Neumann U67 Reissue - Is it TRUE?

[Meriphew]

I think if Neumann were to cut the cost of its mics by about 35-40%, and stop the implied heritage (49, 47, 67, 84), then less people would have a problem with them (I know I would).

[Meriphew]

Originally Posted by studio1117

I want to know what mics you have used, on what and why it didn't work for you. I want a review

I'm not going to spend an hour typing up an essay for you. If you like your Neumanns, then good for you. I'm glad to hear that the new ones work for you. I've found better options to put into my toolbox.

And I think that the Fender/Gibson comparison is like comparing apples to oranges.

[Volodia]

Originally Posted by Meriphew

stop the implied heritage (49, 47, 67, 84), then less people would have a problem with them (I know I would).

If Neumann can't claim heritage to their own stuff when everybody else is doing it then who ? they are the only ones with the original capsule at least .

The M7s copies ( I've tried one in my 47 and listened to others ) are not there despite all the claims .

[peeder]

Well if I get the chance I will give the mic an honest listen.

[meshuggener33]

Only three "new" neumanns I've tried are tlm 103 (too thin and brittle for my voice, great for voice over cut through tho) the u87ai: lost a shootout against umt70s by gefell at quarter the price and the m147 which was quite nice and smooth albeit a little thin for the $3000 price tag. Sooo I'm not a HUGE fan of the "new" neumanns although I'd like to try the m149. Tried a vintage 67 and it was in such bad shape and quite noisy but it ate all the new neumanns for breakfast. Vocals only tho. Interested in this tlm67 and the tlm49 tho as I haven't heard either. Anyone tried the tlm49?

[DesertDawg]

Originally Posted by meshuggener33

Sooo I'm not a HUGE fan of the "new" neumanns although I'd like to try the m149. Tried a vintage 67 and it was in such bad shape and quite noisy but it ate all the new neumanns for breakfast. Vocals only tho. Interested in this tlm67 and the tlm49 tho as I haven't heard either. Anyone tried the tlm49?

I have not tried the TLM-49, but I do have an M-149, and I think it's a really damn good mic... Now, I bought it in rough condition capsule-wise, and the capsule I have in there now is a B.L.U.E. Cactus capsule (which Mike Baker @ B.L.U.E. told me would be the closest thing to the factory capsule), but i also tried it with a Peluso CK-67 cap, before the B.L.U.E. came in, and that even sounded really nice... although the pattern seemed to be more narrow-focused & slightly off-axis head movement was much more noticeable with the Peluso CK-67 cap.

I would say if you can find a used M-149 at a decent price (which you can, from time to time), buy it. it will definitely find some use.

[Johnkenn]

I figured out the riddle...I'm going to win this transformerless little bastard!

[Kyle Ashley]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

I figured out the riddle...I'm going to win this transformerless little bastard!

I've already beat you to it!!

btw...i bought a TLM49 from Aaron a couple of months ago to use on basic "throw-away" tracks and it's actually getting used A LOT on keepers.

[Sui_City]

Originally Posted by Johnkenn

I figured out the riddle...I'm going to win this transformerless little bastard!

Me too

Stockhausen - Lucy iz und pitch!

[Meriphew]

Originally Posted by studio1117

Wow. Speechless. Come on. You pop off the kind of statements you do and then don't want to take the time to speak up as to why? Please remove your obvioulsy useless posts

I noticed in your sig that you pimp Neumann mics. I think it's obvious whose posts are useless.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Meriphew

Modern Neumann mics seem to be made by bean counters rather than people who love the whole 'magic' of microphones.

This is totally *not* true.

I know the designers on Neumann mics. and they *do* love the magic of microphones.

But you can't make something so expensive that no one will buy it.

And remember that a mic. plugs into other equipment - is the microphone showing up deficiencies elsewhere and you blame the mic?

I have the Neumann KM-D series, TLM 103 and the KMR 81i and have heard lots of the other new ones.

I have no problem with any of the new ones, and if you want warmth, try the TLM 49 and TLM 69.

[John Willett]

Originally Posted by Meriphew

I noticed in your sig that you pimp Neumann mics. I think it's obvious whose posts are useless.

Actually, people who make comments and won't clarify "why" them are worse.

[Johnkenn]

Originally Posted by John Willett

But you can't make something so expensive that no one will buy it.

We should ask Telefunken, Wagner, Wunder and Korby about that...I understand that to make an exact copy would put them at around the $12k range, but jeesh, to put a transformer in one of these wouldn't kill anyone...at least make a semblance of an effort...

[Dan]

Guess I'll jump into the fray.

I'm not particularly enthused about the idea of a "tube emulation" circuit being built into a microphone. Computers are for emulating, microphones are for capturing. I can understand Neumann trying to capture the best of old an new technology, and building an emulation circuit into a microphone does make it easier to get a certain sound quickly. However, I still think it's a flawed philosophy. Emulation technology will always be just that, and I don't think the statement, "It almost sounds just like a real tube" will ever warm the heart of a recordist.
Calling a TLM 67 a U67 reissue is where the confusion starts. It's an entirely new microphone. I'm placing a somewhat educated guess that machining, and assembly technology used for the current batch of Neumann capsules is different than 40 years ago. Weren't vintage Neumanns tuned by hand? Do you think they are now? Obviously the mic-amp is based on different technology entirely.

