UT Twin87 vs. Neumann M149 - Microphone Shootout 🎤

Shooting out my Neumann M149 (currently my #1 vocal microphone) against my United Studio Technologies UT Twin 87 which clones a vintage and modern U87 and U87Ai (using the Vintage setting for this shootout).

[@williamholder2969]

Thanks so much for posting this demo! Great singing BTW! To me, in this application, the M149 is the recording that I would use. I just sounded better, more body, more depth, while the Twin seemed to push forward more of a “nasally” tone which made vocal sound a little bit harsher, and a tad more boxed in than the M149. With that said, I’m not at all sure that you would not get the same result had you used a real U87 instead. The Twin is a really good sounding microphone. At this price point, it’s a no brainer! I definitely plan to add a couple of these to my collection.

[@frubo_ssg]

For me no millisecond needed to decide: The M149 sounds much fuller and more pleasant - the 87 sounds "stripped down".

[@EandVEntertainment]

It's all about what you're going for with the song. The M149 has a bigger sound. The Twin87 is more focused. That's more a tube mic vs FET mic thing. If you have a big song with lots of orchestration, the FET mic will cut through better. If you want a more intimate sound, the tube mic is the way to go. You can also use the tube mic for leads and the FET mic on background vocals to great effect. I use a FleA 49 for my lead vocals and the TLM49 for my background vocals for this reason. My wife usually uses our custom U67 on leads and our U87ai on background vocals.

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

Totally, I agree. They are very different sounding mics.

[@rollowarlin8450]

You are ever so right. l've spent the last 3 yrs studying sound and how various mics respond. Your advice as to using a valve or non valve is spot on.

[@koffergriff4759]

The Neumann destroyed the Twin87 No comparisson

[@TheRealTMajor]

Both work I like the body of the 149 but they both sound nice mixed

[@scottemmonsmusic6001]

The UT has a hyped high end to my ears

[@keithferris9574]

I have the Twin87, and it's phenomenal.

[@kos.studio9304]

Twin87 cut through the mix, I would choose on raspy kinda vocal tone, m149 suits your voice better IMO because of tube saturation made your vocal thicker on thin vocal tone(didn't mean to offend). Great singing.

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

All good. Thanks for watching ☺️

[@LEXRAPS]

I use the WA-8000 for lead vocals and Twin 87 for backgrounds and adlibs. Shit is butter!! 🔥

[@Tav_cr]

That Twin Mic doesn't have anything to do against the Neumann and you can tell in the first 3 seconds.

[@nicefish10]

The M149 definitely sits in the mix better and has a better texture for this softer edged song. If you were doing something that was heavier, more distorted guitars than the other one might be better, but I think the M1 49 still has way better fuel, and weight to it sonically.

[@JustSean777]

Lol felt like my favorite show was coming on nice song great sing love the energy as well ❤

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

Thanks :)

[@drakewatkins2624]

The 87 is surprisingly good but when you did the reverb with compression that 149 sounded much fuller

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

Thanks for listening 😁

[@christianwittwer8156]

Thanks for that man

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

Happy I could help 😁 …was a fun experiment!

[@OverdriveMusic]

Neumann all the way!

[@JustSean777]

Wow that mic actually sounds good, it gets harsh in the highs compared to the m150

[@actofjoy]

High pass filter was turned on sounds like…?

[@george8920]

WoW - MASSIVE difference - the Neumann sounds 3D and Rich - the other mic sounds like a 2 dollar PC mic for gaming

[@guitarheadhunt]

The M149 in for the win here. No comparison. The M149 sounds much better on your voice. It has a bigger fuller sound without sounding muddy. The twin 87 sounds very thin and pointed in the midrage not in a harsh way. After hearing the M149 on your voice the 87 just sounds cheap. Yes the 87 can cut through a mix but so does the M149. The 87 is missing the details the M149 has. I recently picked up a Beesneez BU67. That also sounds loads better than the UT Twin 87. I would have to hear the UT mic in it's other settings but so far not impressed with what I hear here. You voice sounds great and the M149 makes it sound that much better.

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

Thanks for the feedback 😁 …I owned a Beezneez 87i and it was imo the worst sounding condenser mic I’ve ever owned 😆 …happy to hear yours sounds better! Make sure to shoot it out for a proper comparison though just double check 😁

[@guitarheadhunt]

@@DavidDiMuzioLessons I'm not sure how the beesneez Bu87 sounds. I have the Bu67 tube mic. I hear lots of great things about their 87 style mic. Me personally I don't like 87 style mics. At least the ones I have heard. A 47, 67 or the 251 style seems to suit me better. I do like that M149 you have . To bad it's over 5k.

