Difference between these Ribbon Mics?

[easyrider]

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

£94

• Sensitivity: 2mV/Pa (-55dB)
• Characteristic: Figure 8
• Nominal impedance: 600 Ohm
• Max. SPL: 148 dB 1% THD
• Frequency range: 20 - 10000 Hz
• S/N ratio: 70 dB
• Equivalent noise level: 18 dB (A-weight)

R2 MK II - Golden Age Audio

The R2 MkII is quite different from the R1 series of mics. It features a ribbon transducer with a shorter and more narrow ribbon. It is darker sounding than

goldenageaudio.com

£169

• Frequency response: 30Hz–18kHz
• 137dB SPL capability (1% THD @ 1000Hz)
• THD: < 1%
• Impedance: 250 ohms
• Load Impedance: 1.2k ohms
• Sensitivity: -50dB at 1kHz
• Output connector: 3-pin XLR

 

[Matt Hepworth]

A lot of ribbon mics come from the same factories and are basically the same builds. The differences come from the QC of the seller. Some have reasonably stringent expectations of quality and tension and will reject or retension the ribbon element. Some don't.

 

[easyrider]

I want to add a Fig 8 ribbon mic to my drumkit….mono room mic

Any other suggestions..

 

[chrisso]

I have a Stager SR 2N which sounds great.
Obviously more expensive.

Stager Ribbon Microphones Nashville

stagermicrophones.com

The ultimate classic is the Coles 4038. The UAD modelling mics have ribbon emulations.

 

[Matt Hepworth]

For budget, try these - https://www.jrrshop.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=panther+mk2&order=relevance&dir=desc

Eric sent me one to try and I liked it and bought it. I have not used the Linear version, though.

 

[hotspot]

You are in UK, right?

Great transformers for little money. You won't need the Lundahl version, just standard - it’s great for drums.
In my opinion their standard transformer are a better match for rock-styles.

NoHype Audio LRM-2b Bändchen Mikrofon - Spezifikationen und Preis - THS Studio

NoHype Audio LRM-2b Bändchen Mikrofon - Spezifikationen und Preis

www.ths-studio.de

The only drawback from my point of view is the standard bracket supplied.
It only allows a hanging position.
If you can manage that, you’ll have a great microphone.
You won't find one in this price range that comes close to being comparable in terms of quality.
I have compared a lot of ribbons and the LRM2b is outstanding - in this price range.
Give Holger a ring, he is a nice and helpful guy.

Other mounts will also fit, e.g.

MXL 70 Shockmount

MXL 70 Mikrofonspinne, schwarz, Durchmesser ca. 60 - 62mm, u. a. f. MXL-770

www.thomann.de

This guy did some takes on different sources including drums oh‘s and room mics (later in this video):

 

[easyrider]

You are in UK, right?

Great transformers for little money. You won't need the Lundahl version, just standard - it’s great for drums.
In my opinion their standard transformer are a better match for rock-styles.

NoHype Audio LRM-2b Bändchen Mikrofon - Spezifikationen und Preis - THS Studio

NoHype Audio LRM-2b Bändchen Mikrofon - Spezifikationen und Preis

www.ths-studio.de

The only drawback from my point of view is the standard bracket supplied.
It only allows a hanging position.
If you can manage that, you’ll have a great microphone.
You won't find one in this price range that comes close to being comparable in terms of quality.
I have compared a lot of ribbons and the LRM2b is outstanding - in this price range.
Give Holger a ring, he is a nice and helpful guy.

Other mounts will also fit, e.g.

MXL 70 Shockmount

MXL 70 Mikrofonspinne, schwarz, Durchmesser ca. 60 - 62mm, u. a. f. MXL-770

www.thomann.de

This guy did some takes on different sources including drums oh‘s and room mics (later in this video):

I’ll take a look cheers xx

Part of me is thinking I just go all in and get a Cole’s 4038

 

[UniversalAudio]

I’ll take a look cheers xx

Part of me is thinking I just go all in and get a Cole’s 4038

I've had a pair of original STC 4038 from the BBC for many decades. Can't recommend them enough.

 

[easyrider]

I've had a pair of original STC 4038 from the BBC for many decades. Can't recommend them enough.
View attachment 17658

 

[DrumatiC]

I you have the money, indeed don't think too much and go for the 4038.

But as suggested by hotspot, if you want outstanding bang for the bucket, NoHype is the way to go. I have LRM-2b and LRM-V stereo pair, they are really great and complementary.

