Cheaper mics you prefer over the Neumann U87?

[PaulMac]

Originally Posted by jimmyboy7

Blue Kiwi, blind A/B, picked the Kiwi try it, you will like it

+1 on that. If I ever did want a U87-ish sound I'd go with the Kiwi... a mile better imo.

[monkeyxx]

Originally Posted by jaredfmansfield

If there was EQ Compensation, bringing the sparkle out from the 58 do you think it could match up in this recording?

No. Listen to how muffled and lacking in overall detail the 58 parts sound. For one thing you're not going to get bass or much treble (air) extension from the 58 on some instruments..that information is lost.

Well I don't own a U87, but I wish I did, I like its dark moody vibe.

Mhmm, for a project studio, any microphone that doesn't cost $2K is going to be a way better value (but not a U87 replacer)

[Tony_Variations]

It's a bit of a stretch to compare a U87 with an sm58... Having said that, I'm not a big fan of the U87, and for most situations I'll either reach for a tlm193, a Brauner Phantera or an akg 414. On my voice the U87 is a disaster, for example, but the Brauner is perfect. And yes, sometimes an sm58 is going to be just the right call!
As for cheaper mics, I'm very satisfied with the Blue baby bottle, sE z5600a mkii, and the infamous tlm103...

[Slikjmuzik]

Any Chinese mic modded by Michael Joly with his k47 capsule. Nice and even and lush. Still very open though. Would put them side by side with a u87 any day.

The cool thing about the u87 though is that I almost never like it when the vocalist is tracking. When I go to mix it and fit the vocals into the mix is when I like it. Most other mics can't do that. With most other mics you have to love the sound as your tracking to have a chance.

[sonic dogg]

Originally Posted by Slikjmuzik

Any Chinese mic modded by Michael Joly with his k47 capsule. Nice and even and lush. Still very open though. Would put them side by side with a u87 any day.

The cool thing about the u87 though is that I almost never like it when the vocalist is tracking. When I go to mix it and fit the vocals into the mix is when I like it. Most other mics can't do that. With most other mics you have to love the sound as your tracking to have a chance.

Dont you find this to be true of a LOT of high-end gear? Sometimes its just so 'forward' or whatever you want to call it, that at tracking you're constantly thinking you've made a mistake but at mix it all fits so nicely......

I agree with the couple of posts about the higher end ADK stuff. I have a pair of TT's and they are really the deal for most things.... and I have A/B'd them right next to my vintage U87. But are they really 'better'? Again, they're all just tools with a certain voice. I'm still looking for a nice FET LDC in the mid-priced market. I'm pretty impressed with the Miktek C7....Best I've heard for a long while.

I find the U87ai's to be almost grating in the highs....much like a LOT of the cheap Chinese LDC's. But the 87 sure will cut through a dense mix without adding anything odd to the sound.

[asdfdsa]

Originally Posted by UnDeFiNeD

....

For the home studio/(private) project studio I would say no. Go out and look for comparable lowered price alternatives.

...
Alex

My situation alright...

[rogernumber2]

Originally Posted by rogerbrain

you don't have to have a U87 but if you can afford one they are pretty nice

for a rod steward type male or husky female voice ..414 does just fine

screaming tenor - re20 or sm7

belt it out rocker - AT4060 or 4050 do a very good job

there is no reason to get one other than nothing else I have sounds like one and the sound is really good and it works for a lot of things

which one of these is the best for belt it out rocker? I have an sm7 and I get it to distort easier than I'd like. I think the AT's are LDC's and they should be easier to distort than the sm7, right?

what's the difference between these AT's and the 4047?

[asdfdsa]

I take it this 414 is a real Neumann 'killer' eh?
For us less financially fortunate folk atleast...

[monkeyxx]

Originally Posted by asdfdsa

I take it this 414 is a real Neumann 'killer' eh?
For us less financially fortunate folk atleast...

I think you might be on to something...

[ivansc]

There are as many of you know a LOT of different 414 types out there.
Most of them I really don't get on with for anything much other than general purpose instrument mic'ing.

And older U87s do what U87s are supposed to do.
Newer ones do not seem to. A lot more brittle sounding to my aged ears.

[jpgerard]

Used Neumann U89 or Line Audio SM6i. The SM6i especially does about the same... only much better. However those who love the U87 edge won't really find it anywhere else... I used to really like the mid 70's C414 EB but finding a good one has become quite an exercise. The AudioTechnica 4050 is not bad either.

[Aearth]

JZ Black Hole.

nIC

[skybluerental]

Originally Posted by asdfdsa

What do the Gefell UM70's go for (used)? I can't find any on the bay.

Digging the replies btw.

around $1200 - $1300 USD i would say.

[skybluerental]

Originally Posted by asdfdsa

I take it this 414 is a real Neumann 'killer' eh?
For us less financially fortunate folk atleast...

not really a Neumann killer..........

i do like old 414’s better than U87’s in general (the new 414’s not so much).

however, my 414’s dont “Kill” my U67 or my KM 86’s.
usually i prefer the Neumann’s given those choices.

[yapz]

Originally Posted by capnreverb

Did not know there was anyone else in that fan club but me!

