

Connectivity 3-pin male XLR connector Dimensions 139 x 95 x 28.5 mm (L x W x H)

Frequency Response Polar Pattern Powering To ensure proper operation, your sE product requires a Phantom power source that provides 48 Volts according to IEC 61938. Risk of damage Do not connect your sE product to any power supply other than a Phantom power source (input with Phantom power or external IEC standard Phantom power supply) with a floating connector, using a balanced cable with studio-grade connectors to IEC 268-12 only. This is the only way to ensure safe and reliable operation. Please be aware that Phantom power cannot pass through TRS connectors. A balanced microphone cable with XLR connectors at both sides is required to provide Phantom power to your sE product.6 Safety and maintenance Warning The product may contain small, detachable parts, which may cause choking, personal injury, or death, especially in children. Please exercise care in the use and handling of small parts and keep them away from children under four years of age.

• This product is safe under normal and reasonably foreseeable operating conditions.

• Do not open or modify the product.

• The product must be returned to the manufacturer or destinated vendors for any service or repair.

• Do not disassemble or attempt to service this product.

Thank you for purchasing an sE product! You are automatically entitled to a two-year warranty but can extend this to a full three years with registration. To register your new equipment and to read the full warranty details, please go here: http://www.seelectronics.com/registration