Schoeps CMC 1U – Small Colette microphone amplifier + Schoeps MK41 Supercardioid Mic Capsule

The CMC 1 is a small Colette microphone amplifier, about one-third the length and 53% lighter than the CMC 6. It is compatible with all components of the Colette system and can be used in place of the CMC 6 without compromise, for all applications in which the size and weight of the microphone play a role.

At SCHOEPS, “uncompromising miniaturization” means that the electrical characteristics of the CMC 1 are equal to, or even better than, those of the CMC 6. Through modern electronic design, these outstanding electrical properties have been achieved:

• high maximum SPL: 135 dB-SPL with the MK 4 (0.5% THD or less)
• very low current consumption: 2.0 mA at 48 Volts
• operates on 48 V or 12 V phantom power, reliable operation even if powering is somewhat marginal
• very high immunity from RF interference with the SCHOEPS RFI Shield; high immunity to cable-induced hum and other interference (field tested with Audio Limited A 10, etc.)
• flat frequency response
• very low distortion constant output impedance across the audio frequency range
• balanced, direct-coupled, class-A output circuit
• output is filtered in the ultrasonic range to prevent interference, e.g. from camera autofocus

A complete Colette-series microphone consists of an MK capsule and a CMC amplifier. All capsules and active accessories of the Colette system are compatible with the CMC 1.

The CMC 1 works with standard 12-Volt or 48-Volt phantom powering. Power consumption is lower at 12 Volts–an advantage for battery-powered operation.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

• Frequency range: 20 Hz-20 kHz
• Sensitivity: see corresponding capsule
• Maximum output voltage: 1.8 V (5 dbV) with 1 kΩ load
• Maximum sound pressure level (THD < 0.5 %):
  • 135 dB-SPL (P48) with MK 4
  • 131 dB-SPL (P12) with MK 4
• Low cut filter: 20 Hz, 12 dB/oct
• Output impedance: 50 Ω +/- 1 Ω (8 Hz – 50 kHz)
• Minimum recommended load impedance: 1 kΩ
• Common mode rejection ratio (at 1 kHz): > 55 dB
• Maximum cable length: > 400 m (~1,300 ft)
• SCHOEPS RFI Shield: Yes
• Powering standard / Valid range:
  • P48 / 30-52 V
  • P12 / 11-13 V
• Current consumption:
  • 2 mA (P48)
  • 3 mA (P12)
• Output: XLR-3M, analog, 1 channel
• Length: 36 mm / ~1.4″
• Diameter: 20 mm / 0.8″
• Weight: 36 g / 1.3 oz
• Surface finish: matte gray
• Custom color: nickel, chromagreen

Schoeps MK41 Supercardioid Mic Capsule

• supercardioid with highly consistent directionality throughout its frequency range
• for music and speech
• high directivity, comparable to that of a short “shotgun“ microphone up through midrange frequencies
• often preferred for use in film sound recording and as a spot microphone in orchestras

The MK 41 is strongly directional. Sound arriving from off axis is attenuated even more than with a cardioid. The pickup is “drier” and less susceptible to acoustic feedback than any other SCHOEPS capsule type (a loudspeaker should not be located directly along the rear axis of the microphone, however).

• Although our normal production tolerances are very close, we can deliver specially matched capsule pairs for a small extra charge.

Application

Its directivity is highly independent of frequency, so that even sounds arriving off axis and reverberant sound are registered without coloration. Consequently, even distant placement of the capsule produces a very natural sound pickup. This is a real advantage over interference-tube “shotgun” microphones, whose directivity is very frequency-dependent – exceeding that of a supercardioid only at higher frequencies. Interference-tube microphones are notoriously sensitive to their position in a room, where the shifting patterns of reflections cause corresponding shifts in sound color. Thus the MK 41 are surprisingly effective, space-saving alternatives to shotgun microphones – and being small, they can often be placed closer to the sound source. (Regarding shotgun microphones, see CMIT 5 U.)

An M/S microphone arrangement can be set up at quite some distance from the sound source if an MK 41 is used for the “M“ channel.

Compared to the cardioid MK 4, the MK 41 has slightly more rolloff at the low end due to the gradient effect. Its diffuse field response elevation is less than that of the MK 4.

Specifications

• Frequency range_x0009_40 Hz – 20 kHz
• Sensitivity_x0009_14 mV/Pa
• Equivalent noise level (A-weighted)_x0009_15 dB-A
• Equivalent noise level (CCIR)_x0009_24 dB
• Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted)_x0009_79 dB-A
• Maximum sound pressure level at 0.5% THD_x0009_132 dB-SPL
• Length_x0009_22 mm
• Diameter_x0009_20 mm
• Weight_x0009_17 g
• Surface finish_x0009_matte grey (g) or nickel (ni)