Schoeps supercmit 2 u User manual

SuperCMIT 2 U
Super Shotgun Microphone with DSP
User Guide
Table of Contents page
General 10
Suggested applications 11
Connecting / Operation 11
Important notes 12
EMC 12
Care 12
Technical specifications 13
Firmware-Updates 15
CE conformity / Guarantee 15

Dear customer:
Congratulations on choosing the SCHOEPS
digital SuperCMIT 2 U, the world's first ”intel-
ligent” shotgun microphone. Its features
include:
– distinctly increased directivity – even at low
and middle frequencies – on the basis of
the analog model CMIT 5 U
– extraordinary suppression of diffuse sound
– completely new operating principle using
two transducers (capsules)
– uses DSP* algorithms (patent applied for)
by Illusonic
– two-channel output:
SuperCMIT on channel 1 and unprocessed
shotgun microphone signal on channel 2
–SCHOEPS sound quality: transparent, despite
the high directivity
*digital signal processing
Included accessories:
Wooden case, SG 20 stand adapter, W 170
foam windscreen (for moderate wind and
boom motion)
Also available:
PSD 2U powering box for digital phantom
powering (DPP, 10 V) with XLR and RCA
outputs, including AC adapter; available
either with common coaxial socket or 4-pin
Hirose socket
Mount &Handle: shock mount with pistol grip;
WSR CMIT basket-type windscreen with
”Windjammer” (for stronger wind)
The technology
The SuperCMIT 2 U has one capsule positioned
behind its forward-facing interference tube,
plus a second capsule that is aimed in the
reverse direction. At frequencies below 6 kHz
the signals of these two transducers are ana-
lyzed and compared by a digital signal proces-
sor using technology from Illusonic (patent
applied for). It can recognize sound energy
arriving from discrete directions, deduce
whether its direction of arrival is persistent or
not, and distinguish such energy from diffuse
arriving sound.
This information is then used to focus on the
discrete sound energy while suppressing the
diffuse sound. Thus the ”reach” of this micro-
phone is greatly increased, without artifacts or
coloration of the sound.
Above 6 kHz the signal from the forward-
facing transducer is used without further pro-
cessing, since the interference tube's effect is
already optimal in that range.
The SuperCMIT is the first microphone in
the world to offer such high directivity while
maintaining such high quality of sound.
SCHOEPS GmbH · Spitalstr. 20 · D-76227 Karlsruhe (Durlach) · Tel: [phone] · Fax: [phone]
www.schoeps.de · [email protected]
General
10
English
PSD 2 U with
coaxial socket
AC adapter for
PSD 2 U
Mount &Handle
WSR CMIT basket-type windscreen
Version with
Hirose socket

SCHOEPS GmbH · Spitalstr. 20 · D-76227 Karlsruhe (Durlach) · Tel: [phone] · Fax: [phone]
www.schoeps.de · [email protected]
Suggested applications / Connecting / Operation
11
English
The Cable
Ordinary analog XLR cable can be used, but
its characteristic impedance is undefined; thus
we cannot guarantee reliable operation of the
microphone particularly with long cables. If an
AES3-standard XLR-3 cable with a characteristic
impedance of 110 Ωis used, then operation
at lengths of up to 300 m (nearly 1000') is
poss ible.
Power-on Behavior
When powered on, the SuperCMIT may
require up to 15 seconds to become ready for
use. Varying amounts of noise may be pro-
duced during this time; such behavior is
entirely normal.
Operation
The SuperCMIT has two output channels:
Channel 1: ”SuperCMIT” (enhanced directivity;
processed signal from both transducers)
Channel 2: ”CMIT” (normal directivity;
unprocessed signal from the front-facing
transducer)
Both channels are affected simultaneously by
the filter switches.
Green LED = ”Filter off”, red LED = ”Filter on”
High-frequency boost: +5 dB at 10 kHz – to
compensate for losses due to windscreens
Steep low-cut: 18 dB/Oct. below 80 Hz – to
suppress wind and boom noise
The Preset button selects the directivity of the
”SuperCMIT” (Channel 1):
– Preset 1 (green LED): Increased directivity;
11 dB suppression of diffuse sound, which
is 5 dB greater than CMIT.
directivity
(Preset)
high-frequency boost
low-cut
Suggested applications
The SuperCMIT 2 U is suggested for use wher-
ever there is interference from diffuse sound
such as street noise, rustling leaves, wind noise,
sound from passers-by or onlookers, or room
reverberation in a recording. The interfering
sound is reduced significantly in level without
affecting the sound color of directly arriving
sound, even down to the lowest frequencies.
This makes the SuperCMIT ideal e.g. for diffi-
cult film sound assignments and sports broad-
casts.
The SuperCMIT also extends ”reach” for
indoor recordings.
Connecting the SuperCMIT
Input / Powering
The SuperCMIT's output is digital, complying
with AES42, Mode 1. It requires digital phan-
tom powering (10 V), which is supplied via
the signal cable as with analog microphones.
Because it operates in Mode 1, the micro-
phone provides its own clock (48 kHz). Thus
the input of the interface device or recorder
must provide sampling rate conversion if the
microphone is to be operated synchronously
with other equipment.
AES42 Mode 1 inputs are available on cer-
tain equipment, e.g. the 8-channel DMC-842
interface from RME and the Sound Devices
788T 8-channel portable recorder. For further
information please see www.schoeps.de/
digital and www.hauptmikrofon.de/aes42.
The SuperCMIT can also be used with AES3
inputs if digital phantom powering is supplied
(e.g. by the PSD 2 U – see ”Accessories”)
between the input and the microphone.
channel 1
channels
1 and 2

