Snag yours here (I was NOT compensated and there is NO affiliate program): gototoolz.com/shop/ols/products/275989459-diy-u87-style-clone-condenser-microphone

@emanuelheitz7314

Жыл бұрын

great stuff! I got me a pair of 87ai. Very happy with those! Thank you for the hint!!! Have you tried the gtz105? I need something like that for live situations.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

@@emanuelheitz7314 Awesome! Thinking about picking up a 105. Specs look awesome

Not gonna lie that knockoff sounds pretty dang good

@FreshandFelicia

Жыл бұрын

It really is quite impressive!

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Sneaky right?

Nice comparison, thanks! The Neumann obviously a lot cleaner less of that brittle airy brightness that GTZ has. I’m not saying GTZ is bad, it’s just Neumann seems to have a built in deesser to cut off those super bright airy highs.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

GTZ definitely accentuates frequencies around 5-8 kHz where sibilance tends to be most annoying. Some folks prefer the more natural sound, depending on the purpose of the recording, but it can be EQd out or removed with a filter. Conversely, you can EQ the Neumann for more air. Thanks for your comment!

On flat comparison: U87A sounds natural, GTZ87 sounds similar but accentuates the "S's" so you'll probably need a de-esser when processing. Fair comparison, thanks Chuck!

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

GTZ definitely slightly accentuates the 5-8 kHz SSSSS frequencies. Ramped up the de-esser in subsequent recordings to compensate. Trying to learn how to curb my speech so it's less of a problem, but it's hard! Thanks for your comment!

@stufua

8 ай бұрын

And low freq is different neuman more neutral

@gerardcarpenter1092

4 ай бұрын

Just get a good pop filter

OUTSTANDING comparison, thank you. Was going to buy the Warm Audio 87, but just ordered a GTZ87 instead.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Had a Warm, and honestly, I thought it was too warm! Sold it.

@crowsvoyage

Жыл бұрын

​@@ChuckFresh the gtz87?

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

@@crowsvoyage sold the WA87

@frubo_ssg

7 ай бұрын

@@ChuckFresh May be check out the WA87 R2 ;)

@ChuckFresh

7 ай бұрын

@@frubo_ssg had the original WA 87 but wasn't impressed. R2 might be a different story.

This guy’s voice gives me chills

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

You hate me

Thank you for this comparison. I’ve been looking for it for a while. Now I will definitely get myself a pair.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! Let us know how it went.

The u87 just has that natural warmth factor that the other mic doesn’t have. Still sounds solid tho

@HarvinderSingh-yy8th

14 күн бұрын

Which U 87.

Honestly I can’t tell the difference. They both sound AWESOMESAUCE!!!

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Very slight difference to the average ear - most media consumers can't tell the diff!

@UCS0608

Жыл бұрын

@@ChuckFresh The GoTo Toolz has without doubt more low end....

@admtim

Жыл бұрын

@@UCS0608 agree

@HarvinderSingh-yy8th

Ай бұрын

​@@UCS0608Agree.

I want to thank you for this, Im purchasing the GoToToolz one for now, to make some singing samples and perfecting my technique, in my humble opinion, when you are out of a big budget, what matters is a mic that captures your full voice and color, the rest of the problems can be fixed one way or another, the ssss, the highs, etc, little bit of seeing few videos and tweak the EQ and I think the result will be greatly satisfying. This is why Im buying it and not buy a well known brand in this price range, because at that price range the mics don't capture your full voice either the richness of ones color, unless you buy mic preamps, good equipment which in the end it will cost more than double! Capturing the full body of your voice and color, is what makes Neumann well known. Basically they created mics in which your voice sounds like that one you have in your head. I will buy the original Neumann when I am ready for a full professional recording, for someone who is experimenting this one is more than amazing. I sub to your channel, thank you so much for this work and helping people like me to make good purchases to our satisfaction. EDIT: the capsule is RK47, which means the capsule mimics the mic of U47 and what I notice is that the vocals in this video are highly similar to that. Aside from the sss and high ends. Which is actually a good thing, U87 makes the voices sound too technical. For old vintage lovers this mic is a dream to work with EQ. The possibilities are endless for us.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Completely agree! EQ is like a magic wand. This mic is impressive!

