Neumann U 87 Ai Set Studio Condenser Mic with Large Diaphragm in Nickel Finish

Description

The Industry-Standard Large-Diaphragm Condenser The Neumann U 87 Ai is the modern incarnation of a classic microphone. Introduced in 1967, the U 87 gained instant favor with engineers, producers, and their clients; by the mid ’70s it was a staple in every world-class recording studio. And it still is. Walk into a session, and you’ll see 87s everywhere. On pianos, vocals, toms, overheads, guitar cabs, brass, strings, congas — you name it. The mic’s popularity is easy to understand: it ushered in a new era of audio fidelity and reliability, and with three selectable polar patterns (cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-8), plus a switchable highpass filter and 10dB pre-attenuation pad, the mic is incredibly versatile, and an ideal choice for a broad range of recording techniques. The Neumann U 87 Ai is the industry-standard large-diaphragm condenser mic. Read on to find out what it can do for you.A great choice for Sweetwater is an Authorized Neumann Dealer Genuine New Item Sweetwater's 2-year warranty Neumann U 87 Ai Set Large-diaphragm Condenser Microphone - Nickel Large-Diaphragm Studio Condenser Microphone with 3 Polar Patterns, Shockmount, Windscreen, Mic Cable, and Wooden Storage Box - Nickel The Industry-Standard Large-Diaphragm Condenser The Neumann U 87 Ai is the modern incarnation of a classic microphone. Introduced in 1967, the U 87 gained instant favor with engineers, producers, and their clients; by the mid ’70s it was a staple in every world-class recording studio. And it still is. Walk into a session, and you’ll see 87s everywhere. On pianos, vocals, toms, overheads, guitar cabs, brass, strings, congas — you name it. The mic’s popularity is easy to understand: it ushered in a new era of audio fidelity and reliability, and with three selectable polar patterns (cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-8), plus a switchable highpass filter and 10dB pre-attenuation pad, the mic is incredibly versatile, and an ideal choice for a broad range of recording techniques. The Neumann U 87 Ai is the industry-standard large-diaphragm condenser mic. Read on to find out what it can do for you. A great choice for most any source When you’re striving for fidelity, clarity, and authoritative presence, the U 87 Ai — with its ruler-flat midrange and gentle presence boost — is your go-to mic. We all need vocals to shine in the mix, and the 87 was born for this. It’s not right for every vocalist, but you will find it the vocal microphone of choice on innumerable iconic recordings. Piano? Grand or upright, when you need an acoustic piano to sit pretty in a thick track, a couple of 87s will get the job done. Switchable polar patterns Offering a choice of three switchable polar patterns (omnidirectional, cardioid, and figure-8), the U 87 Ai gives you impressive flexibility when it comes to exploring different recording techniques. With two 87s, you can implement stereo techniques such as spaced pair (A/B), XY (including Blumlein), ORTF array, and mid-side (M-S). For full orchestra, add a third 87 for the minimalist — and highly effective — Mercury Living Presence technique: three spaced omni 87s across the orchestral soundstage, centered above the conductor’s podium. Updated with modern circuitry Neumann produced the original U 87 from 1967 to 1986, when it was replaced by the current version, the U 87 Ai. The U 87 Ai features upgraded electronic components; however, the capsule design remains unchanged. The modern circuitry increases the mic’s operational headroom by reducing the resistance through which the capsule bias voltage is supplied. This gives you 10dB higher sensitivity for identical sound pressure levels and improves the signal-to-noise ratio by 3dB. Filter and attenuation If you’re using the U 87 Ai to capture a loud source, the microphone’s switchable 10dB pre-attenuation pad comes in handy. With the pad activated, the mic accepts sound pressure levels up to 127dB — perfect for miking tom toms or a dimed guitar amp stack. An additional switch engages the mic’s low-frequency cutoff, which reduces undesirable mud and rumble at the input of the microphone amplifier. This setting also compensates for proximity effect, the bass boost that all pressure gradient transducers exhibit when placed very close to a source. U 87 Ai shown in Matte Black Neumann mics are not assembly-line products In 1928, Georg Neumann founded the company that bears his name and introduced the first mass-produced condenser microphone, the CMV 3, a.k.a. the Neumann Bottle. Ever since, the Neumann badge has stood for unwavering quality. Neumann’s instantly recognizable diamond is more than a corporate logo — it is a quality seal. Every microphone that bears it is testimony to this proud tradition. This level of excellence requires rigorous quality control to maintain Neumann’s status as a leading manufacturer of studio microphones. Neumanns are not assembly-line products; they’re handcrafted in Germany by highly skilled technicians. Precision crafted for world-class performance The distance between membrane and electrode of a mic capsule is 35 microns — less than the width of a human hair. The layer of gold applied to a U 87 Ai capsule diaphragm is just 0.03 microns thick, equivalent to 208 atoms of gold. Even minute levels of contamination can adversely affect sonic characteristics, which is why Neumann mics are assembled in a state-of-the-art clean room with monitored dust levels under 100 particles per cubic foot — suitable conditions for the production of semiconductor chips and heart catheters. At Sweetwater, we know what it takes to become a world-class manufacturer. It’s not enough to build one great mic; the real trick is to be able to supply the pro audio industry — year after year — with units that all sound identical. To this end, Neumann sets the tolerances of each microphone to the minimum possible variance as compared with an equivalent Neumann product. This is what some mic manufacturers do with matched pairs — but Neumann does it for all their microphones. So when you use two 87s to capture an accurate stereo image, you can do so with confidence. Essential accessories included The U 87 Ai Studio Set comes with genuine Neumann accessories. Your U 87 Ai is a high-end microphone that will capture every nuance of a performance. It will also pick up unwanted environmental sound, such as rumble, that can mar an otherwise perfect take. Since the U 87’s introduction, Neumann’s spider-style elastic shockmount has been used in top studios worldwide to isolate the mic against mechanical stand-borne vibrations. The Studio Set also includes Neumann’s highly effective pop filter, quality mic cable, and protective wooden jeweler’s box for your U 87 Ai. Neumann U 87 Ai Studio Set Features: Large-diaphragm FET condenser microphone Pressure-gradient transducer with double-membrane capsule The studio microphone classic Three directional characteristics: omni, cardioid, figure-8 Switchable low-frequency roll-off Switchable 10dB pre-attenuation Ideal as main and support microphone in practically all recording situations Requires +48-volt phantom power Includes shockmount, pop filter, mic cable, and wooden storage box Specification Detail Microphone Type Condenser Polar Pattern Cardioid, Omni, Figure-8 Diaphragm Size 1" (25.4mm) Frequency Range 20Hz-20kHz Max SPL 127dB SPL Output Impedance 200 ohms Sensitivity 28 mV/Pa (±1dB) Signal to Noise Ratio 82dB (A-weighted) Self Noise 15/12/14 dB A-weighted (omni/cardioid/8) Low Cut Filter Yes Pads -10dB Connector XLR Color Nickel Power Source 48V Phantom Power Dimensions 7.87" x 2.2" Weight 1.1 lbs Included Accessories Shockmount, Windscreen, Wood Box RETURN INFORMATION We want you to be completely happy with your purchase from Sweetwater. If you are not satisfied with your product, you may return it for a refund of the purchase price within 30 days. If your purchase was eligible for Free Shipping, the shipping cost will be deducted from your credit or refund. Returns must be in the complete and original packaging with all accessories and complete documentation (Owner's Manual, warranty card, quick start guides, etc.), show no signs of wear or use, and include a Return Authorization number or be subject to a restocking fee.