26 Jan
2013
26 Jan
'13
2:56 a.m.
Anyone used one of cheap ribbon mics I see on feabay for well under
$100? Yeah, probably get what you pay for ... but I don't have 2 to 4
grand just to play with one. I'm doing some in-home recording of a
tenor sax and I've heard that ribbons are really good for this.
Comments appreciated.
--
**** Listen to my CD at http://www.mellowood.ca/music/cedars ****
Bob van der Poel ** Wynndel, British Columbia, CANADA **
EMAIL: bob(a)mellowood.ca
WWW: http://www.mellowood.ca
26 Jan
26 Jan
3:16 a.m.
On Friday 25 January 2013 21:01:37 Bob van der Poel did opine:
Message additions Copyright Friday 25 January 2013 by Gene Heskett
Anyone used one of cheap ribbon mics I see on feabay
for well under
$100? Yeah, probably get what you pay for ... but I don't have 2 to 4
grand just to play with one. I'm doing some in-home recording of a
tenor sax and I've heard that ribbons are really good for this.
Comments appreciated.
For a big buck, its worth the experiment Bob. One huge caveat though.
Don't ever walk up to a ribbon mic & blow into it to see if its live. A
perfectly innocent little puff of air can and has stretched the ribbon by a
1/4" or more in the old RCA M-77's. They are a cast iron bitch to put a
new ribbon in them because most folks don't have the non-magnetic phosphor
bronze screwdrivers you need to work inside the magnetic field of one of
those mikes.
BTDT, several times in my early career in electronic servicing back in the
'50's.
One thing the typical ribbon will do is make a close miking setup a lot
more realistic by putting a solid foundation under the sound of the sax.
Its a sound I like.
Cheers, Gene
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9:12 a.m.
On Fri, 2013-01-25 at 21:16 -0500, Gene Heskett wrote:
On Friday 25 January 2013 21:01:37 Bob van der Poel
did opine:
Message additions Copyright Friday 25 January 2013 by Gene Heskett
:D
In this price range you should get a capacitor microphone. If you are
rich get a large membrane microphone. I worked for a known company
producing large membrane microphones and could recommend some very good
microphones from business competitions, even if the vendor I worked for
is better, the owner is a [snip], however those microphones are much
more expensive.
Since I don't have knowledge about cheap capacitor microphone, I can
only repeat what somebody from the list recommended, when I asked for
cheap microphones.
The vendor is Rode, I can't remember the model, but it's around 100,-$/€
and should be better than a AKG 1000. I used the AKG and wasn't
satisfied, since sound coming from an angle did sound like a recording
with a supermarket microphone.
Be careful with ribbon mics in general, but especially with all kinds of
microphones that are much to cheap compared to known professional
microphones of the same kind.
There are a lot of ribbon mics under 100,-$/€.
http://www.thomann.de/de/search_dir.html?sw=b%E4ndchenmikro&x=0&y=0…
I don't trust gear that should cost around >= 1000,-, but does cost <=
100,-.
Regards,
Ralf
Anyone used one of cheap ribbon mics I see on
feabay for well under
$100? Yeah, probably get what you pay for ... but I don't have 2 to 4
grand just to play with one. I'm doing some in-home recording of a
tenor sax and I've heard that ribbons are really good for this.
Comments appreciated.
For a big buck, its worth the experiment Bob. One huge caveat though.
Don't ever walk up to a ribbon mic & blow into it to see if its live. 
3:20 a.m.
On Fri, January 25, 2013 5:56 pm, Bob van der Poel wrote:
Anyone used one of cheap ribbon mics I see on feabay
for well under
$100? Yeah, probably get what you pay for ... but I don't have 2 to 4
grand just to play with one. I'm doing some in-home recording of a
tenor sax and I've heard that ribbons are really good for this.
Comments appreciated.
There are lots of different ribbon mics around. Some of them are not
really ribbon mics in the classical sense. I don't think a Mylar skin with
a ribbon printed on it will sound the same as the old ribbon mics. (they
may sound good, but not the same)
If you are willing to do some of the work yourself try:
http://www.diyaudiocomponents.com/
Aside from complete mics at 300 euros, he also sells the elements for
about 50 euros. Add a transformer (he has links) a case and a connector.
http://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/directory/
Has some good links to sites that have good ideas about making mic cases.
I used an old power supply capacitor can, but copper pipe (or brass) works
well too (see your local plumbing dept).