I think I hear a bit more midrange clarity on the GTZ87 to be honest. Excellent comparison.

@bf4lvr

Жыл бұрын

How would I eq it to sound closer to the u87ai

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

@@bf4lvr a tiny tweak of 300-350 Hz bass should do it

@HarvinderSingh-yy8th

3 ай бұрын

​@@ChuckFreshgood tip.

@ChuckFresh

3 ай бұрын

@@HarvinderSingh-yy8th thanks!

Heard about the GTZ mics. Sounds pretty good considering the price. They have a 103 clone too.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

YES got my eyes on their 103

This was the most entertaining review ever

@ChuckFresh

3 ай бұрын

thanks!

Entertaining and revealing, thanks!

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Oh, and your Morgan Freeman impression is spectacular!

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

(in the voice of Elvis) thank you very much

Neumann was acquired by Sennheiser Electronic GmbH in 1991.

Had to come back and hear your Morgan Freeman impersonation. So snacky ❤

@ChuckFresh

3 ай бұрын

Yum!

Definitely would have loved to hear an A/B switching every few seconds of each voice character rather than wait until the end just he did during the reading so I wouldn't have to try to remember . I have to admit , what I did hear was both mics sounding similar in some ways , yet you can hear that the GTZ 87 is brighter. Nice

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

We were not compensated for this review.

You should have labeled the clone as the real one and vice versa. Then reveal it at the end. I bet everyone who saw the label on the fake one would have said it sounded better.

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

I was actually going to do that! But last time I did that we got flamed. People don't like to wait. It's honestly hard to tell the diff blind.

Great review!! gone are the days where you have to go broke to buy a mic you're going to eq and compress and de ess anyway. With all the plug ins that allow you to effectively mimic more expensive mics and rooms. I'm gonna cop both for the price with the other mics I have this works fine for me.

@ChuckFresh

3 ай бұрын

end listeners will have no idea. smart move!

Saludos y muchas gracias por la revisión, nos sirve mucho, podrías hacer algo con el GTZ 103 por favor?

@FreshandFelicia

Жыл бұрын

No la tengo

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Con gusto!

GTZ87. I'd love to know if you can recommend it and is the difference is worth it between it and the GTZ87+? Also which tube did you opt for(RK47 or RK12)? Also, your vocal chain sounds amazing.

@ChuckFresh

10 ай бұрын

Great question! And thank you. RK47 I think... checking... been a while...

I own a GTZ 103 and GTZ 87 and love them both. The GTZ 103 has some more mid-high range clarity compared to the GTZ 87 but, these mics are such a great price for what you get. I think if you're an aspiring artist or voice actor, the GTZ 87 or GTZ 103 might be perfect since they are generally inexpensive. I own a Slate Digital VMS microphone and comparing it to the GTZ 87, the smoothness of the GTZ 87 is almost superior. The Neumann U87 is obviously great sounding but, I really think the GTZ 87+ may sound nicer in some ways with some mid range clarity. But, the Neumann U87 has such a crystal clear bass... which is almost unbeatable by many mics. I think the Neumann mic is a clear winner in some ways but, the GTZ 87+ (capsuled upgraded GTZ 87) sounds very close. The Neumann has a really cool clarity that is just so perfect. Great review!

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words. For most beginner voice talents, this is really all the mic they would ever need. Any of the frequencies that the capsule itself lacks can be modified with a little equalization. I played a trick on one of my picky producers and recorded some remote tracks with the GTZ. He couldn’t tell the difference after EQ.

@kaznielflores8473

7 ай бұрын

So the GTZ 87+ is better than the GTZ 87 VL?

Thanks for the video. My advice to folks: just get a Rode NT1A or NT2A (I have both) for a similar price. Rode is a proper, no BS, well established mic company. The mics sound good, come with long warranties, and will likely feature components that are far more reliable than any Neumann knockoff. I'm not a company shill, just a user with experience. Cheers.

@ChuckFresh

3 ай бұрын

meh. had both, hated both. GTZ87 still works perfectly, and you'll save enough to buy backups.

just ordered last night

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

what do you think?

@ItzrealMusic

9 ай бұрын

What did you order ?

