Schoeps
Schoeps CCM 21
Compact small-diaphragm wide-cardioid condenser mic (CCM series): the MK 21 capsule and amplifier in one short body
Power Phantom, 12 V or 48 V (automatic switchover).
- Type
- Condenser
- Pattern
- Wide cardioid
- Sensitivity
- −37.7 dBV/Pa computed
- Self-noise
- 14 dB(A)
- Among 258 condensers: quieter than 59%
- Among 272 mics: quieter than 60%
- Max SPL
- 132 dB SPL
- Among 277 condensers: takes louder sound than 26%
- Among 343 mics: takes louder sound than 24%
- Rated range
- 30 – 20k Hz
vs 104 end-address condensers
Quieter than 71% of 104 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-address condenser with a published self-noise, and each bar counts them; further right means quieter. This mic is in blue.
vs 110 end-address condensers
Takes louder sound than 17% of 110 end-address condensers.
Each stripe is one end-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
Proximity effect: the bass it gains up close
From the user guide, p. 12.
Free field, distance and smoothing not stated; the sheet draws a tolerance band (dashed) around the curve.
Dashed: outside the rated range, or simulated (other angles and distances). Hover or tap the graphs for values.
Polar pattern
From the catalog, p. 5.
The Colette brochure's MK 21 diagram, which schoeps.de shows as the polar diagram of "MK 21 + CMC 6 and CCM 21". Rings every 5 dB, labelled 0 to -30 dB (the centre); 0° at the top. Left half 250 Hz to 2 kHz, right half 4 to 32 kHz; the pattern is taken as symmetric. Measuring conditions not stated.
In practice
All specs
| From the user guide | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity | −37.7 dBV/Pa (13 mV/Pa)Not stated by the manufacturer: From 13 mV/Pa: 20·log10(0.013). | p. 19 |
| Self-noise | 14 dB(A) | |
| Self-noiseCCIR 468 | 24 dBCCIR | |
| Max SPL | 132 dB SPL0.5% THD; also 136 dB SPL, P48, THD < 0.5%, schoeps.de product page (2026); also 128 dB SPL, P12, THD < 0.5%, schoeps.de product page (2026) | |
| Signal-to-noise ratio | 80 dBre 94 dB SPL, A-weighted | |
| Output impedance | 90 ohmsource impedance. The product page: "90 Ω @ 1 kHz". | p. 6 |
| Rated load impedance | 600 ohmminimum recommended; also 2000 ohm, schoeps.de product page (2026) | |
| Rated frequency range | 30 Hz to 20 kHzThe product page says "see corresponding capsule". | p. 19 |
| Powering | phantom, 12 V or 48 V (automatic switchover)The product page: "P48 / > 40 V, P12 / > 10 V". | p. 6 |
| Current draw | 4 mAP48; also 8 mA, P12; also 3.6 mA, P12, schoeps.de product page (2026) | |
| Connector | Lemo 3-pin (CCM 21 L, with a K 5 LU cable to XLR-3M) or a fixed 5 m cable to XLR-3M (CCM 21 U)The product page calls the fixed-cable version "CCM 21 K". | p. 3 |
| Weight | 43 gL version, without cable; also 33 g, U version, without cable; also 45 g, CCM-L, schoeps.de product page (2026). Given for the CCM range. | p. 6 |
| Finish | matte grey (g) or nickel (ni)The product page lists matte gray. | |
| Supplied accessories | SGC miniature swivel stand coupler; polished wood carrying case; K 5 LU adapter cable, Lemo to XLR-3M, 5 m (L version) | p. 3 |
| Low-cut filter | Built in: 20 Hz (-3 dB), 12 dB/oct | |
| Maximum output voltage | About 1 V | p. 6 |
| Polarity | Rising pressure on the 0° axis gives a positive-going voltage on pin 2 | |
| Output stage | Balanced class-A, no coupling capacitors or output transformer | p. 3 |
| Cable length | Usable with very long cables (over 100 m) | |
| Variant | CCM 21H: wide cardioid with a high-frequency lift (10 mV/Pa, 16 dB-A, 134 dB), "often preferred for use when recording vocals, acoustic guitar or percussion"; shares the polar diagram | p. 12 |
| Use | Spot mic, or the main pair for overall stereo; M/S and near-coincident arrays (too little level difference for X/Y); rooms where omnis give too much bass | |
| From the product page | ||
| Capsule | Small-diaphragm, wide cardioid; the Colette MK 21 capsule"The capsule part is identical to the MK capsules from the beginning"; the modular equivalent is "CMC 1 L + MK 21". | |
| Dimensions | 46 × 20 mmLength × diameter ("46 mm (CCM-L)", "20 mm"). The guide gives "46 mm – 58 mm, type-dependent" for the CCM range and 20 mm diameter (p. 6). | |
| Common mode rejection | > 55 dB (at 1 kHz) | |
| Character | Between omni and cardioid: fuller bass and less proximity effect than a cardioid, directivity only slightly dependent on frequency; a "warm" sound | |
| History | 1994: CCM launched; 2016: better RF filter; 2017: polarisation voltage generator moved above 200 kHz | |
| Order number | 121003 (CCM 21 L), 121004 (CCM 21 K) | |
Documents
- User guide, Compact Series: CCM Compact MicrophonesEN
- CCM 21 | Compact Microphone | SCHOEPS Microphonesproduct page, technical specifications
- Colette brochureEN
Copies kept by Mic Archive (manufacturers move and drop their documents). Each is © Schoeps, 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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