Favorite ribbon mic

[eligit]

that's pretty much it.

coles, royer, aea, and anything else...

for guitar amp, combo w/ condenser for acoustic, and room mic.

running into hardy m1 or daking.

edit: i have heard a little of the AEA and i really does sound damn good to my ear. and not too expensive at all.

[carlsaff]

Don't forget the Beyer ribbons in your list. I like the M130 and M160 ribbons for small amps and acoustic instruments (especially when paired with a clean, high-gain amp, like your Hardy).

You can't go wrong with the Coles 4038, tho. A classic.

[PlugHead]

agreed - 4038 is one of my faves too: next is SF-1, then the R-121, and tho I don't own the R84, I've heard it, and it ranks up there too, but not as high as the Coles or Royer's...

4038 has more top than any of the others, and is maybe why I like it more, but it has so much meat and clarity, I prefer it over almost anything - it'd be my 'desert island' ribbon mic...

YMMV,

[robbue]

I have the Royer R-121 and I love it on my guitar cab! Extremely full bodied! stike

[Exsanguis]

I haven't tried many ribbons, but my fave is definitely my Royer 121. It sounds great on sooo many different sources.

[bradb]

I did some overdubs on guitar and violin this weekend using my r84. It was simply the right tool for the job. I haven't heard the royers but i have heard the beyers [260 or 160, don't remember] which I didn't like so much. An R92s in my future...

[David R.]

One would think, by looking at my avatar, that I like the RCA 77dx.

That thinker would be correct.

Mmmmmmm. smooth and creamy.

[toque-eh!]

RCA 10001 (KU-3A) or possibly the BK-5A.

[Jason Poulin]

You can't go wrong with a pair of R84's


At least I don't


Jason

[cgarges]

Originally Posted by toque-eh!

possibly the BK-5A.

I'll second the BK-5A.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[rlnyc]

i have a pair of beyer 160s, an r121 and an aea r84. you might tell, i like ribbons.

i use the 160s on guitar cabs and on drum kit overheads.

i use the 121 on guitar amps more than the 160s. richer midrange, in my opinion, and not quite so much top end.

i use the aea r84 as a room mic. and on acoustic guitars.

i also use the 121 and 84 on voices, depending.

the 121 is a little more durable than the large geometry ribbon or the 160s, but they are all three great microphones.

if i could only buy one, it would probably be the 121. ymmv.

-rlnyc

[Jules]

Visit here http://royerlabs.com/gearslutz.html

Or click on the green Royer Labs banner when you see it, to get a free demo CD from the folks at Royer Labs...

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by Jules

Visit here http://royerlabs.com/gearslutz.html

Or click on the green Royer Labs banner when you see it, to get a free demo CD from the folks at Royer Labs...

ROYER ROCKS!!! What a great company, VERY nice people and always so helpful, that alone should put them pretty high on your list.




Oh and the R121 ain't to shabby.

[Beauarts]

Beyer 160 works well on a bunch of things, overheads and fiddles is what I end up using them for. Also I use an RCA BK11 for vocals and acoustic guitar. Both mics have a bit hotter output than your average ribbon so it's a little easier to use.

[Ahellam]

I want a sf12 so badly.

[neve1073]

yep, the royer 121 is destined to be a classic. it rules.

nobody votes for the rca 44?

[eligit]

thanks for the opinions.

i will take them into account.

eli

www.elifriedmann.com

[RoundBadge]

Been using a beat up Rca 44 ..kills on everything
have a 122 great for gts,drum room,percussion
I'v got an aea r84 on loan this week.nice top end,
I think a pair of coles are next'
I'm using ribbons more and more lately... like how the top end translates to digital stike

[C/G]

I have had a love affair with ribbons for a few years now. It started with a Fostex M88RP, a little dark, but cool none the less. Beyer M160 on electric guitar cabinets is a good thing, I only have one so I have not used them as overheads. AEA R84 is another wonderful ribbon mic. I like the R84 on acoustic, some don't but I find it nice and smooth and makes crappy acoustic guitars sound ok. I have some old Oktava ribbons from the 60's, an ML16 and M11. They are heavy and built like tanks, the ML16 took a 20 foot drop from a large boom stand and still works, dented but still performs. I would like another M160 and R84 but the cashflow is at a standstill. There is a new AEA R92 that is coming out, supposed to have a bit more high end than the R84. Never tried a Royer but would love to. Most of the pres I buy have a ton of gain because I use the ribbons alot. I just really dig ribbon mics.

[drongo]

Originally Posted by RoundBadge

I'm using ribbons more and more lately... like how the top end translates to digital stike

Got to agree on that one. It seems like there isn't 'two sounds' when you record ribbon to digital i.e. one primary and one weird artefact as it fades to the distance. The ribbon just seems to be a 'single' stroke of the brush that fades into silence....

I used a good Coles mic at the weekend and it floored me. Even managed to keep up with very dynamic and varying acoustic styles - not to mention the 'instant pro' sound it gave to the vocals.

sorry to gush but I've only recently got close and personal with ribbon mics!

[henryrobinett]

Well I own a Royer 121 and an AEA R84. I love them both. I've used an RCA77dx extensively and love that too. May favorite ribbon by far so far has been the AEA44c. I had it on loan for a couple of months. Awesome mic. I used it on vocals, acoustic guitar, tenor sax and trumpet.

[carlsaff]

Originally Posted by borau

Beyer M160= hot output??

Not so in my experience...on the contrary.

But then again, I might be wrong.

Nope, not wrong. That mic has very low output. This is why it pairs well (like many ribbons) with a pre that has LOTS of clean gain (in my case, I prefer a Sytek MPX4Aii).

Though I own and enjoy my M160, it definitely pales in comparison to a Coles, and I'm sure the Royer is a better mic, as well. It's simply the best "affordable" ribbon I've come across. And sounds nice enough, esp. on dynamic, clean guitar amps that aren't up too loud.

[Beauarts]

The beyer m160 doesn't have as hot an output as a condenser mic but it's more than the beyer m500, m260 and many other ribbon mics.

[Gordon Rice]

Originally Posted by borau

Beyer M160= hot output??

Not so in my experience...on the contrary.

But then again, I might be wrong.

Don't know that I'd describe it as "hot (as a matter of fact I'm quite sure I wouldn't)," but it *does* have significantly more output than the various RCA's. I've never put one next to a 4038 for comparison. I think I'd like to try it sometime . . .

[studjo]

Boys please don't compare the m160 with the Royer 121 - they're totally different. Both are great but really different.

Jo

[I Lurk]

I don't know

What is your favorite colour ?

[lucey]

4038

and looking forward to the R92

[preben]

I actually just bought a Beyer M160 a couple of days ago. This mainly for use for electric guitars. So far I am very happy. It seems to me that is has more bite than a Royer 121 whilst being much warmer and less fuzzy and 'spiky' than an SM57. So far so good.

[warhead]

I've enjoyed an R84 for quite some time now, big sound. We just received the R92 though so I'm interested in the side by side.

I've never used Royers.

The M160 is a great mic, I've used one on sax and some acoustic stuff and it was great. Good choice for a small room with the tight pattern.

War

[Vari-Mu]

Coles.....dark chocolate with 80% cocoa solids....

But I haven't tried the AEA yet.

Best

Vari-Mu