Re: Using B&O BM-4 ribbon microphones

Posted by Marantzguy (P) on February 27, 2006 at 11:10:56

In Reply to: Re: Using B&O BM-4 ribbon microphones posted by Bill Fitzmaurice on February 24, 2006 at 12:09:18:

Hi, Bill:

Just a little follow up on the B&O microphone "issue".

Last night, I brought the restored BM-4 ribbon microphones out to do a live location recording of a great chamber music ensemble over in Burlingame, CA. This was only test situation and I already had my trusty Milab microphones in-place with my Aphex 1100 going straight into my Masterlink.

I set them up, connected them to my restored Ampex MX-10 all-tube mixer and my Tascam DA-30-III DAT, and got them to work without any interference whatsoever. You were correct that the wall dimmer in my dining room, where I had run them up to test them, was the source of the previous encounter with RF, etc, fortunately.

Unfortunately, though they sounded MAGNIFICENT, there was such a high level of noise and such a lack of level that even though my test recording sounds decent, there is still the remaining issue of background noise. The Ampex MX-10 had to be cranked up full rotation (individual mic gain and master gain) to get decent level and then I had to crank up the DAT machine levels to give me even more gain. I had the B&O's operating in the M impedance position, since in "L" the output was too low and "H" did not work at all, not that I expected much.

Stephen Sank sent me a nice note indicating that I may need to stack up two mic pre's to get enough gain, or possibly insert an outboarded transformer to boost level and match them better.

I was not expecting this, however, particularly since the Ampex mixer is contemporary with the microphones and works just dandy with all other microphones, as long as you outboard phantom power to THOSE microphones. Anyway, I am working on resolving the issue of inadequate level now.

Thanks for your input!

Richard Links
Berkeley, CA

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Using B&O BM-4 ribbon microphones - Marantzguy 17:53:24 02/23/06 (17)

CAUTION!!!! - grhughes 07:10:34 03/01/06 (12)

Re: CAUTION!!!!, BOGUS WARNING - Top Jimmy 12:36:46 03/02/06 (1)

Re: CAUTION!!!!, BOGUS WARNING - Marantzguy 13:28:14 03/02/06 (0)

Re: CAUTION!!!! - Marantzguy 13:39:05 03/01/06 (9)

Re: not unbalanced - Top Jimmy 13:13:42 03/02/06 (1)

Re: not unbalanced - Marantzguy 13:30:59 03/02/06 (0)

Some units have a decoupling electrolytic cap on the +48 volts - grhughes 14:51:51 03/01/06 (6)

Re: Some units have a decoupling electrolytic cap on the +48 volts - Marantzguy 16:04:14 03/01/06 (5)

The Beyer Transformers... - grhughes 07:42:10 03/02/06 (4)

Re: The Beyer Transformers... - Marantzguy 13:36:40 03/02/06 (3)

Re: The Beyer Transformers... - grhughes 14:23:14 03/02/06 (2)

Re: The Beyer Transformers... - Marantzguy 16:13:14 03/02/06 (1)

2 RCA BK11A mics in a studio I worked at were ruined... - grhughes 17:51:56 03/02/06 (0)

Re: Using B&O BM-4 ribbon microphones - Bill Fitzmaurice 18:57:06 02/23/06 (2)

Re: Using B&O BM-4 ribbon microphones - Marantzguy 10:12:55 02/24/06 (1)

Re: Using B&O BM-4 ribbon microphones - Bill Fitzmaurice 12:09:18 02/24/06 (0)

Re: Using B&O BM-4 ribbon microphones - Marantzguy 11:10:56 02/27/06 (0)

Follow Ups

Re: Using B&O BM-4 ribbon microphones - Marantzguy 11:10:56 02/27/06 (0)

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