Best of Both Microphone Worlds

JZ Microphones has launched the MU-1, the first studio microphone to house a ribbon element and a large-diaphragm condenser capsule side-by-side in a single, level-matched and phase-coherent body.

Designed by Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer Marc Urselli (U2, Nick Cave, Foo Fighters, Lou Reed, Elton John, John Zorn), the MU-1 replaces a decades-old two-microphone studio technique with a single, level-matched, session-repeatable tool.

Hand-crafting studio microphones in Latvia since 2007, JZ is trusted by Grammy-winning engineers including Rafa Sardina, Thom Russo, Joe Chiccarelli, and Sylvia Massy, and is recognized for its distinctive design language and Golden Drop capsule technology.

The technique every engineer knows. Now in one mic.

Pairing a ribbon and a condenser on the same source is a studio classic – and a workflow headache. Phase alignment, level matching, and positioning routinely turn a five-minute setup into a thirty-minute compromise.

MU-1 eliminates the compromise and gives you more sonic options than ever before. Both capsules sit side-by-side inside a single metal body, aligned in physical space and phase-coherent by design. A single 5-pin XLR carries both signals, splitting the signal via the included breakout Y-cable into two standard 3-pin XLRs – record either capsule alone, or both on separate channels, and blend to taste.

The condenser section is built around the Golden Drop capsule from JZ’s acclaimed Black Hole series. The ribbon uses a premium 1.2 µm foil motor chosen for higher sensitivity and finer detail.

Key Features

World’s first active ribbon + large-diaphragm condenser hybrid microphone

Patent-pending hybrid capsule architecture

Phase-aligned, level-matched dual outputs

Single 5-pin XLR out with dual 3-pin XLR breakout cable

Condenser: JZ Golden Drop cardioid capsule, transformerless signal path

Ribbon: 1.2 µm foil motor with custom transformer,

Handcrafted in Latvia

Active design (48V phantom power to both elements)

Solid All-Metal body

In the box: shockmount, wooden box, breakout cable, ownership certificate