Neumann TLM 102 Review / Test

[@spencershaw98]

Bandrew: "I'm back with the most expensive mic I've ever used". U87, TLM103, MKH416: Allow us to introduce ourselves.

[@kc-ug6gu]

U67:- Allow Me to introduce my self

[@deer267]

by the time this was the most expensive microphone he reviewed

[@distantsignal]

This is the best review of the TLM-102 I've seen yet. Very creative, funny stuff while including good, solid real-world facts. And not just another worthless "unboxing" video. I cannot understand why those get so many views. I do lots of voiceovers and I've used a Senn 414 shotgun for 15 years, but it's getting old and has been banged around some. Considering this Neumann to replace it, and this TLM 102 is about $400 cheaper than a new MKH416. Your review helps my decision a lot. Thanks!

[@Podcastage]

Distant Signal you’re very kind. Might I also suggest checking out booth junkies channel since he reviewed the tlm103 and mkh416.

[@deweybarbaree8153]

Great sounding mic. Well balanced from lows, thru the mids, and highs. Seems to handle plosives well too.

[@danboud8135]

Bandrew's reviewing a Neumann?!?! /dims lights, pours glass of wine, gets comfy Continue

[@Kevinfordsynthesizers]

6 yrs on and you have just sold it to me sir, buying now.

[@reddeadryan78]

Great setup for a entry level-pro home studio as well. (Tlm 102 + scarlett 2i2)

[@veerchasm1]

Great video. I appreciate the quick edits comparing mic positions and different instruments. Makes it easy to tell how the mic responds.

[@edoardotomei8195]

I’m seeing this video in 2022 and hen you said this was the most expansive mic you’ve ever used I thought it was a joke 😂 I LOVE YOUR VIDEOS

[@abrahamlara4594]

I knew that this day will come... When Bandrew reviews a Neumann mic with a price tag over 500 dollars!!!1 Indeed, it looks amazing and the voice capture is just beautiful, just remember to secure it on your security vault underground with 6 series of security doors that opens with the songs that you use to sing when doing the voice-instrument combo.

[@Podcastage]

I might take it to Gringotts Wizarding Bank

[@iangarner6240]

Just found your videos because Im looking to upgrade mics, so far I find your test videos to be the best and most thorough I've found regardless of which mic I look up, thank you!

[@nabeelbankosly2163]

I just can't stop watching you

[@user-ku5gr1ts6n]

🤔

[@sirnigelcogs]

Now that's a beautiful bit of kit. It's really a great vocal microphone.

[@Podcastage]

When I first opened it, I wasn't expecting it to be so beautiful.

[@yoericktv9610]

Loved the way this thing sounds on voice and strings, even bass.

[@thelovebat]

For anyone wanting to do voiceovers as a career, this seems like the ideal microphone to go for because of the clarity of the voice, and as you said the build quality is excellent so you can probably use the mic for a very long time in a home studio setup for voiceovers or for singing. Being made in Germany as opposed to being made in China or something similar I think contributes to the build quality, anytime you get a mic that's made in Europe or the USA the build quality is likely to be much better due to the more skilled labor going into making it. In the time of Covid, having a good quality mic for a home studio seems to be a bigger deal these days since many people are working from home. And the Neumann TLM 102 seems like a well made, versatile microphone with picture perfect sound for spoken voices if you wanted to record auditions or voiceovers from home for voice acting or recording audio for commercials.

[@capferrat277]

I own one and i did a ton of A/B testing before buying and the TLM102 absolutely blows away anything else in its class. When you run it through a good pre amp (not a Scarlett 2i2 lol) but a nice tube pre amp, it punches WAY above its weight and can compete with mics costing in the thousands.

[@AraVids]

i have the scarlett solo and it seems like this mic isnt meant for it. it doesnt let me record in 192,000 and for some reason it doesnt sound clean like all these youtubers show

[@reiniersacerio9334]

I have the apollo twin solo and with the plugins it sounds as good as it was connected with a tube pre amp

[@AraVids]

Mr sacerio is the apollo twin solo only for mac? Or does it work with pc? If not then what's a good PC interface for this mic?

[@reiniersacerio9334]

AR4 it works for windows as well. You need to get the thunderbolt to usb-c connector. The interface does not come with a cable just the box and power adapter

[@humez91]

war are good preamps besides apollo twin? They say the solo is too weak and duo is too expensive for me. I was going for the Scarlett 2i2 but now you made me rethink it.