Thanks! Bit confusing as it appears Ian now offers multiple variations of the clone, some perhaps introduced after you recorded this(?) Can you tell me which of the GTZ 87 versions genuinely is closest to a stock Neumann 87ai ?? What I find on the website now is: GTZ 87Ai, "Vintage", GTZ 87, GTZ 87+, AND a GTZ 87+ , with a couple of capsule options ( listed as: "GTZ 87+Capsule Upgraded" and a choice of RK47 or RK12 Capsule). If I'm not mistaken the 87Ai capsule was based on the 67, but these capsule names suggest they're modeled after the U47 or C12. Would like to pick the "right" one -- but my head's spinning a little; )

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Ian isn't the best marketer and doesn't seem to want any help, so it's unclear. We got the GTZ87+ with the upgraded capsule, and it's pretty darn close to the 87Ai.

I ended up getting the GTZ87+. Compared to the Rode NT1 5th Gen that I returned, the GTZ87+ sounds like it's much more capable of achieving a crispy, clean top end which is what I was excited to find in a mic at this price range. However I am a bit disappointed with the concentration of information around a certain hissing frequency. It makes the microphone sound bad without surgical EQ'ing - and now that I've noticed this difference, I can hear it in the video in comparison to the Neumann. I might download the audio from this video to try to see if I can get an effects chain that can model the Neumann. Overall I'm disappointed that the mic is unusable to me without a lot of polishing, where I recorded some cool songs with the Rode NT1 right out of the box, but I do still think that the GTZ87 will get me closer to the tone I'm after in the end.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Interesting. Around what frequency do you hear the hissing? I didn’t hear it in voice recordings, but it could be more present in recording certain instrumentals. Might have to reach out to Ian to see if he’s aware of this.

@jordan-kz3rx

Жыл бұрын

​@@ChuckFresh Hi! Sorry if my review came off a little scathing. I'm still just starting to work on the EQing but I'm thinking around 8.6k and 10k. It might take me a while to figure out since I'm not an engineer. I ended up buying a tube preamp which seemed to give me better control over reducing the problem. What I was noticing might just be how how the Ghz87+ reacts to my interface's gain compared to other mics.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

@@jordan-kz3rx keep us posted. Interesting anomalies that others may experience!

Which one sounds better for it's price? Rhode nt1 or this gtz Neumann clon?

for all social media purposes the GTZ is good enough. before i was using a Sennheiser e945 (occasionally $100 in Europe), just peferct for speakers/moderators. now i've got two very, very good mics for low budget (GTZ used on eBay $140 incl. shipping to Europe)

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

GTZ is all you'll ever need. Thinking about selling my Neumann.

as a professional do you think they sound similar ? because i just listened on my Yamaha HS5 and my DT770 and they sound so close specially in the mid range but just curious about your own personal experience and i would like to hear your opinion ?

@FreshandFelicia

Жыл бұрын

For a male voice, they are incredibly similar. KZread does apply some sort of audio compression which may contribute to the similarities. For instruments, the results may be different.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

@@FreshandFelicia what she said!

The GTZ has more sibilance, but it's pretty close.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Completely agree. But - for $3000, might be worth the extra time to filter it!

What are you using for processing? Makes a big difference. An expander or something?

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

The dry part is mic to a Focusrite A-D converter with no processing. The processing comparison parts use a bunch of thick compression and a little EQ. Does indeed make a HUGE difference!

The Neumann sounds a little softer and fuller but it's actually super hard to tell the difference.

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

It is super hard to tell!

Just when i was about to buy the WA87 which has a very noticeable difference to the real thing but GTZ 87 is just a better clone the price helps alot vele

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

Agree. Ian has something special up his sleeves. GTZ87 is impressive for sure, and the price is right.

That Morgan Freeman deserves an award!!! Hey, curious, with the processing, did you process them differently with the EQ to sort of cater to the mic/or get them to sound closer to each other, or was it the exact same for both mics?

@ChuckFresh

4 ай бұрын

Thanks man! Same exact chain for both mics.

@jamescassidy4045

4 ай бұрын

@@ChuckFresh I see! Thanks!

very entertaining

I like the clone better sounds a bit brighter without EQ

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

Leaning towards the clone myself. I've fooled a few heavy duty producers with the GTZ. They swore it was a U87!

Am I crazy, or does the GTZ87+ sound crispier and warmer? I just got one in the mail from Ebay. I'm still trying to figure out if it sounds better than my TLM 103.

