Budget ribbon microphone recommendations?

[paulaztec]

Hey gang,

I'm thinking of getting a ribbon microphone - will be my first ribbon, I'm currently using a SE2200, Beyerdynamic M201 and a pair of Rode NT5s (cardoid).

Likely upcoming use will be to record a singing guitarist - here's a sample using the M201 on her voice and the NT5s on the guitar: https://soundcloud.com/hazel_sound/green-apple-blossom-city-caroline-kendall

I'm fairly pleased how that came out, but like the idea of a ribbon softening the picking transients, and using figure-8 pattern to reduce the vocal spill.

Your collective wisdom and suggestions would be appreciated, or if you have other non-ribbon suggestions, that would be great.

Budget-wise, ideally I'd like to keep it under £200ish, and I think I may need to include in that some kind of inline mic-preamp - I'm using a Steinberg UR44, which I'm very happy with, but have been using the gain for the M201 almost full up, so anticipate the lower output of a ribbon might need some extra help.

Thanks,
Paul

[molecular]

You might manage to get a Sontronics Sigma second hand for not too much more than that (one on ebay for £300 ONO atm) - it's an excellent mic and doesn't need the additional gain boost. Worth going on your shortlist anyway!

[Drew Stephenson]

Golden Age Project, MXL and sE all do ribbons in that range. I liked the sE when I was looking a couple of years ago.
And Mike Senior makes quite a lot of use of the Superlux R102 - which is a bit of a bargain I reckon.

[Funkyflash5]

I've liked my Cascade Fatheads, and have loaned one to my friend with a much larger and more expensive mic locker as they sound good, not just good-for-the-price. At 160 they fit the budget

[wdsteele]

Ive be been using the SE Voodoo VR1 , it’s the passive version and has more top end than most other ribbons , was a shade over £200 some weeks back from Scan , most retailers are just over the £300 mark which is still well reduced on original RSP.

It was my first ribbon , I’m using it for vocals and acoustic guitar in mono single take recordings and it’s very natural sounding ; it really suits finger picking acoustic , very detailed and natural sounding and I didn’t have to listen too hard to appreciate it was doing something none of my other mics seem to be able to quite manage in capturing the initial string attack but still retaining a very refined edge.

So I get that smoothness I was looking for but not dull or overly bright , just realistic sounding recordings.

Running through an Eventide Mixinglink preamp or Apogee Duet preamp and output isn’t an issue for my fairly close up use.

It’s also amazingly small and robust with good accessories and is phantom power safe , a really nice addition for me.

[Mike Stranks]

I bought one of these: https://www.runwayproaudio.com/isk_rsm5.htm on the strength of the reviews and was not disappointed.

It did all I wanted from a ribbon and had the classic ribbon sound.

Recently sold it as part of my down-sizing...

[Mixedup]

Some good suggestions here. If you're looking to keep the costs down, Bumblebee Pro's part-assembled kits might also be worth checking out...

[Dr Huge Longjohns]

My mate swears by the Thomann round, flat one for guitar cabs. Can't remember the number...it's round, and flat, and you get a different sound depending on which side you put next to the cab. Looks like a silver lollipop.

[Aled Hughes]

Some good suggestions here. If you're looking to keep the costs down, Bumblebee Pro's part-assembled kits might also be worth checking out...

Ooh, that looks fun!

Anyone used one? Worth having?

[Wonks]

My mate swears by the Thomann round, flat one for guitar cabs. Can't remember the number...it's round, and flat, and you get a different sound depending on which side you put next to the cab. Looks like a silver lollipop.

That will be the only round silver ribbon mic Thomann sell. The RM 700.



https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_rm700.htm

[Rob Collins]

Highly recommend seeing If you can find a second hand Crowley and Tripp Naked Eye. Fantastic ribbon mic.

[Mixedup]

Some good suggestions here. If you're looking to keep the costs down, Bumblebee Pro's part-assembled kits might also be worth checking out...

Ooh, that looks fun!

Anyone used one? Worth having?

Not used them myself, but I have heard decent things of the RM-5 from people whose ears and opinions I trust. If anyone's tried the RM-6 I'd love to know what they think!

[jaminem]

My mate swears by the Thomann round, flat one for guitar cabs. Can't remember the number...it's round, and flat, and you get a different sound depending on which side you put next to the cab. Looks like a silver lollipop.

That will be the only round silver ribbon mic Thomann sell. The RM 700.



https://www.thomann.de/gb/the_tbone_rm700.htm

...mine must have been broken then, because it sounded awful. really crispy top end, perhaps a patchy manufacturing faze.....

[jaminem]

Highly recommend seeing If you can find a second hand Crowley and Tripp Naked Eye. Fantastic ribbon mic.

If there's a Naked Eye available for £200 there's no point in looking for it, because I would have already bought it!!

[paulaztec]

Thanks you all for your suggestions.

I've ordered a Superlux R102 - which seems to fit the bill - plus has a built-in pre-amp, which should make everything simpler when recording. I wouldn't have found out about that one otherwise - as always the forum delivers wisdom!

Cheers,
Paul

[ore_terra]

I own a pair of SER1's that you can find quite cheap second hand.

also I pair of Beyers M60 that I got 2nd hand in this forum for 500 quid

love them all

[cyrano.mac]

...mine must have been broken then, because it sounded awful. really crispy top end, perhaps a patchy manufacturing faze.....

That's possible. I've seen one where the ribbon wasn't corrugated. It was just flat. Needless to say that doesn't sound very good.