[@stevirino]

Appreciated!

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

You’re welcome ☺️

[@vladlabyrinth6335]

Is this was the vintage mode? And HPF was turned off? Very strange that UT lacks about 5 db low shelf of gain

[@CrimsonHeart3]

On my phone speaker the 87 had more presence and the voice felt stronger, with headphones it might be different

[@kenturnbull5450]

might be ?

[@heythere6983]

@ken turnbull Well your both right, it’s different but not how you’re implying . The differences are still the same just better articulated . The u87 has more midrange present and is not as big sounding but it’s upfront, the 149 sounds bigger but not better and is more mellow . The 87 sounds better with the track, since the track music isn’t huge sounding. The 149 sounds out of place, too big and soft. The 87 works for the track .

[@kenturnbull5450]

@@heythere6983 I am not implying anything about the microphones

[@fuchidawagyu7815]

The M149 is far superior to the UT TWIN 87. From your videos I feel the STAM87 is better than the UNITED87 too....your thoughts on that ?

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

The Stam 87 & Twin 87 sound a bit different, but they both sound great and are my favorite two 87 emulations ...if anything, I actually prefer them both over a REAL 87 in my tests. You can't go wrong with either one.

[@olajideparis]

Well the M149 sounds better in isolation, more low end weight, while the u87 is better in the mix and cuts through a lot easier.

[@SpencerP96]

I actually like the 87 more in the mix. In isolation the M149 wins.

[@Thebrunofamily2k]

Which one would be good for Voice Overs?

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

Either one really.

[@danielbinderman1478]

How do you think this mic compares to the stam sa87 mk3 which you reviewed? Great voice!

[@chinmeysway]

Great company; support non noymin companies always ❤

[@CatDieselPwr]

Neumann= FM radio, United 87= AM radio

[@badmiddens]

listening to raw, the Neumann sounds lovley, the UT sounds like the Neumann with an aggressive HP filter. No likey.

[@larrycom]

149

[@Консуэлла-к3з]

Hello !Which preamp do you use ?

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

For this the Undertone Audio MPDI-4

[@Консуэлла-к3з]

Thank you

[@ripdocholiday9650]

the ut twin 87 sounds better in the mix

[@narrator-timothymckean]

Two completely different colors, and different capsules. Not really an issue of "better".

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

I just thought it would be an interesting comparison since I own both. They are still both large diaphragm condenser microphones originally made by Neumann :)

[@Max-ge3jf]

Ouh I thought all the time it is the neumann u87 and wonderes why this is so bad

[@audiobloomstudios]

Tested it on a view artists like female singers and male rappers. To me it was to sibilant. Prefer the townsend labs l22 u87 emulation.

[@DavidDiMuzioLessons]

Try the vintage mode with the RF filter switched on (the manual explains how to do this). That might get you closer to a sound you’re happy with from it. This recording was with the RF filter switched off though fyi.

[@audiobloomstudios]

@@DavidDiMuzioLessons thanks, but dont have this mic any more. Maybe i will give it a second try someday. Didnt like the shockmount too, cause it didnt keep the mic in place properly.

[@TrapBoiFuse561]

man bro stop the cap no eqs no comp lmao the mic dont sound like with out it

[@heythere6983]

The difference is still obvious . It’s not transforming into another mic . A thinner raspy mic will still sound thinner and raspy, a bigger bolder mic will still have that vibe. You can put a shirt on a chihuaha it’s still a chihuaha

[@CJ-uy6pw]

With a voice as thin as yours you won’t be able to know why the 149 eats other microphones for breakfast. Next time get a deep rich singer and you’ll know why there is no comparison

[@СергейЧупин-м9ы]

UT Twin87 doesn`t sound good.... 149 is the perfect mic

[@dbaker5478]

I think the Twin 87 wins!!!!

[@JuanNungaray]

🤦🏻‍♂️😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@JuanNungaray]

Wash your damn ears, maybe you own that garbage wannabe u87 and are biased. 🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@heythere6983]

He’s right the 87 fits better. You guys aren’t paying attention to the whole track and how it fits . The 149 is too much for the track . You’d need a better chain for the piano and other instruments so they can also sound big. The other instruments sound too small for the 149 here . The 87 is more fitting here and therefore wins because it makes more sense

[@fuchidawagyu7815]

@@heythere6983 i disagree with the M149 his voice sits in the mix well, with the United 87 he is siting above it, and his voice gets grating in the United.