Beyerdynamic M 88 Microphone

Continuously handmade since 1963 at the company headquarters in Heilbronn, Germany, the Beyerdynamic M 88’s excellent technical features make it a living legend. This dynamic moving-coil microphone is particularly impressive when high demands are placed on the sound, whether in studio or in live productions. Its transparent yet rich sound will lend every performance the necessary gravitas.

• Dynamic moving-coil microphone for kick drums, vocals and more
• Wide frequency response with detailed bass response
• Powerful output thanks to high sensitivity
• Excellent directionality
• Handmade in Germany

The Beyerdynamic M 88 dynamic moving-coil microphone has a frequency response of 30–20,000 Hz and is characterised by its natural sound, free of tonal colouring. It also delivers a clear signal even at extremely high sound pressures. This predestines it for a range of sound sources – in the studio and live on stage. When using it for a kick drum, sound technicians and drummers value its pronounced proximity effect. In addition, the M 88 is perfect for miking toms, electric guitar amps, bass guitar amps and wind instruments. We recommend using the WS 59 AZ wind shield for kick drums.

Whether in the studio or live on stage, the M 88 has enjoyed decades of immense popularity as a long-time favourite for vocals. In this aspect, it benefits from its excellent technical characteristics as well as its detailed bass response and smooth treble boost. In addition, the high-quality basic sound is perfect for further processing the signal.

Originally developed for recording speech, the Beyerdynamic M 88 is also an impressive podcast microphone. Thanks to its almost physically perfect directionality, interference is effectively muted. A neodymium magnet makes this microphone highly sensitive, which means it requires very little amplification. This also means it can be used with less powerful interfaces. Its pronounced proximity effect and wide frequency response make it an ideal companion for your next podcast production.

From a technical perspective, the Beyerdynamic M 88’s hypercardioid polar pattern is close to perfection. This has a number of advantages. This polar pattern prioritises sound coming from the front, while most of the signals from the sides and some from the back are reduced. This ensures excellent channel separation, i.e. the microphone is less susceptible to crosstalk from other nearby sound sources. In addition, the M 88 is less prone to feedback, making it suitable for use in noisy surroundings.

As with all microphones in the M series, the M 88 is handmade at the company headquarters in Heilbronn, Germany. From the diaphragm and the dynamic transducer to the microphone grille – acoustically relevant components are intricately made in-house rather than being bought in. This method, which is unusual in the industry, allows us to maintain control over the entire production process.

The Hostaphan® diaphragm used in this microphone is a wafer-thin foil that has excellent vibration behaviour thanks to its low mass.

In addition, the Beyerdynamic M 88 features an integrated hum compensation coil to minimize electromagnetic interference. Another feature that has a significant effect on the sound is the clever labyrinth, an acoustic component that ensures even attenuation. The result is superb directionality and excellent sound.

This microphone’s compact dimensions and low weight make it easy to position even in cramped conditions. Thanks to the robust brass housing, this microphone is perfect for work in the studio and live on stage. As requested by many users, the M 88 once again has its three-layer, silver-coloured grille. This creates a perfect visual symbiosis of tradition and future, and enables the microphone to deal better with plosives. This classic microphone now comes safely stored in a sturdy hard case.

Our microphones are designed for daily use in professional conditions, which is why only durable materials are used in their construction. If the microphone nevertheless gets damaged, our service policy means that we can replace almost every part.