The Most Common Condenser Microphone?

[barefoot]

What is the most commonly used condenser microphone? NOT the BEST, or the one you prefer most. Just the one you are most likely to see in a randomly selected professional studio.

Thanks!

Thomas

[Sir Dingo]

prolly an AKG 414 or a Neumann U87

[Rail Jon Rogut]

More likely a KM84 or AKG 451

Rail

[djui5]

The U87 can be found in more studios than any condensor imho.

The 57 is the dynamic....

[radiovoiceone]

I'll ring in for the U87 also.
Found in almost every radio and tv station for production voice over use.
For on-air radio studios and control rooms, it's probably the RE20 closely followed by the SM 7.

[djui5]

Nice speakers Thomas....

[Raw-Tracks]

In my experience, it has been the U87. I hope that changes some day.

[Nevelicious]

U87 hands down..... maybe a 47 as well and of course the 57 as a dynamic

[natpub]

While I think U87 is "found" most commonly, what I see is 414 being "used" most commonly.

[natpub]

Originally posted by radiovoiceone
I'll ring in for the U87 also.
Found in almost every radio and tv station for production voice over use.
For on-air radio studios and control rooms, it's probably the RE20 closely followed by the SM 7.

SM7 and RE20 are dynamics

[toledo3]

I have seen many a 414, c1000, and curiously, a ton of those big-ass CAD mics even though no one ever talks about them. They must have made a ton of those sm81's as well.

[Robotnik]

The AT4050 is making some strides. I see more and more people using it.
But, the U87 and 414 are definitely at the top.

[Tim Halligan]

Strangely enough, even though the U87/414 wins hands down as far as LD condensers go, it would probably be AKG 451 type of thing, or even a lavalier. All of the TV stations use SD's or lav's on the on-air "talent" (especially lav's - as they are usually run as pairs - main and standby). On a news-type set you may find 4 or more 451/Schoeps SD's OR 8 or more lav's. Unfortunately, in TV-land the "look" takes precedence over the sound. Grrr. The mixing style is defined as: F**k art - just get it there.
Sure, each station will have an 87 or a 414 for production/promos - but you only need 1. At the TV station I used to work at, by far the majority of condensers were lavs ( "new" news-set/location radio mics), then (in descending order) SD condensers("old" news-set), Shotguns (Sennheiser 816/416 for location/OB sound), and finally LD condensers.


Cheers,
Tim

[Sir Dingo]

That may be true....but he's talking recording studios, not TV stations

[Jules]

1980's
1990's

It was U87

But now?

I dont know....

AKG 414?

I havent used an 87 for at least 5 years now...

I always prefered 89's anyway...

[Tim Halligan]

Originally posted by Sir Dingo
That may be true....but he's talking recording studios, not TV stations

Point taken, but they are "profesional studios". People are paid to do sound, but I guess that's just semantics.

I wonder if any of the dealers/manufacturers could chime in...I'm guessing that Neumann would sell more KM84's (or whatever they are called now) than U87's...AKG would sell more 451's/460's/Bluelines than 414s...you get the idea...just on price alone. Buy 1 LD, or 4 SD's...sort of economies of scale.

I'd be interested to find out.

Jules, I also imagine the 414 would come out just over the 87. I remember seeing an article somewhere a few years back about "Desert Island" mics, and most of the big name engineers polled nominated the 414. Not surprising due to its versatility and "bend-ability".

Cheers,
Tim

PS: I think the SM57 took the dynamic crown in that poll.

[STUDIO2]

Hello,

When you guys say AKG 414 do you mean the ULS or TL II model?

Cheers.

[kwhatx]

The U87 and 414 are the first two that spring to mind for me as well.

On the dynamic side, the SM57 and 421 seem to be everywhere.

[quasimodonyc]

Originally posted by barefoot
What is the most commonly used condenser microphone? NOT the BEST, or the one you prefer most. Just the one you are most likely to see in a randomly selected professional studio.

Thanks!

Thomas

OK, you've piqued my curiosity. Why you would ask that?

[Rail Jon Rogut]

The reason I said KM84 or AKG 451 is because odds are that each studio that has an 87 has more of the former than the latter in their mic locker.

Rail

[barefoot]

Hey, thanks everyone for the replies!

The majority of you seem to agree on the U87. How about for small condensers? Is the AKG 451 Tim and Rail mentioned a good bet for the most common?

[djui5]

Originally posted by Jules

I havent used an 87 for at least 5 years now...

I always prefered 89's anyway...

Jules,
I thought the 89 sounded a little lacking in the lower mid range, did you also find this? I also thought the high's were a tad harsher, but I never did a side by side comparison so it could have been something else. I was curious of your thoughts..

[chap]

414/184
And the Elam 8212 (ok, no such thing)
I don't see U 87s too much these days.
chap

[archtop]

more common?

I would guess the 414 also


followed closely by the 451

[gregrw]

I would have guessed the SM81. (I used to own 2.)

In the "Liked, but not often seen" category, I'd guess beyerdynamic and Earthworks. People seem to like those companies' mics, but there aren't a lot around. Go figure...

-GRW

[natpub]

Originally posted by barefoot
Hey, thanks everyone for the replies!

The majority of you seem to agree on the U87. How about for small condensers? Is the AKG 451 Tim and Rail mentioned a good bet for the most common?

Hi Thomas,

While I am very tempted to kid around on the SD question, I must ask, do you mean strictly higher end professional houses, or do you mean to include mid and low level shops as well?

If you include all types of shops, then the Oktava 012's would be the easy winner :-)

Hopefully some will catch my amusement in that answer, though it is true. Guitar Center made the 012's rather universal about 2 years back when they began offering pairs for 100 bucks or so, shortly after MIX had reviewed them well.


best,

KT