Neumann U 87 Ai Switchable Studio Microphone – Nickel Color

　　As a budding sound engineer with aspirations of owning my own studio, I have been gradually accumulating a collection of audio equipment. Currently, I possess five microphones, including the Blue Baby Bottle, Blue Woodpecker, AKG C414 XLS, AKG C414 XLII, and the newest addition to my collection: the Neumann U87.

　　The microphone is packaged in a stunning rosewood box with a foam insert tailored to fit the microphone inside. In my opinion, this and the AKG C414 are the most well-packaged microphones on the market, and I have no concerns about shipping them. Rest assured, they will arrive safely.

　　The Neumann U87 is simply the best microphone available. It’s a classic microphone that has been used in countless hit records for decades. It’s one of my most valued tools in my studio, and I expect it to be present in any studio I visit. The signal is one of the cleanest I’ve ever heard, producing the highest quality audio I’ve seen. The U87 and the AKG C414 are my two favorite microphones. While it doesn’t necessarily "blow the competition out of the water," it’s a noticeable upgrade from the C414. This is the best investment I’ve made in my studio, second only to my Avalon vt 737sp. With the U87, I’ve never had such ease mastering projects. It brings out the full character of the voice you’re looking to record, making it ideal for nearly any recording situation, from close miking a vocalist to recording an entire orchestra ensemble. Even though it only has three cardioid patterns, they are the most useful, and I doubt I’ll ever need to use the others. If I need a different pattern, I simply switch to the C414. With this microphone, I breeze through projects now, sometimes hardly needing any EQing to achieve the sound that satisfies me.

　　Don’t be disappointed with this microphone. Please ensure you know what you’re doing before investing in a microphone like this. You can’t just plug it into your computer and expect professional results. You’ll need a high-quality preamp (I use the Avalon vt 737sp) and a high-quality ADC (analog to digital converter). If you don’t have these things, don’t expect it to compare to much cheaper microphones (like a certain reviewer who will go unnamed). If you’re a professional audio engineer or someone with a project studio looking for the best sound available, this is the microphone for you.

　　Just get it; you won’t look back.