Music Gear History: Neumann Microphones Neumann microphones are by far the most coveted brand of microphone in the recording industry. ...
Music Gear History: Neumann Microphones
Neumann microphones are by far the most coveted brand of microphone in the recording industry. This is evidenced by the fact that many recording studios advertise the fact that that own specific Neumann products which are no longer manufactured such as the U47 and U48. The company began in 1928 Berlin, Germany. After World War II, the company fell under soviet control and became a state-run enterprise. As a result, Georg Neumann reestablished the company in the allied sectors of Berlin in 1947. The microphones became popular in the United States with artist such as Bing Crosby who utilized their smooth roll-off tone. The microphones were soon discovered by pop artist like The Beatles who found them to have a sharpness and presence not found in other equipment. Over the next 40 years, Neumann continued to innovate in microphone technology with models that contain a combination of vacuum-tubes and integrated circuits. In 1991, the company was purchased by Sennheiser Electronic, but continues to manufacture under the Neumann name. While their discontinued products are the most valued and loved, their new products are still the best recording microphones that are currently manufactured. 
