Beyer m160

[alnico]

160's aren't gonna take too much abuse compared to a Royer but they can sound awesome at moderate levels. I recently got a huge sound with a Recto at a suprisingly low level. The guitarist was shocked at how low it actually was. Try it all but careful with the volume. You can hear the 160 start to fold at high SPL so blast away at your own risk!!!

[doorknocker]

According to Eddie Kramer, the M160 was the main mic used for both Hendrix and Page. Did these guys turn down to 'save' a mic? You bet...
My M160 is still pretty new but I hadn't had any problem getting pretty close to a healtily driven Marshall 4x12 cabinet. I wouldn't necessarily put the mic right on the grille but I like it anyway better backed up just a tiny bit.

I agree about the sound quality of the M160s, it's great for electric guitar (and also percussion).

Andi

www.doorknocker.ch

[Gordon Rice]

Hey hey--

Using a 160 about 12-18" off the cabinet, I've rarely had a problem (blew one up a coupla years ago, but I'm still arguing with another staffer about which one of us did that . . .), even with a Trem-O-Verb doing really silly things into a Marshall 4x12. At that distance, I also had no trouble with a client's 50-watt Hiwatt which was frankly the loudest amp I've ever heard. The distance takes care of the SPL issues, and that hypercard pattern takes care of the roominess I'd expect if I were using a 57 or (gasp!) condenser.

If the player is loud enough, the 160 can be a wonderful mic for acoustic guitar as well. Just be careful of that pattern again--if the player moves, the sound changes drastically.

All in all, it's a personal favorite mic of mine, wonderful on brass as well.

--gmr

[preben]

Thanks a lot for the replies... the problem with the spl is that because I record guitars in a large wooden box due to noise issues I HAVE to pretty close to the grill of the speakers.

[doorknocker]

Guys, what's the problem? A microphone is a TOOL, like any tool it will wear out eventually and while I surely do everything I can to protect my mics (like putting produce bags over 'em while not in use, a tip from Klaus Heyne) the goal is to capture sound and not to protect the mic.

If the ribbon blows after a few years or so, big deal, get it re-ribboned. If you earn money with your tools you might also be willing to pay for some repairs and there will be repairs for sure at some point.

The vintage craze has gone too far, IMO. Much like with vintage guitars, there's a high chance that a great mic will be treated as an investment and not really as a tool for musical expression. Crazy!

Andi

www.doorknocker.ch

[RoundBadge]

So blow up a coles in front of cranked marshall?
Yes they are tools ,but some are more suited for very loud spl amps.
I had a 160 and a 47 fet in front of germino 50 watt cranked and the beyer's sound started to fold/collapse when things got to loud, so I switched to a royer R122 and all was fine.. Both sounded great..I just didnt want to blow the 160 or change the amp settings[it was sounding real good]so the royer saved it
The THD hot plates are a good way to go and sound much better than the powerbrake for lower volumes with full output tube distortion..

[merman1983]

can anyone tell me where i can get the ribbon replaced on my M160?
who do you recommend, and price estimate?

thanks.

[BackHand]

I'm really close to buying a Beyerdynamic M160...I just have some questions..

Well..I have a API 3124 and a Presonus Digimax...lots of microphones like SM57..Beyer M201TG, M88TG and TLM 103, Rode NTK bla bla..U guys probably got toons of better stuff..and so forth...I've never used a Ribbon microphone...but I've heard so many good things about them?! I want to get a great Guitar amp sound...maybe some cool vintage rock vocals?

How does it sound =)!?

And one more thing, is the M160 blown to peices if I would accidently put phantom power through it?

Sorry..if there were any stupid questions guyes...

[84K]

Originally Posted by BackHand

And one more thing, is the M160 blown to peices if I would accidently put phantom power through it?

Don't do it. There will be no light show. There is no magical explosion. It will just break. You will need to spend $200 to get it back to where it was before you flipped that phantom switch.

[BackHand]

Aah! Wont try that then!

What's the diffirence between a Beyer m160 and a m260?!

[Jamz]

If your wired up properly and inadvertently engage Phantom power more than likely nothing will happen. It's merely a precaution not necessarily a consequence.

[seb37000]

There great on guitares and over heads, very smooth...

[BackHand]

What's the diffirence between a Beyer m160 and a m260?!

Ah...I use Studio Projects C4's right now...seem to work prett okay..but they're small condensers...the M160...does it have any top and..does it sound small and boxy?

[dolo]

Originally Posted by BackHand

What's the diffirence between a Beyer m160 and a m260?!

Ah...I use Studio Projects C4's right now...seem to work prett okay..but they're small condensers...the M160...does it have any top and..does it sound small and boxy?

260- less bass. designed mostly for handheld vox.

