Microphone shootout Neumann u87 VS DIY U87 clone
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 พ.ย. 2020
- Here we put a bonafide Neumann U87 against The NoMann, my DIY u87 clone by Microphone Parts. We check it out on guitar, drums, vocals, and snare. I built the NoMann from a donor MXL 990 body, using M.P's complete kit(capsule, electronics, and new head basket). But I'd suggest just buying M.P.'s complete kit. No wasting time pulling an old mic apart, and it looks better when it's done.
In every case, you're hearing the exact same performance, with the mics side by side, and far enough out that they are getting the same signal, then played back to back - the way shootouts SHOULD be done. The preamps are my Cranborne Audio Camdens, and in each case the MOJO dial is OFF so the true sound of the microphone is captured.
No whining about my less than stellar playing and gear. The point is if you're hearing bad drum overtones, or ghastly fret squeaks, or flat vocals, are you hearing them the same through each mic, or do they sound different?
Guitar - 1 drumstick out, about 12-14th fret. Mics are on top of each other so they're the exact same distance from the soundhole. This is a critical part of shootouts that people often neglect.
Kick and snare - 6' out, directly in front of the snare and about 3' high to capture the whole kit. I did kick separately from snare/hat because I don't play drums.
Vocals - about 14" out, side by side, with pop filtre.
At the end there is a rough mixed version where I added in my Carvin 5 string bass directly into the Cranborne Audio Camdens with some Thump Mojo added. Fat and delicious.
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M.P. is not paying me, as I'm sure you can tell. And if the guys from Micparts read this: pay a studio to do a real shootout like this against the real mic by Neumann, or AKG or whomever on all your mics. Trust me, in the world of studio gear, guys want to hear it against the real thing. It will be the best money you ever spent. The Neumann U87 is Mic #1
Enjoy. - เพลง
The reveal as to which is which is in the description.
Awesome. I wrongly believed that Mic#2 was the Neumann. Excellent job.
Haha definitely an awesome review sir, thank you for the Post
Nice! Thanks fo all your hard work here! I chose the first mic every single time for clarity but my guess was mic number two was Neumann because it had more of a vintage sound. It came through very clearly on my Marantz.
i guess I'm quite randomly asking but do anyone know of a good site to stream new tv shows online?
@Neil Bruno flixportal :D
This is EXACTLY how microphone comparisons should be done Sir! hope to hear more of this in this channel.
Agreed 100%
Wow. They’re darn close but I thought the second mic just had a touch more detail and clarity. Sounds like the clone is an excellent value.
Thank you for taking the time to create and upload this video. People like you are the reason TH-cam is such a success. You did a beautiful job. I'm very grateful.
Holy crap! I actually *prefer* the NoMann!!
You're a fantastic musician. You are the one making these mics sound good.
I was going to be highly surprised if Mic 1 hadn't been the Neumann. That being said, great job on the build, it sounds great, and you produced an excellent video with a very well done shoot out. Good playing too!
I am doing this mod this week Jan 31, 2021. I did just the capsule upgrade to start out, sounded so much better I bought the pcb upgrade. Anxious to get it completed. Thanks for the video 👍(thumbs up here as I know you don’t care about them on your channel)
Oh Yes! I prefer the NoMann, it sounded a bit more smooth, I honestly thought it was the Neumann. Thanks for this shootout!
Me too.
Same here. I have a vintage 87 from 1971 and it sounds very similar to mic number 2. Soft and warm
This was great! Thank you so much for doing this. The mic parts sounded sooo good to me! It was the clear winner to my ears! I modded a tube mic using Microphone parts RK-12 capsule and it is so nice. I choose it over my neuman tlm 102 all the time. Microphone parts rules!
Great review and great performance!!
Love the honesty,great guy hands down... great voice man!!
Love your style . I could not tell the difference on any take .
Performance is almost everything .
GOOD JOB .
This is how shoot outs should all be... awesome video. Well done. Also I’ve been told I’m wise behind my ears and I could hardly tell a difference
You are good and funny LOL.
This one of the best clone shootouts on TH-cam, congrats!
And for that reason, I subscribed :).
This is so good!! I actually prefer the DIY mic! That is wild, you definitely have done this perfectly. Great voice! Solid pitch and nice delivery, well done all round.
I absolutely just knew that mic #2 was the Neumann. Shocked! This was great.
OMG! I liked them both but favored the NoMann. I'm sold. Thanks for the comparison.
THanks, this was a great shoutout ! No need for fancy singing/playing/ whatever, differences were pretty obvious to my ears :)
I immediately recognize the clone, and like the majority of them, it as a more prominent low end and top end. The U87 is definitely smoother and more detailed. Not a bad mic though for the price !