As to the current crop of Neumanns in general; The TLM 103 has terrible off-axis frequency response, which makes it less desirable for me in multi-miking situations. I have used it with success on v.o. work, and it's great for baritone singers with farily dark voices. It still has limited usability over all though.
The KM-18x series, and sometimes the U87ai has an overly aggressive presence bump for many of my applications. I think that's what really gets me not using Neumann microphones over others for many applications. A really bright microphone works well with tape, but combined with the sound of PT, or much of digital recording, the results are not so great.

Still, I own about a dozen Neumanns, and use them all the time in the right applications. I wouldn't consider a collection complete with out them. I'm not looking to buy any more right now. If I want heritage, I'll buy a Geffel. If I want a great sounding mic for a good price, well, we'll see how the thing sounds.

[Empty Planet]

Here's an interesting thread concerning the same topic, for those curious.


Cheers.

[John Willett]

The TLM 67 is definitely not a re-issue of the U 67.

Valves (vacuum tubes for US listeners) have bad points as well as good points and some of the deficiencies of old vacuum tube mics with transformers that were masked by analogue tape and LP pressing are now heard by modern digital recorders as they don't mask the distortions.

So making a mic. with the warmth of a valve but without the deficiencies, being much quieter and not so reliant on how it couples to the pre-amp. does make sense.

But listen, the right mic. to use is the one that gives you the sound *you* want - someone else may want a different sound. That's why there are a lot of different mic. manufacturers with lots of different sounding mics.

And I have seen the pdf brochure on the TLM 67 - it looks very nice

[Dan]

I still laugh a little when I think about the mic being a big empty tube body, with the guts of the TLM 49 stuck in it, and a slightly different capsule.

I'm not saying that's the case.

It just seems that's where "product development" is headed.

Neumann can make any shape mic they like, and stick any name on it with emulation technology. It makes great business sense.

The TLM 54, or 56 should be next.
Then of course the TLM SM2 (TLSM-2?)

[malice]

Originally Posted by John Willett

The TLM 67 is definitely not a re-issue of the U 67.

So why trying so hard to fool customers into the ridiculous idea that this mike will have anything remotly comparable to the original U67.

I just don't get this company anymore.

malice

[peeder]

Originally Posted by malice

So why trying so hard to fool customers into the ridiculous idea that this mike will have anything remotly comparable to the original U67.

I just don't get this company anymore.

Erm...name a company that doesn't do that.

Even the companies without a legacy make clones of other companies' legacy products!

Why get so agitated over it? You think this is false advertising? Virtually everything in pro audio is false advertising then.

If you want to feel like you own a piece of history, you can either pay for a real one, or cooperate with the marketroids who are trying to give you that feeling for a fraction of the price.

Most likely very few other people will notice, or care, what most of us do with it, either way. Sorry for the reality check there...

[malice]

Originally Posted by peeder

Erm...name a company that doesn't do that.

Huuuh, Cranesong ? Brauner ? Tonelux ?

Even the companies without a legacy make clones of other companies' legacy products!

Took me 2 secs to name 3 companies that do not. You were asking for one.

Why get so agitated over it? You think this is false advertising? Virtually everything in pro audio is false advertising then.

Do I seem remotly agitated over it. I'm certainly less agitated than you toward this insignificant subject.

If you want to feel like you own a piece of history, you can either pay for a real one, or cooperate with the marketroids who are trying to give you that feeling for a fraction of the price.

I owned old tube Neumanns, I don't need to buy anything more to make me feel good. I do apreciate some other manufacturer's mikes lately. The last one that impressed me enough to make me wanna reach my credit card was a Horsh.

Most likely very few other people will notice, or care, what most of us do with it, either way. Sorry for the reality check there...

I always purchased gear out of personal needs. I don't give a rat's ass about what "others" would think about it.

That's my gig : pick the right tool to do the job, and not complaining.

I don't really give a fu*ck about Neumann destroying their rep. I don't really need more mikes in my closet.

Sorry about the realty check as well

malice

[Clayphish]

Originally Posted by Volodia

If Neumann can't claim heritage to their own stuff when everybody else is doing it then who ? they are the only ones with the original capsule at least .

The M7s copies ( I've tried one in my 47 and listened to others ) are not there despite all the claims .

I believe you're forgetting about Gefell.

[Volodia]

Originally Posted by Clayphish

I believe you're forgetting about Gefell.

You're right ! my bad

[Meriphew]

Originally Posted by John Willett

But you can't make something so expensive that no one will buy it.

I think that Neumann has a few mics, that if they were about 30% less, they'd be worth it.

[Meriphew]

Originally Posted by studio1117

You know the more I think about it, forget it. I don't want to cause you to argue. If you don't like the mics, that's cool.

Thank you. Jesus. I don't know why it's so important to you for me to like modern Neumann mics. You like them - cool. I don't. End of story.

[Meriphew]

Originally Posted by peeder

Erm...name a company that doesn't do that.

Plenty of companies do their own thing. Also, some of the botique mic makers who do give a nod in the direction of Neumann's classics (Soundelux E49/E47 come to mind) at least get you in the ballpark soundwise.

[Clayphish]

Originally Posted by Volodia

You're right ! my bad

Not to worry.. just thought it would be good to mention it.
:)

[Sounds Great]

Originally Posted by peeder

Most likely very few other people will notice, or care, what most of us do with it, either way.

The reason you keep doing this is with the hope of someday changing that.

Otherwise you should probably be doing something else.

[KEYBEEETSSS]

Originally Posted by SaxJordan

If Neumann ever did reissue the u67 I think you would find 10 pages of people on gearslutz bashing it as the worst mic in history without having heard it

I have to agree with this as such the new 87 sucks...