[@chiara_marcon]

It's my mic, and I love it ❤️! Thanks for this review/test

[@mzonemusicful]

Ok just got this mic and I can say it’s a smooth sounding mic. I have an AKG C214 that I love for modern pop and r&b female and male vocals. I think Imay actually keep that one as well. This TLM is in a different league it sound processed in a way which is really good. Like im listening to the radio it’s strange.. Im finally part of that Neumann family because of your video bro so thanks for your content bro it helps more people than you know and that’s why its so important to remand transparent In these reviews some people base no on your suggestions alone. AWESOME video as usual. Ok im done rambling 😂

[@evileyevirtue]

$700 AND NO STICKER?!?!?! Automatic pass on this microphone...

[@TheSilentEvil]

David Handy I thought I listened it wrong..

[@ironmatic1]

David Handy Who the fuck would want a tacky sticker with their mic?

[@johnjackson8902]

ironmatic 1 He was making a joke.

[@alexe8375]

ironmatic 1 joke jōk/ noun 1. a thing that someone says to cause amusement or laughter, especially a story with a funny punchline. "she was in a mood to tell jokes" synonyms:funny story, jest, witticism, quip; More verb 1. make jokes; talk humorously or flippantly. "she could laugh and joke with her colleagues" synonyms:tell jokes, crack jokes; More

[@EricLefebvrePhotography]

IronMatic It's an ongoing inside joke on this channel. We should really do a remix of his sticker rants. :)

[@NoahNelson]

Holy crap! You bought a TLM-102?!

[@RageElixir]

im getting this

[@Podcastage]

Great choice man. This mic is pretty damn great.

[@RageElixir]

Podcastage I watched all your videos on it, thanks for going in depth

[@Podcastage]

My pleasure. Hope you enjoy it!

[@aidanswiftofficial]

oh man, didn't expect you here

[@StevenSoto]

Fire !

[@user-uk3jb6lx3c]

Congrats on 40K!!! Here's to 40 more!! Keep it up Bandrew. :)

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much!!!

[@user-uk3jb6lx3c]

You deserve way more subs,views, and likes man! I hope your channel blows up! (Not literally you know what I mean) :)

[@venezia9867]

Your videos are just really fascinating and relaxing to watch, Im suprised you're dont have 1mil subscribers yet, you really should.

[@valeryivinskikh7721]

Just have bought "this guy". Thank you for all your reviews !!!

[@dankazama09]

Me too.. YOLO moment

[@SavoPaddy]

Super helpful, have looked at so many of your videos and ended up choosing TLM102. Really appreciate the insight

[@photorooster8865]

Being a Neumann you knew performance would be great. If owning a Neumann isn't important you can buy a matched pair of Roswell Mini 47's for about the same price and still have the performance. Nice review!

[@ferozegaming54hd39]

Congrats Andrew 40 k subs I am sitting with 35 your videos help me out alot I love them thanks helping small KZbinrs

[@Podcastage]

Thanks so much! Really appreciate it.

[@thisisbuster]

Hands down the best mic ever imo

[@kc-ug6gu]

hands down i agree with you

[@Kay_Locc]

@@kc-ug6gu do you think I should save my money and get the 102 over the 103?

[@MeTuLHeD]

Great review my man. Neumann's are golden. Hey Bandrew. You just gotta review the Roswell Pro Audio Mini K47. It's a way cool U47 clone at a stupidly low price.

[@D9Beats]

Dude you need to make a full song out of "some expensive mics" that song is a hit

[@JEOfficialMusic]

If you’re a singer songwriter producer like me something like this is mandatory if you really care about the difference in your sound. Not to mention save you money from going to the studio.

[@JT_Saenz]

I seriously cannot wait to try this baby out! .....just awaiting a Scarlet 2i2 in order to start recording, but it cannot arrive soon enough!! 😭🙏🏽

[@ishtamas9748]

I just came into around $10k in microphones. I know nothing about them. Thank you for this.

[@prexst]

Wow! Congrats. Looking to sell any?

[@ishtamas9748]

@@prexst I’ve sold a few since then on eBay and stuff

[@pip5528]

Shock mounts are necessary. Pop filters aren't because you can angle it at your mouth and not have it directly in front of it, but you can use a pop filter if you want.

