sE Electronics BL8

SOUND & MUSIC | RRP: $ 499.99

sE Electronics are the specialists in affordable, expert-quality audio gear. Novice or professional, live or studio engineers alike will have come across their reliable range of products. The sE Electronics BL8 is the new boundary layer microphone for any audio enthusiast looking for a versatile option. It is rare that a boundary mic, like the BL8, addresses so many common needs.

There is always room for error in live audio, and no engineer can prepare for everything. Thankfully, the BL8 is designed to come in handy in a variety of live and studio sound situations. The microphone has three separate EQ voicings tailored for kickin applications, as well as two low-cut options and three pad options. Its built-in mounting brackets are easily accessible, allowing the microphone to be mounted to any flat surface in a pinch. The low-cut options allow conferencing, speech and piano applications, going far beyond use as a kick-in microphone. The BL8’s versatility makes its appeal clear: a multi-purpose microphone that can act as backup or the main star in a variety of scenarios. The BL8 is tailor-made for the road. Its hand-crafted, all-metal build makes it perfect for busy stages and tours. Its internals are housed in a red, dent-proof grille designed for placement in a kick, on a piano or on the ground. Weighing in at just over half a kilogram, it will stay sturdily in place on any flat surface. Compatible with the Kelly SHU FLATZ Isolation System, it can be mounted in any kick drum for peace of mind and stay there all tour.

A robust, gold-plated XLR connector ensures reliable signal transmission for decades of demanding use. The BL8’s halfcardioid polar pattern is typical for boundary microphones, suiting it to capturing the low-frequency energy of a kick drum. The BL8 features a hand-crafted, specialized diaphragm to enable excellent transient response. On top of that, the capsule can be swapped with an omnidirectional capsule, allowing a level of versatility that will flatter any microphone collection.

The transformerless, Class-A circuitry of the BL8 allows ample headroom with minimal distortion. It is the heart of the versatile design of the microphone, allowing low-noise applications such as grand piano or room micing while still capturing low frequencies with utmost accuracy. Neither application of the microphone compromises the other, providing a solution for various use cases. The BL8’s frequency response, pad and lowcut options take full advantage of its hardware.

The BL8 features three low-cut settings: flat, 80Hz, and 160Hz. Enabling the low-cut in ambient, room and piano micing settings will cut unnecessary bass and sub-bass frequencies to maximise headroom and gain. A 10dB or 20dB pad can be enabled to switch the maximum SPL of the microphone.

These options make the BL8 the professional engineer’s best friend. The Modern and Classic EQ profiles are borrowed from the sE V KICK microphone. The sE V KICK is a kick-out microphone at a price point over $100 more expensive than the BL8, so including these EQ profiles at a lower price-point is a touch consumers will appreciate.

If your clients are looking for a punchy kick in the studio or live, the Modern EQ setting is the way to go. The Modern EQ profile boosts high and low frequencies for a “scooped” sound. For a different client, achieving a warmer sound is as simple as switching the microphone to the Classic setting, which rolls off high frequencies and emphasises low-end punch. As a result, the appropriate kick tone can be dialled in to suit any client’s demands.

The BL8’s range of uses can cover the role of another, more limited microphone in an emergency. If an ambient microphone malfunctions at a live event, the BL8’s low cut options allow it to become a detailed ambient or room microphone in a pinch. If a venue is too small for a more conventional setup, the BL8’s form factor allows it to be placed on the ground, walls or even the ceiling.

The sE Electronics BL8 is designed to replace many of the tools in the working sound engineer’s toolkit, and boasts a competitive price point. It boasts the trademark craftsmanship and build quality of any sE Electronics microphone, with internals enabling its use in a wide range of cases. Its handmade, ultra-thin capsule allows accurate transient response. Transformerless Class-A circuitry captures low-end detail and offers plenty of headroom with minimal distortion. The BL8 is a versatile microphone designed to address a variety of situations, whether meeting an emergency need in live sound, or achieving the perfect tone in the studio.

The BL8 reduces the risk of coming up short in a professional audio situation. The all-metal build and included pouch ensure its reliability as a touring microphone, while its metal brackets enable it to be easily attached as a fixture in any venue or studio. Audio enthusiasts of all disciplines will find a myriad of uses in the BL8. The omni capsule is sold separately, so the stock half-cardioid polar pattern can be seen as a limitation in some scenarios. Still, it is about the best thing an engineer could ask for in a boundary microphone at this price point. sE Electronics have succeeded in building a quality, long-lasting product and offering it at an affordable price.

BY JOSIAH MCRITCHIE