Speak to me about less expensive Ribbon mics.

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:31 am

It's official, I'm full-blown ear-fatigued out on the 609, and my other mics are more vocally oriented and rarely can get left set up in front of a speaker for more than a day at a time, so I'm looking to get a cheap (under $300ish, depending) ribbon. I keep hearing about how they tend to being more true to life and darker than dynamics, and I think it's time I at least investigated it.

I've dug up some recommendations from other/lesser sites on some cheapo ribbons that are good at higher SPLs if the need ever arises with the type of response I'm looking for, but wanted the general riff-raff here to toss in their opinions before I pulled the trigger.

What say you on entry level ribbons?

TurboPablo · Post by **TurboPablo** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:33 am

I bought a Fathead. I love it. Definitely warm compared to my SM57. Cheap too.

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:40 am

TurboPablo wrote:I bought a Fathead. I love it. Definitely warm compared to my SM57. Cheap too.

That on is coming up a lot as I hunt around. Possible.

EndTime · Post by **EndTime** » Tue May 26, 2015 9:43 am

I didnt really dig the ribbon mic I had on distorted tones. Cleans were really nice. But for distortion, It was one of those things where it sounded bigger and darker than other mics, but when in a mix it lacked body and sounded smaller and brought out some frequencies that just sounded tinny (love that word, lol) to me..

My sorta secret weapon for getting bigger guitar tones AND still soudning like it in a mix is the EV Cardinal condenser.. Its different than other condensers Ive tried.. It almost reminds me of how the ribbon mic sounded, but its WAY bigger and has more body.. Its a killer mic for me.. THey were initially hyped up and reviews were glowing for these things when they came out, but I think people hated the look and they fell by the way side..Im not sure if they still make them new, or you have to go used, but I cant be the only one who found them killer for guitar cabs..

And also bass cabs, room mic and vocals it holds its own..

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Tue May 26, 2015 10:01 am

Hmm. Not even seeing any of the EV Cardinals on eBay. They must be super sparse.

nakedzen · Post by **nakedzen** » Tue May 26, 2015 10:16 am

Here's pretty much all you need to know:

http://recordinghacks.com/2008/11/01/chinese-ribbon-microphone-designs/

Btw: Fathead = t.bone RM700. The t.bone is about $75 cheaper. (They're both rebadged Ningbo Alctron HRM-15 mics).

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/gear-shoot-outs-sound-file-comparisons-audio-tests/724913-tbone-rm700-vs-cascade-fat-head.html

We've used the RB500 as a drum room mic for all our recs, sounds great!

EndTime · Post by **EndTime** » Tue May 26, 2015 10:17 am

I guess it'll stay my go-to secret mic.. lolol

Again, a ribbon mic was clearer and warmer, but I didnt get along with it.. Not saying it doesnt work for you or others.

But even if you want to smooth out your tones, I found it took too much aggression off and the left over frequencies of my amp/cab was just thin high end and the lo mid meat and potatoes of guitar BIGNESS was basically nullified in the mix.. I could have managed it by EQ'ing around it, but Im a big fan of simple.. I want my raw recorded tracks to be able to be mixed by simply panning and volume.. Not EQ and processing.. So, if a mic captures tones that dont blend with my other tones, then it taint for me...

The EV was a collaboration with Blue Microphones.. Which I can hear the "blue" color in the Cardinal.. YOu would know what I mean, if you have used other moderately priced Blue mics.. So maybe, a Blue condenser can get you there too.. Say the Blue Bluebird..

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Tue May 26, 2015 10:24 am

Thanks, nakedzen. Gives me some reading material and things to think on.

Which ribbons did you use EndTime? In my research so far there have been some distinct differences between various ribbons and which ones were good and not so good on guitars.

EndTime · Post by **EndTime** » Tue May 26, 2015 10:29 am

The fathead and MXL 860..

I honestly got that "ribbon" mic sound better with the Cardinal.. As strangge as that may sound, it is how I hear it.. Maybe not quite as 3d, but has that same kind of warmth.. Dont forget ribbons pick up sound from the front and back of the ribbon, which I guess would be that 3d sound Im referring too, but its not what I wanted in my tones/mix. I guess unless you have a more ideal room for recordings, I found it just didnt sound right in most cases..

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Tue May 26, 2015 1:54 pm

Fuck it, went ahead and NinjaRaf'ed this shit and did what I was thinking of anyway. Incoming. Hopefully Friday so I have the weekend to let it sit there unopened while I get clusterfucked by life and then I get to open it and maybe get it hooked up Monday morning.