Very nicely done!
great video! thanks..really helpful how you did the comparisons..
Wow! Amazingly close!
Thanks for this video! So good! And by the way: nice playing!!
Great job with the video and playing! There are small but noticeable differences between the two mics. The MP mic had a touch more low-end (on guitar) and a very pleasant hi-mid bump. Thanks for sharing!
NO…..!!!!! I am in disbelief after reading the description... That last paragraph of the description is GOLD.
Great shootout. I couldn't hear a difference. I love your attitude. I too am frugal with my gear.
I do these kind of comparisons a lot and they sound the same to me. Nice!
marvelous review. it just rocks. 👍👍👍
and about the mic... they sound pretty close to me, just noticed a really tiny difference and i guessed the 1rst one was the Neumann, but boy you have made a Nodoubtmann great replica.
Thanks so so so much for this review, it's as enlightenment as enjoyable. Thanks ! 🙏
Great video!
Thank you, this was super helpful. I prefer the Clone.
Really interesting, i guessed the neumann correctly, it seemed to have some more depth and more 'tail' on the sound, but there were definately places where i preferred the MP.
That shows me again that you need to make a decision relative too the situation/source :)
both were fantastic. There was a little more definition in a mic in the test. I think I would be very happy with a cheaper mic with such a high performance. The PCB was designed by a famous sound guy.
Very interesting!! Great comparison. Before checking the true identities, I felt #2 just had something a little extra. More dimension/depth. More, air? Otoh, #1 had a more pleasing bass response, particularly noticeable on the kick drum. Been meaning to try a MP kit. Got 2 donors, this may have put me over the edge. Thanks!
i just had a 990XF circuit mod and K 47 capsule installed in my 990 and OMG sooo good over stock 990
BOOM, mic 2 is warmer, more buttery and perfect for voice. I prefer the tone quality.
Wow. I heard the lower bass come out in #2 and I can see why those freqs were designed out of the Neumann. But all in all the mics had veeery similar color. Either way you stack it that clone's worth is waaay beyond its cost. Thanks this was good.
Like your attitude ! No frills. I have a S-87 and I still get a kick out of those comparisons. I will get a 2nd one for stereo takes. This mic is wonderful. I have to say that #1 was smoother, and #2 a little harsher/agressive in raw takes but it got closer after treatment - of course. I use mine with a 737sp behind and ooooooh boy, it is nice, the difference between both is very sleek. The money I saved I was able to use for the 737sp which can be used as an insert, unlike the U87. Kidding, tho. I'd still love to add that legend of a mic to my collection. Thank you for this cool, very objective video.
Hmmm, I am, surprisingly, impressed with my ears. I guessed the Nuemann was No.1. Just a little more air.
I knew right away that #1 is Neumann bc it has something like a compression on it, second mic has more dynamics and I wouldn't like that if I wanted a 87 clone, other than that #2 is veeeery slighlty darker and sounds almost exaclty the same if we forget the dynamics thing. Thank you for the comparison!
The Neumann is a bit smoother in the middle and tighter on the bottom end, but honestly they both sound great!!
Nomann sounds really good!
You had me at shaker!
Awesome 👏
Хорошее сравнение, спасибо бро
Feel good now. I bought a u87 clone from a guy in Brooklyn. I like it, but never had a comparison. Thanks
Thanks for the nice comparison. Listening to them by headset without watching the video It seemed to me as if someone closed or opened the curtain when changing between the mics. Later I saw it was mic1 with open, mic2 with closed "curtains" => mic 1 was more open and detailed.
They both sounded good better then my scarlett
Great Vid man thanks alot! My first guessn was U87 #1, Nomann sounds more sparkling and in your face at first glance on my Macbook speakers,
but U87 is more balanced and and easier to go with on the long run in the mix, in my ears.
They are definitely both great mics but a Neumann is still a Neumann, especially when one wants to sell it one day…
Great Music by the way, I especially liked the phat and trashy snare sound, fits well into the overall mood of the song to me.
What made me realize that Mic #1 was the Neumann was the transient response.
It just picked up the kicks, snares, and strumming of the guitar better. All percussive elements sounded snappier and crisper.
There was barely a difference on vocals. A small difference, yes, but still barely a difference. You'd be hard-pressed to pick the difference in those mics out in a full mix on vocals.
