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1. Welcome to the versatile and creative world ofthe Bumblebee The Bumblebee Bombus aura nirvanus is a newly discovered microphone species that is magnificent in appearance sonic quality and unmatched audio reproduction A proud member of the Cardiodigitum euessbi sub order of Bee recording tools its predecessors include many of the finest microphones ever created for studio stage film and broadcast Easily identified in the field by its leading edge technology innovative engineering and distinctive looks the Bumblebee delivers the clearest most accurate sound found anywhere no matter what type of recording hive you inhabit Adaptive by nature the Bumblebee is the perfect all purpose creature for today s digital environments With its direct USB connection integrated articulating stand and built in control center the Bumblebee easily pairs with your favorite recording software for simple plug and play operation You can also choose three different Sonic Signatures so for any application Vocals to Videos Conferences to Concerts Desktop Demos to Hexadecimal Hits the Bumblebee earns its stripes by giving your recordings or podcasts the finest professional edge We know you re antsy to activate but before you begin recording please read through this guide and become familiar with the Bumblebee s features and setup Not only will you learn all about the Bumblebee s audio an2. Podcasts and Voiceover Y Sonic mode Vocal Vocal mode delivers outstanding presence and clarity for all spoken word applications Start with the mic at lip level at a distance of 4 6 10 15 cm Always use the supplied Honeycomb pop filter to minimize breath pops and protect the diaphragm Proximity plays an important role in creating the mood of your spoken word Move closer for more intimacy or further back for a conversational tone If your podcast requires the calm reassuring voice of a public radio host switch to the Music mode for increased richness and air speak softly and get very very close to the mic However if your tone is MONSTER TRUCK BATTLES BATTLES BATTLES move back and let loose THE BEE FAMILY i W gt a gt y a lt M 2 a KING BEE WORKER BEE BUMBLEBEE BEECASTER BEEHIVE BEESTRO O Conferences and Video Chat Sonic Mode Vocal For online conversation applications such as Skype use the Bumblebee much as you would for podcasts or narration However if you don t want to monitor using headphones open your computer s control panel refer to the setup instructions above and change the output setting to your computer s audio output Our beekeepers recommend not using the Bumblebee s headphone output to power speakers which can cause feedback and poor voice quality We hope you enjoy your Bumblebee it s a honey of a mic for a wide spectrum of multimedia recording ne
3. if needed This won t overpower the mic but always use the supplied Honeycomb pop filter The filter helps control breath pops and also protects the diaphragm Experiment with different angles Aiming directly at the mouth provides the most clarity and articulation A slight upward tilt adds head tone and projection A downward tilt adds warmth and softens the top end For background vocals move the singers in as close as possible and switch the Bumblebee to Music mode The extended harmonic range will add warmth and air to the voices while allowing harmonic space for the lead Acoustic Guitars Sonic Mode Music Problem Most desktop stands place the mic high on the desk While this is fine for speaking it does little to capture the brilliant sound of a guitar that sits at chair level in front of the desk Enter the Bumblebee and problem solved Move your Bumblebee s base to the edge of your desk Bring the articulating arm all the way forward and down to position the capsule below the edge of the desk facing forward This will be the perfect height to record your guitar Now fine tune the placement using the rotating base and capsule Each guitar is different but the sweet spot is usually near where the neck and body join around the 12th 14th frets For maximum presence start with the mic close to the guitar about 3 or 4 inches 7 10 cm Moving the mic closer to the sound hole increases the warmth and f
