The BLM4060 is a transducer designed to work under optimum conditions when placed on a tabletop, but it also performs well on any other hard, flat surface that reflects sound. The microphone element is a prepolarized omnidirectional miniature condenser microphone with a 5.4 mm (0.2 in) vertical diaphragm specially designed for maximum performance. The microphone body consists of a centre rubber disc that holds the microphone element mounted in a stainless steel base.
The BLM4060 can be very easily placed in essentially any position on the surface, even close to the edge. Users will benefit from the special characteristics of the surrounding sound field on which the BLM4060 is mounted: a 6 dB gain of direct sound and only 3 dB gain of the diffuse sound. Therefore the sound captured has both a greater clarity - especially at high frequencies - and speech intelligibility compared to sound captured above the surface.
Also launched was the SMK4061 Stereo Microphone Kit, a cost-effective and flexible stereo recording solution aimed at project studios and for discreet mic setup on stage.
The SMK4061 combines two DPA 4061s, the manufacturer's omnidirectional miniature microphones, with a variety of mounting accessories. These include the BLM6000 Boundary Layer Mount, which can be used in conjunction with a 4061 (or any of DPA's miniature mics) to place the mic on a reflective boundary such as a floor, wall, ceiling, piano lid etc, enabling them to capture the ambient sound of the area. The sound captured from this "pressure zone" has higher sensitivity, clarity and intelligibility compared to the sound captured from the "free air" and serves as a kind of acoustical zoom.
Another accessory included in the kit is the DMM0007 soft rubber holder. This allows all kinds of instruments, from acoustic guitar through grand piano to drums, to be mounted in the best-sounding position, using special non-marking adhesive discs.
Also included in the SMK4061 kit are two DAD6001-BC adapters with belt clips, for powering DPA's miniature microphones via standard P48; two DMM0011-B magnet mount for one or two miniatures; and five DUA050 foam windscreens.
DPA also launched the WXY4000, an XY Stereo Holder for use with the DPA Windpac windshield system to create the ideal tool for location recording in stereo.
Two DPA 4023 Compact Cardioid microphones are mounted in the WXY4000 to form a coincident intensity difference XY stereo configuration with 90° between the capsules. This provides a compact stereo microphone for X-Y stereo recording in ENG/EFP applications. The integral windshield and shock mount system makes the setup particularly suitable for location recording.
(Chris Henry)
