Electro Harmonix Ribbon Mic

  • Thread starter Thread starter wallystripes
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Actually EHX ribbons are made in Russia, not in China.

I believe you are quite right. All things EHX and Sovtek tubes are made under the umbrella of New Sensor Corp. This fact alone makes me more willing to try one. Not much below the level of Cascade, Groove Tubes, and Beyer that are truly worth the money, but on a budget I think ribbon mics are still something every recording musician should toy with at some point.
 
Totally agree with you soundchaser. I mean, Im on a budget and taking into account most chinese cheap mics are the same 2 or 3 models then I think a russian made mic is something you should look at
 
While Electro-Harmonix is a well-respected $27 million / yr manufacturer of effects pedals, they do not make their ribbon mic. This is simply a re-branded Oktava ML-52 ribbon mic. Yes, made by that "old school" mic manufacturer in Tula, Russia started in 1927 that predates Neumann by more than a decade.

btw - Foxconn has nothing to do with low tech stuff like microphones.

I've actually been to most of the major microphone manufacturers in China - all of them have individual strengths and blind spots.

oh, btw - Cascade? They simply re-brand and import mics. They do no design work or ribbon work themselves. Broken ribbon? They simply replace the motor rather than re-ribbon it.

And...ribbon sag? Do you know why ribbon sag occurs? Not because the ribbons are not initially installed at proper tension. Nope. Because the ribbon manufacturers don't know about the ribbon installation technique discovered by the BBC during the development of the mic now known as the Coles 4038. There is a a proper way to install a ribbon to avoid ribbon sag - this bit of arcane knowledge can't be "reverse engineered" by looking at a physical design.

oh, btw - the Apex 210 is a dog - very resonant headbasket design, poor ribbon corrugation technique that sags easily and the body is too large to fit any normal shock mount. The Apex 205 is far superior.

So in my book, until I release my own ribbon mics, there are only two excellent value ribbon mics - the $99 Apex 205 "long ribbon" and the $79 Nady RSM-5 "shorter ribbon". Yes, Lundahl transformers and other mods improve them, but they work out of the box if you check for ribbon sag first.
 
While Electro-Harmonix is a well-respected $27 million / yr manufacturer of effects pedals, they do not make their ribbon mic. This is simply a re-branded Oktava ML-52 ribbon mic. Yes, made by that "old school" mic manufacturer in Tula, Russia started in 1927 that predates Neumann by more than a decade.

btw - Foxconn has nothing to do with low tech stuff like microphones.

I've actually been to most of the major microphone manufacturers in China - all of them have individual strengths and blind spots.

oh, btw - Cascade? They simply re-brand and import mics. They do no design work or ribbon work themselves. Broken ribbon? They simply replace the motor rather than re-ribbon it.

And...ribbon sag? Do you know why ribbon sag occurs? Not because the ribbons are not initially installed at proper tension. Nope. Because the ribbon manufacturers don't know about the ribbon installation technique discovered by the BBC during the development of the mic now known as the Coles 4038. There is a a proper way to install a ribbon to avoid ribbon sag - this bit of arcane knowledge can't be "reverse engineered" by looking at a physical design.

oh, btw - the Apex 210 is a dog - very resonant headbasket design, poor ribbon corrugation technique that sags easily and the body is too large to fit any normal shock mount. The Apex 205 is far superior.

So in my book, until I release my own ribbon mics, there are only two excellent value ribbon mics - the $99 Apex 205 "long ribbon" and the $79 Nady RSM-5 "shorter ribbon". Yes, Lundahl transformers and other mods improve them, but they work out of the box if you check for ribbon sag first.


There ya go!

If you email Cy at affordableaudio.com, that Apex 205 would probably be $79 + shipping. (Yes, I have purchased from him, amps and speakers, he is a good guy!) I had a 210 but sold it when I went looking for the Cascade mic, ended up selling that too because I thought both were just a bit too warm for my needs. If I'da kept one, I woulda kept the Cascade. But the one I had was not modded.

You have any info or opinion on the Beyer ribbons? M130, 160, or 260? After I did some more research I started thinking the Beyer ribbons might be the lowest priced "gooder" ribbons that I might be able to afford.
 
...You have any info or opinion on the Beyer ribbons? M130, 160, or 260? After I did some more research I started thinking the Beyer ribbons might be the lowest priced "gooder" ribbons that I might be able to afford.

Yeah - they're great. Classic sound that has been used on lots of hits, including Hendrix's cabs. They have a flatter and more extended top end than the RCA 44 for example. The fast transient response of these small ribbon design motors and directional polar pattern of the 160 and 260 make them a great choice for "bedroom studio" vocal duties - way better than the sluggish and cloudy SM7. These are "no brainer" mics that have stood the test of time. Stock.

Another sleeper is the Oktava ML-19 hypercardioid. Weird looking, great sounding.

The day will come when people get over all the SM7 love at Gearslutz, open their ears, and try some real recording mics like these Beyerdynamics and the ML-19.
 
Yeah - they're great. Classic sound that has been used on lots of hits, including Hendrix's cabs. They have a flatter and more extended top end than the RCA 44 for example. The fast transient response of these small ribbon design motors and directional polar pattern of the 160 and 260 make them a great choice for "bedroom studio" vocal duties - way better than the sluggish and cloudy SM7. These are "no brainer" mics that have stood the test of time. Stock.

Another sleeper is the Oktava ML-19 hypercardioid. Weird looking, great sounding.

The day will come when people get over all the SM7 love at Gearslutz, open their ears, and try some real recording mics like these Beyerdynamics and the ML-19.

Congratulations! You just threw gas on my G.A.S. fire.
 
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