Neumann’s new Series 180 condenser microphones consist of three
models: the KM 183, KM 184 and KM 185. Available in either matte black
or silver nickel finishes, the three mics offer a range of pickup
patterns to accommodate any recording or live sound situation. The omnidirectional KM 183 and cardioid KM 184 microphones are successors to the
KM83 and KM84 models (popular in the ’70s but no longer manufactured).
The KM 185 is the new hypercardioid variant. Unlike the KM100 Series,
these mics do not have interchangeable capsules and thus sell for a
lower price.
All three of the new mics are based on KM100 circuitry and are
48-volt phantom powered, although a new DC-to-DC converter
changes the 48 to 60 volts and provides a more stable polarizing
voltage. A side benefit is that the mic’s transformerless output is
more forgiving of the unbalanced inputs of consumer gear.
The KM 183 has a boost of approximately 7 dB at 10 kHz in the free field but a flat
frequency response in the diffuse sound field. Just like the KM140
microphone, the KM 184’s response starts to lift at 9 kHz, which means
that the new KM 184 is brighter than the original KM84. This
characteristic has been achieved by slightly modifying the capsule’s
rear opening, rather than by electronic means. Compared to the KM84,
the KM 184’s dynamic range is increased by 21 dB, self-noise is
reduced to 25 dB (CCIR), and the new mic can handle SPLs up to 138
dB.
The KM 185 hypercardioid features a 10dB front-to-back-to-side
rejection-minimum sensitivity is at 120Degrees off-axis. The pressure
gradient transducers in both KM 184 and KM 185 provide for smooth
frequency responses, not only for the on-axis sound, but also for
off-axis sounds.
LET THERE BE DRUMS
The 180 Series mics’ small size makes them perfect for miking acoustic
and string instruments, or getting in and around a drum kit. I have
always favored close-miking drums with condensers for light-to-moderate playing-I find
that condensers pick up more of the subtleties of a drummer’s
technique-although they may not be the best choice for bashers. For
this Field Test, I used two KM183s for overheads (one over the ride
cymbal/floor tom side and the other over the snare/hi-hat side), a KM
184 for the snare drum close mic and the KM 185 for the hi-hat.
The drum recording room was small, and I found the omnidirectional
overhead mics picked up a lot of reflections from the wood paneling and
floors, positively influencing the instruments’ tonality. The mics
ended up being about two feet above the highest cymbal, but even this
close, the omnis captured more of the room sound than the pair of
cardioids I normally use. To get a little drier sound, I just moved the
overheads closer in 6-inch increments and reduced mic input gain. A
nice feature of omnis, of course, is that there is no change in the proximity effect when close-miking.
I did have to experiment with the lateral spacing of the overheads,
as I heard some phasiness when I first placed them about four feet
apart. Moving them closer together solved the phase problem, but I have
to admit I did like the extra wide sound when they were farther
apart.
I placed the KM 184 cardioid close in on the snare drum, where it
provided plenty of sparkle, obviating the need for high-frequency EQ,
although I did add a couple dB of boost at around 3 kHz to fit the
song. If there was ever a place to test a condenser mic, two inches
from a rock snare drum is it! The KM 184 had absolutely no trouble at
all, even when my flailing drummer tagged the mic’s body right on the
Neumann logo. Aside from a loud crack on that particular backbeat, the
mic kept on working. I also A/B’d the track before and after the
accident and noticed no sonic differences, nor any change in the
waveform (scrutiny made possible by Pro Tools). I also noticed that
none of the mics got “soft” after hours of use.
The KM 185 hypercardioid worked wonderfully on the hi-hat, picking
up only minor leakage from snare and the rest of the kit. Because of
its pattern, I could put the mic a little farther away to pick up the
total sound, which sounds better than putting the mic extra close to
minimize leakage. Also, unlike a lot of other mics, the KM 185 also did
not “fold up” or get strident under the dynamics of good hi-hat
playing. Again, little or no EQ was required here for a crystal clear
sound. As is my preference, I did roll out some low frequencies to
reduce the amount of rumble from the rest of kit.
All three Series 180 mics have high output. To get proper recording
levels, I had to back down all of the mic gain settings I usually use.
Make sure your mic preamps have pads, sufficient dynamic range and
proper gain structure to handle the extra hot peak levels. In fact, if
you use an external phantom power supply, you could try these mics at
line level.
ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Next, I used the mics on acoustic guitar, routing a single mic preamp
straight into a DAT machine with no EQ and no compression. I tried all
three mics at one meter (the farthest away I would ever mike an
acoustic guitar) and then very close, right over the guitarist’s right
hand and the sound hole (the closest possible I could ever get). The KM
183 omni offered the most diffuse sound, with no change in proximity
when I moved it closer. As expected, this mic captured more of the room
character along with the guitar, making for a more diaphanous or
transparent sound.
The KM 185 hypercardioid, which I aimed at the point where the
fingers struck the strings, produced a more percussive sound. Fret
squeaks and noises off-axis were not very loud. When I moved it closer,
the KM 185 exhibited only a slight rise in low frequencies because of
the proximity effect.
The KM 184 cardioid also had a great sound, with good spectral
balance and the usual bass buildup as I moved it closer, and more
output. Although the three mics use the same electronics, the 184’s
capsule has greater sensitivity and therefore more output. All three
mics produced a great guitar sound with minimum fuss.
If you are as interested as I am in building up a mic collection,
the new Neumann Series 180 mics make a good choice for compact
condenser pencil mics. The Series 180 models are a big improvement over
the old KM83/84 mics and offer improved SPL handling, lower noise,
lower prices and demonstrable ruggedness. Both the KM 183 and KM 185
sell for $750, and the KM 184 goes for $725.
Neumann USA, www.neumannusa.com
