Porter & Davies BC2rm Porter & Davies

Overview

The BC2rm is the latest addition to the Porter & Davies family. It has the same features, power and performance as the regular BC2 engine, but is in a 2U 19” rack-mount layout.

Like the flight-cased BC2 and lightweight, streamlined Gigster, the BC2rm system delivers Stealth Monitoring technology that enables users to hear and feel their drums internally via the company’s innovative Bone Conduction techniques (thus the BC name). It also of course includes a Porter & Davies patented transducer-loaded drum throne of your choice (click here to see the Thrones page).

Details

The BC2rm is an amplified Tactile Generator Monitor System which turns the bass drum signal (and other signals if required) into ‘tactile sound’ up through the drum stool. You feel it and hear it, but no one else does. This works mainly through bone conduction (see the Theory page). The result is far more sophisticated than a simple ‘thump’. All of the tone and intricacies of the bass drum sound and impact are felt and heard internally.

The BC2rm is a two unit system consisting of an ‘Engine’ which contains all of the electronics: – Amp, preamp, inputs and outputs, protection circuitry, and volume and tone controls, and the throne top.
The Patented BC2 Throne is an all-in-one unit in which we internally mount the highest quality and most efficient Tactile Transducer available. There is zero compromise on build quality.

BC2rmThe three handmade comfortable Throne top designs are extremely sturdy and elegantly constructed, and are adorned with a silk ‘BC2 by Porter & Davies’ logo. They will accommodate 7/8” diameter throne bases as used by DW, Gibraltar, Roc N Soc, Yamaha, Tama, Ludwig, Premier, Custom Percussion, and others. Custom sizes and pneumatic (air lift) mounting brackets are available on request.

The BC2 is built into its own flightcase, whereas the BC2rm is designed to fit into industry-standard 19” racks.

Our systems are being road proven by a growing list of the world’s top drummers and bands

Main Features

✓ Voltage selector switch for use worldwide (240 or 115 volts).
✓ Hardwired passive XLR mic in and out sockets.
✓ Line XLR socket which accepts both balanced and unbalanced inputs.
✓ Phantom Power selector to accommodate both dynamic and condenser microphones.
✓ NL4 Speakon connection from Engine to Throne.
✓ Three separate power leads provided: USA, UK, and EU.
✓ Choice of three Throne styles (click here).
✓ Full control of power and intensity immediately at your side. The system is 100% consistent, night after night, completely irrelevant of acoustics, stage volume, room size, etc.
✓ Both the BC2 and BC2rm units are incredibly compact and efficient. They need under 150W to drive them, as opposed to around 1200W required by a well known competitor.
✓ The power range is formidable.
✓ The BC2 / BC2rm offers unparalleled response speed (0% lag) and sensitivity, so will faithfully replicate all of your playing dynamics: It will respond to long notes (beater off) as well as short notes (beater on), depending on drum dampening, tuning, and playing style.
✓ It will TRANSFORM your playing experience: The drummer and drum kit become “one” – your groove will be stronger than ever.
✓ As well as the bass drum, you can also feed in toms, snare drum, even bass guitar. The sensitivity and response are so accurate that even ghosted double stroke snare rolls are represented.
✓ If you use IEMs, the BC2 / BC2rm completes the sonic experience by providing the physicality of the bottom end which otherwise cannot be replicated. The mix will clear up and give space to the other sounds which no longer have to compete with the bass drum, and the volume can come down.
✓ This also applies if you don’t use IEMs: Monitoring and general stage levels naturally decrease quite drastically, as well as becoming so much cleaner.
✓ BC2rm EngineThe BC2 flightcase base will accommodate ALL of the relevant leads (Speakon, power cables).
✓ The whole system takes well under 2 mins to rig up. Open the flightcase, plug in the bass drum mic directly (or line from the monitor desk/board), connect the power lead, connect the throne to the box, switch on. That’s it.
✓ Here is another BIG advantage for fully amplified gigs: No bass drum(s) thumping through big monitor subs to pollute the stage sound.
✓ The kit can be miked up more ambiently, and the sound engineer hasn’t got to gate or roll off all the heavy bottom from the other mics. The toms can now breathe properly and sound huge… The singers also have less to moan about!
✓ Fantastic with MIDI kits: Real power, and you’ll lose that disconnected feeling. The sense of reality has to be experienced to be believed.
✓ Cheaper tour/stage spec: No subs required for the drummer.
✓ For recording, the new sense of weight, nuance and connection is invaluable.

Spec

BC2rm 2U rackmount ‘Engine’ by Porter & Davies (with all leads and accessories)

Dimensions:

The BC2rm is 2U high, the distance from front rail to the centre of the rear fixing slot is 11 3/4″ (298mm)

Overall depth, including the fixing ears is 12″ (305mm)

The case itself is 10″ deep (254mm), but the front panel is recessed 1″ (25mm) back from the rack rails and the rear fixings overhang by about 1″.

The case is made to DIN specs, which is all metric (+/- 0.5mm)

Amp:
230/115vAC switchable

BC2 Round Throne Top and Engine OpenMic in:
600 ohm electronically balanced P2 hot XLRF +48v Phantom power switch with indicator

Mic out:
Hardwired parallel to mic in. XLRM

Line in:
10K ohm electronically balanced P2 hot XLRF

Low Contour:
+/- 12dB @ 45Hz shelving

Signal present indicator led, green:
-30dB Signal Peak indicator led, red: +4dB

Max output:
150W RMS / 4ohm 0.05%THD 20hz-18khz +/- 2dB.

Anti-thump and 2 stage noiseless dynamic load protection circuitry built-in.

Weight:
5.9Kg

Cables supplied as standard:
2M UK, Euro and US power cables plus 5M Speakon NL4 throne link cable.

Connection between Engine and Throne:
Speakon NL4 to Speakon NL4

The BC2rm does not come with any fixing screws.

Round Throne Top:
40 x 40 x 20cms deep
Weight: 5.7Kg

BC2 Saddle Throne Top UndersideSaddle Throne Top:
40 x 40 x 20cms deep
Weight: 5.7Kg

Extra-wide Throne Top:
50 x 40 x 20cms deep
Weight: 5.9Kg