Exactly my realisation too. Snappier and crisper but less brittle. And I am absolutely not a gear nerd and believe they are overpriced, but I could hear these differences
One seems to represent more of the frequency spectrum. If that's the Nomann I'm buying one. I have David Royer's replica , Mojave MA- 300 love it. Good shoot out
Thanks
Mic #1 is the winner more clear ! Mic #2 has a little distortion !
Mic #2 had a little distortion on the high end.
I prefer mic 2. Regardless of that though, the sheer value of the NoMann in comparison is staggering. $424 for the MXL990 and the mods from mic parts (with the old circuit replacement) and to end up with the two sounding so similar.
I did not like the clone on its own but i was surprised how powerful and round the clone mix was sounding. Clone in the mix is my favorite!
Yes, absolutely. Mic #1, the Neumann, just seems to compress the individual tracks in quite a smooth, to my feel soft brush-stroke kind of way which appealingly takes an edge off, but then in the mix the cumulative effect is a slight loss of life.
I thought mic 2 will be neuman u87 because I felt it was a bit warmer and a bit less high endish. But wow both mics seems to sound vintage and great.
This is Produce Like a Pro in drugs awesome! love it! =)
#1's top end sounds more like a u87 but I'd be happy with either in most scenarios.
Man these seemed pretty close. Mic 1 had a certain mid and "quickness" to it that made it seem more in your face. Mic 2 seemed a little softer but I think also had a little more bass. I preferred Mic 1 but based off this I think I am gonna order me one of those clones. I heard their 251 clone too on another channel where it was shot out with a real Elam 251, a C24, and WarmAudio 251. For me it was the Elam and the Microphone Parts that were my favorite there. Thanks for the great shootout. Think I am gonna save some $$$ and make great recordings.
they're very close. #1 has just a touch more presence and #2 seems to have a little bit more proximity effect. Based on that, I guessed #1 as the neumann. just out of curiosity, do you remember which capacitor value you used for the roll off cap? i have the s3-87 and itd be useful to have this comparison as a reference for cap value
I love naumann U 87. It is my dream CM.
I think the real story starts at 6:46. Raw tracks never get used in a mix. What do they sound like when you put them in a real life situation?
Personally, in the mix, with the effects, through headphones, if I’m not looking at the screen I can tell when the switch occurs. So that’s good enough for me.
Full disclosure. I’m the alter ego of blastedusernames and I did the video. And I’m not a pro so don’t have those discerning ears that can pick up such subtle differences.
The shaker face was everything
I hear a difference especially in the transients. As if the playings sounded tighter with the mic #1, and a bit sloppy with the mic #2.
The mic #2 seems to be close to the distortion, too.
Oh man. I preferred mic 2. It was slightly brighter and picked up the room decay. Might have been slightly louder too though
Thx for sharing. I've been wanting to make one of those.
I'd like to hear the U47 colone.
Also which kit was it exactly, because they have 2 deferent one's.
Thx again
Just for saying not to subscribe, I subscribed. Good marketing. Good playing/singing. Good clear info. Internet needs more of this.
Excellent sound production. What is your vocal chain and which compressor, pluggins hsve you used.
It was close (identical?) but were to choose, and I am, the Nomann has a slight edge.
I swear, I hear more detail in mic 2 even in the full mix, guess I'm saving up for one of these.
Quisiera saber que combinación de valvulas usas en el preamp 619 uad ????? Que Numeración
insane
Do you know what the exact model name for the fully assembled version of the mic you have?
These are really close! Mic 2 is slightly more sparkly which gave it away. Mic 2 handled louder volumes slightly better too. Still great job :-)
I think with a some mixing you can get a great finished product with mic #2 clone
mic #2 sound smoother to my ear
I thought the first mic sounded better all the way through until you put everything in the mix and then I thought #2 😅
You have very comprehensive in the comparison . Mic 2 was very clean but for singing I prefer mic 1 for it's high frequency response.
The 1 is way more detailed and has more harmonic content, where the 2 is a bit compressed and lacking in the presence, a kind of fog on it. The 1 sounds always magical, expecially when the voice gets louder, there it is even better. The U87 i is an incredible mic! The Clone is super cool for the price but can not compare if you need that dream sound. Is just a tiny bit but makes a difference. I heard thru Beyerdynamic DT 880 and Amphion Two 18. Very, very good shootout! And sound. Yeahh!!!
Did I just save over $3,000?! But gear aside, you play and sing well. Thank you!
Oh, just seen the classic is #1 but nomann sounded smoother to my ears. hmmm!
i suppose by listening very closely I might (maybe?) find some subtle differences, but all that really matters is they both sound great
Great shootout. Turns out I preferred the Neumann, as stacked up, the mix was smoother and less congested in the highs. The Neumann also has a little bit more depth and reach.
