U67, M149, U87, MK4, SM57 - Do You Hear the Difference?

[@LazzaroMusic]

U67 for everything!

[@DjBydLo]

Thanks! U67 and Schoeps are the realistic ones to me, probably in the end you will make them sound like the U87 with some eq and things...

[@mickelachlan]

Thank you, well done. Would love to hear the older 414 EB / ULS / TL2 in a similar comparison with the Neumanns.

[@b-music9329]

The U67 wins hands down, no question. It has the fullest roundest most natural sound.

[@tom_k_d]

Thanks, nice shootout. May I ask which mic pre was used? Any further processing?

[@hofa_en]

Hello Tom, If we remember correctly, we used RME Octamic preamps for the video and no further processing. Hope you enjoyed the video 🙂 Best wishes

[@tom_k_d]

@@hofa_en Thanks! So there is further room for improvement with the U87ai, which from my experience profits a lot from a transformer based pre - this makes U87ai my number one pic in this test. Very good comparison, especially knowing now it was done using the ultraclean RME pre. SM57 is standing strong, too, considering it's price point.

[@djscorpie]

Thank you for the video ! Great Shootout ! can you please tell me witch u87 used here ? the i version or the Ai ? thank you

[@hofa_en]

Hello, thanks for your comment! Very happy to hear you enjoyed the video 🙂 We used the Neumann U87 Ai microphone for the test. Best wishes from Karlsdorf, Germany

[@JimmyDevere]

To me, I can see why the Schoeps and M149 are used on a lot of classical sources for balanced tone and good mix between instruments, especially the Schoeps. The others I think would sound good as individual mics but not so good as an ambient mic, particularly the Shure. The 87 has a brighter more modern pop tone to me.

[@palodine1]

U67 and U87 were my favs. the 87 was brighter but the 67 was more well rounded. to my ears

[@DarkRattlehead]

The 57 did not sound good, but we expected that since it's not suited for that type of recording... Oddly enough, the Schoeps mic (which is an amazing mic) did not sound nearly as good as I thought it would. The U67 was definitely the most balanced of the 3 Neumanns. They all sounded good but the M149 has a little annoying thing in the mids. Nothing that coudn't be corrected with EQ, but why EQ when you have a U67? As for the U87, it sounded really cool on the vocals but it adds a tiny bit too much top end on the guitar. It would have sounded better with the strings dampened between the nut and the tuners. If the high frequency resonances are too prominent, a bright mic will make the guitar sound really annoying.

[@noone-t8y]

No doubt about it. Every time the u67 came across, it just pleased the ears. No argument at all actually. The SM57 and Shoeps both sounded thick, and dark in. contrast. The other Neumanns would do fine, with a little EQ work, but as you say, why when you can just use the 67 and have a radio ready vocal! The 87 is a close second.

[@horizonevents2223]

It is indeed pretty interesting, I personally prefer the very flat, extremely silky and yet very detailed sound of the Schoeps, usually for me, I much prefer it over the neumann recordings, but in this specific take, it was a little bit lacking.

[@kevincross8372]

Surprised by the 57 in close comparison to real mics! Had the privilege of using a 67 so it may just be blind preference but I do feel that it builds demention and is just more presint through multiple ranges!

[@jodywhite1971]

I thought the U67 sounded the best. The U87 sounded similar but was hyped on the top end. The Schoeps was my 2nd favorite. The M149 had something weird in the guitar mids that I just really didn't like. And the 57 sounded like a 57, not exactly it's primary application.

[@ocularrecords]

This is my exact thoughts. The U67 had the best overall sound.

[@virgogreg]

The Shchoeps was surprisingly good considering comparing with the most sort after U67 and 87 condenser mics

[@rvninnorthcarolina3377]

All this assumes that you are listening to the comparisons on a quality audio system for playback. On my system the UC67 sounded the most natural but I can say the SM57 with some heavy dsp could be made to sound good to.... and for starting engineers 57's and 58's are affordable and versatile and work well in many applications. Heck, In my live days, I have used an SM58 as a hammer and then put it on stage for vocal duty :-) (not kidding)

[@pinemonster5614]

I think in studio on monitors you can hear huge difference

[@garrettlinehan467]

We like it alot

[@andivax]

Schoeps wow!

[@cmath8577]

I disagree. I'n this instance , I think the 57 was more focused and did not pick up any unwanted reflections that seem to show up in the other mics. That doesn't mean it was perfect but I liked it the most

[@tanukibrahma]

U67 might be better, for but the price difference, the U87 wins on this source for me. Usually I'd expect the M149 to win, but not on his voice.

[@phillipphillip367]

Yeah agree. u67 is a bit better, but for the price difference u87 ai is way to go.

[@intervalkid]

Believe this I don't. Even the placement would make more difference.

[@GigiDAmico]

57 for the price win easily

[@askyles91]

57

[@phuzbrain]

They all sounded quite good but I would go with the U67.

[@myhustleworld]

U87 the best!

[@rhubarb99999]

With a little EQ and reverb .. 99.9% of listeners would not hear any difference between any of those mics.

[@pronginator]

I'm so deaf, I can only tell when the 57 is used...:(

[@chhau123]

And there’s KZbin compression and downgrading, I don’t see what’s the point of these videos

[@trevorwilkinson8647]

57 sounded dope.

[@thirteentone]

I found true professional can make music even with SM57. But a lot of costy outboards would be needed, I think...

[@jochenh.7428]

A bad test. As always, the results depend on the position of the microphone and the recording situation. You don't know the preamp and the cables. I've had a 1963 Telefunken U 67 in the studio a while ago and it came to live, when I changed to a Chandler Redd.47. At hofa, they have a neutral sounding SSL AWS console. Do you know their cables? Vovox standard? You can choose cables, that show you more of the spirit of your microphone. The sound of the mics will also change with the distance to the singer. And what's with the KZbin audio compression? I am pretty careful with such tests.

