One of the best pencil condenser microphones ever

• very flexible application possible due to free selection of polar pattern (omni, cardioid, figure-8)
• in the fifties it was Neumann’s most expensive microphone right after the stereo microphone SM2
• in contrast to KM53 and KM54 one talks into it sideways
• double diaphragm capsule as in the large-diaphragm microphones U47 or M49
• nickel membranes identical to that of the KM54
• with two KM56s all prevalent stereo techniques are possible
• two capsules of the KM56 arranged on top of each other are the heart of the stereo microphones SM2 and SM23
• clear and open sound (treble boost at 8-9 kHz)
• manufacturing period: 1955-1970

Favourite applications: similar to KM54. Particularly suitable for recording plucked instruments, piano and overhead. Sometimes also used for vocals