4. The center Gain control adjusts the amount of signal that reaches your recording software s input Adjust the Gain for proper level using your software s level indicators meters while making sure the level does not reach the top of these indicators To mute the volume of the microphone during playback when monitoring through headphones turn down the mic gain control center knob Restore the knob to its original position to resume recording On the right you ll find the headphone amplifier s Volume control Plug your headphones into the standard 1 8 3 5 mm headphone jack on the front of the base and adjust the Volume for a comfortable and safe listening level Note this controls playback volume only and not the mic s output level The Bumblebee includes a custom pop filter the Honeycomb designed to help eliminate sibilance and plosive sounds when used with vocals Always use the Honeycomb during vocal recording to protect the diaphragm from damage The Neat logo that appears on one side of the Bumblebee indicates the mic s front active side Align the microphone with the stand so the active side faces the sound source The Bumblebee s cardioid pickup pattern suppresses sounds hitting the back of the mic Honeycomb notch aligns with neck of mic Your Bumblebee is friendly and assimilates well with all species when properly introduced The following instructions will ensure the Bumblebee s gracious acceptance into its
5. This warranty is void if the serial number has been altered removed or defaced The warranty is void if in NEAT s sole opinion the equipment is altered misused mishandled maladjusted suffers excessive wear or is serviced by any parties not authorized by NEAT The warranty does not include transportation costs incurred because of the need for service unless arranged for in advance NEAT reserves the right to make changes in design and improve upon its products without obligation to install these improvements in any of its products previously manufactured This warranty is in lieu of any or all expressed or implied In keeping with our policy of continued product improvement NEAT reserves the right to alter specifications without prior notice 2015 Neat Microphones All rights reserved Neat Bee and Bumblebee are the trademarks of Gibson Brands Inc Designed in USA Made in China A A BRANDS BMLBB_313 15
6. ENCY RESPONSE POLAR PATTERN NEUTRAL EACH CONCENTRIC CIRCLE EQUALS 5DB This Bumblebee Capsule Frequency Chart is an accurate representation of the mic s response but how the microphone reacts in a particular application will vary greatly depend ing on various conditions room acoustics distance from the sound source proximity instrument tuning microphone cabling and more For an artist or engineer these internal and external variables create the basis of the final sound CARE amp FEEDING The Bumblebee arrives fully assembled on a low profile articulating stand and base making it the perfect choice for today s desktop multimedia applications With minimal distortion and variable sonic signatures the Bumblebee is an ideal microphone for recording a wide variety of sources in multiple applications The two piece articulating arm adjusts in three directions allowing optimum capsule placement for any source The arm extends up to 12 30 cm and moves both vertically and horizontally Additionally the arm can rotate 45 degrees on the base for fine tuning the capsule itself rotates Caution the Bumblebee capsule is designed to rotate on one axis only Use caution when positioning the capsule to avoid broken appendages The Control Center in the base includes 3 rotary knobs On the left a three position rotary switch selects the Sonic Signature discussed in detail later that s applied to the signal
7. atomy our experts will suggest many tips and tricks based on years of research and study of sound in the wild that will help you make even better recordings So pull up a chair and let s get started Species Native Range Preferred Habitat DA doi The Bumblebee features Neat s unique implemen tation of a pressure gradient large diaphragm condenser mic element with an edge terminated 6u pure gold sputtered mylar capsule membrane Tol The Bumblebee delivers pristine sonic fidelity directly to your Mac or Windows computer without the need to install pesky drivers thanks to a built in high quality analog to digital con verter The fingertip controls at the base of the integrated stand provide quick access to the Bumblebee s onboard audio features a three position Sonic Selector a Gain Control to adjust the microphone output level and a Volume Control for the built in zero latency geek talk for you hear things the same time you say or play A Capsule Adaress Side them not later headphone amplifier Setup is B Adjustable Boom Arm easy just plug in the Bumblebee open up your C Three position Sonic Selector favorite audio software and start recording D Gain Control E Headphone Volume Control OE Beecaster Bombus voce thundorum F Headphone Input Jack G USB Cable Input tele tee ANETTE The Honeycomb pop filter USB 2 0 Type A B cable TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS de BUMBLEBEE FREQU
