Ribbon Microphones

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AEA (Audio Engineering Associates): AEA has designed the R92 to have slightly different tones on the front and rear pickup lobes of the microphone. The front lobe of the R92 is the "crisp" side, offering exceptionally clean and realistic high end detail. The rear lobe is the "smooth" side, which has a bit of classic ribbon high end rolloff. The AEA R84 is an affordable Large Ribbon Geometry (LRG) microphone suitable for use by the most demanding audio professional or hobbyist.

The R88 has been optimized for stereo instrument and ensemble recording. The R88's two ribbon motors are oriented at 90 degrees, and have excellent off-axis frequency response. The AEA R44C has the authentic sound, feel and look of the 1936-38 RCA-44. A museum quality replica hand made by AEA using 1.8 micron ribbon material originally manufactured by RCA.

Website: AEA

Royer Labs:

The R-121 is Royer's

flagship microphone and the worlds first radically redesigned ribbon microphone. They did away with the large, heavy, fragile, “classic” approach to ribbon microphones and went in a completely new direction. It excels on miking guitar cabs and brass/woodwind instruments. The R-122 is the world's first active ribbon microphone. Designed to work with phantom power, it delivers all of the warm, natural tone of the R-121, but with 13 dB more output and impedance matching circuitry that makes it compatible with almost any mic preamplifier. Royer also offers the R-122V vacuum tube ribbon, the SF-12 stereo ribbon mic, and the SF-24 stereo active ribbon mic.

Website: Royer Labs

Coles:

The 4038 Studio Ribbon Microphone is of British Broadcasting design (BBC) and used for broadcasting and recording such sounds where a clear smooth wide range frequency response, absent of transient distortion and relatively high sensitivity is essential. The 4040 is the newest addition to the Coles line of ribbon microphones. This is the first ribbon microphone that Coles have developed using the very latest magnet technology. The frequency response of the 4038 is exceptionally flat from 30 to 15,000 c/s but where the 4038 starts to drop off, the 4040 carries on past 20,000 c/s and throughout this range, like the 4038, the shape of the bi-directional (figure of eight) polar response is maintained substantially constant both in the horizontal and vertical planes.

Website: Coles

Crowley & Tripp (Soundwave Research): Crowley and Tripp have specifically tuned the Naked Eye to have two distinct personalities. The front, emblem side has that thick and creamy tone guitars love. The back has a significantly brighter, rising curve that mimics the rise of high quality vocal condensers. The El Diablo can go where no ribbon mic has been before: inside pounding kick drums and blaring horns. The Studio Vocalist is full size, professional ribbon microphone. It's high output level allows you to use it with virtually any preamp, including your favorite preamp. And you can use that output to the fullest, because we built in pro-level shielding so that radios and magnetic sources won't get into the track. Also offered are the Soundstage, the Proscenium, and the SPLx Custom.Website: Crowley & Tripp

Blue Microphones: The Woodpecker is designed to be highly durable and deliver the wide frequency response needed in today’s modern recording environment. With its focused mid-range, smooth top end and outstanding bass response, the Woodpecker captures the essence of any recorded sound. It also excels at ambient recording, capturing room tone with the most intimate detail.Website: Blue Microphones

Groove Tubes: The Groove Tubes VELO 8 is a velocity (ribbon) type studio microphone that features a large (2” x .25”) ribbon element. The VELO 8’s dynamic design is activated using Neodymium, a rare Earth magnetic that offers maximum sensitivity output and wider response compared to standard dynamic microphones. The VELO 8 also comes in a tube version.Website: Groove Tubes Mics

Peluso Microphone Lab: Peluso offers the R14 ribbon microphone. It features a custom output transformer made by Tom Reichenbach of CineMag Transformers, which adds to it's stunning realism. The S14 is a stereo version of the R14. It has a head that swivels 90 degrees. It also comes with it's own stereo matrix so it can be run in three channel stereo mode or AB mode. The TR14 is a tube version of the R14 Ribbon Microphone. It offers enhanced output level and a stunning response due to the perfect impedence match with the amplifier. Website: Peluso Microphone Lab

