Why I sold my children for this microphone
I’ll be honest. When working on radio dramas at the BBC or on commercial voice-overs, I never used to pay attention to the studio microphones. It was only when I started working from my home studio that I concentrated on what I wanted from the kit. And I ended up choosing the mic that is used in most professional and broadcast studios; the Neumann U87ai
I love it because it is really sensitive and delivers a clean, clear sound, so you can be sure that it delivers all of the performance completely and truthfully.
And the children were getting a bit noisy anyway.
Here’s a nice review that sums it up:
musiccritic.com review highlights:
”Pros
+ It’s a very versatile studio microphone that can be used as a vocal microphone for both talking and singing, as well as a spot mic for almost all instruments. The three directional patterns that it offers are integral to this versatility.
+ The Neumann U87 Ai is a microphone that has character. Its distinctive voice is subtle, but at the same time, it is instantly recognizable.
+ It’s a studio microphone that has a proven track record. Ever since 1967, the Neuman U87, and then the Neumann U87 Ai, have been used in professional recording and broadcasting studios around the world. The fact that it is still popular over 50 years after its original release is a testament to its quality.
+ The exceptional quality that a Neumann U87 Ai offers is down to the fact that it is handbuilt by experts, meaning that each Neumann U87 Ai is flawless.
Cons
– The only downside to the Neumann U87 Ai is the price. It is undoubtedly an expensive microphone. But you only need to buy it once. If you want the best studio microphone available, then it’s worth the investment.
Why We Like It
The Neumann U87 Ai is quite simply the highest quality studio microphone on the market. It has 50 years of proven success, and it is still as loved by audio engineers as it was when Neumann released the original model in 1967. The key to its success is versatility and a unique sound, instantly recognizable to audiophiles who know about microphones.“
Full review of the Neumann U87ai by musiccritic.com
The booth
It’s a Kube Diamond Silver booth (how much bling can you get in one name?). And it’s kitted out with six assorted GIK Acoustic bass traps. So, when you walk in and shut the (rather furry) door, you get that lovely clean, dry acoustic that hits you when you’re working in professional studios.
DB Readings
4000Hz – Internal 99.2dB – External 38dB Reduction 61.2dB
1000Hz – Internal 101dB – External 55dB Reduction 46.0dB
500Hz – Internal 98.5dB – External 52.8DB Reduction 45.7dB
200Hz – Internal 92.1dB – External 38DB Reduction 54.1dB
Apollo Twin X Interface, Broadhurst Gardens No 1 Pre-Amp & UAD-2 Satellite
A bit about the interface and Pre-Amp
I use UA’s Apollo Twin interface and DAV’s Broadhurst Gardens No. 1 Pre-Amp to ensure the cleanest, most transparent sound.
Here are a couple of reviews below as well as a link to an interview with Mick Hinton, the sound engineer who makes the DAV range of Pre-Amps.
“Universal Audio’s new portable interfaces have specs to match their rackmount Apollo X units”
There’s also a Universal Audio Satellite Quad to help speed up the processing.