HAVE WE FALLEN OUT OF LOVE WITH U87???

[ryannorth]

What used to be a (god forgive me) "standard" doesn't raise too much conversions anymore, ....Have we fallen out of love with the U87???

[Windtaken]

Well, how many times can you have a thread on a forum about the U87? People like to talk about new stuff!

[kats]

The presumption is that you were in love with it in the first place

Personally, I never really "loved" a mic. Although I've loved mics on certain sources on a particular day.

[Capstan Cappy]

The U87 remains a exellent piece of pro-audio gear wich has proven itselve time after time , a classic mic wich will still be used a lot around the world no doubt wether it be in broadcast or studios

[dubrichie]

well i've just ordered a brand new pair and an InnerTube Audio mod for each.

happy days!

regards,

richie.

[bobwarren]

I'd like to get one, but every time I do I hear someone say the old ones are better than the new "ai crap". If I have to buy somethig used, it would be more MD 409s or MD211Ns. Is there that much difference between newer U87ai and vintage?

[rwhitney]

I still "love" the U87 (even the ai), but I may be a bit promiscuous (no, I'm not married to ANY mic).

[Pasta4lnch]

I dug using them in other studios . . . but for the $ there'd be a dozen other mics i'd wanna try first if I was buying . . .

[JimmySX]

I don't know. I dont' have one

[Sqye]

..

never end up using it for most of the vocalists i record.....too harsh, etc.

however. i've been very happy with it for ohs on drums, ac grand pno,
and quite a few other recording apps.

you can definitely put me in the '87s are over-rated' club, along with Alan Parsons.

like AP, i'll take a 4033 over those guys, anyday.

ymmv

..

[Daedalus77]

I like my Gefell UMT70S better. Similar thing, but with nicer mids and top. But that's just me. Others more important than me will differ.

[radu.ionescu]

i think 10 years ago 87 were still the standard to go for vocals and alike since signal was put onto tape and as we know, tape had that particularity to damp the high's...so 87's agressive top end was great for this since it compensated for tape's highs loss...its not anymore the case now with digital wich tends to be on its own quite harshy...i think thats why that mic was designed like that...

[daillman]

nobody talks about jordan anymore but he still is the greatest!

[Sigma]

87's on violin and viola sections on string dates are the classic set up

it's an all around good mic just like an re 20 is

[seb37000]

U87 + neve + 1176 = Love forever

[James Guitar]

i use my vintage U87 on most recording applications with great results. often on horns, acoustic guitar (believe it or not, running it thru my calrec 1161 and blue stripe 1176 gets me a pretty smokin' 1970's acoustic guitar sound) and many other instruments. i for one have not fallen out of love with it. rather, i seem to take it for granted.
doesn't get much vocal use, though... a little honky and bright for my tastes.
-J

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by Capstan Cappy

The U87 remains a exellent piece of pro-audio gear wich has proven itselve time after time , a classic mic wich will still be used a lot around the world no doubt wether it be in broadcast or studios

He speaks the truth...thumbsup

[kats]

well i've just ordered a brand new pair and an InnerTube Audio mod for each.

happy days!

I have a pair of tube 87's as well. Fabulous on so many sources

[bendecido]

Ill speak for what i know about --- for Hip-Hop vocals in my opinion it has the ideal sound -its an already compressed sounding, tight foucussed kinda sound which is not huge but cuts through a mix well. For singing i can see how other mics could beat it. But for Hip-Hop in my opinion its the best mic around. Some tube mics (ala 47 etc) sound too big at least in my genre but the u87 is the balance- not too coloured - plus its got a certain punch to it that most mics havent. In fact in my experience no mic can cut and punch through a mix like a u87. its no surpise that all the classic hip hop albums were recorded with one (nas- illmatic, Pac- All eyes on me/ Makaveli, Jay-z - Reasonable doubt, Wu-Tang - 36 chambers). Its a classic. im in love with the sound-never sounds bad imo. And for the record the newer ai version is almost identical to the old one sonically just has a bit more high end. test em out youll see what i mean. which you prefer is a matter of taste

blessings

[Protools Guy]

I love my U-87!

[dropblacksky]

The old U is still a world class mic....I always find a source for it in every session where I have one available and it pretty much always shines.