[@jettsom]

I really love this mic. It is so versatile. This is the best mic in this price category. The only downside is that it is very very sensitive and you need some sound proofing of some sort in your studio.

[@theprogrammerrolandmc3039]

it's for home studio's it's not a high end mic it's a budget neumann.

[@thomas.cloutier-guay]

If acoustic is still an issue for you, try looking into dynamic mic, you can also try putting moving blankets for acoustic treatment on the cheap( will mostly affect treble reflection tho)

[@QuantumGamingUploads]

@@theprogrammerrolandmc3039 so this mic not ideal for pro studios in general? Tlm a better option 103? What would you say would be the ideal mic for a studio? Thank You

[@Tonyplat98]

Yeah I noticed that also it's hyper sensitive and the noise floor is boosted on this mic.. There's nothing you can do unless you remove that in post you will have a buzzing noise on your recordings with it. I wanted to like it but settled on microphone parts mic that you build yourself and it sounds way better than the neumann. I'll be selling mine soon.

[@diegoconti2646]

@@theprogrammerrolandmc3039 only the Neumann u87 is superior to it. The tlm is also better than the tlm 103.

[@MattManChildMarshall]

This Mic will be legendary.

[@DarkPa1adin]

this mic definitely blows NT1A, AT2035 out of the water! the "volume" or "body" is much fuller.

[@carlosdavidlocutor]

I'm aiming at this TLM for my next primary microphone. I currently have a Rode NT1-A, no complaints at all, but that Neumann is just killer!

[@carlosdavidlocutor]

@@hugoneko Si, yo grabo en una habitación tratada acústicamente y aislada de ruidos lo mejor posible. Si no tienes una sala correctamente tratada acústicamente, lo mejor es que no compres un Neumann como este,. Primero trata y aísla bien tu sala, y luego puedes pensar en uno así. Yo al final me decanté por un Neumann TLM 103.

[@novusordoseclorum1915]

Should you Upgrade the Interface or does the 2i2 does the trick?

[@JoeStuffzAlt]

The TLM 102 especially caught my attention with the used prices.

[@kesamek8537]

A very in-your-face bright sound if you need that style. An excellent review.

[@ChromeShade]

That sounds phenomenal. I love it

[@edgarshoe]

can't argue with the sound. wish it at least came with a nice protective case and at the very least a shock mount.

[@hoodiecloudd]

I’ve been rapping with a AKG 420 and listening to your voice bro this is the mic for me , crystal clear it’s time to upgrade even in 2022 , otherwise do you have any other recommendations?? I’m a serious rap artist looking for just natural clean vocals , top of the line get back to me if you can

[@fairfaxb1600]

Grab a 102 with an audient id22 bro it’s magic, my latest song was tracked with that

[@fairfaxb1600]

It’s a lot better than the Apollo twin x in my opinion

[@joelrose8514]

With no pop filter. Wow. Sounds so good.

[@lionheartroar3104]

I broadcast online with this microphone, and it makes a huge difference.

[@luisHARLEYLUIS]

Good, short and sweet. Nice Job. Keep it up.

[@Podcastage]

Hey thanks!

[@TheSilentEvil]

Obviously you're going to get the microphone!

[@hassanamin4014]

you get the 5/8" to 3/8" microphone's stand adapter!

[@RD-qp3li]

And you get some documentation !

[@cybermonkey4985]

Thanks for the info @Podcastage rly helpful 😃😃😃😃

[@noanoa5484]

Hey :) Don't you find that the TLM 102 sounds more like a sensitive dynamic than a condenser? I find it rather narrow sounding and therefore not good enough for professional folk vocals for instance. Am I wrong? It's a shame because I love the sweet velvety character it has.

[@nobodyhome3753]

My favorite microphone

[@ashurgeorge4604]

Has a really clean natural sound.

[@DaneBryantFrazier]

Deciding between this and the WA-87 primarily for vocals, but as well as acoustic guitars and percussion. Difficult choice. Anyone have any advice?

[@COZYFORREAL]

@podcastage did you know that neumann dropped TLM 102 quality recently? New series have a very doll sound with boosted lows

[@MrSasUGames]

Best test on youtube! Thanks! : D

[@Podcastage]

Thank you kindly. That makes me happy to hear. =)

[@Up_All_Night]

Well that cured my Neumann lust in less than five minutes. Not that the Neumann sounds bad or anything, but how good some cheaper condensers sound, and how fast diminishing returns can diminish.