8. e the middle of the instrument Remember that the flautist is moving a lot of air so avoid the jet stream If you want more highs and breath sound move the capsule closer to the mouthpiece Percussion Sonic Mode Music for small percussion Vocal for hand drums The Bumblebee s slim profile and fast transient response make it a perfect choice for hand drums and percussion For congas djembes or other hand drums begin by moving the base to the edge of the desk and extend the arm out and up Orient the capsule downward towards the drum aiming the microphone just inside the rim 2 to 4 inches 5 10 cm above the head Directing the capsule toward the point of impact emphasizes attack and definition Angling the capsule back toward the rim produces a rounder tone To maximize separation and boost the fundamentals keep the mics close Or raise the mics for a natural ambient interplay between drums and their surroundings With its sparkling high end qualities the Bumblebee is an excellent pick for shakers and small hand percussion For shakers extend the arm up and rotate the capsule forward Play the shaker at a distance of about 12 30 cm For small percussion arrange the instruments on your desktop using a towel to reduce unwanted noises Raise the arm as high as possible and aim the capsule down towards the desk For balance arrange the instruments so that the loudest ones are farthest from the mic and the softer ones are closer
9. eds With proper care and usage the Bumblebee will provide a lifetime of creative cross pollination no matter what or where you record BEEFRIEND THE BEES Honeybee populations are in decline worldwide due to various factors ranging from pesticide use and parasites to climate change In the United States and Europe alone honeybees have seen a 25 45 decline over the last twenty years Honeybees play an important role in ecosystems and are essential pollinators of many of the foods we eat everyday apples peaches almonds zucchini and hundreds more literally a third of all the food we eat depends on bees and other pollinators to make sure it makes it to your table To learn the latest buzz on the many challenges facing bees today visit sos bees org for information and background on the problems and solutions in creating a stable and healthy worldwide bee population Get involved and help save the bees BEE ACCESSORIES BEEKEEPER HONEYCOMB BEELINE E A NEAT MICROPHONES NEATMIC COM WARRANTY This Microphone or related part is warranted under the conditions outlined below to its original registered owner provided the purchase was made from an authorized NEAT dealer This Microphone or related part is guaranteed to remain free from operating defects for three 3 years from the date of purchase In the event that service is required all necessary parts and labor will be furnished free of charge
10. ets and all solos The Bumblebee s exceptionally smooth response delivers a modern tonality when recording saxophones and other wind instruments One woodwind characteristic is that the sound from different registers emanates from a different point on the instrument so the goal is to achieve an even balance throughout the horn s range For soprano sax clarinet and other straight instruments position the capsule about 8 to 12 inches 20 30 cm directly above and in front of the keys between the middle of the horn and the lowest pads To adjust the balance of airy highs toward the mouthpiece and cutting midrange toward the bell try moving the microphone up or down along the body s length For a more biting tone move the mic to include some bell sound For a darker and smoother sound move the microphone farther away from the instrument For curved horns alto tenor and baritone saxes bass clarinets and similar place your Bumblebee 8 to 12 inches 20 30 cm in front of and to the side of the bell Angle the capsule up toward the mouthpiece to capture more air brightness and high notes For a mellower sound orient the capsule toward the floor to emphasize the sax s low range as well as tame the biting upper mids that project straight out of the bell With all woodwinds avoid aiming directly down the bell this makes the lowest notes honk For flute start by placingthe Bumblebee 2 feet 60 cm in front and abov
11. illuminate when the Bumblebee is receiving power 2 From the Apple menu select System Preferences 3 Click on the Sound icon 4 Select the Input tab then select Bumblebee USB 5 Select the Output tab and again select Bumblebee USB From this window you can also adjust your Mac s master output volume Initially set it at 100 then use the volume control on the Bumblebee s base to adjust the headphone output level Please note Your Mac will recognize the Bumblebee as both an input device microphone and an output device headphone amplifier so all of your com puter s audio will be routed to the Bumblebee You can change this if necessary in the Sound Preferences window or in your recording program s settings ERS gt gt POLLINATION Exploring Sonic Signatures Scientists studying the behavior of the Bumblebee were astonished to discover that the species exhibited certain chameleon like traits not normally seen in nature Extensive research led to the identification of three distinct characteristics called Sonic Signatures These allow the Bumblebee to adapt quickly to any environment thus bypassing years of evolutionary change The Bumblebee employs powerful on board processing to create not one but three separate sonic personalities Music Voice and Neutral Developed by professional studio engineers applying these personalities to your recordings can enhance the harmonic spectrum and maximize sepa