For 375, the Nomann is a very decent, very capable microphone.
the nomann was smoother and less congested. Mic #2 was better.
@@toothacheforever8437 That's actually and factually incorrect there's no way that a $375 mic can sound better than a 4K mic but for what it is it's an excellent mic for the money.
@@Tonyplat98 oh, there are 1000s of ways
and the evidence is peppered throughout the many productions done while under the influence of cocaine, alcohol, a messy divorce, the tail-end of a lousy contract, chasing mistaken notions of what will bring glory, etc
Don't know which one is which yet, I'm going to check in a minute but I preferred Mic 2 because it sounded slightly more full and sensitive to the sound. But if it turns out that mic 1 is 4 times cheaper than mic 2 I wouldn't hesitate to buy mic 1.
I *was* sure the Neuman was mic 2 for the reasons you mentioned. Well done mic parts!
seriously thought mic 2 would be the neumann..i pick that as the better mic...my slight tinnitus on the left ear certainly helped too
Mic #2 sounded a bit better to me. And I subscribed.
I also chose #2, but I was surprised at how similar they were. The differences are subtle.
@@timothykraft9245 Just a bit more volume & clarity.
Preferred the diy mic in blind comparison. Wonder if the smoother (ringing) low mids of the u87 is the draw for helping with vocals in the mix. edit: I marginally prefer the mix of the u87 only because it smooths out this male voice so well it seems.
Mic
1
Sounds good
I'm sitting here with all new Creative speakers for my computer, and I'm not completely convinced by them yet, but to my ears, with these speakers, I feel that Mic 1 has sliiightly more presence than Mic 2. Mostly on guitar, actually. I thought it would be easy to hear with the shakers, but there they sound about the same. The difference on guitar is almost like a fresh set of strings has been put on between the mics, and for the vocals, "s" sounds slightly muted in Mic 2. I think both mics are pretty good, and I would have a hard time choosing if I didn't have to pay for them, but they're not quite a matched pair. If I were to guess, I would say Mic 2 is the Neumann with older components. Building the Nomann is a good investment, though, depending on how much the components cost.
Wow! I was totally wrong about which was which! :D
When you built the mic did you go with the flat response or high end rolloff setup? I just bought the mic kit and was curious what the most similar way to go. Thanks for the video!
Only heard the difference on the vocals and the shakers. The replica has a boost around the 300hz range, and somewhere over 15k. The low-end boost is probably caused by the MXL body and the top must be some difference in the electronics. No two microphones sound the same though. For the price, the replica sounds really close to the original U87. I used a mic that a guy built in town with a U47 capsule that retailed for a 1000$ and it blew my mind. Replicas are really good more affordable options.
GREAT comparison.. perfect.. I did guess the mics.. very obvious on drums. Neuman is a lot firmer in the midrange and especially in the low end. But quite OK sound from the NoMann... although not the best for drums. In the complete mix though the results are pretty similar. And the Neumann is in no way worth the cost here. Just put a better BD and snare mic on there, and use the NuMann for the rest
Mic #1 sounded smoother, warmer, less brittle. More bottom and high end. So guessed Neumann correctly. I felt #2 broke up on the loud parts, but perhaps due to coarseness. But was close.
I was so bummed out because I did not see which microphone was 1 or 2. During my listening I was sure that mic 2 was the Neumann, and that made me sad because I liked that one the most, it sounded more mix ready and less rough in the high end for my ears. Scrolled through the description and found the answer, and got super happy that in fact my favorite was the one I can make and afford for my own studio. The microphone looked different than what's shown on MP-webpage though, its the S87 I guess? Did you upgrade any parts or choose something specific to get that high-end roll off? Great Video!
To be honest, I did not understand which number is which microphone :D
Mic 1 clearly had more top end presence, was generally more detailed up there. The mids and lows were pretty damn close, would have loved to hear bass cab or something. Not really surprised that the Nuemann was mic 1.
That being said, I preferred the final mix from mic 2; it was more flattering on the snare drum in particular. I think had you had a great session player on a killer kit the opposite would likely be true. Just goes to show that a good producer/engineer can really make or break a recording with subtle differences like this.
Which capsule did you use for the nomann?
Whoa, what. The Newmann is mic number 1?... are you sure? Are you fucking with us? haha
Wow
Honestly, I could barely perceive a difference. Mic 2 may have been a tad less bright, but overall both would be indistinguishable in a session.
Mic #1 was clearly smoother whichever mic that was. They both sound good tho.