Bang & Olufsen BM5 Stereo Mic

[KSwan]

Bang & Olufsen BM5 Stereo Mic: Anybody here use it?

I've been thinking about picking one up for a few months now. I've got the cash, I just want to hear some opinions first.

I'm fairly certain that this would be a good mic for drumset, acoustic piano and acoustic guitar based on various clips i've heard on the net.

Do you think the BM5 would be well suited to record a small chamber group? (String Quartet, Brass Quartet, etc.) What about a medium-size or large orchestra?

Also... I think that I would like to use it to record some solo marimba... Would that be a good use?

What about preamps... what do you use on with it?

Danke.

[Seamus TM]

I'm not sure of the model number, but we did have a B&O stereo ribbon in the studio for a little while.
It was a little off balance output-wise, but the sound was very natural and impressive.

[KSwan]

I'm quite sure the BM5 was their only stereo mic. They have a nice little history on their webpage.

[fifthcircle]

The BM5 was a great mic, but good luck finding one that is in good shape. Stephen Sank has replaced Ribbons on a number of B&O mics with RCA ribbons, but that isn't the same mic and won't sound the same. I don't know of anybody that can replace the ribbon with another one that is identical to the original.

That being said, if you find one in good shape, jump on it. You'll be very happy. One of the things that I like about that mic versus the Speiden (which the Royer is based off of) is that you can adjust the angle of the ribbons. Yes, Blumlein technically works best at a 90 degree angle, but I've found on occasion that narrowing the image by 15 degrees or so can really help firm things up.

As for pres- I'd use the AEA TRP for any ribbon.

--Ben

[axisdreamer]

I have an B&O BM3 mono mic with the RCA ribbon that Sank put in before I bought it and it works nice for drum overhead but it is pretty dark and I wouldn't use it for piano or strings.It has a huge bottom end to it.

I never heard any B&O mics with the original ribbon so I can't give you any input on those!?


Stace

[KSwan]

DS. Mikrofon Galerie :MIKROFONTECHNIK : DS-Audio Röhrenmikrofone und StudioZubehör

I stumbled on this site quite awhile ago when I was researching an old Wetzel tube condenser that I have. The BM5 is featured on this site, as well (mislabeled as a BM6.) There's a soundclip of it, too... with what i assume are the original ribbons. I think it sounds pretty darn good.

P.S. His sound clips are good, but hilarious.... English lyrics sung by a german man. My favorite one is 'The Weight.'

[Seamus TM]

Oops. My bad. Maybe the one we had was a Speiden.
I am of no help what-so-ever.

Have a good holiday, everyone.

[avare]

Originally Posted by KSwan

DS. Mikrofon Galerie :MIKROFONTECHNIK : DS-Audio Röhrenmikrofone und StudioZubehör

I stumbled on this site quite awhile ago

What a great site! Thank you.

Andre

[ghellquist]

There seems to be one up on blocket.se, a swedish site for selling stuff. I include the link here (while it lasts) if anyone is interested. I have no connection with the seller, never seen the mic, it is about 200km away from where I live (all sorts of caveats).
http://www.blocket.se/vi/15256077.htm?ca=11_s

I might be able to help with transactions if need be. (I believe Kjetil could vouch for me if need be).

Gunnar Hellquist

[Corran]

4000 Swedish Kronor is...about $632 dollars?! Shoot I want that...

I can't afford that much right now...but what a good price...does it say the condition? Does it have the original ribbons? If so I could buy this sometime in March. I'd love to talk to you about getting it for me if he can wait. How much would shipping be?

[Corran]

okay forget that I'm interested in seeing if I can get this, I can put it on the credit card and have the money by the March payment date, according to my projected budget...

Let me know what you could ship it to US for.

[ghellquist]

I will see if I can help Corran with this on a purely "friend" basis, no profit involved for me. The cost of shipping should be less than $100 to US, I will check with various couriers and the postal office. Need to check with the seller as well before getting to an agreement there, it could be a lemon or a gem.

To Corran, there is a PM to you with my mail adress, I repeat it here in slightly shrouded form to fool programs fishing for mail adresses, gunnar (a dot) hellquist <the at sign> bredband [yet another dot] net

GUnnar

[David Spearritt]

Originally Posted by KSwan

DS. Mikrofon Galerie :MIKROFONTECHNIK : DS-Audio Röhrenmikrofone und StudioZubehör

I stumbled on this site quite awhile ago when I was researching an old Wetzel tube condenser that I have. The BM5 is featured on this site, as well (mislabeled as a BM6.) There's a soundclip of it, too... with what i assume are the original ribbons. I think it sounds pretty darn good.

P.S. His sound clips are good, but hilarious.... English lyrics sung by a german man. My favorite one is 'The Weight.'

The recording on the "klange" link next to the B&O sounds like it was recorded through a pillow. No HF at all, none. It would sound alright on AM radio.

