Talk to me about new 87’s

It's a bit brighter which you can easily notch out with a bit of EQ, never understood what all the fuss was about.

AI's are designed somewhat brighter. They are not the same capsule, either. The new ones are same capsule as the U67 has always had.....and TLM67.  Capsule not interchangeable with an 87A. It's been said they are essentially the same capsule in behavior, though they won't work in the opposite circuit.

Didn't Chad own like eleven 87's of various vintages at one point? 

I’ve had 13 total (he says, sheepishly), but only 6 at the same time.

I’m down to 3 I’m keeping forever:

• 1977
• 1985 (Klaus installed / loosened up a new capsule for me)
• 2017 U87Ai (I also have a TLM 67 circuit and Max Kircher U67 circuit for this one for versatility)

I found the AI *frustratingly* sibilant on my voice (piggyback pcb 04 that was mentioned upthread) and nothing I did could really tame it. I swapped the circuit with a TLM67 circuit and now legitimately want for nothing. It's good enough for my purposes that I really haven't been able to justify spending any more money on a microphone, as much as I might want to do that Kircher U67 mod. I'm satisfied enough by it that it remains quite surprising that the TLM67 never seems to be presented as a first option in that category. It's a lovely sounding mic.

My sample size is small (one ai, one i). The u87i was fantastic. Easy. Sounded right on my voice and acoustic guitar, mandolins, electric guitars. Was a great all around mic - put it up on anything and it would sound great. The top sounded natural.

The u87ai was not for me. Spitty. Top was just not right. Sounded rather hard to me. Was a struggle to use on anything. Hated it on my voice. Hated it on acoustic guitars. "frustrating" is actually a good way to describe it - as I wanted it to be like the u87i I had. Could be my u87ai was just not right in some way - I got it new, seems slim but possible.

I know this topic creates lots of internet fights. All I know is for me I'd take a u87i any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I have the same opinion about a 184 vs an 84. Hate the 184, find the 84 to be fantastic (for largely the same reasons). So at least you get some idea which way my ears point.

I know people that make both (u87ai, 184) sound drool worthy in their recordings. My skill could be the problem, but it does not matter to me really. I just know I'll smile when I put up a u87i, or an 84. I learned the preferences, that work for me and make capturing the sounds I'm after easy.

Another idea might be to swap the M7 style Heiserman head, on your mic.

If/when I ever get a Heiserman 47, it'd be that for sure (on my bright voice).

Right now, the U195 on FAT, does a similar effect.
Chris

If they dont suit , they dont suit. can be a little nasal and pinched when pushed - you'll never really eq it out..
Klaus has made comments somewhere re the variability of newer Neumann caps.
Cheers, Ross

You want me to loan you my beezneez for a week to try it out?

I have a U87ai.  From what I've read, I have one with the daughter box, which is the most disliked version.  I know this microphone pretty well at this point. It has a certain sound on a vocal that is either what you are looking for or not.  I've had issues with it on a slightly nasal female jazz/pop voice.  It seemed to bring out the nasality in an almost obnoxious way.  Yes, the nasality was there on that vocalist, but in person it didn't seem to stand out as much and didn't bother me through the CM49 or MK67 which we used instead.  On a bright coloratura soprano (I know most of you don't work with these kinds of voices, but I do) It was horribly sibilant and peaky up top.  I ended up using IK Mic Locker's TLM170 emulation to tame it, and the record was so much better for it.  Those were the times the mic really failed me.  On male vocals its a give and take.  I've liked it on male pop & R&B vocals. I've never quite loved it on my vocals or other more theatrical male vocals.  I used it for years doing session vocals when I used to actually go to pro studios for that work and always felt there was a tinny quality on it.  My wife sounds fantastic on it. I like it on full voiced sopranos and mezzos and I've tried it on quite a few of those. 

A big key to getting the right sound with the U87ai is the preamp.  The microphone is a bit of a chameleon. It can sound really good through a Neve preamp, but with the right tube preamp it can sound almost U67 like.  I've loved it through a Demeter VTMP-2B as well. I have to pick up that preamp again. It's not my favorite on tube mics, but it's magical on FET mics. It was a very tough call for a session Emily did between our MK U67 through my Dan Alexander and the U87ai through the Demeter. It was darn close.  On my first album I used it through a Summit MPC-100A.  Now maybe it was the gorgeous hall, maybe it was the preamp or some combination, but that sound worked beautifully... we also used a Royer SF12 in the hall and may have blended a little of a Blue Woodpecker into the sound.  So that probably helped.