Innovative Neumann KU-80 'dummy head' binaural microphone, attributed to Hansa Tonstudio in West Berlin, Germany, where it was used while recording David Bowie's 'Heroes' and several Depeche Mode albums. Introduced in 1973, the innovative microphone was designed to capture sound exactly as humans hear it, using a life-sized artificial head with microphones embedded in its ears. It revolutionized spatial audio recording by accurately reproducing 3D sound localization cues, paving the way for immersive audio experiences in fields like virtual reality, psychoacoustics research, and high-fidelity music production. Consignor notes that the microphone was purchased from Eduard Meyer, a sound engineer who worked at Hansa Tonstudio.