One thing to remember about ribbons is that they are more sensitive to the
preamp impedance. So just buying a "cheap" mic may not do all you want.
Still one step at a time.
--
Len Ovens
www.OvenWerks.net
9:36 a.m.
On Fri, 2013-01-25 at 18:20 -0800, Len Ovens wrote:
On Fri, January 25, 2013 5:56 pm, Bob van der Poel
wrote:
Only DIY if you have experiences with building good audio equipment.
Prefer large membranes or capacitors.
FWIW good large membranes are build by Haun, they are e.g. used for
Brauner microphones, but I suspect a large membrane only already does
cost more than 100,- if you only buy one and be aware that microphone
companies select parts like membranes, since not all do sound good, at
least not all dual sided do sound equal on front and backside. You have
to pay several to get one that is good.
All the microphone circuit diagram do look similar, it's the quality of
transformers, membranes, tubes or transistors that make a difference.
You don't need special capacitors and cables, such as Klaus Heine build
into microphones, I compared a good mic with averaged cables and
capacitors and with Klaus Heine voodoo. At best Heine crap does sound
equal, but it also can sound less good.
However, DIY assembly kits for 50,-$/€ is asking for trouble.
You may subscribe to the 64 Studio mailing list, IIRC Quentin Harley is
experienced in building microphones at home and perhaps he could give
you some tips, where to get good membranes and things like that, without
doing what companies do. Again, companies select the parts and they use
the less good parts for cheaper microphones and only the best for the
expensive ones.
2 Cents,
Ralf
Anyone used one of cheap ribbon mics I see on
feabay for well under
$100? Yeah, probably get what you pay for ... but I don't have 2 to 4
grand just to play with one. I'm doing some in-home recording of a
tenor sax and I've heard that ribbons are really good for this.
Comments appreciated.
There are lots of different ribbon mics around. Some of them are not
really ribbon mics in the classical sense. I don't think a Mylar skin with
a ribbon printed on it will sound the same as the old ribbon mics. (they
may sound good, but not the same)
If you are willing to do some of the work yourself try:
http://www.diyaudiocomponents.com/
Aside from complete mics at 300 euros, he also sells the elements for
about 50 euros. Add a transformer (he has links) a case and a connector.
http://www.diyrecordingequipment.com/directory/
Has some good links to sites that have good ideas about making mic cases.
I used an old power supply capacitor can, but copper pipe (or brass) works
well too (see your local plumbing dept).
One thing to remember about ribbons is that they are more sensitive to the
preamp impedance. So just buying a "cheap" mic may not do all you want.
Still one step at a time.
7:44 p.m.
Thanks for the input, guys. I just put in an order for one:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LASBRG/?tag=debriscom
We'll see what happens. But, considering I spend just about as much on
a few packages of reeds these days, it's not a big amount of cash to
see if it works. And, if not, I can always put it up on the bookshelf
as a novelty item. But, seriously, the on-line reviews I've found seem
to be quite positive.
--
**** Listen to my CD at http://www.mellowood.ca/music/cedars ****
Bob van der Poel ** Wynndel, British Columbia, CANADA **
EMAIL: bob(a)mellowood.ca
WWW: http://www.mellowood.ca
8:01 p.m.
Nice, at that sort of money you can't go wrong.
Not so nice: £1 = $1.58, same mic over here, £129 (~$204). It's not even
the old "we pay in pounds what you pay in dollars" that we get with most
things :-(
I hate exchange rates!
On 26/01/13 18:44, Bob van der Poel wrote:
Thanks for the input, guys. I just put in an order for
one:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LASBRG/?tag=debriscom
We'll see what happens. But, considering I spend just about as much on
a few packages of reeds these days, it's not a big amount of cash to
see if it works. And, if not, I can always put it up on the bookshelf
as a novelty item. But, seriously, the on-line reviews I've found seem
to be quite positive.
9:15 p.m.
On Sat, 26 Jan 2013 20:01:25 +0100, Q <lists(a)quirq.ukfsn.org> wrote:
Nice, at that sort of money you can't go wrong.
Not so nice: £1 = $1.58, same mic over here, £129 (~$204). It's not even
the old "we pay in pounds what you pay in dollars" that we get with most
things :-(
I hate exchange rates!
http://www.thomann.de/gb/mxl_r144.htm GBP 113.32
You not only need to take care about the exchange rate, but also about
value added tax and some other mystic issues.
