Press

01.06.2011 - Holte

"Microphones has to be reviewed by your ears"

The statement comes from the experienced music producer Boe Larsen, who as one of the first to test Neumann's latest digital microphones during his daily work in the MillFactory studio in the north western part of Copenhagen.

Boe Larsen is with a musical education, a background as a pianist and songwriter, and several years as a producer, mixer and owner of the studios not afraid of trying new equipment. On the contrary! He sees it as a wonderful challenge, where he has to combine his skills.
 
- I like to listen to others' experiences however the assessment of equipment in my industry demands that you use your own ears. That's the way the market subsequent will judge a recording Boe Larsen knows.

Boe accepted with great interest when Sennheiser Nordic offered him a wide range of Neumann's new digital microphones for a few weeks and asked him to give an evaluation.

Realism and a bite in the sound
- I have in the past few weeks used the microphones to produce music with an acoustic guitar, drums, overhead and Hi-Hat - in a rock production. The transients of the acoustic guitar for example was absolutely fantastic translated by these microphones
 
- And it is my experience that the microphones are fantastic for reproducing sound as it is - to document sound. The colorful changes are dealt with if necessary in the computer later on in the mix, he tells.

Incredible good alternative to analog microphones
The cable carries data according to the AES42 standard from and to the microphone. You can see the name of the manufacturer, the model, serial number and software version, and the internally controllable functions supported in the microphone.
Microphones can be controlled from an AES 42 compatible console, Mac/PC, DAW, an interface such as the DMI 8 and DMI 2 etc etc. The microphones characteristics are also controllable, for example Hypercardioid to cardioid, omni to figure of eight or anything in between. This feature exists naturally and only with a double membrane microphone. 
Boe Larsen used all these facilities, when he produced rock with the Neumann Solution D microphones. After the recording, he assesses the digital microphones as "an incredible good alternative" to the analog.

Settings are preserved
As the engineer adjusts the individual microphones, their settings are stored in the desk or on a Mac/PC. They can then easily be retrieved for the next recording session. Boe Larsen has also used this with a mobile setup, where he recorded on location and then continued the work in his studio.
During the recording the limiter/compressor/D-esser of the microphones is used, which "sees" the loud sounds before they arrive. A kind of "Look Ahead" feature, if you will.
The Gain Structure is automatically handled with a unique gain change circuit. This provides the system with a realizable dynamic range of up to 140 db.

- Neumann has with the Solution-D microphone system been able to create a dynamic range and signal fidelity of digital microphones, which are significantly better than of the best analog microphones in the market, says Project Manager Morten Munch and continues:

- The high resolution obtained by the two collaborating converters is extremely important for the fine result. 

The microphones are equipped with standard three-pin XLR connectors. The signal goes both ways in accordance with the AES 42 standard, allowing, phantom power, and a data stream for remote control, by which the microphones are also synchronized.

Download the press relase and picture here
 
About Sennheiser
The Sennheiser Group, with its headquarters in Wedemark near Hanover, Germany, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of microphones, headphones and wireless transmission systems. The family-owned company, which was established in 1945, recorded sales of around €390 million in 2009. Sennheiser employs more than 2,100 people worldwide, and has manufacturing plants in Germany, Ireland and the USA. The company is represented worldwide by subsidiaries in France, Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark (Nordic), Russia, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, Japan, China, Canada, Mexico and the USA, as well as by long-term trading partners in many other countries. Also part of the Sennheiser Group are Georg Neumann GmbH, Berlin (studio microphones and monitor loudspeakers), and the joint venture Sennheiser Communications A/S (headsets for PCs, offices and call centres).

Sennheiser Nordic A/S Denmark
Skovlytoften 33 • DK-2840 Holte
Phone: +45 70 26 66 33 • Fax: +45 70 26 67 11
e-mail: sennheiser@sennheisernordic.com
www.sennheisernordic.com