Read Sweetwater customer reviews for Neumann KMS 104 Cardioid Condenser Handheld Vocal Microphone Reviews. From big detailed lows, to near perfect detailed highs without getting shrill and always cutting through in the mix. Neumann is arguably the most recognized microphone name in the business, so when I heard about the KMS 104, the company’s newest live vocal microphone, I immediately took notice. Both microphones were primarily reviewed on male and female vocals in a live, on-stage configuration featuring in-ear monitors; later, another female vocal was used for a second evaluation with a different signal path. The KMS 104 — at $649 street like the KMS 105 — may not be for you if you’re living out of a van and tossing your gear in and out with little regard for its lifespan or have a crappy PA that kills everything that goes through it. I was literally stunned at how present and powerful this microphone was. You'll be a convert in seconds! Bleed from other voices, instruments and sound sources were minimal as off-axis rejection worked fine with both models. Both the KMS 104 and 105 share that response due to the proximity effect. The KMS 104 during the first evaluation was also used on a female vocal singing in mostly the soprano range. Obvioulsy, I obliged as I would prefer to keep the stage folks as comfortable as possible, plus it did say Neumann on it afterall ;-) but MAN did this thing perform! The headgrilles are exchangeable, so I swapped them to see what if it would have any effect on the frequency response of each mic. There are two: the 104 being the cardioid and the 105 super cardioid. Published: March 15, 2007. The Neumann KMS series of handheld condenser mic's are very versatile and sound great. (Full disclosure, I've got a KMS 104 and it does my voice just fine, but then, so does an SM58!) The KMS 105 lost a bit of low frequency response when I put the mechanical filter from the KMS 104 on the KMS 105. It is the sibling to the KMS 105, differing only in pickup pattern. I definitely recommend this mic to the stage engineers out there who want a great lead vox mic and/or great horn mic, but I also recommend it to the project studio owner who wants a sweet sounding mic that also handles low noise super well and produces interesting textures and gutsy low end with crispy highs on a dime [relatively speaking]. I had no idea about this microphone until about a year ago when a friend had it at a live show that I was mixing and he asked if he could use it as his mic for the evening per his preference. Once the capsule has been compromised in this way, the mic can no longer be used for close-proximity vocals. Go to your local store and give it a try, or buy it and never look back! There are two: the 104 being the cardioid and the 105 super cardioid. I've had this microphone for about 3 years now and it has never failed to impress me and others who have used it in my studio! I hear that it shines with strings, but I'll have to put that to the test, but I imagine it would be a good choice in that setting too. I have used this on acoustic guitar and violin in a rehearsal session by taking off the grill and putting it on a mic stand. © 2020 Pro Sound News is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The third is a small plastic-framed screen that surrounds the diaphragm. This KMS 104/2Ba-221 combination proved, as expected, to be even more favorable as the right blend of tube helped soften some of the “harsher” frequencies. Another attribute to the KMS Series design is its internal pop filtering. These are essentially small-diaphragm condenser mic's that have been modified for handheld vocal use. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Neumann KMS 104 Handheld Vocal Condenser Microphone Nickel at Amazon.com. As someone who does a lot of self-tracking in the control room, this mic has proven to be indispensable to me and is my go-to mic for vocal ideas that often get used in the final mix. It had less high accentuation than its counterpart, and her voice required a bit more EQ to warm up her tone. For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to our newsletter here. Other notable design stats include an invariable, built-in high-pass filter with a cutoff frequency of 120 Hz, dynamic range of 132 dB, self-noise level of 18 dBa and a transformerless output circuit. Vocalists out there who want to own their own mic for gigging - look no further! And I soon experienced the cardioid KMS 104 ($849), plus its predecessor, in a comprehensive evaluation proving Neumann’s latest for live does not disappoint. Hand-held condenser mic for live applications. Most supercardioids pay for this with floor monitor problems if the monitors somehow end up in the rear lobe of the mic. It sounds great on strings, saxophones, trumpets - whatever you throw at it. Neumann KMS 105 Review (2020) The Neumann KMS 105 is a condenser mic that uses a super-cardioid polar pattern with a smooth frequency response, similar to the Shure 55sh. The modifications include integral shockmount in the high-impact plastic body to deal with handling noise, a two-stage screen and pop-filter, and reduced sensitivity to deal with high-SPL's. When it comes to the best vocal condenser microphones, then the Rode s1 and Neumann kms 105 will be automatically found in that list. I am all for using gear in situations that the gear wasn't necessarily designed for, and I feel this is a great example - plus, when you weigh up the cost of this mic in comparison to some of it's big brothers, it is even more appealing! These are essentially small-diaphragm condenser mic's that have been modified for handheld vocal use. Neumann KMS 104 Cardioid Condenser Microphone. I also decided to put it to the test in the studio, and to be quite honest I realised quickly what a unique and powerful tool this is in a recording setting! The quality and the texture is super smooth and surprisingly desirable - transparent but 'alive'. The sound quality is simply excellent and suits a wide variety of voices. The KMS 104 is mildly more pop sensitive than the KMS 105. A second soprano female voice had a signal path featuring a Summit 2Ba-221 tube mic preamp rather than the K2 preamp in the next evaluation. Each weighed in at a comfortable 300 g (about 10.5 oz), which is comparable to other popular handheld microphones; each microphone’s weight is evenly distributed. The introduction of the KMS 104 should make Neumann’s recognizable logo even more popular at the forefront of the stage, and likely spawn a true live standard. The KMS 105 excels at voice-over and ADR work as well. If you are a fan of the KM100 series of SDC's, you will love these mics. Apparently, the Neumann KMS 105 condenser mic is more compact than KMS 104 counterpart, meaning it … The KMS 104 to my ears is slightly brighter on vocals compared to the KMS 105. The KMS 105 has a super-cardioid pattern and is great at rejecting surrounding noise and focusing in on the vocal. There is a small green LED indicating phantom power is present, but this is not visible from the outside of the microphone. The Neumanns’ high-pass filters at 120 Hz eliminated much of the low-end associated with proximity and extraneous noise. The KMS 105 is designed more for live use, but from everything I've heard, it works well in home recording settings, and if it fits your voice (which I've not heard), why spend a ton of money? It is quite easier to use, especially when there are other sounds on the stage. Putting the KMS 104 headgrille on the KMS 105 took off a bit of top end, making it sound smoother or less peaked. The KMS 104 is priced beyond what many people think they can afford in a world of basement mics but isn’t that far out of reach for those who have found that they can’t afford to buy cheap. Handling noise is also minimum and never a problem. Great multi-setting vocal mic! See specifications, reviews, & mods for the Neumann KMS 105. The KSM104 uses an outer screen internally lined with 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch foam and a small cap over the actual diaphragm. The primary signal path for the main live setup was straight into a Soundcraft K2 microphone preamp and some sidechain compression via a Presonus ACP88, which helped manage some of the more piercing high-mid to high frequencies. I was an instant fan and went out and bought one for my stage rigs, and have been mixing with them ever since, especially for lead vocals and most recently horns too. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Neumann KMS 105 MT Condenser Microphone, Super-Cardiod,Matte Black at Amazon.com. This enhancement was more apparent with the KMS 105 and was a nice addition to the natural timbre of the singer’s voice. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Handling noise is nominal due to solid shell design and isolated electronics; each microphone has a grommet around where the diaphragm touches the body, and foam inserts on the PCB at the point of contact to absorb handling noise. 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