How It's Made - Condenser and Ribbon Microphones

[Richard Crowley]

It is sometimes helpful (and at least interesting) to know how they make the microphones we use...

Neumann U87 condenser mic:

YouTube (Short URL)

AEA (RCA) 44 ribbon mic:

YouTube (Short URL)

[Greg Miller]

How ironic that these videos about microphones have obviously distorted narration. The ribbon mic video also seems to have some bad background hum ... at least at the beginning before the music track starts.

[Gary Nattrass]

Originally Posted by Greg Miller

How ironic that these videos about microphones have obviously distorted narration. The ribbon mic video also seems to have some bad background hum ... at least at the beginning before the music track starts.

Ha ha must have been shot with a rode mic into a DSLR! ;0)

[Andrew Smith]

Any mic going straight in to a DSLR can give you less that premium results.

Andrew

[Garrett Low]

I would love to have a U87. Such a great sounding mic.

And that AEA 44 is huge.

[Gary Nattrass]

Originally Posted by Garrett Low

I would love to have a U87. Such a great sounding mic.

And that AEA 44 is huge.

Funny enough is that the U87 does not tend to have a particular sound and what you usually hear is due to the EQ and compression applied which can be quite drastic on older music recordings, I recall max gain at 10k was the norm in the 70's! ;0)

[Jon Fairhurst]

Originally Posted by Gary Nattrass

Funny enough is that the U87 does not tend to have a particular sound and what you usually hear is due to the EQ and compression applied which can be quite drastic on older music recordings, I recall max gain at 10k was the norm in the 70's! ;0)

We'll said!

So often, people search for that mic that gives just the right sound, yet the sound they want to achieve is done with processing - and with a great room (and performer). It's like searching for a lens that will deliver The Matrix look when it's really about art direction, lighting, and grading.

But like Garrett, I'd also love to have a U87. Nothing like starting with a nice clean signal. Owning a classic doesn't hurt either. :)

[Garrett Low]

Originally Posted by Gary Nattrass

Funny enough is that the U87 does not tend to have a particular sound and what you usually hear is due to the EQ and compression applied which can be quite drastic on older music recordings, I recall max gain at 10k was the norm in the 70's! ;0)

That is perhaps why I love this mic so much. To my ear is is a very uncolored mic. It also picks up a lot of the nuances that other mics seem to miss.

[Gary Nattrass]

I have used U87's for most of my professional career but must admit that the Rode NT2000 I own for my home studio is a very good mic and sounds pretty close to me!

Always been a fan of ribbon mic's but shudder that we threw in the trash all the old coles 4033 and 4038 mic's we had in 1980 as they were not visually acceptable for TV anymore! ;0(

[Rick Reineke]

A RCA employee/relative of mine (RIP) recalled throwing away boxes full of RCA 77DX and 44s when GE took over NBC in NY. Wish I was around then and knew what was what.

[Gary Nattrass]

Originally Posted by Rick Reineke

A RCA employee/relative of mine (RIP) recalled throwing away boxes full of RCA 77DX and 44s when GE took over NBC in NY. Wish I was around then and knew what was what.

Such a shame and waste.

Sadly most of the AMS Neve digital consoles that were shipped when I worked for them have ended up in the trash too!

[Gary Nattrass]

Have a listen to Jeff Lynns new single when I was a boy to hear classic how to deal with a U87 for vocals that totally suits the music genre!

THEN listen what it sounds like on FM radio FAB!