Neumann U 87Ai
The U 87 is probably the best known and most widely used Neumann studio microphone. It is equipped with a large dual-diaphragm capsule with three directional patterns: omnidirectional, cardioid and figure-8. These are selectable with a switch below the headgrille.
A 10 dB attenuation switch is located on the rear. It enables the microphone to handle 
sound pressure levels up to 127 dB without distortion. Furthermore, the low frequency response can be reduced to compensate for proximity effect.
Application Hints:
• For universal use.
• The classical studio mic for vocalists (soloists and background vocalists)
• Announcer's mic for broadcasting, dubbing, voice-over
• Overheads and room
• Spot mic for
-
wind instruments
- strings (especially cello and double bass)
- piano
- percussion
KM 184
KM 184 microphone is the successor of the well proven KM 84, which have been used since the seventies worldwide with great success.
The pressure gradient transducer KM 184 features a very smooth frequency response not only for the 0° axis, but also for lateral (off-axis) sound incidence. In typical usage, there is no coloration of sound over a wide pickup angle.
Although the KM 184 has the same capsule as the KM 84, the microphone differs slightly on the 0° frequency response: The KM 184 has a gentle rise at about 9 kHz, a characteristic that was introduced very successfully with the KM 140. The result is a tonal balance that is fresher and livelier when compared to the KM 84 with its flat frequency response in that band.
Transformerless circuitry
Application Hints:
• For universal use, especially for recording situations when it is necessary to attenuate off-axis sound (mainly from the rear) from other nearby instruments.
• As XY and ORTF stereo pair
• Announcer's mic for broadcasting
• Spot mic, overhead
• Close miking of
- strings
- wind instruments
- percussion
- piano
- Leslie speakers
- guitar amps
