Where does this come from, and can I check it?

The Neumann U47 has been behind countless vocal recordings since 1947. The figure is taken from Britannica, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.

Is this really a music fact?

Yes. It sits on the Music shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.

What else can I read about it?

The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.

Mondo Knows Facts

One valve microphone defined the studio sound

The Neumann U47 has been behind countless vocal recordings since 1947 Its transformer and large diaphragm add weight and presence to a voice. Original examples are scarce and expensive, and modern copies chase the same character. Few pieces of equipment have shaped the sound of popular records so much. It sits in Mondo's music collection, one of 200 facts that each trace back to the reference below.

Where this comes from

Britannica

Facts that can change over time are reviewed and updated. If something here looks wrong, Mondo would rather know than be confidently incorrect.

Go further

Music trivia

More facts like this

The Neumann U47 set the sound of the studioThe German valve microphone appeared in 1947 and defined the vocal sound Microphones are chosen for two different jobsCondensers are sensitive and detailed, dynamics are rugged and forgiving Nashville built a recording system around session playersThe same small group of musicians played on hundreds of hits A handful of players ran Los Angeles popThe Wrecking Crew played on records across rock, pop and film Les Paul built one of the first multitrack machinesStacking recorded parts let one player sound like a band The same stage microphone has been standard since 1966The Shure SM58 is a budget dynamic built to survive being dropped

Tags: microphones, studios, history

One valve microphone defined the studio sound: the short answers

Where does this come from, and can I check it?: The Neumann U47 has been behind countless vocal recordings since 1947. The figure is taken from Britannica, which is linked in full on this page. Every fact on Mondo Knows names its source rather than repeating an unsourced claim.
Is this really a music fact?: Yes. It sits on the Music shelf, one of 2,600 sourced facts grouped into space, animals, the human body, history, science and more. Category pages collect every fact in the same field.
What else can I read about it?: The links under the fact point to a quiz, game, puzzle or calculator on the same subject, and the shelf below shows related facts. The wording here is original, and quoted phrases are marked as quotations.