Beyerdynamic M 160

A microphone with a round, silver, head pointed at a guitar amp
A Beyerdynamic M160 (right) next to a Neumann M49, both pointed at a guitar amp

The Beyerdynamic M 160, sometimes referred to as Beyer M160, is a German hypercardioid ribbon microphone used for speech in broadcasting and for music in live concerts and the recording studio. Introduced in 1957 by Beyerdynamic, the M 160 was initially based on a rugged dual-ribbon transducer element with alnico magnets. The two 15-millimeter (0.59 in) ribbons combine to yield a highly directional pickup pattern. The ribbon assembly is turned 90 degrees away from the usual configuration to make the M 160 an end-address model; the similar M 130 model is a side-address microphone with a figure-8 pickup pattern. The structure later incorporated neodymium magnets as they became available.[1][2]

The M 160 is known for its ability to soften the harsh characteristics of strident sound sources.[3] David Bowie sang into an M 160 for most of the songs on Young Americans. [4] Engineer Andy Johns used a distant pair of M 160s (along with other processing) on John Bonham's drum kit for the Led Zeppelin version of "When the Levee Breaks".[5] The M 160 is commonly used on guitar amplifiers,[6] for instance, engineer Eddie Kramer recorded both the voice and the guitar of Jimi Hendrix on M 160s, starting in 1967 halfway through the sessions for Are You Experienced.[7] Producer Phil Ramone used an M 160 to record Billy Joel's voice on every album from 1977 to 1986.[8] The main electric guitar riff of Michael Jackson's "Black or White" was recorded with an M 160 in 1989 by Bill Bottrell.[9]

Still in production after more than six decades, the M 160 was inducted into the TEC Awards Technology Hall of Fame in 2019.[7]

  1. ^ Simmons, Greg (November 27, 2020). "Ribbon Microphones". Audio Technology. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  2. ^ Huber, David Miles; Runstein, Robert E. (2012). Modern Recording Techniques. CRC Press. p. 114. ISBN 9781136117985.
  3. ^ "Mixdown's Picks: Beyerdynamic M160". Mixdown. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  4. ^ Hunter, Dave (2012). The Home Recording Handbook. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 274. ISBN 9781476855851.
  5. ^ Welch, Chris (October 31, 2013). "Andy Johns on the secrets behind the Led Zeppelin IV sessions". Music Radar. Archived from the original on November 4, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  6. ^ Owsinski, Bobby (2005). The Recording Engineer's Handbook. Hal Leonard. p. 43. ISBN 9781932929003.
  7. ^ a b "Beyerdynamic M 160". TEC Awards. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  8. ^ Ramone, Phil (2007). Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music. Hachette. p. 199. ISBN 9781401388294.
  9. ^ Buskin, Richard (August 2004). "Classic Tracks: Michael Jackson 'Black Or White'". Sound on Sound. Retrieved April 19, 2022.