Someone actually mentioned an EV condenser! Wow.

I don't have the RE2000, but I do have an RE1000 -- and I think it is overlooked, great, terrific ... a real sleeper.

[RightOnRome]

my tlm103 is decent..it has smother mids then my 414xls- but they both are harsh when it comes to an 87 .. i cheat the harshness with a el8 side-chained with a parametric ..then i gently use the t4 side of the la610 as my leveling amp for warmth ..

[Piedpiper]

I prefer my modded Peluso VTB, but I've replaced the output coupling capacitor with something rather special, made all the difference...

[capnreverb]

Originally Posted by yapz

Someone actually mentioned an EV condenser! Wow.

I don't have the RE2000, but I do have an RE1000 -- and I think it is overlooked, great, terrific ... a real sleeper.

I have two re2000's. Super quiet, detailed and unhyped. Sounds great on anything it's pointed at. It's only hypercardoid, so it's not as versitle as the u87. They were close to $3000 new, wtf? I would probably pick it over my u87 for almost everything but maybe vocals. For vocals any of the "real" Goove Tube mic's would be my choice. The Groove Tubes are almost turd polishers for vocalists, the u87ai in no way is. If I needed dough, the u87ai is at the top of the list of things that would go first.

[PopularDemand]

On the last two tours I worked, a few artists where using ADK/3 Zigma Lollipop mics. They sound really good on vocals. Modern without sibilance. $499 We used the 251 cap.

[Slikjmuzik]

I could see myself using the AKG C214 over the u87 in quite a few situations. Sounds quite fine, especially through a killer preamp.

[Salivan]

Originally Posted by jaredfmansfield

I have this "A/B" Cd by Steve Carr. Here is a A/B Comparison of a Neumann U87 and a Shure SM58.14 Neumann U87 Shure Sm58, No EQ Compensation by JaredMansfield on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

From the beginning of the track its the U87, then where it repeats is the 58. Then again the 87 when she sings solo, then the repeat is the 58.

Thanks a lot for that! (I'm noob) That's the first time I can clearly hear the difference between the mics!

[mikeg09]

Im tired of people comparing mics to other mics and saying one is better than the other.. Its not about that.
Its about what character and tone do YOU prefer for YOUR music. Thats why different mics sound different.. thats a good thing.

Pick a microphone you like and use it.

Shut up already and make music!

[garymusic]

AKG C414 TLII

This mic loves a Focusrite Red 7 mic pre.

-Gary

[unfiltered420]

Oktava mk-319 with joly mod has outperformed u87 in tests. Microphones need not be expensive to have top notch sound. But you can pay as much or as little for basically anything in life except flash, which demands a premium.

[monkeyxx]

Originally Posted by unfiltered420

Oktava mk-319 with joly mod has outperformed u87 in tests. Microphones need not be expensive to have top notch sound. But you can pay as much or as little for basically anything in life except flash, which demands a premium.

ooh, in tests!!!! let me guess it was an online blind listening poll

[unfiltered420]

Specs and blind tests. They do have some value. The vintechs and neve 1073 are indistinguishable in blind listening tests. Anyone who pays inflated prices for audio gear for the sound (not the resale value, flash, etc) are suckers.

The point is if you can get a sound from a mic that is even in the same ballpark as mic 4-5 times the price, other than materialism, why? But I guess this forum is rooted in materialism.

[Retinal]

Originally Posted by yotonic

Depending on what you pay for a new 87 all of the ADK Custom Shop high end mics beat it, they are very nice mics and I have shot them all out (47, 67, 251, c12) against an 87.

+2 sort of..

Not preferring them or any other mic to the 87 when the U87 fits (which is
most of the times..) but ADK has definitely very good sounding mics
in both the regular and the custom series.
There is a reason because you and other 29349 people are asking/comparing
other mics to the 87, actually there's more than one reason, but most of them
are pretty stupid, the only good one is because the 87 is probably the most
used mic in the world for certain applications; same goes for the 57 so go figure.. Price tag means jack

[PeterN]

I love my U87, but I also really like the Brauner Phantom Classic. A friend of mine has it and we used it in a production with a good female vocalist, and that mic has worked wonders. Highly recommended.

[windmillsound]

'Better' is transitive - a mic cannot sound better. You have to ask better 'at' what or 'for' what.

For instance I recently recorded a male singer and put his main vocal on my SE Gemini III - which brings out the smoke in his voice more than the U87. But then was way too prominent for his backing vocals on the same track - so I recorded these with a SM57 which now sit nicely behind the main vocals.

The U87 is a goto mic in the sense that it will produce passible results on almost any vocalist - but not always the best, and certainly not the best at x or for x.

[Hyder boy]

Originally Posted by Slikjmuzik

Any Chinese mic modded by Michael Joly with his k47 capsule. Nice and even and lush. Still very open though. Would put them side by side with a u87 any day.

The cool thing about the u87 though is that I almost never like it when the vocalist is tracking. When I go to mix it and fit the vocals into the mix is when I like it. Most other mics can't do that. With most other mics you have to love the sound as your tracking to have a chance.

YES! I have a couple mics. modded by Micheal and his K47 capsule is stunning.