Neumann has announced its first product range designed especially for close-miking instruments with the debut of the new Miniature Clip Mic System that includes the new KK 14 electret capsule joined by nine mounting options designed for optimum positioning while simultaneously protecting instruments.
The Miniature Clip Mic System will be available in spring 2022 and can be preordered by dealers and major clients. Portfolio manager Stephan Mauer says, “We had been dissatisfied with the sound delivered by electret solutions for quite some time. Technicians and artists alike want greater substance, higher precision for low and medium frequencies and more openness. At the same time, we wanted to finally be able to create electret microphones that offered constant performance, so that sound engineers would not have to continuously deal with production tolerances impacting sound level and frequency response.”
Neumann states that it spent six years researching the capsules and production processes for the new system. Mauer: “All that work paid off. This capsule is unlike anything that came before.” The capsule is designed for minimum self-noise with a stated maximum sound level of 152 dB.
In addition, the Miniature Clip Mic System is modular and designed to be rugged. Neumann assembles the KK 14 capsules by hand and encapsulates them in titanium housing. The capsule can be unscrewed from the gooseneck connector when necessary. All the other components are also intended to be easy to replace.
The nine options for attachment options include brass, string and stringed instruments as well as pianos, drums and percussion. “Our field tests quickly revealed that all users share a desire for being able to reliably and securely position the microphone,” Mauer says, with another request being to avoid damaging sensitive surfaces of instruments. This resulted in a self-adjusting spring-loaded design and newly developed mounting concepts for specific applications.
Neumann CEO Ralf Oehl says, “We are proud that we have succeeded in redefining the potential of electret capsules. For the first time, they are more than just a compromise solution for technically demanding situations. With this product, we have created a new reference for sound that is truly natural, neutral and reliable – even in challenging technical or acoustic situations.”
Typical applications include orchestras, theatres, musical productions, concert halls, big bands, brass sections and drummers. Cables can be equipped with 3.5 mm jack, Lemo, MicroDot or 4-pin mini XLR connectors so the system is compatible with all standard wireless bodypacks.
