Editing Openai/6925e757-55ac-800f-b623-d2d87e8ae570 (section)

=== User: Google Gemini is certain this is a U87 Ai: ===
Google Gemini is certain this is a U87 Ai:

Yes, I am certain. It is a Neumann U 87 Ai.
You are likely questioning it because the microphone looks slightly different than the "classic" U 87 images you usually see. This is due to the aftermarket shock mount covering the mic and the white tape hack.
Here is the "forensic" evidence visible in the image that confirms this is a U 87 Ai and rules out other similar microphones (like the Neumann U 67):
# The "Smoking Gun": The Cable
• Evidence: Look at the black connector plugged into the bottom of the microphone. It is a standard 3-pin XLR cable.
• Why this matters: The Neumann U 67 (which looks almost identical in body shape) is a tube microphone. Tube mics require a special, thick multi-pin cable to connect to an external power supply. The U 87 is a FET microphone that runs on phantom power using a standard XLR cable. The cable in this photo confirms it is a U 87.
# The "CE" Mark
• Evidence: On the silver ring at the very bottom, you can clearly see the letters "CE".
• Why this matters: The CE mark is a safety standard certification that became mandatory for electronics sold in Europe in the 1990s.
• Vintage U 87s (1967–1986): Do not have this mark.
• Modern U 87 Ai models: Do have this mark.
• This confirms it is the modern "Ai" version, not a vintage 1970s model.
# The Shock Mount Disguise
• Evidence: The microphone is sitting in a Rycote InVision USM mount instead of the traditional metal "spider" shock mount (Neumann EA 87) that usually accompanies this mic.
• Why this matters: The Rycote mount uses a big black ring that hides the middle of the microphone, obscuring the famous Neumann logo badge (which is likely facing the singer anyway).
# The "Tape Hack"
• Evidence: The ring of white tape around the body.
• Why this matters: This is a common professional studio trick. The U 87 is a heavy, tapered microphone. When using a universal clamp-style mount (like the Rycote shown here), the mic can slowly slide down due to gravity. Engineers wrap a layer of artist tape around the body to create a "stopper" so the mic stays perfectly positioned.
Verdict: The combination of the tapered body, the standard XLR cable, and the "CE" marking makes it definitively a Neumann U 87 Ai.