I think one major thing that has changed is the flooding of the large cap condenser market. The quality gap between the low, mid, and high priced mics is smaller now. If it's the individual character of the mic that we love, why buy one for 3k when we can have 3 different 1k mics with comparable quality???

[bendecido]

Originally Posted by dropblacksky

The old U is still a world class mic....I always find a source for it in every session where I have one available and it pretty much always shines.

I think one major thing that has changed is the flooding of the large cap condenser market. The quality gap between the low, mid, and high priced mics is smaller now. If it's the individual character of the mic that we love, why buy one for 3k when we can have 3 different 1k mics with comparable quality???

None of these mics quite sound like a u87 though its got a special sound to it which I immedietly associate with great records i have heard. As i said for my genre i do not think anyone could show me a better mic. For singing it isnt the best but for hip-hop it has the best sound imo.

[TonyBelmont]

Originally Posted by bendecido

None of these mics quite sound like a u87 though its got a special sound to it which I immedietly associate with great records i have heard. As i said for my genre i do not think anyone could show me a better mic. For singing it isnt the best but for hip-hop it has the best sound imo.

There is a lot of mics that are well suited for hip hop vocals. The C800G has overtaken the U87 as the standard hip hop mic. But, it all depends on the actual voice being recorded.

[bobwarren]

Originally Posted by radu.ionescu

i think 10 years ago 87 were still the standard to go for vocals and alike since signal was put onto tape and as we know, tape had that particularity to damp the high's...so 87's agressive top end was great for this since it compensated for tape's highs loss...its not anymore the case now with digital wich tends to be on its own quite harshy...i think thats why that mic was designed like that...

So, if the above is true (presumably so), is the following a U87 + Neve Portico 5042 + 1176= Love for a one night stand? lol

Originally Posted by seb37000

U87 + neve + 1176 = Love forever

[bendecido]

Originally Posted by TonyBelmont

There is a lot of mics that are well suited for hip hop vocals. The C800G has overtaken the U87 as the standard hip hop mic. But, it all depends on the actual voice being recorded.

aye ton whats good?
have u noticed though that commercial hip-hop has got considerably worse since 97 imo hip-hop is nearly dead. Not saying the mic has anything to do with this is but just a thought. some may not agree. hope alls good neway hope u had a good holiday and ting.
many blessings fam

[kats]

If it's the individual character of the mic that we love, why buy one for 3k when we can have 3 different 1k mics with comparable quality???

There's honestly no "deal" per se when it comes to mics. You truely get what you pay for. But for many close mic'ing application I agree, more often than not expensive LDC's get beat out.

But when it comes to ambient mic placements and vocal , it's another story unless your going for some kind of effect.

But the difference today is that the the cheap mics don't sound like shit anymore.

[Acoustic Cloud]

Originally Posted by kats

But the difference today is that the the cheap mics don't sound like shit anymore.

As off the cuff as that sounds, nothing could be more true. Its probably also the main cause of confusion-indecision nowadays.

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by bendecido

Ill speak for what i know about --- for Hip-Hop vocals in my opinion it has the ideal sound -its an already compressed sounding, tight foucussed kinda sound which is not huge but cuts through a mix well. For singing i can see how other mics could beat it. But for Hip-Hop in my opinion its the best mic around. Some tube mics (ala 47 etc) sound too big at least in my genre but the u87 is the balance- not too coloured - plus its got a certain punch to it that most mics havent. In fact in my experience no mic can cut and punch through a mix like a u87. its no surpise that all the classic hip hop albums were recorded with one (nas- illmatic, Pac- All eyes on me/ Makaveli, Jay-z - Reasonable doubt, Wu-Tang - 36 chambers). Its a classic. im in love with the sound-never sounds bad imo. And for the record the newer ai version is almost identical to the old one sonically just has a bit more high end. test em out youll see what i mean. which you prefer is a matter of taste

blessings

hip hop vocals compromises TALKING...call IMUS or DAVID LETTERMAN

[Sigma]

Originally Posted by radu.ionescu

i think 10 years ago 87 were still the standard to go for vocals and alike since signal was put onto tape and as we know, tape had that particularity to damp the high's...so 87's agressive top end was great for this since it compensated for tape's highs loss...its not anymore the case now with digital wich tends to be on its own quite harshy...i think thats why that mic was designed like that...

i think your statement is over analization

[Lownotes]

The U87 is no longer needed. Please PM me with your asking price...