Old Shure Ribbon Mics

[Thatupstateguy]

I have a couple of old shure ribbon mics,... what are that type typically used for,..?

and do they need different placement, or distance than other types....


Steve

 

[Marik]

I have a couple of old shure ribbon mics,... what are that type typically used for,..?

and do they need different placement, or distance than other types....


Steve

Steve,

You forgot to mention what model ## do you have...

 

[Thatupstateguy]

This was just a simple question on that type of mic,... does model # have anything to do with use or placement????

 

[donkeystyle]

i think he was just interested in what model you had.

ribbon mics are used for vocals, overheads, i believe guitars......i could be wrong though.........and i'm sure someone else can tell you more.

or you can just do a search on ribbon mics.

 

[Marik]

This was just a simple question on that type of mic,... does model # have anything to do with use or placement????

Yes, it does, because different model # had different patterns, and it is very important to know for its use and placement.

 

[Lance135]

Everything I've learned in school and read about ribbon microphones suggests that they are useful for capturing any instrument if you want a fairly natural tone, with no hyped frequencies. Unfortunately, my recording school didn't have any to play with. The typical frequency response is almost the opposite of a condenser microphone, picking up lower frequencies quite easily, but offering little in the top end, but still giving a full range up to 20 kHz.

They are typically used for capturing bright instruments and voices, such as electric guitar, strings, and singers in genres other than popular music, such as classical and jazz, where a mellower sound is desired. It is reported that they suffer less from phase distortion artifacts when eq'ing due to their relatively natural response characteristics.

That's everything I can tell from only textbook knowledge. I wouldn't mind having a few around my home studio. They seem to be a nice complement to digital technology.

 

[Innovations]

Yes, it does, because different model # had different patterns, and it is very important to know for its use and placement.

I thought all ribbons had to have a figure 8 pattern. On the other hand the model number will give clues to the frequency response of the mic.

Ribbons are known for their smooth rich sound. They are fragile so would never be used outside of the studio. They are have a weak signal so you need a preamp with a lot of clean gain.

 

[Marik]

I thought all ribbons had to have a figure 8 pattern.

Fortunately that's not the case. Shure SM33 for example is a Hyper-Cardioid.
RCA 77DX has a shatter, which together with acoustical labyrinth creates all range of patterns from fig8 to omni. Beyer makes ribbons with differnt patterns. In Reslo, you can change the patterns installing pads.... And so on...

And BTW, I made ribbon mics with omni, fig8, and cardioid patterns.

 

[ausrock]

Steve,

If they are Shure "Unitron" 330 type mics, they are normally regarded as instrument friendly. The Harmonicats used these all the time and I have one I purchased from a "pro" NY trumpet player. When I get the chance, I will be trying it out on acoustic and vocals..............you never know what might happen.

Chris

BTW, these wouldn't be from "that" house you have been helping sort out, would they?

 

[AGCurry]

The Shure 333, 330, and SM33 are pretty much the same mic, differing in finish and whether or not there's an impedance switch or impedance is configured through wiring. These could be called hypercardioid, although Shure doesn't call them that - Shure just says a sharply-defined cardioid.

The 300 and 315 models, on the other hand, are figure-of-eight mics. The 315 is more of an announcer's mic, without wide frequency response. The 300 is better.

I have a 333, an SM33, and a 300. They're all high-quality mics. I used the SM33 last night on a jazz gig on a Fender Concert guitar amp. Sounds GREAT.

 

[chessrock]

This was just a simple question on that type of mic,... does model # have anything to do with use or placement????

Not really. All mics are pretty much exactly the same. Didn't you know that? I take it you didn't get the memo.

Just stick it somewhere and move it around until it sounds good.

 

[Thatupstateguy]

To answer questions,... it ,... they are 315S with a little plate on the back for switching impedence,.... they were purchased,.... not found, along with an ampex tape deck from a guy who recorded school bands, and choirs with that set-up...

I did also find a couple of other shure mics,...(yes in 'that' house,.... ) .

They are a model that my buddy at the music store could not find in his reference book, so maybe someone here can help,... model 535, with a switch right on it that is the off/H/L impedence.... looks to me like it is maybe from the late 50s, early 60s,.... and a omnidirectional, maybe a pre 57,...???

 

[mshilarious]

The 300 and 315 models, on the other hand, are figure-of-eight mics. The 315 is more of an announcer's mic, without wide frequency response. The 300 is better.

Just got my 315 tonight. I wonder what the physical difference between the 300 and the 315 is? Being dynamic mics there aren't a lot of parts involved. Must be the impedance selection trafo or something. This one needed a bit of work, and I retrofitted an XLR connector which was almost clever.

Anyway, I don't feel like the low end suffers too much (which is the major difference in the 315). It has a really nice proximity effect. OH MAN does this thing need gain. I've got a pre with 60dB of nice gain and it still wasn't enough. This is gonna have to run through two gain stages.

It quickly popped to the top of the list of mics for my voice, especially for when the SM7 is just too much Barry White. I didn't like it as much on violin. It quickly forced me into a rendition of "Ashokan Farewell". After that I got bored. Sorry I know this sound is a standard but I don't like it much. The SM81 will stay on the stand here.

Surprisingly it was absolutely brilliant on flute. Maybe my favorite.

Oh, and it's terrible on didgeridoo. Don't even bother.

Still looking for that Beyer M260 with my name on it . . . then I guess I decide if I want 'em reribboned. How can I tell? The ribbon on the 315 seems to sag a bit, but it's hard to tell. Sounds fine though. I guess I need another one for comparison.

 

[AGCurry]

I should have said the 315 doesn't go as far on the high-frequency end. I believe the specs state 30-10000 cps or something like that. The 300 is supposed to go to 15 kHz.