Hi Friends,
I have a very cool video for you today. We´ll do a shootout of 4 different high-quality ribbon mics.
Thanks to our friends at Vintage King for lending us these beautiful mics to try out:
We are going to test all of these mics on electric and acoustic guitars.
In the process, I´ll also explain when and how I would use ribbon mics in a recording situation:
Ribbon mics are a very underused breed of microphones by home-studio owners, but they get used by professional recording engineers and producers all the time. This is your chance to learn when and how to use them.
At the end of the shootout, we´re going to listen to and discuss the different qualities of each of these ribbons, and I´ll mention shortly in which recording situation I would consider them a great fit.
Check out the video here:
I hope you´ve enjoyed this shootout and learned something along the way.
You can download the shootout recordings and have a closer listen for yourself HERE.
Which of these mics was your favourite? Please comment and let me know your thoughts below.
Have a marvellous time recording and mixing,
Warren
Great shootout!
I too understand why so many people go for the Royer, it’s detailed and balanced. Will download the files to listen more carefully, the 3 other mic’s sound great but seem to have particular character which would be nice if you want to go for some precise sound you have in mind.
The Royer really seems to be the go-to
Hi @plap-disqus-4734ba6f3de83d861c3176a6273cac6d:disqus I completely understand, the Royer on heavy guitars may be the best available! Dave Jerden a;also loves the Royers on overheads! My gut is IF I had the budget for all of them, then I would! haha They all offer a great set of sounds that can be used in many applications! I will say the Mesanovic’s top end was so detailed that it could be a great all around mic for every situation! Now that I know it’s $999 I’m pretty blown away by it!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Man, i can watch ya play all day warren! Awesome job as always, cheers!
Aw shucks thanks very much @joshsalant:disqus!! You Rock! That’s very kind of you! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Maybe ill see ya namm!
Warren “The Noodleman” Huart ;-). There is an unpleasant high-note ring on the acoustic recordings, seems to be a string buzzing or is it just me imaging things?
Hi @bertrandgrichting:disqus Haha Noodleman! Hmm not sure what you are hearing? Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Warren – cool video – however, it would have been cool to see how the cheaper ribbons stack up against these “pro” mics. It’d be nice to see how much different the MXL R40 is to these mics. It’d be nice to know if any of these 4 mics are an entire paycheck better than the MXL? Nice axe skills, btw!
Hi @disqus_vkWtfVNyWv:disqus agreed! A cheaper Ribbon mic demo coming soon! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
Josh I concur, something about pohmies (Sorry, an Australian anacronisim for Englishmen, Prisoner of Her Majesty) and guitars, they just go together. You can hear why the 4038 are liked as an over head, fat, though you do have to clockwise the top end knob. You got to try Ribbons on brass, great for getting those stabbs to punctuate. Man that Mesanovic’s getting into Condenser territory in upper tone. Try the Golden Age ribbons, cheap great sound, just not too much SPL thank you. ABFAB WAZZA.
Thanks @plap-disqus-43ec517d68b6edd3015b3edc9a11367b:disqus! Glad you enjoyed the shootout! All were great! Thanks for the clarification of Pommie! haha Yes agreed the Mesanovic is pretty amazing! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren
I’d go for the BBC mic , so much body ….nr 2 def the Rover , very clean
Hi @roarhoogdorp:disqus the Coles is definitely a great mic! Ultimately everyone of these is a great mic!! Have a marvellous time recording and mixing, many thanks Warren