@firepack89

Жыл бұрын

does it?

@HammyHavoc

11 ай бұрын

What did you think?

@erikglimpse

11 ай бұрын

@@HammyHavoc Sounds great! The only issue is the self noise, but it's not that bad. I feel like I have a U87 Ai.

@HammyHavoc

11 ай бұрын

@@erikglimpse Do you think it would match with proper U87ai in a production for dialogue? And do you think the self-noise could be cleaned up decently in RX or SpectraLayers?

@erikglimpse

11 ай бұрын

@@HammyHavoc That I don't know, because I don't have a real U87 Ai. I do have a TLM 103, and I like it, but it's a little too hot. It's very sensitive to plosives, and this clone is definitely not. I'm sure you could clean up the self noise with software. I use RTX voice in live situations, which works very well.

On which website is it reliable to buy this microphone? I am interested, I am from Chile. greetings

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

This is the OFFICIAL website: gototoolz.com/shop/ols/products/u87-main

GTZ87 catches room reflections more strongly.

@GsTr4Lyfe

5 ай бұрын

Facts, extreme boominess if the room is not treated, almost unappealing, I've used high-end mics in the same room, and sounded much more warm and rounded than the GTZ87, but in a studio, awesome mic with the right processing and eq to remove that brittle sound and that annoying boominess. Also, you can't push this mics volume too much or you'll get a distortion but with other mics not as prevalent at high volumes.

@ChuckFresh

3 ай бұрын

we're actually going to test that soon along with wa87

The u87 have a more smooth sound very relaxed and a little more body.

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

depends on the voice. I've heard sessions where the GTZ sounds smoother.

The neumann has a sotfer high for the reedy nasal rattle

@ChuckFresh

3 ай бұрын

but that can be EQd out

The GTZ high end is harsh. I have the GTZ 103 and U47+, I was a little underwhelmed.

@ChuckFresh

4 ай бұрын

It can be. But it can be neutralized with a little EQ

Excellent a/b, thanks a lot. Although i think if one can't hear the chasm of difference a visit to the audiologist is in order. The gototoolz is a Rhode nt1.. The Neuman is a neuman and, while it's fair these days that the way tv/movie audio is ultra processed one could argue why care, the neuman will survive all those dreadful digital comp/eq procedures way better than the cheap thing. But it's all about illussion and dare i say deception. People are convinced if it looks like it, it must be it.

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

TBH KZread applies unknown audio filtering stacks and some sort of digital file compression, so it's hard to really tell here. But, not gonna lie, I was a nightclub DJ for 15 years.

I have a rode nt1-A Should I switch to gtz 87?

@HarvinderSingh-yy8th

3 ай бұрын

No NTI sounds good too.

@ChuckFresh

3 ай бұрын

try one!

gtz87+ is dope. I can’t believe it cost only 250$.

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

Right? It's impressive AF!

@knulldestroyed3081

6 ай бұрын

It’s only $150 right now

@ChuckFresh

6 ай бұрын

@@knulldestroyed3081 the + version is about $250, but TBH i have not tested the $150 mic. It might be almost as good.

The GTZ 87 upgrade sounds brighter than the U87ai, but I've heard the U87ai is brighter than the U87. So I'm wondering if it means the GTZ upgrade is brighter than both?

@MikeShepherdVO

Жыл бұрын

My question as well!

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

EQ is your friend

Where is the answer to which is which ?

@ChuckFresh

8 ай бұрын

it's on the bottom of the screen - you can see the text change when I change inputs

perhaps pop filter

So uh… where the time codes at?

@ChuckFresh

Жыл бұрын

Waiting for you to enter them in the comments 😎

the neumann sounds better- gtz has more lows

@ChuckFresh

3 ай бұрын

Interesting

Morgan Freeman….nope! Swing and a miss but good comparison 🇨🇦👍🏻

U87 AI doesn't get terrible.

This GTZ is a common variation on the theme of "cheap microphone" and it sounds terrible compared to neumann. In post-processing, the sound of this Chinese microphone will crumble like a sandcastle on a beach in bad weather

@ChuckFresh

10 ай бұрын

mmmmmmmmm agree to disagree. We've already fooled some heavy hitters you've prob heard of in post. Suckers!

i like the knock off better