U87i

[malcolm123]

One of my buddies just moved his studio and is now open for public sessions. I went to check his spot out yesterday and what did I see sitting on a mic stand in the corner? A big @ss Neuman U87i with windscreen and shockmount on it. LOL


I asked him why he had a windscreen instead of a pop filter and he said he gets different tones or some sh@t like that.

anyway, Im picking it up later this week to take it over to my studio to see if I can hear why this thing costs so D@mn much.

So basically,, A nonpro homerecording.com guy has access to a infamous Neuman. I plan to post a nonpro opinion too.

Ima put it up against my cheap @ss V67g and the SP B1 for all us budget guys !!!

Malcolm

 

[Michael Jones]

That's cool. Looking forward to hearing your impressions.

What pre-amp will you be using with it?

 

[chessrock]

Don't they have any rental shops near Augusta?

I guess I take for granted the fact I can walk in to the shop and rent a U87 for $30 for the day if I really want to.

Must suck not living in a major market.

 

[Henri Devill]

Don't they have any rental shops near Augusta?

I guess I take for granted the fact I can walk in to the shop and rent a U87 for $30 for the day if I really want to.

Must suck not living in a major market.

Bastard!


















Don

 

[malcolm123]

Don't they have any rental shops near Augusta?

I guess I take for granted the fact I can walk in to the shop and rent a U87 for $30 for the day if I really want to.

Must suck not living in a major market.

Hell No !!

There are 3 shops here in augusta and they all center around live insts. and school band stuff. They have mics but mostly 57s , 58s, Samson, Beh B1s, etc. Micpres like Art, etc.

The closest pro audio shops are at least 200 miles away. Atlanta, Charollete

Sucks !!!!

 

[chessrock]

My advice: move to Atlata at some point.


For one, there's lots of chicks, there. And I mean there's a ton of 'em. The ratio is in your favor, my friend. There's like 3 or 4 single females to every one single male. At least that's what I hear. Maybe it was some sort of travel brochure.

Secondly, it's a major market, so it's bound to have some pro audio rental shops. Anywhere you have lots of live venues, then chances are you have places that rent out mixing boards, mics, PA's, etc. etc. and these are usually the places that have a bunch of AT 4033s, AKG 414's, and maybe a u87 or two that they'll rent out. Not to say they'll be in great condition, though.

I've also heard there's jobs in Atlanta. So at the very least, you might be able to make some real money and score your own u87 after a paycheck or two.

 

[freshmattyp]

Just don't go looking for tech jobs in Atlanta. The market is glutted. I had to interview candidates for an entry-level Desktop Support job for my company's office there and got 300+ resumes, all of them waaaay over-qualified.

Can't argue about the women, though. It's a buyer's market down there.

 

[c9-2001]

4 single women to every man.. whens the last time you've been to the A? its more like 8-12 women lol

i know of a few major shops out here that'll let you rent everything from mics to a soundcraft ghost.. its just gonna cost a little bit.. i'm actually thinking about trying to rent a api preamp and really high end compressor for some major sessions i have this weekend

but yea, radio and mad connections are around.. just yesterday i got 2 calls from ppl that were at the radio station and need some songs mixed.. just so happen i have connections at the radio station(107.9) and they shot the business my way.. lenox and peachtree friday and saturday.. no telling who you'll just happen to run into..

 

[meriphew]

My advice: move to Atlata at some point.


For one, there's lots of chicks, there. And I mean there's a ton of 'em. The ratio is in your favor, my friend. There's like 3 or 4 single females to every one single male. At least that's what I hear. Maybe it was some sort of travel brochure.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[chessrock]

Alright, Meriphew. He of so many words. Give us the lowdown on Seattle. Anything happenin' there in the talent department?

Guys, don't even bother with Chicago. It's a damn sausage-fest over here.

 

[malcolm123]

My advice: move to Atlata at some point.


For one, there's lots of chicks, there. And I mean there's a ton of 'em. The ratio is in your favor, my friend. There's like 3 or 4 single females to every one single male. At least that's what I hear. Maybe it was some sort of travel brochure.

Secondly, it's a major market, so it's bound to have some pro audio rental shops. Anywhere you have lots of live venues, then chances are you have places that rent out mixing boards, mics, PA's, etc. etc. and these are usually the places that have a bunch of AT 4033s, AKG 414's, and maybe a u87 or two that they'll rent out. Not to say they'll be in great condition, though.

I've also heard there's jobs in Atlanta. So at the very least, you might be able to make some real money and score your own u87 after a paycheck or two.

LOL,

Yeah I feel ya. But I have leaved in Atlanta for 7 or 8 years. I went to College there and I worked IT for about 6 years. I bought a house up there ( which I still have, wanna buy it? ) then I lost my job and brought my ass back to augusta to work here after I got a huge job offer.

I know about all the chicks, gear stores and a few studios up there too.

As for a U87i,, I can buy one right now if I could find it justifyable. I just cant at the moment. Problaby because I havent got that serious with recording yet.

I still frequent trips to the ATL, but it's mostly for hanging out. I often visit the Guitar Centers, and a few smaller gear stores. Mars closed which was my favorite place.

