Review of the Neumann U87 Microphone

Ah, the legendary Neumann u87. Also known as the holy grail of microphones for recording vocals, it has been heard in every genre of music since it's introduction. I'll review my experiences with this microphone, having had it for over three years now.

Though it's known as a vocal microphone, the U87 has been famously used to record every single instrument you can think of. Every professional studio in the world keeps at least one U87 in stock, and after you use it it's easy to see why.

It's hard to argue against the quality of this microphone. The clarity is exceptional, capturing every nuance you can throw at it. This can prove to be bad if your performance isn't good, but this microphone will reward a good performance with sterling audio. The microphone has found it's uses primarily on the acoustic side of things, where such clarity is prized.

The signal to noise ratio is mostly based on the proper usage of the microphone, but when it is properly used the noise is extremely minimal and the main signal is both clear and present on all frequencies.

One thing to note is that the U87 is a microphone with it's own color, and as such it will provide it's distinct sonic signature on your recordings. This sound is very desirable, providing a deep, rich, pleasant tone to anything you record with it.

It is famous as the end-all be-all of vocal tracking. In nearly every source, it brings out presence and intimacy. In most cases where the microphone is used properly, equalization will hardly be required. Many use with microphone with the equalization on the preamp set to be completely flat. Though it's famous for it's vocal applications, it can be used on nearly anything with the proper setup.

The microphone is very well constructed and is extremely durable and solid. It comes with it's own hard, wooden case and Styrofoam to hold it in place.

Perhaps the only negative attached to this wonderful microphone is it's staggering price, which can be in excess of three thousand united states dollars. However, it is absolutely the standard microphone for many applications and in many situations cannot be beat.

There are many imitation Neumann u87 microphones on the market, but none of them come close. Some copies do come close, but the fact is the Neumann u87 provides that extra detail that just makes your recordings fantastic. If you take your audio very seriously, you will not regret buying this microphone after you've run it through the mill.