The RB500 looks like
my Apex 210 with a different paint job.
This is the newest mic in my collection, so I haven't put it through its paces properly yet, but here's a few initial impressions:
This thing is heavy. Huge, and heavy. If you want to sit it on a cheap boom stand, it would be best to weld the stand to the floor if you're going to extend the boom.
The sound seems to be very coloured, and this mic delivers massive proximity effect.
The output is very low, as with most ribbon mics. My only preamps are from an Allen & Heath SRC console, and it's a bit short on gain for passing quiet signals through this thing. Still, with the gain cranked wide open it doesn't seem to add more noise than usual. I'd probably be much better off with a better preamp.
Compared to an SM57, the Apex has more of a clear sound with extended response. It's still a fairly dark mic, but it sounds "big" compared to the 57. It makes the 57 sound as though there's a wool blanket or something over the sound. While the high end response is still clear, it doesn't share the unforgiving detail and harshness of
my MXL 2001 condenser at all. Very different sound.
I've got 2 of them, and they seem pretty close to each other for sound. They both worked fine out of the box. I'd think that an AEA R84 would be a big improvement over this microphone, but I've never heard one for comparison. Given the proper care to keep any wind away from the ribbon element, like sticking that bag over the mic when moving it around, I think it'll be useful. I'll know more about how I like it after I try to sit it in a mix, so it's still a learning effort for me.
sl
