As a voice over talent, choosing a microphone is one of the most important career decisions you will ever have to make. After all, you should consider your microphone to be an extension of your voice, personality, character and sound. Many voiceover artists breaking into the industry, as well as those with years of experience call ProComm Studio Services for advice on what equipment to buy for their home studios. When it comes to microphones we prefer the Neumann TLM103.
Neumann microphones are used in recording studios throughout the world for their superior sound and versatility. The Neumann U87 has been an industry standard in the voice over field for many years and more recently, the TLM103 has risen to prominence. This article will discuss both of these microphones and explain why the TLM103 is our microphone of choice for voiceover work.
The U87 and the TLM103 are both great sounding microphones but we recommend the TLM103 for several reasons. First, the TLM103 has virtually undetectable self-noise. At the time it was first released the TLM103 had the lowest self-noise available of any large diaphragm condenser microphone. Second the TLM103 is capable of handling high sound pressure levels. This allows the voice talent to get up close and personal with the microphone at one moment, than stand back and shout out that great car deal or promote an upcoming drag race the next. Thanks to its ability to handle an SPL of 138db the microphone can do all of this with a low risk of distortion. The TLM103 has a high frequency rise that begins just a bit lower in the frequency range than the rise in the U87. This rise, beginning just above 4000 Hz, gives the voice just a little extra edge by comparison to the U87’s rise (which begins at 5000 Hz), allowing the voice to cut through the clutter more easily and before any equalization is applied.
The U87 offers more choices including 3 different polar patterns (Omni-directional, cardioid, and figure8), a -10db attenuation switch, as well as a bass roll off switch. While the multiple polar patterns are useful in the music industry, rarely are they needed for voice overs. In the past, recording sessions involving multiple voice talents (where the figure 8 and Omni-directional patterns may have been necessary) would have been done in one room with everyone standing around one microphone. Today most sessions involving multiple voice talents are held with each individual in their own room, often in locations across the country or even around the world. This eliminates the need for multiple polar patterns.
The attenuation switch on the U87, when engaged, does (in my opinion) alter the sound of the microphone somewhat. Furthermore the TLM103’s ability to handle a higher sound pressure level (138db vs. 127db on the U87 with the pad engaged) negates the usefulness of the pad when comparing the two microphones. The bass roll off switch can be a useful feature, but is rarely an absolute necessity.
The capsule in the TLM103 is based on the design of the capsule in the U87 so they are similar in overall sound quality and performance. However, with the reduced (yet unnecessary for voiceover) feature set the TLM103 costs less, which is the final reason ProComm recommends the TLM103 over the U87.
The TLM103’s lower self noise, its ability to handle higher SPL, its similarities and slight (yet pleasing) differences to the U87 and its lower cost make it the “microphone of choice” for ProComm. Both of these microphones are industry standards for a reason and both can reproduce sound clearly and accurately. In fact they are so accurate that the biggest criticism of both of these microphones is that they tend to lack character. This criticism comes largely from the music world; however this is hardly a criticism, because in the voiceover world the “character” should come from you, the voice over talent, and not the microphone.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Great article. I bought my U87 almost 15 years ago. It sounds as good as the day I bought it. I constantly get compliments on the sound of my studio. U87 into Onyx 1640, channel looped through dbx 160A (barely lighting the yellow light) and into my codec (Prima 120), Acoustic Systems 6×4 booth. I have used the TLM103 in some studios in Atlanta and liked it. I have recommended it to a number of VO talent because it sounds as good as the U87 and, since a VO talent doesn’t need the feature set on the U87, it just makes sense to pickup the TLM103 for the lower price. I probably would have bought one if they were available when I got my U87. All that being said, I truly think MY voice meshes better with the U87.
Guys:
As a TLM 103 owner for a while, I’m pleased to see you share your insight on the mic.
I have only on two occassions used a U 87 and it did sound great.
But having done professional voice over for 27 years including professional radio production for more than a few, voice over needs are few. The bells and whistles can be found in software.
Clean, pure and noiseless sound are all we need for our clients. The TLM 103 delivers that every time.
Best always,
- Peter
I have tried both U87 and TLM 103. They are both great mics. Personally find the TLM103 suits my voice better. My voice sounds too full with the U87 even if I eq. With the TLM 103 it has a nice neutral sound. I have also compared it to the TLM 49 which I liked alot also. I think my voice sounds more natural wiht the TLM 103, but I feel with the TLM 49 it sounds a bit more like broadcast voice. It changes it slightly. Its a hard choice, I think the TLM 103 is better. Vic
How do you feel the Microtech Gefell M930 stands against the U87 / TLM 103 … ?? … frequency curve actually looks closer to the U87 AI than the TLM 103 does … Personally, I find the M930 not quiet as “harsh” as the 103 – but its all down to individual taste, I guess … And the pedigree of the MG mics could really be considered more Neumann than Neumann … Carter
Neumann TLM 103 sounds like U87? No way!
U87 have a good transformer (tlm 103 transformerless), U87 have a GREAT capsule (tlm have k103)… TLM 103 is muuuuuuuch more brighter than u87.
The tlm 103 is good for low budget… but if you have the $$, go for u87.
U87 you will have the tlm 103 sound just ADD eq… but you don’t have u87 in tlm 103 with eq
THE U87I IS A GREAT MIKE I HAVE TWO UP ON EBAY NOW IN THE ORIGINAL BOXES Item number: 320449097690 THESE ARE 1968 VINTAGE FROM A SERIOUS AUDIOPHILES ESTATE.
U87 is the better microphone. Sounds like to me this is writen by and read by a bunch of voice-over people that don’t want to shell out the extra cash so they are trying to justify the lower cost Microphone here.
For most you voiceovers, if you have a good voice? you would probably get away with a good quality dynamic mic. with a good quality compressor or limitor with low noise. To set here and try to say that one microphone is better than another is all bull-crap anyway because we all have differnt hearing and what we think sounds good. U87 is a better microphone plain and simple, that is why Nuemann prices it higher. You think they don’t know the difference? But there are plenty of cheaper microphone you all can buy out there. Then I am sure you will find a place like this where people say how great it is. But to give back some here and not be all negitive, the TLM 103 does sound good as any good Nuemann microphone should. But most voice-over people like it because it is cheaper, but remember most voieover people have home studios, which means they are trying to cut back anyway.
Wow, that previous post is a little narrow minded. This seems to be an informative article about the choices a voice talent has and Gary just has a hard-on for the U87 regardless of the use or budget.
He ignores the fact that the real reason a U87 is cheaper is because it offers things some don’t need like pattern switching. He also ignores the fact that the TLM is the quietest mic in the industry. It accomplishes this by its transformerless design.
Sounds like sour grapes because no one is using his $55/hour studio… Oh and he really needs to take some spelling and grammar classes, too.
I need to know who this article belongs to ….. it s to use for a work at the university but i need to know who the author is to give him credit
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