Neumann U87ai vs Neumann TLM 102 (Feat. the Neve Portico 2 and RME UFX)

[MarceloKiChannel]

Hi, your microphones are extraordinary! Your video is very nice to percept what microphone is more sensible! The sound of the u87 ai is perfect!!!! I bought one tlm 102 and I'm waiting to come from EUA! I bought from ebay! Please, where can I find a Neumann U87AI with price about U$ 2.000,00? It's the price to buy a brand new microphone? Thank you very much! Where can I buy audio equipaments to home studio with lowest price?

[NinjaTrack]

We could have done without the passage reading. It would have been nice to see how you compared the two mics. What was your conclusion based upon?

[rcarrillo7]

Great poem.

[TheNaziKiller1]

what software?



[gerudobombshell]

@TheNaziKiller1 Reaper

[AndresMileno]

This video was fucking necessary to be on youtube

[jsgilbert1]

Really? Really! You set up your pre's to get the best sound out of each microphone. You need another set of ears, because on my worst day I can get my U87 to sound better than that. The 102 (and before it, the 103) were simply designed so that people who can't afford a u87 would still be able to buy a Neumann. There is nothing about the 102 that deserves having the Neumann name. It's so that somebody thinking about buying an MXL might throwin another couple hundred bucks to get a Neumann.

[wilgates9]

@jsgilbert1 Lol well put

[ewupawly]

try yelling into the mic, that will show us the difference

[shawshank73]

@ewupawly

This is true. The sound of the TLM 102 will "thin-out". The U87 will keep the dynamic range.

[Deckardiz]

@shawshank73 But this thing, and 'one of the worst defects dell'u87.

If you raise your voice, without shouting, intubation is .. a sort of compression.

And 'well known.

[BANGERS68]

87 every day.. each mic for diferent tricks tho..

[vaporettos]

HAL's voice

[girotube]

Hey would have been good to sing and drive the Portico pre-amp for a musical A/B of both mics..

Your speech voice on the U87ai sounded like the same stuff I hear on film dubs! and a more metallic sound to it.. that boost on the mids, which I hammer down with the EQ LOL

We all love the Classic sound that we get with the U87 but the TLM was very sweet sounding...

[moviafilmes]

I love U87!

[zaperfan]

U87ai natural sounding the 102 is OK but a little muddy to my ears!!!

[decemberswitch]

Thanks for the amazingly useful shootout. I have a u87ai which sounds just like yours :) I am considering a 102. It seems that the 102 is much warmer which would cause mud on certain types of male voices in a music mix. But I think it would be great as is on voiceovers and solo work. The trusty u87 is transparent and not as hyped. However with modern pop music people are often looking for hyped. How do you like the two mics on different voices and instruments?

[boderrickshorter]

they both sound great i got the tlm 103 and i think to get the better sound u need a nice preamp i run the avalon with mine and yeah it needs more eq after the fact as this u 87 is brighter to me so im buying it i really record music on the daily and to no the BIG difference you gotta own the product and your ears would adjust to the overall sound and trust me youll b surprised 102/103 are great beginner mics but u 87 is on the pro level people like i said you gotta own it to no it

[bendix5]

Thank you so much for doing this, really, really helpful!

To me the TLM 102 sounds a bit muddy in the top range and kills the natural sibilance of the speaker which I think is extremely important. It's that high end which is the first to go as you build your mix and starting with that natural crisp sound is what you're paying for. I'm convinced.

[Deckardiz]

There is very little difference, calculating the cost of four times lower.

The 102 sounds full, round and very warm.

The bottom 87 has a crazy hole, best mix, but seems slightly more glass and less body.

[jessegimbel]

Thanks so much for doing this, it's very helpful! Great voiceover too! The 102 seems like it'd be really great as a counterpart to the 87 as the seem to do somewhat opposite things in the upper mids. The 102 mellows and has an almost dynamic mic quality, while the 87 has more of the presence boost that helps when you need things to cut through a dense mix. The most helpful thing to me here is hearing that the 102 indeed does have a Neumann character and isn't overly clean. Thanks!

[TheOhannashow]

They are Rycote shockmounts

[Mr0thankyou]

They are Rycote shockmounts

[GanjaCityStudio]

where you get them shock mounts ??

Big difference 87 is alot clearer

[GanjaCityStudio]

where you get them shock mounts ??

[181851]

The 102 sounds as though it will need additional EQ to enhance the top end, but the U87 sounds like it needs no additional processing.

[gibaha]

dang see the 87 is a conspiracy its bunk

[MRohmygodnoway]

I listened in HD trough my Genelec 8040's in the studio

The TLM 102 sounds much warmer, fuller than the U87Ai which to me just got beaten by the TLM 102 taken the price into account. Just my humble opinion.

[mixey01]

How come the TLM 102 sounds much fuller to me, the U87i seems thin. Am I the only one having that opinion?

[brain96969]

@mixey01 TLM 102 sounds much fuller to me, the U87i more transparent

[TheJamezMan]

Both are good. Especially for different uses.

[LennyBoyDK]

Wow, I'd almost say that the TLM 102 sounds a lot better than the U87ai.

[Legenden81]

@LennyBoyDK You have to be kidding...?