Cascade microphones with Lundahl transformers are really great too, I have FatHead II and X15-L, works really great on every source.

 

[flandybob]

Go cheap or go for the real thing, anything in between you will want the real thing anyway

 

[Matt Hepworth]

I've had a pair of original STC 4038 from the BBC for many decades. Can't recommend them enough.
View attachment 17658

Not a budget option, but fantastic mics.

 

[easyrider]

Go cheap or go for the real thing, anything in between you will want the real thing anyway

I‘m sort of in that camp…Spend once £1000 on a single 4038 use it as a mono OH , Room experiment on my Guitar cab, Acoustic guitar….and get on with it…rather than spend £500 on a pair of clones and then try to sell them to get the Cole’s and nobody wanting them or selling the, super cheap just to get rid…

I’ve outgrown my SM57’s and the Shure DMK57-52 Drum Microphone Kit I started out with…I can certainly get excellent sounding drums but I need to learn new mics and get some different sounds.

GASSING for


Coles 4038 Stereo Pair
Neumann U87
Beyer M160
Beyer m201
Beyer M88
Neve 1073 DBX

Mix the SM57 taken off the drumkit with a M160 on guitar cab…that’s the beauty of the SM57 kit I bought all those years ago…I new they would come in handy as my skills developed.

 

[hotspot]

Spend once £1000 on a single 4038 use it as a mono OH , Room experiment on my Guitar cab, Acoustic guitar….and get on with it

Now we're talking

If the budget is a little out of the way, there are of course some superior ribbons.
In addition to the classic Coles, which of course need no further discussion. However, as I always make sure that I have microphones that are as versatile as possible, I have favoured other candidates.
My favourite combination for drums are these two:



On the left a pair of At4081, which I prefer as overheads. On the right, my absolute favourite for everything that is needed for room mics but also in front of amps: AEA R88 Mk2 (my god, prices! I paid about 1k less for a new one 5 years ago).
But the mic is really worth its weight in gold, such a wonderful bass response. And of course the point that it's 2 ribbons in one, so you can do wonderful M/S, Blumlein and X/Y recordings as well as mono. Cool: try them 2 to 3 feet before a bass cabinet and remember the good old days of recording the real thing

Take your time and listen to a few samples on their website:

R88 Series

The stereo R88mk2 ribbon mic captures sound as your ears hear it, with an honest and open tonality. The R88 effortlessly records complex sources like drums, strings, piano, and other instruments that produce intricate transients, harsher highs, and bellowing lows.

aearibbonmics.com

As well as those OneMic minimalist recording series:

I chose these two microphones because they also work very well with other instruments and cabs, including OneMic recordings with the R88.
The AT4081s are brighter and more open than classic ribbons, which makes them very versatile for me. They work very well on acoustic guitars.
Wonderfully detailed resolution. They are active, which makes additional amplification unnecessary.

Yes, with ribbon microphones you can quickly go into raptures

But I think it's a long way from the ones mentioned in the first post

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

to where we are now

 

[chrisso]

At £1000 the Coles 4038 is a bargain for a commonly used high-end drum mic.
There are a lot of them around and they regularly come up used for around £850, even via used audio dealers who have had them checked out and will give them a warranty.
Personally I would wait for a good condition used one to pop up.

 

[easyrider]

Prices for mics has increased massively….

A Royer 121 is now £1629 from Thomann

 

[easyrider]

Question will I need a cloudlfiter with a Audient ASP880 and Cole’s 4038?

 

[UniversalAudio]

Question will I need a cloudlfiter with a Audient ASP880 and Cole’s 4038?

I've never needed a cloudlifter for anything.

Coles have been in constant manufacture for 60+ years I believe. Cloudlifter was released in 2009.

 

[easyrider]

I've never needed a cloudlifter for anything.

Coles have been in constant manufacture for 60+ years I believe. Cloudlifter was released in 2009.

I’ve read that some premaps don’t have enough gain…I’m just about to order and it’s asking me if I want to add a cloudlifter in a drop down menu…

cheers

 

[UniversalAudio]

I’ve read that some premaps don’t have enough gain…I’m just about to order and it’s asking me if I want to add a cloudlifter in a drop down menu…

cheers

yeah, they've done a good job in making CLs seem like a "need" thing.

I'd start without and see. Usually, when people say they need a CL it's them trying to use a ribbon where it's not the right choice.

I'm sure other users will chime in with their opinions.