[@EricLefebvrePhotography]

When recording in a properly treated whisper room you can tell the difference more. Our cheap mics have a louder noise floor and typically don;t have as smooth a sound with often harsh highs. They can defenitly work but if you are at the point where you are building a whisper room so you can record for large contracts these higher end mics start to be more important ... or so I'm told.

[@ImRichardShepherd]

Thank you, bro! Great video!

[@ontogeny6474]

Seems to tame semblance nicely too.

[@LIGHTSNH33T]

Love my 102... u def need a external preamp to bring out that shine..

[@officialstichel3824]

What preamp do you use

[@LIGHTSNH33T]

@@officialstichel3824 Golden Age Projects Pre 73 mkiii

[@corrinhuddleston6781]

Good explanation in this review!! Thanks

[@AliBaba-vw7mo]

tq for this amazing vid!

[@up8805]

For a homerecording studio which Is the best for you? Obviously a professional mic ? for a home recording studio However Great this in the video

[@matthooper5059]

I use mine for home recording and I take it to other studios that have lesser mic's. I love this little baby.

[@LouisLuzuka]

Wonderful review

[@INFOXlive]

Thank you for demonstration. Actually, voice over is a very broad topic with many various genres - advertisements, audiobooks, podcasts, narration, and so on. Choosing the wrong microphone for your voice and application can be frustrating and slow you down. A good microphone excites you. A microphone that isn't right for you won't help you develop your voice or other relevant talents. TLM 102 isn't it too difficult for residential use? It undoubtedly requires a shock mount and is not friendly with room acoustics. That mic requires a decent studio.

[@Podcastage]

Yes a mic that you enjoy that makes you confident is helpful. However, I don't agree that having a mic that's not right for you would hinder your development of talent. The recordings you're making will just be more difficult to process or maybe they won't sound exactly how you want them. I didn't have any issues with it in my residential recording use. But AudioHaze made a review of it and he lives in a noisier residential area and raised some very good points. AH video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l6DWl6N8ntylfac

[@INFOXlive]

@@Podcastage thank you for response. I'll look into the video you linked to. Thanks! But, absolutely, different people react differently to problems. Voices might sound drastically different with two separate microphones. It is frustrating if the sound is dull and cuts out the most. What has been lost cannot be replaced. Obviously, faulty headphones can make your microphone sound bad as well. So it's not always so clear. By the way, I believe KZbin drastically reduces sound quality. Have you compared your initial voice-recording on your computer to your KZbin app? This could be an excellent concept for video as well?

[@narmatovmusic3287]

tlm 102 vs at4040, what's the best one?

[@fizpop]

I will do no post-processing but will boost it in post, okie dokes :D :D

[@swhammondbuildsreviews]

I'd love to hear you test the Violet Globe or Amethyst. They're having a 50% off "winter sale" right now-really interested in picking one up, but there's few places where I can actually hear them.

[@nixgovekardjnix2888]

hi... I got same mic but while recording it gives me problem.......glitchy sound comes while recording

[@dirrtyb313]

I have to hit your page befo re I EVER MAKE A DECISION on a mic. You havent Ever steered me wrong bro. MAD props hopefully aLL IS Well with you fam

[@totoroid]

this mic has a really low output, i have amplify and boost it a shit ton to just make it sound halfway normal even with gain above half on focusrite, am i missing something

[@HarvinderSingh-yy8th]

I think TLM is overall best budget high end cm.

[@matthooper5059]

Just got one. Love it!!!! It popped up on Amazon with the option for 5 monthly payments.....I couldn't say no.

[@ahautevoix-voixoff-marseil6509]

Great advice! Thanx!

[@harshsuniltrivedi8284]

The Song made me smile ;)

[@PSORIK]

Я же верно понимаю, что запись происходит изначально на один канал, а после происходит сведение

[@GamelutioN1]

I think this mic doesn't handle the noise rejection feature very well.

[@Podcastage]

Yeah it's designed with the tone of the mic more than rejecting background noise.

[@EricLefebvrePhotography]

Would sound great in a whisper room.

[@JohnnyDukane]

Thank you for the input...