[Becke]

Hi!
I have a BM5 in excellent condition.
I use it with a GR MP-2NV.
I must say I think it is just fantastic on mandolin. No compression, no eq.
Did recently some slide guitar tracks with it and compared to
slide guitar tracks made at same time with condenser mic.
Much smoother sound with the ribbon, no sharpness at all.
It does require it's preamp, output is low from the mic.

Still looking for a shockmount or clip that fit to put it in a micstand.
Grateful for tips on that one.

regards
Becke

(I guess if I told you guys I found it in excellent (really as new) condition in original box at a flee market for just 35 bucks, you just can't handle it, so I wont)
The cable I had customized for XLR connection actually costed more.

[nd33]

Hi!
What is the purpose of the "driver unit" included with the mic in this auction?

eBay.com.my: Bang & Olufsen B&O BM5 Ribbon Microphone rare vintage (item 320215691263 end time Feb 14, 2008 02:22:20 MYT)


If I obtained a BM5, is the mic useless by itself without the "driver unit"?


Thanks.
_

[Corran]

Hey I saw that auction...it's the only one I've seen with the driver. From what I understand I think it is just a preamp. You don't need it to run the mic (I have one myself that I got on ebay a month ago or so). I don't know if the preamp is any good...

The cable though, you have to buy from someone that knows how to make it or make one for yourself. I'm not too gifted in soldering but I did mine pretty easy. The BM5 actually uses a DIN cable that is 5-pin and is identical to a MIDI cable. What I did was buy a nice MIDI cable and a MIDI coupler, and chopped one end of the MIDI cable off and soldered two XLR connectors on. Schematics for the pinout are on Gearslutz somewhere.

If you need any help PM me

[nd33]

Awesome thanks for the info!
I edited my post above and now it has the proper link.

I have one of these Y cables which I use for a Sony ecm57 stereo mic into a portable minidisc recorder:
Sennheiser | AC418 5-pin XLR Y-Cable | AC418 | B&H Photo Video

So if I made a midi to 5 pin xlr connector, I should be able to use that cable do you think?
I wonder if all stereo mic pin outs are the same?
_

[Corran]

No, they aren't unfortunately. I have a Rode NT-4 stereo mic and was going to try the same thing, but I found a pinout diagram and it's totally different. There is a chance that the Sennheiser is the same as the B&O but you'd have to find a schematic or ask them for it.

Here is that thread about wiring a cable:

Wiring up a B&O BM6 Ribbon mic to XLR

It's at first about just a BM6 (the top half of a BM5) but it goes on about the BM5 later.

[KSwan]

If you are interested, I can provide you with an exact pin-out for the BM5. I'll have to dig up the user's manual when I get home.

[Corran]

The schematic is actually on that thread I linked, but does the user manual have any other useful info??

I actually want to make a little website about the BM5 (and BM3 too probably) one day with every tidbit of information you'd ever want: schematics, manuals, uses, ribbon repair, cable building suggestions, pictures, etc. I don't suppose you could scan your manual and send me the pics so when I get around to that I could use it??

[te-problematique]

I have the option to purchase one of these, what should I look out for?

[Corran]

If you can, check the ribbons. Frankly though you will probably want a retrofit anyway so it almost doesn't matter. The magnets apparently lose power over time but that's not something you can check...

You probably can't check it anyway because it uses a DIN cable, so you'll have to make a cable or have one made before you can hook it up.

[kurt]

Can’t decide which wire is positive. White or Blue? Mine BM4 has white & blue wire.
Doe’s anybody know?
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/3511970-post23.html
Thanx..

[aracu]

Kswan, you might find the output to be too low to easily record some of the intruments and ensembles you mentioned without getting too much hiss from cranking up the preamps.

[PlatinumEars]

I love my BM5 which I probably paid to much for, but that's what you get for being addicted to ribbons.
I use it particularly as a backup drum overhead (sometimes room mic). Easy for getting a great stereo image while only taking up one more microphone stand. Also can be placed in between separated pair of omnidirectional or cardioids.

The negative is def. the low output (which is why I have only found good results on louder sources like drums, I haven't tried it on guitar but imagine it'd sit nice and smooth.

This mic is waiting for soon to be bought 500 series preamps. Possible thoughts were the true systems, grace design, or forsell technologies 500 series preamp to get the gain needed with low noise. Any experience with good preamps paired with the BM5?

[tonigue]

Originally Posted by PlatinumEars

I love my BM5 which I probably paid to much for, but that's what you get for being addicted to ribbons.
I use it particularly as a backup drum overhead (sometimes room mic). Easy for getting a great stereo image while only taking up one more microphone stand. Also can be placed in between separated pair of omnidirectional or cardioids.

The negative is def. the low output (which is why I have only found good results on louder sources like drums, I haven't tried it on guitar but imagine it'd sit nice and smooth.

This mic is waiting for soon to be bought 500 series preamps. Possible thoughts were the true systems, grace design, or forsell technologies 500 series preamp to get the gain needed with low noise. Any experience with good preamps paired with the BM5?

golden age pre73 makes a nice 80 dB´s gain for a small price