[@cesarcamilocipagauta4936]

3:34 3:40 3:46 3:51

[@shanelandstrom1597]

Best to worst - U67, U87, CMC5, M149, SM57. I can't believe some like the 57 best but that's ok. I'd be happy with the 67 or 87. I wonder if the 87 was vintage or ai

[@baldinwallyTV]

57 has a flat response. Which is good. Its also too far away in this instance. Move it in closer and it would be as loud and full as the condensers. Its a great clean mike if you put it in the right spot. You can color it to your hearts content with plug ins afterwards. And its like $70.

[@behindthescreen5449]

u 67 perfect

[@BhadohiMusicSchool]

Love from India

[@xaviergomezdelatorre6718]

sm57 for the price, and U67 or U87 for sound.

[@fripsebibs]

A very strange voiceover

[@texasbound7089]

u67 wins !

[@zip7806]

Thank You. That you just proved a $99. SM57 is just as good as a $5,000. Neumann. If not better on Guitar.

[@jodywhite1971]

I disagree. You couldn't call the results with the SM57 professional. I listened with nice headphones, and the difference was blaring. But, is it a $4900 difference? I'd say no. There are several other options below $1000 that will get you seemless results. Also, the amount of gain it took on the SM57 to match the other mics was probably very disproportional. This situation is not where a 57 will shine, compared to close-miking a drum, guitar amp, or a person speaking. It also has great rejection, so it can be used in live situations, whereas you'd hardly ever do that with the other mics.

[@zip7806]

@@jodywhite1971 I was kidding. I work for a high end, low cost Microphone manufacturer. Hows the weather in Georgia this time of year? Could you please recommend some good music venues in the Savannah area?

[@zip7806]

My East Coast manager is currently organizing my East coast tour, but she hasn't mentioned any shows in Georgia...

[@jodywhite1971]

ZZP Zing Pheonix ha! Well...ya got me! I actually live in Nashville now. And funny enough, I have a place on Tybee Island (near Savannah). What size venues? Full band or solo/duo? Savannah is kinda hurting for venues right now, they’re have a few key ones close the last few years. But, blindly, I’ll recommend: Barrelhouse South The Jinx Dub’s The Wormhole (divey college venue) Congress St. Social Club Coach’s Corner (mostly tribute bands) I have others in mind but, not knowing your music I don’t wanna presume too much/too little.

[@zip7806]

@@jodywhite1971 I'm Solo Singer/song writer on Guitar and piano. Americana country ballads. Are you loving Nashville? I'm coming out there to Attend Summer NAMM and to record my album at Welcome to 1979. I'm always looking to work with other songwriters. Are there many Open Mic opportunities out there?

[@蔡成钰]

哈哈哈哈 木吉他我觉得57最好听 动圈低频多

[@intentional2048]

u87 ai is too bright

[@tourna-mix7557]

67 and 87 for the win IMO....they actually sounded quite similar to each other. The sm57 sounded terrible - as one would expect in this application.

[@moitoieuxnous1648]

minimal sound difference even watching a sound wave editor... certainly not worth 2000$ any EQ job can transform a sm57 into a u67... this is classic audiofool bullshit

[@mytubecup1854]

Very wrong, you can try to eq a 57 during hours, the "texture" would be different. You cannot summing up the sound quality with just freqencies, fortunately. Why do you think people are ok for pay 8000 € a vintage U67 ?

[@baldinwallyTV]

@@mytubecup1854 like he said...they are "audiofools"

[@mytubecup1854]

@@baldinwallyTV ...or maybe they just can hear that a U67 is a fantastic mic. (Although I would agree that 8000 € is a too expensive value now). U67, 47, C12, etc are used by the best sound engineers and owned by the best recording studios of the world. Do you really think that they are audiofools ?

[@raymondwilson3255]

Do you know who usually says things like this? People who can only afford a 57... There's no question that an SM57 is "good enough" for most people. I used to think that too. I went from a 58 in the early 2000's to a C3000 to a KSM44 to a U87AI to now an M149. It really was a graduation on each move EVEN THOUGH the differences were subtle each time. When I was using a 58 and carving out a ton of mids it worked BUT my customers really didn't feel anything different than they could do themselves. An RND pre with the M149 through my AWS brings out the absolute best performance from my customers because they hear themselves in ways they've not experienced previously. There's an old saying in recording studios...you'll spend your first $5k and get 95% of everything you'll ever need. You'll spend all the REAL MONEY to gain that last 5%. The difference? The latter gets you paid. Along the line, when working with great gear, the experiences you gain are genuine. It's not to say you can't get it done with minimalistic gear but it COULD be the difference of having customers or not. If the setup is just for you then this is all a moot point... You don't need a Lambo to get to work but there's no question that the ride will be a hella different experience.

[@flattardianspresident5502]

@@raymondwilson3255 i have a 67.. 17 guitar a grand piano and a full studiio I use mostly akg c414 and a bubch of mic. But the only reason i have u67 is for the client There isnt major differebce these day between a u67 and clones.. The cost of hand labor in germany is what your paying for Not sonic superiority. Hell i even track some signed with old crappy dymanic mic and with all the effect plugins hardware that the sound goes trought these day nobody can tell wich mic was on the source.

[@meagainokay7673]

This video is so out of sync I can't watch it. Oh well...

[@meagainokay7673]

@The Kratome Oh yeah I just noticed that haha! Thanks!

[@anatol1204]

Boring song

[@anatol1204]

@Roger Trautman this song will be the cause of the 3rd w.war..and we will use microphones😆