NEUMANN U87AI STUDIO SET

Neumann U 87 Ai – The Microphone That Defined Modern Recording

The Neumann U 87 Ai is not simply a microphone – it is a cultural artefact of the recording studio. Since its introduction, it has appeared on more gold and platinum records than any other microphone in existence. From Frank Sinatra to Adele, from Michael Jackson to Ed Sheeran, the U 87 has been the go-to tool of the world’s most talented recording engineers and the most discerning vocalists. If you are serious about recording, the U 87 Ai is the benchmark against which everything else is measured.

A Legacy Built Over Decades

The original U 87 was introduced in 1967 as a successor to the legendary U 67. It was immediately embraced by the world’s finest recording studios, and its place in the pantheon of great microphones was established within years. The U 87 Ai represents the current evolution of this design – refined through decades of engineering experience, with improved electronics that deliver lower noise and higher headroom than any previous version, while preserving the musical character that made the original so beloved.

The K 87 Capsule – Heart of the Legend

At the centre of every U 87 Ai is the K 87 dual-diaphragm condenser capsule – hand-built to tolerances that are almost impossibly tight. Each diaphragm is a precisely tensioned membrane of evaporated gold, stretched over a precisely machined backplate. The result is a capsule with an extraordinarily consistent frequency response: a gentle, musical presence lift between 4kHz and 10kHz that adds air and clarity without brittleness, and a low-frequency response that is full and warm without being woolly. This is the sound that engineers reach for when they want vocals, acoustic guitars, strings, and acoustic pianos to sound their absolute best.

Three Polar Patterns – One Microphone for Every Application

The U 87 Ai offers cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-eight polar patterns, selected via a switch on the front of the microphone body. Cardioid is the everyday choice – ideal for solo vocals, acoustic instruments, voiceover, and podcast recording. Omnidirectional opens up the microphone to the full ambience of the recording space, perfect for capturing piano, choir, or room sound. Figure-eight allows for Blumlein stereo recording or for placing two performers on opposite sides of the microphone for intimate duet recordings.

Transformer-Coupled Output for Warmth and Drive

Unlike the transformerless TLM series, the U 87 Ai features a traditional transformer-coupled output circuit. This transformer contributes a subtle warmth and musicality to the signal – a quality that engineers describe as the microphone’s ability to “sit” in a mix without needing extensive processing. The transformer also provides excellent common-mode rejection and protects the microphone’s circuitry from phantom power irregularities and RF interference.

Switchable Low-Cut and Pad for Demanding Situations

A switchable 80Hz high-pass filter at -12dB per octave handles low-frequency room rumble, air conditioning noise, and the proximity effect when close-miking. The -10dB pre-attenuation pad extends the maximum SPL to 117dB, making the U 87 Ai suitable for close-miking brass instruments, electric guitar amplifiers, and even certain drum positions.

The Studio Standard, Now Yours

Every recording studio in the world – from Abbey Road to Electric Lady – keeps U 87s in their locker. Owning a U 87 Ai means working with the same tool as the engineers who shaped the sound of popular music. It means that when you reference your recordings against your favourite albums, you are hearing through the same lens. It means that your recordings will translate beautifully to every playback system because they were captured with the microphone that virtually every reference track was captured with.

Technical Specifications

The Neumann U 87 Ai is available now at Pro Audio Video – invest in the microphone that has defined professional recording for over 50 years.