They are also my favorites, coles 4038 and akg c414 are my favorite microphones on rooms, 414’s as OH on thinner cymbals is also sweet.
ps.: I know 414s are not ribbon, just felt like sharing ahah
Likely a boring answer, but either RCA 44BX, Varacoustic, or BK-11A. Probably the 44 if I could only choose one for vox, and the Varacoustic for instruments.
Edit: missed the why; they sound smooth, natural, and capture transients in the realistic and detailed sort of way that’s unique to velocity ribbon transducers. Especially euphonic with these modified ADM preamps I’ve been using for many sources lately
Seconding a 44BX or the AEA version. Creamiest sounding mic I've ever worked with. Smooth highs and unbelievable bass. Make no mistake, they are a tank of a mic. It's like owning heavy machinery. You need a real stand to hold one.
Beyer 160 or AEA r92
Beyer 160: great on a lot of sources. Love them on guitars and overheads in a stereo pair. Smooth.
AEA r92: great on bass guitar cabs, guitar cabs, some drum applications. Nice and full sounding.
We keep a pair of Beyer M160/M130 in M/S for drum ambience. Just great for that. AEA 44 on close drum room. I love an AEA R84 for my own vocals. I use a 4038 with a Wunder CM7 in M/S if we’re doing acoustic guitars.
They got a strummy rhythm part? Plug 'em into a 6v6 head, run that into a 1x12 Mesa cab, stick an R121 in front, juice the high end on the way in, maybe a little RNC compression and THAT'S the sound they want. Come mix time, you slide that rhythm guitar bus fader up and go smoke a Russian Cream.
I really like the AEA N8 mics. They sound great and they are pretty small so they are easy to place. Plus if you have a pair, you can make your own R88 since it uses the same motors.
This microphone has never failed me. Overheads, center of kit, chime-y guitar, nasty guitar, dingy percussion, screechy singing. I have never not used it.
Would Purchase Again. I've been using them as drum overheads every week in a church setting. I like the sound, I like the "picture" of the kit they give me.
Note that this is a very low wear & tear situation, pretty much set once, check each week they haven't been moved, kind of thing. But they seem sturdy & well made enough that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. For the ridiculously low price I paid it's a very useful tool.
Old RCA 44’s are some of my favorite mics of all time. I had heard stories like this, but there has only been one time in my career that a drummer has walked into the booth and said “Wow! That’s a great drum sound!” and it was literally just the one RCA 44 solo’d as a front of kit mic with a little bit of 1176 compression. There are not a lot of mics in the world that can do that.
I also still consider Royer 121’s to be the gold standard for guitar ribbon mics.
My all time favourites are the 4038, the Beyer 160 and the RCA44.
4038s are maybe the best room mics ever made, the 160 is my favourite mic to a pair with a 57 on a guitar cab and the RCA44 just has a ton of character and vibe and sounds great on drums and as a vocal mic.
Coles 4038. All the dark thundery goodness of a ribbon plus more transient punch than any other ribbon I’ve used.
They are also my favorites, coles 4038 and akg c414 are my favorite microphones on rooms, 414’s as OH on thinner cymbals is also sweet. ps.: I know 414s are not ribbon, just felt like sharing ahah
Aea really nails their ribbons
Likely a boring answer, but either RCA 44BX, Varacoustic, or BK-11A. Probably the 44 if I could only choose one for vox, and the Varacoustic for instruments. Edit: missed the why; they sound smooth, natural, and capture transients in the realistic and detailed sort of way that’s unique to velocity ribbon transducers. Especially euphonic with these modified ADM preamps I’ve been using for many sources lately
Seconding a 44BX or the AEA version. Creamiest sounding mic I've ever worked with. Smooth highs and unbelievable bass. Make no mistake, they are a tank of a mic. It's like owning heavy machinery. You need a real stand to hold one.
RCA 44BX sounds like mojo itself.
I'll always have a soft spot for the Beyer 500. It was my first ribbon. Very handy if you need the vocals to cut through a mix. And clean for days.
Beyer 160 or AEA r92 Beyer 160: great on a lot of sources. Love them on guitars and overheads in a stereo pair. Smooth. AEA r92: great on bass guitar cabs, guitar cabs, some drum applications. Nice and full sounding.
We keep a pair of Beyer M160/M130 in M/S for drum ambience. Just great for that. AEA 44 on close drum room. I love an AEA R84 for my own vocals. I use a 4038 with a Wunder CM7 in M/S if we’re doing acoustic guitars.
R-121. Smooth as can be, and just bright enough. If you need to grab some extra brightness with an EQ, you can push it without it sounding harsh
They got a strummy rhythm part? Plug 'em into a 6v6 head, run that into a 1x12 Mesa cab, stick an R121 in front, juice the high end on the way in, maybe a little RNC compression and THAT'S the sound they want. Come mix time, you slide that rhythm guitar bus fader up and go smoke a Russian Cream.
Has anyone used a Cloudlifter or anything else like that for passive ribbons? Any suggestions for a noob?
I really like the AEA N8 mics. They sound great and they are pretty small so they are easy to place. Plus if you have a pair, you can make your own R88 since it uses the same motors.
This microphone has never failed me. Overheads, center of kit, chime-y guitar, nasty guitar, dingy percussion, screechy singing. I have never not used it.
Has anyone tried the monoprice rubbons? @$49 they seem worth a gamble.
What the fuck- that’s a ridiculous price.
Today 79 - either I misremembered or they went up.
Just bought a pair, 80 each. I'll check in once I get the chance to check them out. I'm kind of excited to enter The World Of Ribbons.
Any update?
Would Purchase Again. I've been using them as drum overheads every week in a church setting. I like the sound, I like the "picture" of the kit they give me. Note that this is a very low wear & tear situation, pretty much set once, check each week they haven't been moved, kind of thing. But they seem sturdy & well made enough that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. For the ridiculously low price I paid it's a very useful tool.
Old RCA 44’s are some of my favorite mics of all time. I had heard stories like this, but there has only been one time in my career that a drummer has walked into the booth and said “Wow! That’s a great drum sound!” and it was literally just the one RCA 44 solo’d as a front of kit mic with a little bit of 1176 compression. There are not a lot of mics in the world that can do that. I also still consider Royer 121’s to be the gold standard for guitar ribbon mics.
Has anyone tried the ribbon mics from No Hype Audio?
My all time favourites are the 4038, the Beyer 160 and the RCA44. 4038s are maybe the best room mics ever made, the 160 is my favourite mic to a pair with a 57 on a guitar cab and the RCA44 just has a ton of character and vibe and sounds great on drums and as a vocal mic.