[BackHand]

Originally Posted by dolo

260- less bass. designed mostly for handheld vox.

Ah! Great!

[Datcha]

the 160 is also very cool on accordeon...
seriously

[BackHand]

Anyone who tried them on Overheads? How do they sound? Yeah...I know..itäs a really dumm wuestion..but like...fast and a little murky..with a limited top end...and so forth ?

Do I need double pop screens if I want to record vocals?

[Phil Cibley]

The only ribbon mics that blow up when phantom is applied are old RCAs
and others which have center tapped output transformers. M-160s don't and therefore are safe. So are most all modern dynamics as well.

[BackHand]

Originally Posted by Phil Cibley

The only ribbon mics that blow up when phantom is applied are old RCAs
and others which have center tapped output transformers. M-160s don't and therefore are safe. So are most all modern dynamics as well.

Wow !

So there is no risk for breaking the mic at all =)!?

[Lynn Fuston]

If you're about to invest in a "first" ribbon mic, then you might be interested in hearing my latest CD, the Ribbon Roundup CD. It compares all these mics on voice, drums, electric guitar and saxophone.



The M160 is in there, as you can see.

This is not a sales pitch--just letting you know something that might help you decide.

For more info, check here: http://www.3daudioinc.com/3db/showthread.php?t=1086

[max cooper]

I've been seriously considering a couple of M160's as O/H's. They're reasonably priced, but I haven't been able to get hold of a pair.

Any chance I should get an M160 + M130 instead of two M160?

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by max cooper

Any chance I should get an M160 + M130 instead of two M160?

Get a pair of 160's *and* a 130!



Yeah, I know, that didn't help, did it? But the 160/130 combo in M/S is a very cool rig for drum OH, room ambience, orchestral sections, some guitar rigs...plus it looks like a cartoon version of those M16/flamethrower combos they sported in Aliens. A pair of 160's might get more use in a typical studio, but the 160/130 will make clients bust out laughing

...until they hear it.

[Pohaku]

The M160 works great on overheads. I like them on sources like banjo and mandolin where I want to tame the high end a bit. It is a double ribbon mic as opposed to the M260 and M500 which are single ribbon mics. It does appear to have a bit more low end and a fuller sound than the other 2 Beyer mics. Ribbons are somewhat fragile so you do have to treat them more carefully than other mics. e.g., don't blow into the mic to see if it is working. As I understand it, while phantom power should not normally affect a Beyer ribbon, if you have a short in your cable, you could fry it. Thus the recommendations I have seen are to not tempt fate and to avoid phantom when using a ribbon. I think you probably could use an M130 with the M160 for overheads. I've not tried it with mine. They are also supposed to be the perfect pair of mics for M/S stereo recording - something that I also haven't tried yet.

[PlugHead]

FWIW,

Many years ago I heard some tracks done with the 160/130 in MS: truly was a beautiful thing. This fellow did many of the stereo instruments with this combo, and they sound stellar. Old skool vibe, and really rich guitar sound I've never been able to replicate. Drum OH's sounded soft and full, not peaky and full of zizz...

BTW - I've used both the 160 stock and modded (DX) and the 260 and 500, but never had my hands on the 130. I do use ribbons a lot (SF-1, R-121, 4038 etc) and you will surely find some uses where these mics shine, and others where there will be better options...

All the best,

[Purusha]

I would suggest to use the pop filter in front of M160 for reducing the spl effect...

Regards, Purusha

[Joba]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Get a pair of 160's *and* a 130!

Or a pair of 130's *and* a 160! Then you can do Blumlein and MS.

Lately I have enjoyed the open sound of the M130 backed off enough to avoid too much proximity effect. But often it can be nice to have the hyper pattern of the 160. Old M260's are also very nice, I often find them a little cleaner then the M160, if they are in good shape that is.

No, wait, this is the hi-end forum. The only answer is to have pairs of 130s, 160s and 260s.

Damn, I think I need to go out and find some more clients....

But honestly, the M160 is unique among ribbons with its hyper pattern. The M260.80 has a hi pass filter and probably not suitable for distance micing ( I have never tried one). If you can deal with the figure 8 pattern and proximity the M130 is nice.

For guitar amps I most often use the M160, M260 or Sank modified M260DX. I have these to choose from

[Pohaku]

OK, I'll bite. What is the mic that is 3rd from the left?

[beats workin']

i've got a sank modified dx260 that regularly gets used in front of a deluxe. fantastic guitar sound. i use a bright dynamic in conjunction and bring them up on 2 faders. the 260 softens the spikes from the deluxe much like tape would, and the 421 or re16 give me the fizz i need.
great mics.

[dolo]

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

Get a pair of 160's *and* a 130!

You can record in surround with this set up as well (2 cardiods/hyper cardiods and 1.bidirectional).