The workhorse

• at that time commercially highly successful small diaphragm microphone that has been regularly used in numerous professional recording studios for decades now
• single diaphragm cardioid capsule - it's the same capsule (with polyester diaphragm) as its tube predecessor, the KM64
• uncoloured off-axis response
• very versatile because of its flat frequency response and the pleasant top end
• the transformerless successors KM140 and KM184 sound slightly different (less bass, more treble), so they could not replace the KM84
• manufacturing period: 1966-1992

Favourite applications: A long-standing professional standard for hi-hats. Also frequently used for overhead and snare on drum kits. Furthermore, it's well-suited for recording percussion instruments, acoustic guitar, violin, and piano.