Royer touts it as a sort of a 'bonus feature. Do most do it?No issue at all with using all ribbons. One added bonus of a ribbon mic is you can record into each side of the mic to produce a different tonality since the back side of the mic will be a bit brighter than the front.
... But there are issues to keep in mind. The fig 8 polar plot is, as said, great for rejection but the "backside" will pickup more "room" and ambient noise than a cardiod. ..
I've had very good luck with the rear lobe looking into a gobo. Best of both
Yup. THAT's what I mean by "keeping the issues in mind"!
Dave.
Royer touts it as a sort of a 'bonus feature. Do most do it?
Can't see why the reverse of a ribbon should be brighter than the front? But then I don't have a Royer to try!
That's a function of the figure 8
Hmm, if you are saying that ribbons have a greater HF response on the "wrong side" as a general rule I would like to see some evidence of that? Polar plots for example.
Most ribbons are symmetrical about their vertical axis and so, all things being equal, will have a symmetrical response. There are variants. The famous Coles 4038 has the iconic depression in the case (which is to correct diffraction effects at HF and smooth the response hence I doubt anyone would use a 4038 OTHER than the right way!).
My Reslo RBs have magnets across the back of the ribbon and pads to allow close talking, (see Cavern shots!) they are surely going to be dimmer from the wrong side?
Bit OT but. My Reslos are 30 Ohms and so I bought a 1:4 lifting transformer from Sowter. Works a treat and gives the ribbon about the same sensitivity as an SM57. Unfortunately modern ribbons are usually 150-200 Ohms so you can't do the same trick. A 1:2 traff would give you a 6dB gain (and less noise) but at 40quid a pop you would do better to put the traff cash toward a Fethead or Cloudlifter.
Dave.
I do not disagree with the claims for the Royer. My point is that a "bright side" is not, AFAIK, a function of the figure 8 characteristic nor the velocity sensitive motor principle (which IS responsible for the LF proximity effect.
What any particular person hears is up to them and their particular circumstances but only in THIS discussion have I ever heard it suggested that ribbon microphones have an inherently bright side and that it is moreover on the "wrong" side.
I too am no acoustics engineer but I wish I had not sold my old BBC book about microphone design many years ago when times where harder!
Dave.