Clear and Focused Sound from a Distance
The KMR 82 i is a shotgun microphone with a very high directivity for situations that require the microphone to be kept at a greater distance from the source. This is often the case in electronic news gathering (ENG) and in theaters, where microphones ought to remain invisible. The KMR 82 i can also be used to obtain a clear and focused sound in noisy environments.
Technically speaking, the KMR 82 i combines a pressure gradient condenser capsule with a long interference tube to achieve a very narrow acceptance angle of 45˚ and excellent rejection of unwanted sound. Unlike many other shotgun microphones, the Neumann KMR 82 i’s lobe shaped pickup pattern is frequency-independent. In other words, off-axis sound is picked up at reduced level but without unwanted coloration. The KMR 82 i therefore sounds uncommonly natural for a long shotgun microphone and is easy to combine with other microphones, without unwanted side effects.
Compared to other shotgun microphones, the Neumann KMR 82 i offers a superior sound balance. Its frequency response is highly linear up to 2 kHz, while a broad treble lift compensates for high frequency losses that occur when recording at greater distances. The KMR 82 i offers very low self-noise of only 12 dB-A and a high sensitivity of 21 mV/Pa. It can handle high SPLs of up to 128 dB without audible distortion. A high pass filter suppresses subsonic interference, such as wind and handling noise. For use at shorter distances, the filter frequency can be shifted to 120 Hz using the low cut switch to compensate for the proximity effect. To avoid sibilance problems in cases when the KMR 82 i is used for close speech, a second switch activates an electronic filter which compensates for the capsule’s treble boost.
Applications
The KMR 82 i is an excellent microphone for theater and broadcast applications, such as stage dialogue, and for ENG in noisy environments. The KMR 82 i is very lightweight and has a balanced center of gravity, making it a pleasure to use, even after several hours. Due to its low power consumption and its low sensitivity to wind and handling noise, the KMR 82 i is perfect for on-location work. Thanks to its natural sound and excellent off-axis behavior, the KMR 82 i can also be used as a problem solver in critical recording situations, e.g. to pick up a soloist in front of an orchestra.
- Very high directivity with 45° recording angle
- Excellent rejection of unwanted sound
- Natural sound without off-axis coloration
- Low cut and treble response switches
- Lightweight (250 g)
- Low power consumption