Malcolm

 

[malcolm123]

4 single women to every man.. whens the last time you've been to the A? its more like 8-12 women lol

i know of a few major shops out here that'll let you rent everything from mics to a soundcraft ghost.. its just gonna cost a little bit.. i'm actually thinking about trying to rent a api preamp and really high end compressor for some major sessions i have this weekend

but yea, radio and mad connections are around.. just yesterday i got 2 calls from ppl that were at the radio station and need some songs mixed.. just so happen i have connections at the radio station(107.9) and they shot the business my way.. lenox and peachtree friday and saturday.. no telling who you'll just happen to run into..

This is true. so Ryan Cameron dropped you some biz? LOL
Yep, mad connections. I know a few people who are actually major players in the Biz up there. I been around for a minute.

I still have Jermain Dupree's phone number that he gave out over the Radio a long time ago when he first introduced Kris Kross. He was looking for more acts. Dont work anymore though LOL.

One of my favorite producers of all time is up there. He is kinda a behind the scenes guy now, but he had some fire tracks back in the day. When I first started with my tascam 4-track he invited me to go to Pebbles studio where TLC used to record. I walked in and was blown away back then. Oh, and I was totally lost too. I didnt know what any of the equipment did,, except the MPC60.

Malcolm

 

[Beezoboy]

Malcolm,

I am in Statesboro, GA about an hour and a half away. I have had my U87i for about a year now and I must say it is a nice mic. Dark but forgiving with a top end that is smooth and a low end that is tight.

I find it nice for airy vox with a good compressor. What I think this mic really excels on is instruments. It sounds great on sooo many instruments. So far i have used it on:

Cello
FOK mic (front of kick)
Guitar Cab (Works great there)

To me this mic is worth keeping around. I had a V67 which I recently sold. I think the V67 is a nice mic, but the top end is far more harsh and the low end is far more loose. I'd say it is a little more midrange friendly than the U87i, which is probably why it lends itself to vocals so well.

I found the V67 to work well on trumpet, of all things, but I never found it useful for any other instruments.

Let us know what you think.
Beez

 

[c9-2001]

i used a u87ai for a while... great mic.. but i just got another mic that has blown my mind.. and for the price i said DAMN!!!

its a Cad M9. its a tube mic.. sounds great.. smooth top-end with out siblance, the mids and lows are very warm and vs the u87ai side by side i had others thinking it was the other way around.. thinking the cad's recordings were the u87ai...

i paid very little for the mic.. they usually go for 399-525.. a lot of places have them for sale at 275-295 right now(8thstreet) to be one..

don't sleep on it.. try it out.. i mainly producer r&b and i can tell you after using it and many other mics.. the M( sounds great

 

[Rev E]

IMO, the beauty of the U87 is that you can put it up on practically ANY source and you can rest assure that it won't suck. It's not always the "best" choice for a particular source, but it will always do a decent job on pretty much anything. It's one of the most versatile studio workhorse mics there is... Also in that camp in the AKG 414 ... but the 414 is not as pleasant of a vocal mic as the U87.

So just putting the U87 up on just voice is not going to show you why it's worth $2700. It's putting it up on source after source that and having it sound good to very good that will show you its worth. Personally, I think the U87 is a bit overpriced. There are quite a few decent LD condensers that are just as good if not better on many sources that are 60-70% of the price of the U87 ... but that comment should not be interpreted as the U87 sucks. It's a great and versatile studio mic, one of the best of its kind. My mentor owns one and I've used it from time to time with very good results.

 

[c9-2001]

i've used u87ai's on VOX, bongos, snares, flutes, alto and tenor sax, violin and a few other things.. for damn sure the mic doesn't suck..
one thing about the u87ai.. its a great mic, but not all artist sound good on it.. i know a few ppl that actually sound good but lack emotion when tracking through a u87ai... though with a at4060 the emotion is there... these days you can get a u87ai for 1800-2200 but you can also buy a few workhorse mics vs having one...
with 2200..

akg 414EB or TL edition(559-700)
cad m9(275-525)
sp C1(175-199)

a few small condenser mics what ever.. i mean you can get a few high quality mics for the price of one u87ai.. but i still love the mic... now one mic that i've used 2times thats over priced... SONY C800G.. great sounding mic after warming up for about 1.5-2hours... but $5000!!!! ouch...
the 2 times i used one i only need to use a little compression and the song sounded great.. it went through an api preamp but damn.. i can't see myself spending 5000's on one mic..

 

[darnold]

Try out a Soundelux U95 sometime...


mmmmmmmmmmm yeah


danny

 

[meriphew]

Alright, Meriphew. He of so many words. Give us the lowdown on Seattle. Anything happenin' there in the talent department?

Guys, don't even bother with Chicago. It's a damn sausage-fest over here.

Hey Chess - I'm sure that there are at least a few interesting new(ish) bands around here, but I rarely venture out of my music lab. Maktub is slowly but surely making a name for themselves.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[Flatpicker]

...its a Cad M9. its a tube mic.. sounds great.. smooth top-end with out siblance, the mids and lows are very warm and vs the u87ai side by side i had others thinking it was the other way around.. thinking the cad's recordings were the u87ai...

I'd love to hear clips comparing the two. Are any of them online where we could have a listen?

 

[c9-2001]

I'd love to hear clips comparing the two. Are any of them online where we could have a listen?

i have no clips online no.. everyhting is under nuendo 2.1 right now...
to me the M9 with the new groove tubes tube i put in it this weekend is just smoother overall..
has a thicker mid/lows... and the highs are bright but not siblant... it sounds much better with the groove tubes tube in it..the one that was in just started messing up friday night so i got the groove tubes on yesterday morning from guitar center..