old school ribbon mics

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Kasey

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alright... so i'm looking for that 1920's jazz sort of sound, thus i'm looking for a ribbon mic. i've looked at the ones being made today and it seems like their trying to make them sound more like condensers these days or something... i see absolutely no point in that - you get a ribbon mic because you want a ribbon mics sound.... anyways... is there one being made today that i should get (by the way im short on cash so nothing over $500 please), or should i search ebay for some vintage mic that isnt made anymore. and if i get an old one... will it break to easy?
 
If you buy a vintage ribbon, you can count on having to get it re-ribboned, which takes you above your spending limit. Basically, for under $500, you're looking at either one of the Beyers (M130 or M160) or one of the new Chinese ones being sold under a number of names (Nady, Apex, PPA, etc.). The Beyers are nice. They don't sound like an old RCA ribbon, but they are nice. Haven't tried the Chinese ones.
 
Which ribbon mics sound more like condensers?

There's a bunch of older ribbon mics that frequent ebay - Altec, Shure, RCA... again, if you're looking at something that works, odds are good that it will run more than 5 bills. Still might be worth a look.

There's some really cheap ribbons coming out if China now that you can get for under 500. I'm not sure how well they compare to the real ones, but the model that I have (Apex 210) sounds nothing like a condenser. The design is loosely based on the RCA 44's.

Any ribbon will break easily if you push too much air through it. Don't use them outside. Don't blow into them. Stick a bag over it if you walk around in the studio with it. (many ribbons come with a bag for this reason) Don't close mic a bass amp or stick it inside a kick drum.


sl
 
I've heard several folks say that the new Nady (now around $200 street, less on eBay) has that sound, but just not quite as good as the RCA copies.
 
Flatpicker said:
I've heard several folks say that the new Nady (now around $200 street, less on eBay) has that sound, but just not quite as good as the RCA copies.
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yea i've been tempted to get that... but the fact that it's Nady scares me away every time i think about it...
 
You mentioned an "older" sound to which I might recommend the Oktava ML-52. Its character has a lower fidelity quality but in a good way - to my ears at least. Tape Op recently did a DIY improvement one could do. I did it to mine and it did get better while still retaining the character of the mic. Basically it brightened up a little bit. A little clearer highs and upper mids and less tubby lows. It's priced right up your alley too. Hope that helps. good luck!
 
Kasey said:
alright... so i'm looking for that 1920's jazz sort of sound, thus i'm looking for a ribbon mic. i've looked at the ones being made today and it seems like their trying to make them sound more like condensers these days or something... i see absolutely no point in that - you get a ribbon mic because you want a ribbon mics sound.... anyways... is there one being made today that i should get (by the way im short on cash so nothing over $500 please), or should i search ebay for some vintage mic that isnt made anymore. and if i get an old one... will it break to easy?
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I agree with those saying that for an inespensive ribbon go with either the Oktava or the new Nady/whoever. The vintage ribbons that are not going for a fortune are most likely in sad shape.
 
Innovations said:
I agree with those saying that for an inespensive ribbon go with either the Oktava or the new Nady/whoever. The vintage ribbons that are not going for a fortune are most likely in sad shape.
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...be sure you have a mic pre that can "drive" one of these babies...I got the Nady and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised by how nice it sounds (I'm also a bit tentative to go with the Nady, but I read that it's better than the Oktava)...I can only really use it with one or maybe two of my mic pres, because the others (SP TB1, Joe Meek Three Q, Rane MS1B) don't have the gain to drive this thing...it literally "EATS" gain!...I find it sounds pretty good thru the Presonus MP20, but it really shines thru my AMEK 9098 DMA...phat and sweet!...very much a vintage sound...don't know how long it'll last, but for the $179. I paid, it's been a great change-up from my LDCs...
 
Kasey said:
alright... so i'm looking for that 1920's jazz sort of sound, thus i'm looking for a ribbon mic. i've looked at the ones being made today and it seems like their trying to make them sound more like condensers these days or something... i see absolutely no point in that - you get a ribbon mic because you want a ribbon mics sound.... anyways... is there one being made today that i should get (by the way im short on cash so nothing over $500 please), or should i search ebay for some vintage mic that isnt made anymore. and if i get an old one... will it break to easy?
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If you want a 1920s sound, a ribbon mic isn't what you want. You want a carbon, ceramic, or crystal mic. Ribbons weren't developed until the 1930s.
 
