Neumann U87 Review
Reviewer: Jake Jones
User Rating: 
Product Reviewed: Neumann U87 Ai
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Overview of the Neumann U87
If you’re looking at the absolute best high-end professional microphones, you’ve no doubt come across the Neumann U87. In this review, I’d like to cover some of the information you need to know before purchasing this microphone. This is a serious investment folks, but I’m sure you understand that. I’m going to assume right out of the gate here that you are not playing around, You are a professional or pro musician absolutely intent on getting the best possible sound.
Quick background on Neumann: this German company has essentially become synonymous with the highest standard in recording. Chances are very good that song of your favorite songs of all time were tracked on a Neumann, maybe even the U87.
The Neumann U87 represents the recording industry’s standard in microphones, and you can get a good overview of the Neumann U87 specs and information by clicking on the links below.
Neumann u87 Resources:
Neumann U87 Manufacturer Specs | Neumann u87 Applications | Neumann u87 Acoustic Features | Neumann u87 Frequency Response (image) | Neumann u87 Polar Patterns | Neumann u87 Electrical Features | Neumann U87 Technical Data | Neumann u87 Filter and Attenuation | Neumann u87 Ai Manual (PDF Download)
Best Place to Buy the Neumann U87?
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Why is the Neumann U87 so Popular?
History of Neumann
How did this little mic gain such immense popularity? During the 1950s, the German company Georg Neumann founded was just a tiny player in recording industry. Musicians who preferred a mellow, homey, and cozy atmosphere on their records preferred ribbon-based microphones, as popularized by electronics giant RCA. With the advent of popular bands and rock groups requesting greater clarity from their music, however, it became necessary to record music with as much clarity and accuracy as possible.
Dissemination of millions of records with inconsistent sound could no longer be tolerated and the music industry turned to the Neumann U47, the predecessor of the U87 model.The U47 had condenser rather than a ribbon, allowing little background noise and a larger capture range, which made for a cleaner and overall better capture of musicians' work.
In the 1960s and 1970s, artists needed to be able to sing closer to and farther from their microphone without affecting the quality of the recording: Neumann sound engineers worked to extend sensitivity without recording excess ambient noise. It worked so well that Neumann nearly became a monopoly: if you have ever heard John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, or Bob Dylan singing, chances are quite good that they are singing into a Neumann product on the recording you heard.
Today, the music, television, and film industries have long since realized the efficiency of Neumann microphones and they have become standard across virtually all American recording studios. No matter who your favorite singer or songwriter is, odds are good that they use one of these models.
Overview of Neumann U87 Technology & Features
What is the difference between a professional quality microphone and the type you find everywhere else? With a pair of diaphragm condensers, the device receives two sets of sound rather than one. Like a GPS unit, the microphone can use both signals to determine incoming noise that is lower in one area than the other.
As the singer or speaker is projecting right in front of the microphone, any outlying noise is from another source and is virtually eliminated. One diaphragm eliminates the excess sound of another. Your recording experience is improved when even the smallest of unwanted sounds, like that of a band member tapping their foot or coughing, automatically is filtered from the final product. A dual diaphragm microphone is an impressive step up from a standard mic, but the Neumann U87 takes the technology a step further. This device offers a trio of directional patterns that each clarify the sound from a singer's performance.
An omnidirectional pattern filters out the directionality of a sound wave, removing the strain on a pitch in the cases when a sound frequency has a wavelength that would affect the recording. A cardoid pattern either cancels a signal when the sound is moving closer or augments the signal when the sound is moving away. A figure-8 pattern allows the microphone to pick up sound without the effect of the sound pressure, such as the minute force of moving air when a door slams.
Each of these features gives you the chance to capture the details of what you want in a song without having to worry about the effect of handling the microphone, switching instruments, or even bumping into the fixture. What's more, the Neumann U87 offers an attenuation switch so that artists & Engineers may switch between instrumental and vocal recordings -- though most recording artists agree that the microphone is best for singing. The Neumann U87 represents the cutting edge of music and film, but not without a high cost. The microphone costs a cool $3,400 - a considerable investment for most studios.
However, If you feel that you can no longer afford to compromise on the quality of your sound production, the Neumann U87 is the ideal choice. Nearly all customers who have laid down the cash, however, agree that this microphone is well worth the price tag. Many studio owners who purchased the U87 believed that the quality of their records improved so dramatically that the microphone would be the first item they would buy if they had to start up a new outfit.
Should Your Studio Have the Neumann U87?
This sentiment outlines the conundrum that the Neumann U87 represents: do you pay the high price first and know that all your takes for years to come will be sound incredible, or do you buy a cheaper microphone and second guess yourself?
Some artists and producers have said that they sold other thousand-dollar equipment to purchase the microphone and began putting together albums on laptops, all the while sounding ten times better than on previous microphones. Indeed, the U87 can end up paying for itself in short time, as it may be impossible to get a similar quality from a lesser microphone.
Criticism has been minimal, though one record producer claimed that the microphone may end up over correcting higher pitch-singers, though the compression features can be modified to fit individual an individual singer's needs. The cost of over three thousand dollars is considerable, but your recording studio requires the best in order to produce the best product; a Neumann U87 is one of the few products in the industry that may easily be called the best.
Neumann U87Ai versus the Neumann U87i
How the Neumann U87 is Manufactured
This is an interesting video if you're the techie type (I know I am).
Alright guys, as always I hope you’ve enjoyed this Neumann U87 Review! Have a great day and here’s to your musical success!
Jake Jones | Founder | LearnHowToSingBetterFast.com | Thank you to Neumann for making great gear