A Sonic History of Georg Neumann Microphones
Georg Neumann introduced the world's first commercially available condenser microphone, the Neumann CMV, and officially put his new company Neumann on the map. The interchangeable capsules offered different directional patterns, and it was hard to miss at 40 cm tall and 9cm in diameter. Due its large profile it became known as the "Neumann bottle." The easily recognizable CMV 3 is often seen in historical photographs of public events in Germany, many taken during World War II.
After the Neumann factory in Berlin was damaged by Allied bombing in November 1943, Georg Neumann moved his company to the town of Gefell and resumed production in the early months of 1944. After the war ended, this Gefell fell under Soviet control and Neumann became a "people's corporation. After the reunification of Germany, the company in Gefell, which had continued to use the Neumann name, became known as Microtech Gefell.
After re-establishing his company in one of the allied sectors of Berlin under the new name Georg Neumann GmbH, a new switchable pattern microphone was developed, the famous U 47, which was based on the M7 capsule of the previous CMV3 microphones. The Neumann U47 was one of the first condenser microphones to be widely used in recording studios around the world. Neumann microphones were used by The Beatles giving their recording a signature sound which had better upper midrange response, and sounded sharper and more present.
Post-war, Neumann developed the famous M49 and M50, both of which used the M7 capsule, and later during the 50's the KM 53, 54, and 56. In 1957 Neumann introduced the first stero microphone, which was essentially a pair of KM56 microphones housed in the same body and capable of being remotely controllled. Many 50's rock 'n roll recordings were distinguished by the up close, high volume, overdriven sound of the U47 and U48, which produced a harsh sound, loved by some and frowned upon by others. Just as this trend was developing, the VF 14 vacuum tube was discontinued by its manufacturer Telefunken, leaving the U47 and U48 without an essential component, which led to the development of the subsequent U67.
The first Neumann solid state microphones apeared in the mid-sixties with the KTM and U77, which were transistorized versions of previous Neumann microphones. In 1966 the Neumann U87 capacitor microphone employed the phantom power method which had been used for years by telephone systems, allowing Neumann tube, solid state and dynamic microphones to all e connected to the same power supplies.
In the 80s Neumann introduced the TLM 170 microphone, which featured balanced outputs and no output transformer. The KM100 was an expansion on the transformerless design and featured seven different changeable active capsules, the TLM 193 borrowed the capsule from the U89 and TLM 170, the KM 180 series, the large diaphragm TLM 103, the variable pattern TLM 127 condenser.
During the 90's, Neumann introduced a revolutionary series of vacuum tube microphones that featured transformerless output circuitry. Still widely sought after today, the Neumann M149 Tube microphone, the cardioid Neumann M147 Tube microphone and the Neumann M 150 Tube microphone, an evolution of the M 50 design that featured a pressure transducer mounted on the surface of the sphere directly inside the capsule head. The iconic Neumann company was bought by Sennheiser in 1991, and production was moved to a brand new level 100 clean factory in Wedermark, but official Neumann headquarters remained in Berlin.
Neumann revolutionized microphone technology again in 2003 with the Solution-D D-01 microphone, featuring built in analog to digital conversion. The D-01 was followed a few years later by a modular, small-diaphragm series of digital microphones, the KM D which was based on the earlier KM 100/180 series. During this time Neumann also began production of its very first dynamic microphone, the BCM 705 broadcast microphone.
Since the beginning, Neumann microphones have remained synonymous with quality and signature models like the Neumann U87 have become unmistakable icons of the recording studio. For artists, producers and engineers alike, a Neumann microphone represents the highest level of sonic perfection and innovation. - 18758
After the Neumann factory in Berlin was damaged by Allied bombing in November 1943, Georg Neumann moved his company to the town of Gefell and resumed production in the early months of 1944. After the war ended, this Gefell fell under Soviet control and Neumann became a "people's corporation. After the reunification of Germany, the company in Gefell, which had continued to use the Neumann name, became known as Microtech Gefell.
After re-establishing his company in one of the allied sectors of Berlin under the new name Georg Neumann GmbH, a new switchable pattern microphone was developed, the famous U 47, which was based on the M7 capsule of the previous CMV3 microphones. The Neumann U47 was one of the first condenser microphones to be widely used in recording studios around the world. Neumann microphones were used by The Beatles giving their recording a signature sound which had better upper midrange response, and sounded sharper and more present.
Post-war, Neumann developed the famous M49 and M50, both of which used the M7 capsule, and later during the 50's the KM 53, 54, and 56. In 1957 Neumann introduced the first stero microphone, which was essentially a pair of KM56 microphones housed in the same body and capable of being remotely controllled. Many 50's rock 'n roll recordings were distinguished by the up close, high volume, overdriven sound of the U47 and U48, which produced a harsh sound, loved by some and frowned upon by others. Just as this trend was developing, the VF 14 vacuum tube was discontinued by its manufacturer Telefunken, leaving the U47 and U48 without an essential component, which led to the development of the subsequent U67.
The first Neumann solid state microphones apeared in the mid-sixties with the KTM and U77, which were transistorized versions of previous Neumann microphones. In 1966 the Neumann U87 capacitor microphone employed the phantom power method which had been used for years by telephone systems, allowing Neumann tube, solid state and dynamic microphones to all e connected to the same power supplies.
In the 80s Neumann introduced the TLM 170 microphone, which featured balanced outputs and no output transformer. The KM100 was an expansion on the transformerless design and featured seven different changeable active capsules, the TLM 193 borrowed the capsule from the U89 and TLM 170, the KM 180 series, the large diaphragm TLM 103, the variable pattern TLM 127 condenser.
During the 90's, Neumann introduced a revolutionary series of vacuum tube microphones that featured transformerless output circuitry. Still widely sought after today, the Neumann M149 Tube microphone, the cardioid Neumann M147 Tube microphone and the Neumann M 150 Tube microphone, an evolution of the M 50 design that featured a pressure transducer mounted on the surface of the sphere directly inside the capsule head. The iconic Neumann company was bought by Sennheiser in 1991, and production was moved to a brand new level 100 clean factory in Wedermark, but official Neumann headquarters remained in Berlin.
Neumann revolutionized microphone technology again in 2003 with the Solution-D D-01 microphone, featuring built in analog to digital conversion. The D-01 was followed a few years later by a modular, small-diaphragm series of digital microphones, the KM D which was based on the earlier KM 100/180 series. During this time Neumann also began production of its very first dynamic microphone, the BCM 705 broadcast microphone.
Since the beginning, Neumann microphones have remained synonymous with quality and signature models like the Neumann U87 have become unmistakable icons of the recording studio. For artists, producers and engineers alike, a Neumann microphone represents the highest level of sonic perfection and innovation. - 18758
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Neumann microphones have achieved the pinnacle of sonic perfection and innovation. Signature models like the Neumann U87 are now fixtures found in most professional recording studios. Get the full story on Neumann vocal microphones and check out the full line at www.VocalMicrophonesDirect.com.
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