Schoeps Microphones Launches CMD 42 Digital Microphone Amplifier for Colette Series

It's been some time since the audio industry has seen a product announcement supporting the (unfairly forgotten) AES42 digital interface standard. At the NAB Show 2024, Schoeps introduced the aptly named CMD 42 Digital Colette Amplifier, which is dubbed by the German company as "a remarkable innovation in audio technology." Something might explain why it took so long, since the Schoeps Colette microphone series is so popular in film sound and sound design, and the CMD 42 totally redefines the possibilities.
 
Converting Delta trees and many other multi-capsule arrays, such as for immersive audio recordings, that use the popular Schoeps Colette series microphones into AES42 digital signals has been done with expensive multichannel preamps and converters. Once an audio engineer gets used to controlling AES42 microphones in recording and live sound sessions, it's hard to go back to standard analog. But many microphone manufacturers have learned hard lessons about profitability when they designed microphones with built-in converters and AES42 output.

Schoeps engineers have implemented AES42 in other microphones before (SuperCMIT) and in 2005, they launched the first Schoeps digital microphone amplifier, the CMD 2. Only in 2021 they started looking at AES42 again, and they must have been thinking hard about this. The new CMD 42 is compatible with all capsules and accessories from the well-known Colette series, dating back over 50 years, finally offering a fusion of legacy and modernity. Its digital nature requires a digital AES3 input with phantom power, conforming to the AES42 standard, a feature of many professional recording devices such as mobile recorders and wireless transmitters (e.g. Zaxcom, Sound Devices, Aaton, Sonosax, etc.).
  During an extensive three-year beta testing phase involving accomplished professionals, the Schoeps CMD 42 is said to have surpassed all expectations. Testers were so impressed by its performance that they refused to part with it, citing its superior qualities compared to anything they had previously encountered.

One of the standout features of the CMD 42 is its exceptional dynamic range, capturing the full spectrum of sound from the subtlest nuances to the most thunderous crescendos without the need to adjust the preamp gain. Additional benefits include unparalleled immunity to interference, which is crucial for demanding environments like bustling film and TV sets. Recordists can fine-tune the CMD 42 via a free, user-friendly app, adjusting various capsule-dependent equalization filters and even activating a built-in mono upmix feature. The CMD 42 excels not only in location sound recording but also in sound design applications, thanks to its native sample rate of up to 192kHz. With the CMD 42, Schoeps builds on the AES42 standard but adds significant features. As the company says, "This product is not for everyone, but it could become a substantial tool in the arsenal of professional film sound engineers and sound designers." 

Schoeps also states that "the CMD 42 is not intended to replace analog microphones. Rather, it is meant for applications in which its special features offer distinct added value," such as immunity to interference, superior dynamic range, signal processing available directly within the microphone, and easy remote control. An AES42 interface also provides both a processed and an unprocessed signal simultaneously. What's not to like?

Product video:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsBI8I7kxnY
The announced price for the new Schoeps CMD 42 amp is EUR €1,050.00 or USD $1.295 plus applicable taxes.
www.schoeps.de/cmd