12. new colony Windows 8 Windows 7 and Windows Vista 1 Connect the Bumblebee to your computer with the included cable The square end Type B connects to the back of the Bumblebee s base while the flat end Type A connects to a USB port on your computer The lights surrounding the control knobs illuminate when the Bumblebee is receiving power 2 Go to the Start menu and open the Control Panel 3 From the Control Panel click on the Sound icon 4 Select the Recording tab then select Bumblebee USB 5 Select the Playback tab and again select Bumblebee USB From this window you can also adjust your computer s master output volume Initially set it at 100 then use the Volume control on the Bumblebee s base to adjust the headphone output level Please note Your computer will recognize the Bumblebee as both an input device microphone and an output device headphone amplifier so all of your computer s audio will be routed to the Bumblebee You can change this if necessary in the Control Panel Sound window or in your recording program s settings Also in this window you can adjust the microphone monitoring level by moving the Microphone fader to the left or right Mac OSX 10 4 11 or higher 1 Connect the Bumblebee to your Mac with the included cable The square end Type B connects to the back of the Bumblebee s base while the flat end Type A connects to a USB port on your Mac The lights surrounding the control knobs
13. ration resulting in recordings with greater impact and clarity Music mode expands the harmonic field for shimmering highs and a deep rich bottom Supporting instruments such as acoustic guitars and pianos will have greater detail and presence yet reserve center stage for the star Voice mode shines a spotlight on the artist Advanced processing techniques borrowed from broadcast professionals move the vocalist to the front of the stage while minimizing level variations and sibilance The result is a vocal that commands attention Neutral mode applies no additional sonic processing to the naturally sweet and accurate sound Use this mode when you want to add your own custom audio processing So let s get started Here s a swarm of Tricks amp Tips to help you get the most out of your Bumblebee Music Production Part of the joy and challenge of recording instruments and voices is that they each have unique personalities so a placement strategy that works for one may not work so well for another Often even a small adjustment to the mic s angle or distance from the source can make a world of difference in the results We ll provide you with some starting points but don t feel limited Use your ears and let your creativity soar O Vocals Sonic Mode Vocal Start with the microphone at lip level and position the vocalist 4 to 5 inches 10 13 cm away For more intimacy and presence move in as close as 1 inch 2 5 cm
14. ullness but beware the dreaded sound hole boom that can give acoustic guitars a muddy quality Now try moving the mic farther from the guitar This may help even the sound and create a better image with the tradeoff of a little less presence Find the right balance and your guitar will sing O Electric Guitar Sonic Mode Music for clean sounds Vocal for power sounds or solos Because of its robust characteristics the Bumblebee is an excellent choice for any amplified guitar sound clean or dirty An amplifier s speaker cone provides a broad palette of tones and as the artist you supply the color Brightness is strongest in the cone s center and decreases gradually as you move to the outer edges Clean sounds often benefit from the top boost near the center while overdriven sounds enjoy the warmth and beef at the outside Keep the mic close for a direct sound or move it back a foot 30 cm or more for some room ambience With distorted guitars a little distance adds depth and helps round out the rough edges Here s a nifty trick the next time you record a Jazz Box guitar through a direct D 1 setup place your Bumblebee in front of the guitar toward the fingerboard Now mix in a small amount of that finger sound with the direct signal to add personality A little bit can make a big big difference Saxes Flutes and Reeds Sonic Mode Music for flutes and high winds Vocal for saxes clarin
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