device should connect to the housing of
that device along the shortest possible
path, using DC coupling if possible, or at
least capacitive coupling.
Care of the SuperCMIT
Please make certain that the microphone is
never used in a dusty environment, and that
after use it is kept in a closed container such
as the supplied wooden case, since its func-
tioning can be affected if dust gets into the
microphone.
What to do if ...
the microphone is noisy in high humidity?
If condenser microphones are used in high
humidity or are brought in from the cold to a
warm (and humid) room, condensation can
occur, causing snapping or rattling sounds, etc.
The SuperCMIT is distinctly less subject to
this problem than analog microphones, since
its greater power consumption creates enough
warmth to hinder any moisture condensation.
But if such noises should ever occur, give the
microphone a few minutes to warm up, and
then as a rule it will again give you trouble-
free operation.
Wind noise and windscreens
Interference caused by air currents (wind, vocal
popping, movement of the microphone on
the boom or airflow through heating or venti-
lation systems) can impair the sound quality. If
the wind is mild, the simple W 170 foam
windscreen which is supplied as an accessory
can help. For strong wind there are Rycote
basket-type windscreens (see page 10).
SCHOEPS GmbH · Spitalstr. 20 · D-76227 Karlsruhe (Durlach) · Tel: [phone] · Fax: [phone]
www.schoeps.de · [email protected]
Important notes / EMC / Care
12
English
– Preset 2 (red LED): 15 dB (extremely high)
suppression of diffuse sound. This setting is
reserved for special applications; some lesse-
ning of sound quality may occur.
Important notes
Latency
Because of the >2 ms latency, it is not advisable
for most people to monitor the output of the
SuperCMIT through headphones while speak-
ing into the microphone. The two output
channels of the microphone (SuperCMIT und
CMIT) have differing latency times (see specifi-
cations on page 14), and their signals should
not be mixed together.
Sound openings
In the area around the second, rear-facing
transducer there are eight sound openings for
the sake of acoustic transparency. Please be
careful not to block these openings, e.g. with
a stand adapter or other mounting device. The
size of these openings also makes it important
to keep their gauze covering from being pressed
inward.
Notes on EMC
(Electromagnetic Compatibility)
The SuperCMIT is insensitive to magnetic, elec-
trical and electromagnetic fields. But no micro-
phone can ever be fully immune to all interfer-
ence. The following rules can help to prevent
possible interference:
– Avoid placing the microphone or its cable
close to sources of interference such as
video monitors, digital equipment (compu-
ters), transmitters (cellular phones or PDAs),
high-voltage lines, high-power AC adapters,
lighting dimmers, etc.
– Use high-quality 110 ΩAES3 cable that is
no longer than necessary.
– Do not run microphone cables parallel to
AC power cables. If it is necessary for them
to cross, they should do so at right angles.
– The cable shield at the input of the receiving

SCHOEPS GmbH · Spitalstr. 20 · D-76227 Karlsruhe (Durlach) · Tel: [phone] · Fax: [phone]
www.schoeps.de · [email protected]
Technical specifications
13
English
SuperCMIT, preset 2
4 kHz
8 kHz
16 kHz
SuperCMIT, preset 1
0246810121416
dB
Suppression of diffuse sound (“random energy efficiency factor”) at low and midrange frequencies
SuperCMIT
preset 1 preset 2
standard
shotguns
unprocessed CMIT shotgun microphone
Channel 2
Channel 1
250 Hz
500 Hz
1 kHz
2 kHz

