Metric Halo ULN2 with Ribbons

[DaveD]

I'm wondering if any one has attempted to use the ULN2 pres with ribbon mics. I experimented this evening running acoustic guitar through a Royer SF12 into the ULN2 pres and found that at 54db, the pres were distractingly noisy.

Being a newcomer to recording, I could just be 'doing it wrong' somewhere - which is perhaps kind of likely - so don't take this as a slur on the Metric Halo. Their reputation is stellar. If it's not me however, then either I have a faulty unit, or the ULN2 was simply not made to operate quietly at those sorts of levels.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Cheers,

Dave

[Kroy]

My ULN-2 is also noisy at 54db. I don't have any ribbon mics, and all the mics I've used with it - Cad E100, SM57, MXL V69, Earthworks SR25, have been OK, noisewise. I guess you need another pre for the mic you're using.

AEA make a special pre for ribbon mics:
The Ribbon Pre – Products – AEA Big Ribbon Mics™

[audiothings]

i have used a pair of cascade fat heads in blumlein with a uln-2... was recording sax and guitar, with the sax being about 10' away... coincidentally, i used the 54 dB gain position as well... was very pleased with the recording, noise was much less than i get with my rme quadmic.

ymmv.

[Jimbo]

There should be NO noise with the ULN2 preamps. Mine go all the way to eleven and are nice and clean.

Try checking your preamps against another dynamic microphone. Ribbons tend to be noisier than other mics, so it could be that you're just hearing the microphone's noise amplified through the ULN2.

I have no problems gaining my ribbons with the ULN2. In fact, it is my goto preamp for ribbons.

[edit: I should have said that there should be amost no noise coming from the ULN2 preamps. Most likely, when you raise the gain that high, you are starting to hear the noise from the ribbon mic]