Neumann U77

The U77 was a solid state successor to Neumann’s classic tube microphone U67. But instead of phantom power, which was not yet a studio standard, the U77 operated on T-power.

Taken from the Neumann U77 brochure:

"The U77 and U87 condenser microphones are multipurpose studio microphones which fulfill all requirements which have been posed by the modern recording technique. By means of a switch at the microphone the directional characteristics omni-directional, cardioid and figure-of-eight can be set. For close talking in cardioid characteristic the resulting rise at the low frequency end can be switched to "linear". Extremely high sound pressures can be prevented from overloading the amplifier stage by reducing the capsule's sensitivity before the amplifier section. These possibilities permit completely natural and undistored sound reproduction even when the microphone is placed in close proximity to the sound source. The physical size of the microphones makes it possible to insert batteries if necessary. In that case the microphones can be operated completely independent from external feeding. The microphone U77 is provided for modulation-lead powering, the microphone U87 for phantom powering."

• Acoustic Operation: Pressure Gradient Receiver
• Directional Characteristics: Omni/Cardioid/Figure-Eight
• Transmission Range: 40 to 16,000 Hz
• Field Operating Transfer Factor at 1 kΩ: approx. 5 mV/μbar
• Electrical Termination Resistance: ≧ 1000 Ω
• Electrical Internal resistance: 200 Ω
• Capsule capacitance: 2 x approx. 53 pF
• Equivalent volume (dB re 2 x 10 μb): approx. 21 dB
• Limited sound pressure level for 0.5% THD at 40 Hz, 1 kHz and 5 kHz without attenuation: ≧ 200 µbar (120 dB); with attenuation: ≥ 650 µbar (130 dB)
• Operating voltage: 12 V (+1 V/-4.5 V)
• Current consumption: approx. 7 mA
• Operating time with battery-powered devices: ≥ 20 hours
• Weight: 550 g
• Dimensions: 56 mm diameter, 200 mm long

The Neumann U77 was used to record Phil Oakey's vocals on the Human League's classic number 1 track from 1981 "Don't you want me". According to producer Martin Rushent, the vocals were recording in a toilet!

The U77 brochure can be found through Neumann's excellent File Finder website