Shure manual SM87A Supercardioid Condenser Microphone, Application and Placement

Model SM87A User Guide

SM87A

SUPERCARDIOID CONDENSER MICROPHONE

The Shure Model SM87A is a professional-quality, hand- held condenser microphone for use in sound reinforcement, broadcasting, and studio recording installations. Its super- cardioid polar pattern provides greater rejection of unwanted sound sources, making it ideal for miking individual instruments in a multi-microphone setting or for miking single sources in a reverberant or noisy environment.

The SM87A features a controlled low-frequency roll-off tai- lored for optimum performance when close-miking sound sources. An integral three-stage wind and pop filter protects against wind and breath noise. Its built-in shock mount re- duces stand and handling noise. The SM87A operates on phantom power.

Features

•Highly directional supercardioid pickup pattern

•Controlled low-frequency roll-off

•Very low RF and magnetic hum susceptibility

•Minimally affected by varying load impedance

•Built-in wind and pop filter

•Transducer element shock mounted

•Rugged construction for outstanding reliability

•Field-usable over a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions

•Accepts a wide variety of phantom power sources, in- cluding DIN 45 596 voltages of 11 and 52 Vdc

2003, Shure Incorporated 27B2964 (CC)

APPLICATION AND PLACEMENT

Some of the most common applications and placement tech- niques are listed in the following table. Keep in mind that micro- phone technique is largely a matter of personal taste—there is no one “correct” microphone position.

SUGGESTED MICROPHONE	TONE QUALITY
PLACEMENT
Lips less than 15 cm (6 in.) away or	Robust sound, emphasized
touching the windscreen, on axis to	bass, maximum isolation from
microphone.	other sources.
15 to 60 cm (6 in. to 2 ft.) away from	Natural sound, reduced bass.
mouth, just above nose height.
20 to 60 cm (8 in. to 2 ft.) away from	Natural sound, reduced bass
mouth, slightly off to one side.	and minimal ”s” sounds.
.90 cm to 1.8 m (3 to 6 ft) away.	Thinner, distant sound; notice-
	able levels of ambient noise.

General Rules for Microphone Use

1.Aim the microphone toward the desired sound source and at a 125° angle away from unwanted sources. Don’t place un- wanted sound sources directly to the rear of the microphone since supercardioid microphones, such as the SM87A, have a narrow pick up range at about 180°. Refer to Figure 1.

2.Place the microphone as close as practical to the desired sound source. Refer to the table above.

3.Use only one microphone for each sound source.

4.Keep the distance between microphones at least three times the distance from each source to its microphone.

5.Place microphones as far as possible from reflective sur- faces.

6.Work close to the microphone for extra bass response.

7.Use the fewest number of microphones as is practical.

8.Add a windscreen when using the microphone outdoors.

9.Avoid excessive handling to minimize pick up of mechanical noise and vibration.

10. Do not cover any part of the grille with your hand.

					180o
180o			90o
125o	125o
90o	90o	180o	0o	90o	90o
			125o
0o			90o		0o
CORRECT			CORRECT		INCORRECT

POSITIONING UNWANTED SOUND SOURCES

FIGURE 1

Printed in U.S.A.