AEA R88 into Sound Devices 744T

[maestro]

I recorded classical 'Cello and Steinway Grand Piano. I used 2 setups

Main Setup:
DPA 4006s in AB stereo pair
Piano Spotted with Neumann KM140, Cello spotted with AKG414

These went into a Millennia HV 4 channel mic pre and into Digi 002 (no converters, I know)

Backup:
AEA R88 Stereo Ribbon Mic into a Sound Devices 744T

The Backup sounds glorious. Warm. Even when i imported the wavs into Pro Tools you can still hear the warmth. Tape people may tell me i havn't heard 'real' warmth and they are probably right. Just wanted to share that

[MichaelPatrick]

Originally Posted by maestro

I recorded classical 'Cello and Steinway Grand Piano. I used 2 setups

Main Setup:
DPA 4006s in AB stereo pair
Piano Spotted with Neumann KM140, Cello spotted with AKG414

These went into a Millennia HV 4 channel mic pre and into Digi 002 (no converters, I know)

Backup:
AEA R88 Stereo Ribbon Mic into a Sound Devices 744T

The Backup sounds glorious. Warm. Even when i imported the wavs into Pro Tools you can still hear the warmth. Tape people may tell me i havn't heard 'real' warmth and they are probably right. Just wanted to share that

You've got a great setup. And what a backup set! I thought I was lucky to use a 744T and R88 sometimes for main, with a CD burner for backup.

I know what you mean by warm. The R88 is a fantastic mic and the SD pres are very good.

[maestro]

Thanks. I've been collecting gear for a good few years now. I never thought of the Sound Devices as backup originally and i think its going to be the main from now on.

Sometimes the R88 picks up noises. It picked up an electrical hum from a chandelier in a church and a cab radio!

[MBishopSFX]

You owe it to yourself to try the R-88 into the Millennia HV-4 before making the Sound Designs pre your main preamp forever more. What you are describing sounds to me more like the attributes of the R-88 which may be more apparent with the Millennia.

[MichaelPatrick]

The terminal input characteristics of the preamp have a huge effect on noise.

Load impedance and common mode noise --that hits both sides of the balanced line simultaneously-- is a typical problem with ribbon microphones because they need so much gain and because they don't naturally reduce noise at low frequencies where common mode signals like hum and buzz appear most.

An input transformer in the preamp is helpful but not a perfect solution.

To avoid CM noise I use short mic lines. For runs over 50' I usually put a preamp near the microphone to raise the signal level by 20 or 30dB. This drops the noise floor by the same amount or more. Otherwise I couldn't use the R88 successfully in as many live applications as I do.

[maestro]

I will certainly try to try the R-88 into the Millennia.

I agree with the short mic lines. Thanks for the advice

[Westmalle]

Why not the AEA TRP?

[maestro]

i've heard great things about it but i don't own one.