Neumann U 47
The Neumann is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone. It is one of the most famous studio microphones and was Neumann's first microphone after the Second World War. The original series, manufactured by Georg Neumann GmbH between 1949 and 1965, employed a tube design; early used the capsule, then replaced by the from 1958. Units produced before 1950 were distributed by Telefunken and bear the Telefunken logo.
Since Telefunken ceased production of tubes in 1957, the was discontinued in 1965 and followed by the in 1969; it employed the same capsule and a similar head grille but used solid-state circuitry. Intended to recreate the sound of the original, it enjoyed only limited success; however, the, being able to handle high-pressure levels, became popular among recording engineers as a bass drum microphone, and it is also appreciated as a brass, double bass, and guitar amp microphone. Neumann manufactured the between 1969 and 1986 and reissued it in 2014.
The Neumann is regarded as one of several all-time preferred tube recording microphones. Its desirability is based primarily on the synergy of its three sound-shaping components: capsule, tube, transformer. The was especially popular in US studios. Frank Sinatra owned his own, and Lady Gaga owns her own vintage as well; Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, Tony Bennett, Michael Jackson, and the Beatles also used it. According to the microphone manufacturer John Peluso, "it's hard to find an album recorded in the 1950s or 1960s that didn't have a on it; the Beatles used the mic' for almost every track they sang from 1962 through 1970". In 2004, the Neumann was inducted into the TECnology Hall of Fame, an honor given to "products and innovations that have had an enduring impact on the development of audio technology."
History
Original series
According to Oliver Archut, the was first presented at the Berlin Radio Show in 1947 as a prototype; the first documented commercial sale of the microphone, according to Klaus Heyne of German Masterworks, occurred in December 1949.The original used the capsule, which was similar to the capsule developed initially for the Neumann microphone designed in the late 1920s. Since PVC membranes deteriorate and dry out with age, in 1958 the capsule was replaced by the which had a similar acoustic design as the but used membranes made of age-resistant biaxially oriented PET film.
The 's circuitry was based on the Telefunken vacuum tube and the GN8/BV8 transformer for export to the American market, the GN8 transformer was replaced in the late 1950s with the GN8b which featured lower output. According to the German expert Andreas Grosser, at least five different output transformers were used within the U 47.
The was a pentode made exclusively by Telefunken for Neumann from 1946 to 1957; the discontinuation of the was caused primarily by the decision by Telefunken to halt production of the, and Neumann eventually depleting its stock of tubes. Beginning in 1962, Neumann offered a direct plug-in replacement kit for the featuring the Nuvistor, which required minor power supply modification. There are several aftermarket emulations that use either tubes or solid-state circuits.
The original was the first switchable pattern condenser microphone. This functionality was achieved by disabling the polarization voltage to the rear of the diaphragm of the microphone capsule.
Successors: , , , and
The, introduced by Neumann late 1957, was identical to the except for the available polar patterns. The Beatles' producer George Martin used the extensively in the group's recordings at Abbey Road Studios, London. As a successor to the, Neumann introduced the in 1960.In 1967 Neumann introduced the Neumann U 87|, which was a direct successor to the, but ultimately proved to be the most popular successor to the.
The, the solid-state version introduced by Neumann in 1969, was less appreciated as a vocal microphone but became ubiquitous in studios as a bass drum microphone. Used on the outside of the bass drum, in conjunction with a primary bass drum microphone, it would make a complete bass drum sound.