Beyerdynamic M 160

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The Beyerdynamic M 160, sometimes referred to as Beyer M160, is a German hypercardioid ribbon microphone used for speech in broadcasting and for music in live concerts and the recording studio. Introduced in 1957 by Beyerdynamic, the M 160 was initially based on a rugged dual-ribbon transducer element with alnico magnets. The two 15-millimeter (0.59 in) ribbons combine to yield a highly directional pickup pattern. The ribbon assembly is turned 90 degrees away from the usual configuration to make the M 160 an end-address model; the similar M 130 model is a side-address microphone with a figure-8 pickup pattern. The structure later incorporated neodymium magnets as they became available. [1] [2]

The M 160 is known for its ability to soften the harsh characteristics of strident sound sources. [3] David Bowie sang into an M 160 for most of the songs on Young Americans . [4] Engineer Andy Johns used a distant pair of M 160s (along with other processing) on John Bonham's drum kit for the Led Zeppelin version of "When the Levee Breaks". [5] The M 160 is commonly used on guitar amplifiers, [6] for instance, engineer Eddie Kramer recorded both the voice and the guitar of Jimi Hendrix on M 160s, starting in 1967 halfway through the sessions for Are You Experienced . [7] Producer Phil Ramone used an M 160 to record Billy Joel's voice on every album from 1977 to 1986. [8] The main electric guitar riff of Michael Jackson's "Black or White" was recorded with an M 160 in 1989 by Bill Bottrell. [9]

Still in production after more than six decades, the M 160 was inducted into the TEC Awards Technology Hall of Fame in 2019. [7]

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References

  1. ↑ Simmons, Greg (November 27, 2020). "Ribbon Microphones". Audio Technology. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  2. ↑ Huber, David Miles; Runstein, Robert E. (2012). Modern Recording Techniques. CRC Press. p. 114. ISBN   9781136117985.
  3. ↑ "Mixdown's Picks: Beyerdynamic M160". Mixdown. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  4. ↑ Hunter, Dave (2012). The Home Recording Handbook. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 274. ISBN   9781476855851.
  5. ↑ Welch, Chris (October 31, 2013). "Andy Johns on the secrets behind the Led Zeppelin IV sessions". Music Radar. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  6. ↑ Owsinski, Bobby (2005). The Recording Engineer's Handbook. Hal Leonard. p. 43. ISBN   9781932929003.
  7. 1 2 "Beyerdynamic M 160". TEC Awards . Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  8. ↑ Ramone, Phil (2007). Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music. Hachette. p. 199. ISBN   9781401388294.
  9. ↑ Buskin, Richard (August 2004). "Classic Tracks: Michael Jackson 'Black Or White'". Sound on Sound . Retrieved April 19, 2022.
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