The Neumann U 87 Ai is widely recognized as Neumann's most famous and widely-used microphone. It features a large dual-diaphragm capsule that offers three different directional patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid, and figure-8. You can easily select these patterns using the switch located below the protective grille.
At the rear of the microphone, there is a 10 dB attenuation switch that allows for distortion-free operation even when dealing with sound pressure levels of up to 127 dB. Additionally, there is an option to adjust the cutoff frequency and attenuate the low-frequency signal to compensate for the proximity effect.
Acoustic Features:
The front side of the U 87 Ai, marked with the Neumann logo, provides a flat response and consistent performance across the upper frequency range when using the cardioid and figure-8 patterns. This means that you can position the microphone very close to the sound source without creating unnatural sharpness. Furthermore, a low-cut filter effectively reduces interference between infrasonic and low frequencies.
Directional Patterns:
The dual-diaphragm capsule is securely mounted on an elastic suspension and protected by a metal grille. The switch located underneath allows you to switch between omnidirectional, cardioid, and figure-8 patterns. The selected pattern is indicated by a symbol above the switch.
Filter and Attenuator:
The 10 dB attenuation switch, located at the rear, decreases the microphone's sensitivity. When activated, the microphone can handle sound pressure levels of up to 127 dB (equivalent to 45 Pa) without distorting the sound. There is also another switch in the same position that allows for the adjustment of the cutoff frequency of the high-pass filter, which effectively reduces low-frequency interference at the input of the microphone preamplifier. Moreover, the filter compensates for the proximity effect, which is a characteristic of pressure gradient microphones when they are positioned close to the sound source.
Features:
- Includes a matched pair of microphones
- Features a large-diaphragm and switchable directional patterns
- Utilizes a pressure gradient transducer with a dual-diaphragm capsule
- Designed as a classic studio microphone
- Offers three directional patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid, and figure-8
- Has a switchable high-pass filter with adjustable cutoff frequency
- Includes a 10 dB attenuator switch
- Exceptional as both a primary and secondary microphone for most applications
Package Contents:
- 2 microphones
- 2 EA 87 shock mounts
- Aluminum case
- Documentation