Channel 1: Latency as a function of frequency
SCHOEPS GmbH · Spitalstr. 20 · D-76227 Karlsruhe (Durlach) · Tel: [phone] · Fax: [phone]
www.schoeps.de · [email protected]
Specifications, cont’d.
14
English
0° frequency response of the two channels: with no filters
with low-cut
with high-frequency boost
20 50 100 200 500 1 k 2 k 5 k 10 k 20 kHz
+10 dB
0 dB
-10 dB
-20 dB
Diffuse-field frequency response: front-facing transducer (CMIT) only
SuperCMIT preset 1
SuperCMIT preset 2
20 50 100 200 500 1 k 2 k 5 k 10 k 20 kHz
0 dB
-10 dB
-20 dB
-30 dB
Sensitivity: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .-31 dBFS at 1 Pa
Equivalent noise (filter off): . . . . . . . .Channel 1: 13 dBA RMS*, 26 dB CCIR**
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Channel 2: 16 dBA RMS*, 28 dB CCIR**
Maximum sound pressure level: . . . . .125 dB SPL
Switchable filters: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 Hz, 18 dB/oct.,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 dB elevation at 10 kHz (shelving)
Powering: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 V DPP (digital phantom powering, AES42-2006)
Current consumption: . . . . . . . . . . . .170 mA
Output: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AES42-2006, Mode 1, Sampling rate: 48 kHz
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Channel 1: SuperCMIT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Channel 2: CMIT (unprocessed output of front-facing capsule)
Latency: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Channel 1 (SuperCMIT): see graph below;
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Channel 2 (CMIT): 1.6 ms
Maximum cable length: . . . . . . . . . . .300 m with 110 Ωcable as specified in AE S 3-2009 (IE C 60958-4)
Length: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .280 mm
Diameter: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 mm
Weight: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 g (less than 4 oz.)
* according to IEC 61672-1
** according IEC 60268-1

Firmware Updates
The remarkable properties of the SuperCMIT
depend on internally stored software (firmware),
which can undergo revision. The firmware
version of your SuperCMIT appears on a label
beside the pins of the SuperCMIT’s output
connector.
As a special service, for any major firmware
revision (i.e. if the first digit of the version
number changes), SCHOEPS offers you a free
update. You assume only the shipping costs.
You can find out the latest version of the
firmware on www.schoeps.de/SuperCMIT.
Declaration of CE Conformity
The CE-mark guarantees that all products
conform to relevant standards approved by
the European Community. The products
described in this User Guide comply with cur-
rent, relevant standards when used with cables
from SCHOEPS.
Regulations currently in force:
EMC regulations: 89/336/EEC, extended by
92/31/EEC and 93/68/EEC
EN 55 103-1, -2 and any others that are
referred to within them.
Guarantee
We guarantee our products for a period of
twenty-four months, except for batteries.
The guarantee period begins on the date of
purchase.
Please provide your bill of sale in all cases as
proof of guarantee; without it, repairs will be
undertaken only at the owner's expense.
We reserve the right to satisfy all warranty
requirements regarding defects of workman-
ship or materials by means of repair or partial
or complete replacement of the product, at
our sole discretion.
Excluded from this guarantee are defects due
to misuse (e.g. incorrect operation; mechanical
damage), abuse or “Acts of God.” This guar-
antee is nullified in the event of tampering by
unauthorized persons or agencies.
To secure your rights under this guarantee,
send the product with proof of purchase and
a precise description of the malfunction, at your
expense, either to SCHOEPS (if you are a cus-
tomer in Germany), or to our representative
(if you are a customer outside of Germany).
Prior to sending your defective product for
repair, please contact your local dealer or dis-
tributor for instructions. In exceptional cases
you can, by prior arrangement with SCHOEPS,
send the product directly to us from a foreign
country. However any return shipment must
then be prepaid; this tends to cause delays,
especially for non-warranty service. Full pay-
ment must be made before a repaired item
can be returned to the customer.
This guarantee does not affect any contractual
agreements which may exist between the buyer
and seller of the equipment.
This guarantee is world-wide.
SCHOEPS GmbH · Spitalstr. 20 · D-76227 Karlsruhe (Durlach) · Tel: [phone] · Fax: [phone]
www.schoeps.de · [email protected]
Firmware Updates / Declaration of CE Conformity / Guarantee
15
English

Änderungen und Irrtümer vorbehalten.
Subject to change without notice.
Not responsible for errors or omissions.
100503
Technik
Schall
SCHOEPS GmbH
Spitalstr. 20
D-76227 Karlsruhe (Durlach)
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.schoeps.de
[email protected]