Ribbon Microphones

[rafe]

Anybody use them? I have an old shure that I really like It is adjustable ohms L-M-H (on low)
 I use a symetrix 202 pre-amp into my recorder....It seems to help keep the vocals up front in the mix.
I just purchased an Electrvoice V-2a ribbon it is however a Hi-Z and I have to say I don't really understand what the actual preference is.I think the Hi-z has a bit more output. It would be a very easy mod to make it low-z which I am leaning towards. I have not received the E-V yet. I got a pretty good deal on it, not cheap though....just seeing if anyone else has gone through ribbon fever.....
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

[OldHouseScott]

At the studio, we've got some Royer 121s, some Coles 4038s, and some different beyerdynamics, M160s and M-something else, both front and side address. All models are different sounding from each other, but all have a nice, natural presentation to them that lets you crank them in the mix without getting buzzy. We also have a few Reslos for a real vintage, kinda lo-fi sound. Yeah, I dig the ribbons!

[G._Hoffman]

I've always liked ribbon mics, but you do need to be just a bit careful with them. 

My favorite story was from when I was in school.  The head of the Music Production & Engineering school at Berklee was Eddie Krammer's brother-in-law, and got him to do a series of master classes for the school.  When it came to to do the tracking session, he put the schools one old RCA 77 on the guitar amp, which you are always told is a dubious proposition.  One of the students in the class asked about the advisablity of this, and he said, "I used to do this all the time with Jimi Hendrix - it will be fine!"

The next part should be obvious, just from the irony of the situation; on the first take of the song, the guitar started sounding weird - because the mic had been blown!

I'm not sure if he ever paid the school for the damage.


Gabriel

[rafe]

I am confused, I've heard that they are excellent for close mic'ing of speakers?? and that most problems are caused by shorts when improperly being connected or disconnected into phantom power. Perhaps that could have been the issue? Any thoughts on the Hi-z lo-z? I think lo-z would be balanced and a better set up 

[G._Hoffman]

I am confused, I've heard that they are excellent for close mic'ing of speakers?? and that most problems are caused by shorts when improperly being connected or disconnected into phantom power. Perhaps that could have been the issue? Any thoughts on the Hi-z lo-z? I think lo-z would be balanced and a better set up 

If the ribbon moves to much, it can touch the magnets around it, at which point it is finished.  They can be fine for close micing an amp, but only up to a certain point.  And an RCA77 is an old mic that, while fantastic sounding, can probably be expected to have less tolerance for such issues.  He had it on a 130+Watt Twin, or something along those lines.  It was not a happy microphone.


Gabriel

[Bassmanster]

I need one.  I'm tired of putting pads inline so I can open up my mic pre (I like to use condenser mics).