Neumann
Neumann M 50
Tube condenser, omni: a small pressure capsule set flush in a perspex sphere, so it grows directional at high frequencies; the Decca tree mic. Made 1951 to 1971, discontinued
Approximate Some readings for this mic are uncertain; see the graphs.
Power External tube supply: NN 48 b mains unit (4 V heater, 116 V plate), N 52 t plug-in unit or BB 50 battery unit.
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Omni
- Sensitivity
- −36.5 dBV/Pa computed
- Max SPL
- 126 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 12%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 11%
- Rated range
- 40 – 16k Hz
- Released
- 1951
vs 107 side-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 17% of 107 side-address condensers.
Each stripe is one side-address condenser with a published max SPL, and each bar counts them; further right means it takes louder sound. This mic is in blue.
Instruments sources recommend it for most
1 of 3; all under Recommended for.
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the catalog, p. 7.
M 50 c, as printed in the 1964 brochure: no measuring conditions stated (free field presumably; the brochure says the response rises at the high end by about 5 dB and is almost linear in a diffuse field).
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the catalog, p. 8. Approximate
M 50 c, 1964 brochure; no measuring conditions stated. Rings every 5 dB down to -20 dB. Both halves drawn; the two are averaged here.
Approximate: reading error up to about 1 dB; some frequencies are identified by reasoning, not by the legend: 10k Hz, 15k Hz.
In practice
All specs
| From the catalog | ||
|---|---|---|
| Capsule | Small pressure capsule with a metal diaphragm, mounted flush in a perspex sphere"equipped with a metal diaphragm and mounted inside a perspex sphere". The history sheet: originally a highly stretched aluminium diaphragm, later gold-sputtered polyester foil, 10 µm from the backplate. | p. 3 |
| Sensitivity | −36.5 dBV/Pa (15 mV/Pa)into 1000 ohm; also −40 dBV/Pa, M 50 b, 1960 manual (1.0 mV per dyne/cm²). Not stated by the manufacturer: From 1.5 mV/µbar = 15 mV/Pa: 20·log10(0.015). | p. 6 |
| Max SPL | 126 dB SPL0.5% distortion at 40 Hz, 1 kHz and 5 kHz; "≧ 126 dB"; also 114 dB SPL, M 50 b, 1960 manual: THD less than 0.6% (40-15,000 cps) up to 114 dB. "Max. sound pressure for .5% distortion at 40 cps, 1 kcps and 5 kcps ≧ 126 dB (dB above 2·10⁻⁴ µb)", i.e. re 20 µPa. | |
| Output impedance | 200 ohm±20%; 50 ohm with two links changed on the output transformer; also 50 ohm, strapped for 50 ohm (output 6 dB lower; marked with a red dot). "Electrical source resistance 200 (50) Ω ± 20 %"; p. 3 explains the 50 ohm strapping. | |
| Rated load impedance | 1000 ohmminimum; 250 ohm when strapped for 50 ohm. "Electrical load resistance ≧ 1 000 (250) Ω". | |
| Rated frequency range | 40 Hz to 16 kHzalso [40, 15000], M 50 b, 1960 manual: "Useable range of frequencies". "Frequency response 40 ... 16 000 cps". P. 3: in a diffuse field "an almost linear frequency response from 40 to 15 000 cps". | |
| Powering | external tube supply: NN 48 b mains unit (4 V heater, 116 V plate), N 52 t plug-in unit or BB 50 battery unitAccessories (p. 3, p. 4). Operating voltages from the 1960 manual (p. 1): "4 volts D.C. heater; 116 volts D.C. plate". | p. 3 |
| Connector | 8-pin Tuchel plug with bayonet lockingSupplied as M 250 c with RF-proof 7-pole standard couplings (Tuchel contact system). | p. 2 |
| Weight | 800 g".8 kg". | p. 6 |
| Dimensions | 163 × 80 mmLength 163 mm, diameter 80 mm. | |
| Tube | Telefunken AC 701 k triode, as anode amplifier into an astatically wound transformer | |
| Capacitance of capsule | approx. 75 pF | |
| Total noise voltage | ≦ 16 µV | |
| Weighted noise voltageDIN 45 405 | ≦ 7 µV | |
| Equivalent loudnessDIN 45 405 | ≦ 28 dB (re 2·10⁻⁴ µbar) | |
| Gain of microphone amplifier at 1 kHz | approx. -1 dB | |
| Response | Rises evenly by about 5 dB towards high frequencies without becoming too directional; almost linear from 40 Hz to 15 kHz in a diffuse field | p. 3 |
| Identification | White dot above the Neumann badge (the M 49 has a red one); same body as the M 49 | p. 2 |
| Use | Orchestras in acoustically favourable rooms with one microphone; spot mic for woodwind, brass and strings | |
| Accessories | NN 48 b power supply, N 52 t plug-in power supply (up to ten in an S 167 frame), BB 50 battery unit, C 26 / C 28 s cables (10 m), MZ 49 suspension | p. 3 |
| From the Recording Hacks page | ||
| Released | 1951 | |
| From the m50v manual | ||
| Versions | M 50 (1951), M 50 b (documents of 1959-60), M 50 c (1964 brochure); Neumann's re-edition is the M 50 V | p. 8 |
| From the product page | ||
| Decca tree | The M 50 "was instrumental in developing the Decca tree recording technique" | |
Documents
- Condenser microphones M 49 c and M 50 cbrochure M 49 - M 50 - 910-02-01, English
- Operating instructions for condenser microphones M 49 b / M 50 b and accessoriesApril 1960, English
- M 50 - The Historic Omni DirectionalNeumann historical collection, "General information about the M 50"
- M 49 V / M 50 V operating manual, Publ. 02/25592832/A02
- M 50 - Condenser Microphone (omni), neumann.com historical products
- Neumann M 50 | RecordingHacks.com
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Neumann, unchanged, with its original address.
Recommended for
By recording guides, engineers and mic makers, for this mic or an earlier version of it.
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