Will the microphone yield the sound? I'm thinking that back then, things were either cut on metal plates or wire. Tape didn't arrive until after WWII. So will the mic be responsible for the sound or the recording process? Seems like the things I've heard recorded back then were a step above the frequency response of a telephone.
 
steveanthony said:
Will the microphone yield the sound? I'm thinking that back then, things were either cut on metal plates or wire. Tape didn't arrive until after WWII. So will the mic be responsible for the sound or the recording process? Seems like the things I've heard recorded back then were a step above the frequency response of a telephone.
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Good point. The advance in fidelity that came with tape, as opposed to disk cutting, was huge, even though the mics were the same.
 
...anybody considering purchasing an affordable entry into the ribbon mic category should read the review of the Nady RSM-2 in this month's Electronic Musician mag (July '05)...comparing the Nady to much higher priced counterparts (Royer and AEA) the RSM-2 did surprisingly well...scoring a 3.5 outta 5, they recommended the mic as a very useable addition to any mic collection...I scored mine on Ebay for $179... but I've seen them go for as little as $149...IM me if you want the link to the lowest price...
...it seems that when I list these links on my postings, some a-hole keeps slammin' me (on the reputation rating) as a "shill" for tryin' to sell these items, when all I intended to do is give the other members here a reputable link to the best deals I've found...it takes all kinds!...
 
kidvybes said:
the RSM-2 did surprisingly well...scoring a 3.5 outta 5, they recommended the mic as a very useable addition to any mic collection...
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Given that those reviews are usually glowing beyond belief, I've always considered anything under a 4 out of 5 to be a total trashing of the gear. And "very usable addition to any collection" generally means "it's mostly shitty, but I'm sure I could find a use for it occasionally".

I havn't tried the mic. I'm just commenting on these types of magazine reviews generally.
 
ROblows said:
Given that those reviews are usually glowing beyond belief, I've always considered anything under a 4 out of 5 to be a total trashing of the gear. And "very usable addition to any collection" generally means "it's mostly shitty, but I'm sure I could find a use for it occasionally".

I havn't tried the mic. I'm just commenting on these types of magazine reviews generally.
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...your evaluation of mag reviews isn't too far off base in general...but since I do have the mic, and I've found it very useful, I'd have to say the EM review is pretty accurate...I mean, they can't give a $180. ribbon mic a "4 or 5"...they don't even give a "5" to ProTools or Cubase SX3 software...the new Rode NT2-A scored a 4.5 in the same issue...it kinda comes down to a "bang for the buck" evaluation...definately NOT "mostly shitty"...but they didn't really address the "need for gain" that I posted above...important consideration!...
 
EM is the most willing of any magazine to give a less than glowing review, IMO. When they say 3.5 out of 5, you can believe it better than when SOS or Recording review something.
 
Oh, and I have the Nady ribbon, and IMO, it's much better than the Oktava ML-52 I had. Much more sparkle and way less flab. It's the best mic I have for Glockenspiel and triangle, and it's definitely nice on guitar amp. It's a nice tool to have in the arsenal. I just hope it'll stay functioning.
 
The best bang for the buck in vintage ribbons has to be the RCA Varacoustic (SK-50). You can pick these up for under $400 because the collectors don't like the "look". I got mine cleaned and re-ribboned from Sylvia Classics (these guys know ribbon mics!) for $375 and it's one of the best mics in my locker. When not in use for vocals, it's always up as a room mic.

http://www.silviaclassics.com/mics/

If you are looking for an "old" sound, you might also want to try a crystal mic. I've had a lot of luck with the Turner mics when looking for that vibe. Most of these have a tuchel connector, so make sure you get an adapter if bidding on ebay.

Jay
 
Kasey said:
alright... so i'm looking for that 1920's jazz sort of sound, thus i'm looking for a ribbon mic. i've looked at the ones being made today and it seems like their trying to make them sound more like condensers these days or something... i see absolutely no point in that - you get a ribbon mic because you want a ribbon mics sound.... anyways... is there one being made today that i should get (by the way im short on cash so nothing over $500 please), or should i search ebay for some vintage mic that isnt made anymore. and if i get an old one... will it break to easy?
Click to expand...

You might want to consider stretching your budget a bit and go for the AEA R92 (about $800 or so street). That'd be a keeper mic.
 
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