BeyerDynamic: The M 130 has a unique double ribbon element with a superb transient response, creating a highly detailed sound with unequalled accuracy and transparency. In conjunction with the hypercardioid M 160, the M 130 is ideal for creating an authentic stereo image through the use of the MS- (Mid-Side) technique.Website: BeyerDynamic

Cascade Microphones: Unlike most ribbon motors designed today with an offset ribbon the new Cascade FAT HEAD houses a hand-tuned ribbon element that incorporates the legendary symmetrical ribbon design. This design offers a true figure 8 pattern. The corrugated aluminum membrane itself is positioned in the center from front to back, thus producing a balanced audio input signal to both sides of the ribbon assembly. This design is very useful when executing a mid-side or Blumlein recording set-up and also great for live stage use. Website: Cascade Microphones

ShinyBox: The 46 series is ShinyBox's ribbon microphone line. The 46MX ribbon microphone is hand assembled and every ribbon motor is hand tuned. With a Cinemag output transformer installed, the 46MXC model's frequency response evens out, while extending the hi and low frequency response. This leaves a very natural and detailed sounding ribbon microphone suitable for a wide range of applications. With a Lundahl output transformer, the overall frequency response of the 46MXL is extended (even more so than the 46MXC), leaving a ribbon microphone that is very open and accurate.Website: ShinyBox

Nady Audio: The Nady RSM Series of ribbon microphones are designed for use in contemporary, state-of-the-art studios, yet offer the unique natural sound previously only available on such classic large ribbon mics as the legendary RCA 44, which is still used to make great recordings today after almost 70 years. The TRM-6 sets unique new standards of performance for ribbon (velocity) mics, combining the unparalleled sound of a classic ribbon mic with the natural warmth and musicality of an internal tube preamp, Website: Nady Audio

APEX Electronics:

The compact Apex205 has been designed with todays direct to drive digital recording systems in mind. Its classic ribbon element delivers a warm tone and the most natural sound reproduction available from virtually any style of studio microphone.

The Apex210 has been engineered to deliver the unique character and tone of the classic ribbon design at an unbelievable price, making the ribbon microphone available for the first time to the home studio enthusiast and project studio engineer.

The Apex215 Dual Element Ribbon Microphone delivers much higher sensitivity with a much greater signal to noise ratio than standard single element ribbon designs. The Apex215 does not require phantom power to operate and its entirely passive design delivers stunning realism without introducing electronic noise or circuit distortion to the signal path.

Website: APEX Electronics

CAD Microphones: The Trion 7000 dual-element ribbon microphone is designed for studio vocals, voice-overs, acoustic instruments, brass, guitar cabinets, strings and pianoWebsite: CAD Microphones

Oktava USA: The Oktava ML52 is suitable for use in any situation where a warm and rounded sound is required. The ML52-02 is a DUAL filiment (2,5 micron thin) ribbon mic, as is the ML53.Website: Oktava USA

SE Electronics: The sE R1 ribbon uses a ‘Figure of 8’ polar pattern derived from a 1.8 micron aluminium membrane. The R1 has a higher-than-normal frequency roll-off (at around 7KHz), and greater sensitivity, producing a more open and natural sound than you’d expect from a ribbon mic.Website: SE Electronics

Samson:

The VR88 features a fine, pure aluminum corrugated foil ribbon suspended within an intense Neodymium field producing a warm and natural response that is silky smooth from top to bottom. In addition, the VR88 is capable of handling high SPLs of up to 138 dB, making it an excellent choice for miking vocals, acoustic instruments and even electric guitars.

Website: Samson

Avantone (Avant Electronics):

The CR-14 excels in studio solo vocals, group vocals and simultaneous vocal duets.

Users also report extremely good results on piano, electric guitar cabs and acoustic guitars.

The inherent natural sound of the CR-14 makes it a great choice for orchestral, woodwind & brass instruments as well as hand-percussion instruments.

Website: Avantone (Avant Electronics)

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