Ribbon Mics (AEA R84) Your Favorite Big Gain Pre?

Unbound · 10th March 2005

I've got an AEA R84 that seems to need a lot of gain to get it to the levels I want. What sort of of Preamps are your favorites to get these things up there to a healthy level?

Thanks!
Aaron

henryrobinett · 10th March 2005

For me it's Millennia HV-3D.

Aearth · 10th March 2005

Chandler LTD-1

Or any good pre with a heap of headroom and EQ to get more sparkle out of the R84 if you need it.

Nick

zakco · 10th March 2005

I use my R84 with a Great River MP2-NV. Plenty of gain for my needs. A good match IMO.

-Z-

chap · 10th March 2005

The Great River is, well, great but the Vipre is probably slightly more versatile
with tons of gain. The key to both is variable ohms. Ribbons love that 600-300 ohm range.
cheers
chap

rainsinvelvet · 10th March 2005

API 312 seems to handle almost all ribbon gain needs for me.... Though I haven't used it for quiet classical recording or anything.

ERic

C/G · 10th March 2005

Chandler TG-2.

When my Tab-Funkenwerk V-78 and Telefunken V676a pres show up I will give my R84 a go with them and report back. You need a pre with a lot of gain to really make those ribbons happen.

Jason Poulin · 11th March 2005

Great River MP2-NV always runs our pair of AEAR84's with pride!

What a kick ass recording combo!

Jason

Unbound · 11th March 2005

I live a little over a half an hour from Great River Electronics...can I show up and get an item at cost?

Aaron

Dave Martin · 11th March 2005

In the last week, I've used a Great River NV, a Vintech X73 and my console preamps (D&R Cinemix) with my R84's. All worked great.

Dan Kennedy · 11th March 2005

Unbound,

Do you do bathrooms?
How's about waxing the lab floor?
I need some window shades hung...
Maybe we can make a deal...

What're you worth? :-)

Unbound · 11th March 2005

Custodial Engineering for a deal on a Great River? Hmmm...sounds like a good deal to me...really.

Aaron

Sounds Great · 11th March 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by henryrobinett

For me it's Millennia HV-3D.

I second that. If this doesn't have enough gain for you, might as well give up!

toolstudio · 11th March 2005

For a clean path for classic/jazz I use Massenberg 8304 or Hardy M1.

For rock guitars Neve 1064, 1073 or 1081, Chandler TG2, API312 or Helios

Many pres work great with the R84 (or any ribbon) just use pro gear.

wolfgang

olli · 11th March 2005

DACS Clarity micamp, 72db gain, separate phantom and non-phantom xlr inputs

MMazurek · 11th March 2005

Quote:

Unbound,

Do you do bathrooms?
How's about waxing the lab floor?
I need some window shades hung...
Maybe we can make a deal...

What're you worth? :-)

I payed regular price for mine, and I'd STILL buy Dan lunch on top of that anytime he's in the Chicago area.

Johns · 11th March 2005

Crane Song Spider and the R84 are magic to my ears.

shack jonz · 11th March 2005

Apogee Trak2. 90db of gain.

squeegybug · 12th March 2005

I've used the R84 with high (80 dB) and not-so-high (50 dB) preamps. Also, despite the A Designs conservative gain rating of 46 dB, it also does a great job with this mic.

As with many mic/preamp combinations, I find that really strong levels can change the tonal response significantly. I used to always go for the loudest sounds from the pre. Now, if more level is needed, I prefer to maybe add a little from compressor makeup, or at the mixer on mixdown even.

So, I don't think the "highest" levels are always the best. Tone is what counts.

One other thing with that mic -- keep the cable run to the preamp as short as possible. if you do have to extend the attached cable use something really clear with excellent RF shielding and low capacitance. You may not need as much gain as you think :o

Steve

10th March 2005	#1
Unbound Gear maniac Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 298 Thread Starter	Ribbon Mics (AEA R84) Your Favorite Big Gain Pre? I've got an AEA R84 that seems to need a lot of gain to get it to the levels I want. What sort of of Preamps are your favorites to get these things up there to a healthy level? Thanks! Aaron

11th March 2005	#8
Jason Poulin Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Sudbury, On. Canada Posts: 1,769	Great River MP2-NV always runs our pair of AEAR84's with pride! What a kick ass recording combo! Jason __________________ If it don't sound like a record... don't press record

11th March 2005	#10
Dave Martin Moderator emeritus Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 3,152	In the last week, I've used a Great River NV, a Vintech X73 and my console preamps (D&R Cinemix) with my R84's. All worked great. __________________ Dave Martin Java Jive Studio www.javajivestudio.com Nashville, TN

11th March 2005	#14
toolstudio Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 818	For a clean path for classic/jazz I use Massenberg 8304 or Hardy M1. For rock guitars Neve 1064, 1073 or 1081, Chandler TG2, API312 or Helios Many pres work great with the R84 (or any ribbon) just use pro gear. wolfgang __________________ toolhouse studios, germany toolhouse-mobile, record everywhere ...... www.tool-house.com /// www.toolhouse-mobile.de

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10th March 2005	#2
henryrobinett Gear Guru Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 10,217	For me it's Millennia HV-3D.

10th March 2005	#3
Aearth Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 1,289	Chandler LTD-1 Or any good pre with a heap of headroom and EQ to get more sparkle out of the R84 if you need it. Nick

10th March 2005	#4
zakco Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,365	I use my R84 with a Great River MP2-NV. Plenty of gain for my needs. A good match IMO. -Z-

10th March 2005	#5
chap Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: CT Posts: 967	The Great River is, well, great but the Vipre is probably slightly more versatile with tons of gain. The key to both is variable ohms. Ribbons love that 600-300 ohm range. cheers chap

10th March 2005	#6
rainsinvelvet Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: California Posts: 1,195 1 Review written	API 312 seems to handle almost all ribbon gain needs for me.... Though I haven't used it for quiet classical recording or anything. ERic

10th March 2005	#7
C/G Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 2,829	Chandler TG-2. When my Tab-Funkenwerk V-78 and Telefunken V676a pres show up I will give my R84 a go with them and report back. You need a pre with a lot of gain to really make those ribbons happen.

11th March 2005	#11
Dan Kennedy Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Inver Grove MN Posts: 482	Unbound, Do you do bathrooms? How's about waxing the lab floor? I need some window shades hung... Maybe we can make a deal... What're you worth? :-)

11th March 2005	#15
olli Gear Head Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Finland Posts: 39	DACS Clarity micamp, 72db gain, separate phantom and non-phantom xlr inputs

11th March 2005	#17
Johns Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: CT Posts: 582	Crane Song Spider and the R84 are magic to my ears.

11th March 2005	#18
shack jonz Gear nut Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Nashville,TN Posts: 108	Apogee Trak2. 90db of gain.

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12th March 2005	#19
squeegybug Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: MO USA Posts: 2,152	I've used the R84 with high (80 dB) and not-so-high (50 dB) preamps. Also, despite the A Designs conservative gain rating of 46 dB, it also does a great job with this mic. As with many mic/preamp combinations, I find that really strong levels can change the tonal response significantly. I used to always go for the loudest sounds from the pre. Now, if more level is needed, I prefer to maybe add a little from compressor makeup, or at the mixer on mixdown even. So, I don't think the "highest" levels are always the best. Tone is what counts. One other thing with that mic -- keep the cable run to the preamp as short as possible. if you do have to extend the attached cable use something really clear with excellent RF shielding and low capacitance. You may not need as much gain as you think :o Steve