Comments on: Voice Over Mics Compared: Neumann U87 vs. TLM103

By: Dan Friedman

Dan Friedman — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:00:45 +0000

First I want to thank everybody for their comments. Bryant, you are correct that “sound is like food” as you say. It is very subjective. There are microphones that some people like, that I absolutely hate.

I don’t want to muddy the waters for you even more but its worth mentioning that after you try both microphones, or any number of microphones for that matter, you will have to decide if the difference in sound quality justifies the difference in cost. Sometimes the differences in quality can be so subtle that you may not be able to justify the difference in cost. There are some $300 microphones that sound very good. Only you can decide if the $3000 microphone is $2700 better than $300 microphone.

Speaking of money, you are “on the money” when you mention taking them for a test drive. You should try before you buy. I cover this exact subject in my other blog article which can be found here:

http://www.procommvoices.com/wordpress/choosing-a-voice-over-microphone

and also in my book which can be found here:

http://www.authorhouse.com/BookStore/BookDetail.aspx?Book=292116

Again, thanks to everyone for your comments. I hope that you are finding the information helpful.

Best wishes,

Dan

By: Bryant

Bryant — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:40:03 +0000

I just have to say that after reading the article and the posts I am just as much in the dark as I was before reading the article. I have read and read and read and read. Get the point? I keep trying to find that article that convinces me to buy the TLM 103 because it’s just as awesome as the U87 and less than half the cost. But every time I find an article it’s full of arguments and opinions. All of which leave me sitting in the dark. The same darkness I was in before reading said article. Do you feel me people? I have come to the conclusion that sound is like food. What one person considers wonderful and a real treat is another person’s chopped liver. It’s all in how you hear it. Where you’re hearing it. What you’re hearing it on. Geez! Can’t we all just get along? I don’t think Neumann makes junk. I think we can all agree on that. Should one keep saving until they can come up with the $3000 for the U87? Or, should they get the TLM 103 at about $1100 and get going a lot sooner? Hmmmmmm. Seriously. I’m going to rent each mic and take each for a test drive. I suppose that is the only way I will ever know. Gotta drive it before you buy it. The only way to know if you’re gonna like it.

By: Brent Brace

Brent Brace — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 21:42:50 +0000

I have both mics. U87 and TLM 103. The U87 is a little smoother on the S or sibilance. The TLM 103 whistles on women’s voices. The article ProComm wrote was on the money, however, concerning spl, a jet engine is at 120dB. Is your voice that loud? And even with no track, the human ear can’t hear inherent noise from mics over ambient room noise. I spent 20 years as a studio musician in L.A. and New York, and 22 years as a voice-over artist/director. We never heard annoying mic noise from any Neumann. And addressing the person who wrote about Gefell mics. I believe those are Neumann mics when he moved the factory from Berlin to Gefell during WWII. He moved it back after the war. Anyway. Both mics are expensive in the scheme of things. Except dynamic mics, or really cheap condensors. Oh . . .and don’t forget the Sennheiser 416. We have that one, too. It’s a wonderful mic for VO. Cheers, Brent Brace Westside Studios

By: karla

karla — Sat, 22 May 2010 20:34:41 +0000

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

By: Bob Stinman

Bob Stinman — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:27:07 +0000

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.

By: Gary King

Gary King — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:43:18 +0000

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.

By: Microphone Technique for Voice Over Talent « ProComm Voice Over blog

Microphone Technique for Voice Over Talent « ProComm Voice Over blog — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:56:11 +0000

[...] “Polar pattern” refers to the space around the microphone’s diaphragm that picks up sound. A microphone for voice over typically (although some are adjustable) utilizes a cardioid polar pattern. Imagine a space the [...]

By: GEORGE LEE

GEORGE LEE — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:42:55 +0000

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.

By: Luis Fernando

Luis Fernando — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 12:13:20 +0000

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

By: Carter Dimmock

Carter Dimmock — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:18:58 +0000

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