recordinghacks

Neumann TLM 49

Cardioid Condenser Microphone

The TLM 49 is a large-diaphragm FET condenser microphone with Neumann’s K47 capsule. It is designed primarily as a vocal mic, with a sound inherited from the U47 and M49 microphones (both of which also used the K47 capsule).

As indicated by the TLM prefix in the name, the circuit design is transformerless, and is constructed with surface-mount technology. Self-noise is a respectable 12 dBA.

The capsule sits inside a three-layer head grille. Neumann describes it as the “same capsule design as the legendary U 47 and M 49,” but the TLM 49 capsule is a single-sided K47 derivative that costs less to make than a true K47. Notably, the TLM 49 capsule cannot be used in a multipattern microphone; it works in Cardioid only.

The mic’s cardioid pickup pattern has “a tendency toward supercardioid,” according to Neumann, because the capsule is less sensitive to off-axis HF signals. For example, the mic’s polar pattern at 1kHz is a classic cardioid shape, whereas at 16kHz it is hypercardioid.

The mic’s increasing directionality above 8kHz allows for easy sibilance control, simply by rotating the mic so that the vocalist is slightly off-axis.

The TLM 49 is available in satin nickel (p/n 008550) and ships with an elastic shockmount (p/n EA3). The set is packaged in a cardboard box.

Resolution Magazine, 2006

[V]ocals have that “mix-ready” quality to them… Lows and mids are smooth… high mids have a great sense of clarity… there’s plenty of air to the top that never once verges on being harsh or gritty…

Electronic Musician

My first test was with vocalist Aurora Josephson, a classically trained singer. I set up the TLM 49 alongside a Blue Bottle mic with a B6 capsule — one of my first-call tube vocal mics…

I was surprised to find that the two mics conveyed a similar overall timbre and flattering balance of warmth and presence. The Blue mic was a bit crisper and bigger sounding, sometimes adding lush airiness but also exaggerating sibilance in this case. The TLM 49 rendered sibilant consonants much more smoothly and realistically, which became a distinct advantage once digital reverb was added…

The Neumann TLM 49 is also known as: TLM49.

The mic was released in 2006.

Specifications

Frequency Response - CardioidClick Graph to Compare!

Pickup Patterns	Pads & Filters
Cardioid (13 mV/Pa; 20 - 20,000 Hz)

Capsule Dimensions	Impedance	SPL/Noise
Capsule diameter: 34mm	50 Ohms (Low)	Max SPL: 110 dB Self-noise: 12.0 dB(A)

Weight	Length	Max Diameter	Interface(s)
825g (29.10oz)	165mm (6.50'')	78mm (3.07'')	3-pin XLR male (1)

Power Specifications
Requires phantom power Phantom voltage: 48 ± 4v

Did we get anything wrong on this page? Please let us know!