[@LEACHISRICH]

Excellent... Thanks

[@RadOo]

I'm wondering if this mic will be you primary microphone or not, I think some group of people would like see some test between this and SM-7B, but I don't think this is fair one due to the price and personal preferences.

[@Podcastage]

I love how this makes my voice sound, but I won't be using it for my podcast because I don't have a fully treated room and it wasn't designed with background noise rejection in mind.

[@younglove.music2867]

Podcastage bandrew buddy can I take the mic off your hands?

[@cdrom16]

Do you leave the Foam in the capsule or remove it?

[@stocksight]

Bandrew, great and interesting review! You also really like the Rode NT1, how would you compare the two? The NT1 sounded great during your review and as I recall is you daily broadcast mic and costs a lot less ???. SE Electronics (2200a II) also makes quality microphones at reasonable (not cheap) cost. Thanks

[@phillyman5000]

Sounds good....do you think the Neumann TLM 103 is better? It is more expensive but is the TLM worth the additional $$$?

[@waltertomaszewski1083]

It's also great on grand piano and string orchestra.

[@riktascale4]

Great review.

[@Eternal274]

where can you find TLM 102 sound drivers???

[@SherYarKhanOfficial]

Hiya, Which one would you recommend for recording male vocals TLM 103 or AT4040?

[@vismaypatelmusic]

Please review Tascam t80 Condensor Microphone...

[@xxmichi16xx13]

1:28 ?bm 800? lol but I can understand the rebranding with the name nw

[@jesusflores2121]

Sounds great!!! Is it $3-400 worth better? Idk, depends on what you want out of it.

[@spadeguzman6001]

is this better then the bluebird mic

[@karanshahi6047]

Neumann TLM 102 vs AKG C212? Which one is better for vocals and raps? Thank you for your suggestions!

[@DaveStarr100.3]

Love it. It's a great part of my locker

[@DaveStarr100.3]

Andrew M. Sheppard the mackie is my work horse for mid level Productions, I don't do anything major on anything less than my wheatstone lol LX24. Lovingly funded by a relatively lucrative radio contract I had last year. I love that thing. #ManCardIntact

[@DaveStarr100.3]

Andrew M. Sheppard don't ask the man to do that lol that's cruel!

[@DaveStarr100.3]

Andrew M. Sheppard you're on your own there lol

[@jKHAHN215PA]

Best shock mount and pop filter??

[@henrikpetersson3463]

Really expensive? I think it's very affordable. Expensive mics are over $1500 for me.

[@Podcastage]

Enjoy the expensive mics. =)

[@henrikpetersson3463]

Hah, thanks! I'm enjoying the TLM102 a lot though! Fantastic little workhorse mic for the money. I think the whole TLM line is great. The 107 and 67 are my favorites, then the 102.

[@theteddychannel8529]

The tlm 103 is my go to and it's great, for the moment i'm using a beyerdynamic mc 930

[@theteddychannel8529]

Lol that's funny because they actually belong to my dad, who's a voice actor and so y'know lmao

[@yvngcashtro]

Good for you....

[@samradhkrishna9542]

Best mic reviewer in youtube

[@AbhishekRajput-zq7xi]

Is it a good idea to remove the foam inside the grill for a presence boost, what drawbacks it might have if i do so ??

[@thoughtius1051]

You. Friggin. Rock. Stay Golden.📡

[@JoshuaMeek-Wicker]

keep in mind this is an rf condensor mic not a fet, wayyyy better for all weather conditions and has very low self noise because of the low voltage to the diapraghm

[@Podcastage]

Thanks for that information that's great to know.

[@DragoFTWTM]

Make a song with the mic its a complete studio mic it would be amazing

[@malinikolineklauseth]

I just got one, its soo cute! I'm a bit confused as to why I need to set the gain to around 2-3 o'clock when my Focusrite Itrack solo has the same amount of gain as the Scarlett. Does anyone know?

[@mroctober3657]

You recommend a pop-filter with this mic but it already has an in-built pop filter. Wouldn't using a second external pop filter be detrimental?

[@maybedrouet]

Where do you see that the mic comes with a built-in pop filter? In the operating manual, they refer to it as an accessory that is recommended.

[@mroctober3657]

@@maybedrouet It's a piece of foam placed inside the actual basket of the microphone. You can see in this video where the guy removes it kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZK7i3Rpat5rpKc