Bullet-proof, built like a tank and ready for the road, your secret weapon for a variety of applications such as kick drums and other high SPL sources.
Bullet-proof, built like a tank and ready for the road, your secret weapon for a variety of applications such as kick drums and other high SPL sources.
Utilizing the same capsule as the celebrated sE8 small-diaphragm condenser, the BL8 features a hand-crafted, true condenser capsule with an ultra-thin three-micron gold-sputtered diaphragm for superior transient response.
Bullet-proof, built like a tank and ready for the road
Robustly built, the BL8 features an all-metal construction and a dent-proof grille, perfect for touring environments and busy stages. The BL8 is also compatible with The Kelly Shu Flatz™ Isolation System for easy integration into any kick drum, making it ideal for touring applications.
Classic and modern voicings accommodate for live and studio settings
The ideal studio kick drum tone is often different than our preferences in a live sound environment. Similar to our award-winning kick-drum mic, the V KICK, the BL8 offers “Classic” and “Modern” voicings. These options both cut and shape the low-mids to emphasize transients and punch. In its center position, the capsule’s neutral response is retained, which is ideal for a variety of other applications.
Pre-attenuation pad and low-cut filter
The integrated low-cut filter and attenuation pad switches make the BL8 a very versatile microphone, excelling at ambience recording, room miking, and can even be used on acoustic pianos while keeping high-SPL sources from overloading your mixer’s input.
Incredible dynamic range in all areas
The BL8 utilizes transformerless Class-A circuitry to ensure plentiful headroom without distortion. Its ultra-low-noise electronics enable demanding applications such as grand piano or room miking while also designed to reproduce low frequencies with stunning accuracy, the BL8 is perfect in combination with our V KICK, but can also be used alone, without an additional outer kick-drum mic.
Gold-plated XLR connector
Built to last, the BL8 has a gold-plated XLR connector to ensure loss-free, reliable signal connection for years and years of demanding use.
BL8 Capsule & Mounting Options
Compatible with the sE8 omni capsule
The BL8 offers a remarkable advantage with its versatile interchangeable capsule options. Being fully compatible with the sE8 omni capsule, the BL8 can effortlessly cater to any sonic requirement and environment. Although the sE8 omni capsule is not included with the BL8, it is an excellent investment for any comprehensive mic collection.
Easily mountable for simple & secure installation
The BL8 microphone is the perfect solution for hassle-free installation in music venues, theaters, and houses of worship. The mounting brackets are conveniently indicated on the bottom of the BL8 and can be easily accessed by removing the casing. Then, the BL8 can be securely mounted onto any flat surface.
Compatible with The Kelly Shu Flatz™ Isolation System
The BL8 is the perfect companion for any production, whether touring the world or recording in the studio. And when paired with The Kelly Shu™ Flatz Isolation System, it becomes an even more powerful tool. This combination allows for easy and secure mounting of the BL8 inside a bass drum shell, providing superior isolation and minimizing unwanted vibrations and rumble. With the BL8 and The Kelly Shu™ Flatz Isolation System, artists and engineers can focus on their performance without distractions.
"The BL8 is the warmest, most natural-sounding boundary mic today. Our kick drums sounded so much better after we swapped over to the BL8 - it was almost comical. Thanks to sE for their continued excellence in bringing amazing, quality products to the marketplace."
— Andy Meyer, FoH Engineer (Shinedown)
"The BL8 is my one-mic solution for kick drums. The larger element and voicing options allow me to create a very present kick drum sound with a huge, round low end. The BL8 is a dramatic improvement when compared to other industry standard boundary mics."
— Bob Strakele, FoH Engineer (Slipknot / A7X)
"The BL8 is such a transparent microphone and the switchable low cut, pad and character switches make it my first choice when in need of a boundary microphone."
— Jojo Kobylecky, FoH Engineer (Old Crow Medicine Show)
"sE have delivered another banger of a microphone which completes my sE arsenal. I love the classic/modem modes, so I can adjust depending on the artist I’m mixing. The BL8 delivers the perfect ratio of low-end punch and top-end slap that I desire from a kick-in mic. Like any good monitor engineer, it will rarely be spotted, but it also looks sexy as hell. Just like this monitor engineer 😉"
— Simon Hutchby, MON Engineer (Skindred)
"As soon as I plugged it in, the BL8 gave me an immediate natural kick drum sound. I’m more than happy using it as the only mic on the kick, and the switches on it give it ultimate versatility."
— Manu Jimenez (Lalah Hathaway, Brandy, Xscape, Snoh Aalegra, Broods)
"The BL8 is my new go-to kick mic. The built-in filters offer more options than competing boundary mics, allowing you to get that much closer to your desired tone before having to even touch an eq, delivering a big, yet precise sound. It has changed the way I address the kicks in my mix."