Went with an sE Electronics X1R. Heard interesting things and a few clips that sounded alright to me. If nothing else I'll have another tool in the room for when I need it. And if it absolutely doesn't work for me there's a return policy so long as I don't do something stupid to it in the first month. Not utterly beyond me, complete klutz that I am.

nakedzen · Post by **nakedzen** » Tue May 26, 2015 3:01 pm

Let us know how it is? Kind of interested in that mic actually.

Devin · Post by **Devin** » Tue May 26, 2015 3:12 pm

I wanna try out a cheap ribbon mic soon myself - plan on getting one of those super cheap t.bone mics.

I have one of those inline mic booster thingies that supposedly work really well for livening up a cheap ribbon mic :idk:

Nakedzen what is your avatar from? :lol:

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Tue May 26, 2015 3:15 pm

nakedzen wrote:Let us know how it is? Kind of interested in that mic actually.

Will do, man. You know me. There'll be a flurry of clips when I get it.

nakedzen · Post by **nakedzen** » Tue May 26, 2015 3:38 pm

Devin wrote:Nakedzen what is your avatar from?

It's some polish artist, I forget the name.

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Tue May 26, 2015 3:43 pm

One of the reviews that sold me.

Specifically:

Electric guitar sounded great right away — I got pretty much what I was hearing in the room from the amp even before thinking about adding EQ. The top end had presence and projection but with no trace of added fizz, and lows came across as solid and full of authority, so I award it full marks in this role.

and

Overall, then, it's a thumbs-up for the SE X1R, as it delivers useful results on just about anything. I particularly like it for miking electric guitar amps, but it offers good all-round performance when you need a smoother alternative to a capacitor mic but don't want to deal with the nasal or honky characteristics of a typical cardioid-pattern, moving-coil mic. Best of all, though, it is very affordable!

Sounds like pretty much what I want. Basically what's in the room, full lows, presence and projection with no fizz. Fizz is becoming my enemy lately. :mad:

JerEvil · Post by **JerEvil** » Tue May 26, 2015 4:43 pm

nightflameauto wrote:One of the reviews that sold me.

Specifically:
Electric guitar sounded great right away — I got pretty much what I was hearing in the room from the amp even before thinking about adding EQ. The top end had presence and projection but with no trace of added fizz, and lows came across as solid and full of authority, so I award it full marks in this role.

and

Overall, then, it's a thumbs-up for the SE X1R, as it delivers useful results on just about anything. I particularly like it for miking electric guitar amps, but it offers good all-round performance when you need a smoother alternative to a capacitor mic but don't want to deal with the nasal or honky characteristics of a typical cardioid-pattern, moving-coil mic. Best of all, though, it is very affordable!

Sounds like pretty much what I want. Basically what's in the room, full lows, presence and projection with no fizz. Fizz is becoming my enemy lately.

So is this the one you grabbed?

http://www.fullcompass.com/product/4620 ... oCIh_w_wcB

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Tue May 26, 2015 4:57 pm

Same mic, JerEvil. From somewhere else though.

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Thu May 28, 2015 3:03 pm

That was quick. 'tis here:

Ain't even thinking of opening the box until I get home and am at least over nice padded carpet. I know my butterfingers all too well.

Also, no stand until Monday. :cry:

May have to commandeer one of my other ones until then and swap things around when it gets here.

Oh, workmates are super impressed I have a "sexer" box sitting on my desk. :facepalm:

Devin · Post by **Devin** » Thu May 28, 2015 3:06 pm

SEXIR

JerEvil · Post by **JerEvil** » Thu May 28, 2015 3:08 pm

nightflameauto wrote:That was quick. 'tis here:

Ain't even thinking of opening the box until I get home and am at least over nice padded carpet. I know my butterfingers all too well.

Also, no stand until Monday. May have to commandeer one of my other ones until then and swap things around when it gets here.

Oh, workmates are super impressed I have a "sexer" box sitting on my desk.

Awesome! How much was it. I see a few different prices all around.

nightflameauto · Post by **nightflameauto** » Thu May 28, 2015 3:17 pm

$229

Looks like it's cheaper in europe at the moment, but shipping woulda killed me from there.

JerEvil · Post by **JerEvil** » Thu May 28, 2015 3:20 pm

nightflameauto wrote:$229

Looks like it's cheaper in europe at the moment, but shipping woulda killed me from there.

Ah ok. B&H has it at $199 w/free expedited shipping. let me know how you like it as I have been looking for a different mic for making profiles.

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