M 88

The M 88 is a dynamic moving-coil microphone with a hypercardioid pick-up pattern and a 30–20,000 Hz frequency response. Its voicing is natural and uncoloured, with a pronounced proximity effect and a detailed bass response. It stays clear at very high sound pressures, so it is used on kick drums, toms, guitar and bass amps and wind instruments, and as a vocal and speech microphone.

The transducer uses a neodymium magnet for high sensitivity, so it needs little gain and can work with less powerful interfaces. A thin Hostaphan diaphragm, an acoustic labyrinth for even attenuation and an integrated hum-compensation coil reduce electromagnetic interference. The hypercardioid pattern favours the front, reduces pick-up from the sides and partly from the rear, and helps with channel separation and feedback resistance.

The body is brass, compact and light, with a three-layer silver grille that handles plosives better than the previous version. It is made by hand in Heilbronn, Germany, connects through a 3-pin XLR, and comes in a hard case.