You'll see that different gear has different prices for different nations
at e.g. Thomann, some gear is less and other more expensive fore each
country, so it's not only the tax and exchange.
Bargain! If the they are not willing, go to another dealer.
8:53 p.m.
On 01/25/2013 09:20 PM, Len Ovens wrote:
On Fri, January 25, 2013 5:56 pm, Bob van der Poel
wrote:
I'm surprised nobody has suggested a Beyer M500. I've used them a lot,
and like them, and they aren't very expensive.
--
---
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und diese Lüge kriecht aus seinem Munde: 'Ich, der Staat, bin das Volk.'
- [Friedrich Nietzsche]
Anyone used one of cheap ribbon mics I see on
feabay for well under
$100? Yeah, probably get what you pay for ... but I don't have 2 to 4
grand just to play with one. I'm doing some in-home recording of a
tenor sax and I've heard that ribbons are really good for this.
Comments appreciated.
There are lots of different ribbon mics around. Some of them
are not
really ribbon mics in the classical sense. I don't think a Mylar skin with
a ribbon printed on it will sound the same as the old ribbon mics. (they
may sound good, but not the same)
11:49 p.m.
On Sat, Jan 26, 2013 at 12:53 PM, Al Thompson <althompson58(a)gmail.com> wrote:
On 01/25/2013 09:20 PM, Len Ovens wrote:
Nearly 3x what i just paid :) They are around the $300 mark on ebay,
etc. Still a long way off the 4 grand unit I was recommended :)
--
**** Listen to my CD at http://www.mellowood.ca/music/cedars ****
Bob van der Poel ** Wynndel, British Columbia, CANADA **
EMAIL: bob(a)mellowood.ca
WWW: http://www.mellowood.ca
On Fri, January 25, 2013 5:56 pm, Bob van der
Poel wrote:
I'm surprised nobody has suggested a Beyer M500. I've used them a lot,
and like them, and they aren't very expensive. Anyone used one of cheap ribbon mics I see on
feabay for well under
$100? Yeah, probably get what you pay for ... but I don't have 2 to 4
grand just to play with one. I'm doing some in-home recording of a
tenor sax and I've heard that ribbons are really good for this.
Comments appreciated.
There are lots of different ribbon mics around. Some of them
are not
really ribbon mics in the classical sense. I don't think a Mylar skin with
a ribbon printed on it will sound the same as the old ribbon mics. (they
may sound good, but not the same)
20 Feb
20 Feb
11:23 p.m.
Finally got to play with the MXL R144 Ribbon Microphone we were
discussing here a few weeks ago. I'm quite pleased, esp.when
considering the price. I've done a little recording here:
http://mellowood.ca/music/recordings/index.html#bicyles
--
**** Listen to my CD at http://www.mellowood.ca/music/cedars ****
Bob van der Poel ** Wynndel, British Columbia, CANADA **
EMAIL: bob(a)mellowood.ca
WWW: http://www.mellowood.ca
26 Mar
26 Mar
11:23 p.m.
On Wed, February 20, 2013 3:23 pm, Bob van der Poel wrote:
Finally got to play with the MXL R144 Ribbon
Microphone we were
discussing here a few weeks ago. I'm quite pleased, esp.when
considering the price. I've done a little recording here:
http://mellowood.ca/music/recordings/index.html#bicyles
I know this is a month old... I listened to it then too. But today I went
through some of the older recordings first. The difference is is very
noticeable. I would say that the new mic doesn't distract the listener. It
didn't have that "recordedness" to it. Whatever it adds (or subtracts) is
not noticeable. I want to get a ribbon. This one may be a good starting
point for me (with my budget).
What part of the sax did you point the mic at? How far away?
--
Len Ovens
www.OvenWerks.net
27 Mar
27 Mar
1:28 a.m.
On Tue, Mar 26, 2013 at 3:23 PM, Len Ovens <len(a)ovenwerks.net> wrote:
On Wed, February 20, 2013 3:23 pm, Bob van der Poel wrote:
I had the mic about level with the neck. About 24" away. BTW, I don't
know if you know this or not, but the bell is probably the worst place
to point a mic on a sax. A sax is NOT a trumpet, and the sound doesn't
come out of the bell ... it radiates from the whole horn. From what I
read on the 'net a higher spot seems to be better, but your room will
have more effect on that than placement.
I've got to do some more projects with the mic. For the cost, you
could try it and dump it. A decent meal costs more these days (not
that I eat in those places).
Best,
--
**** Listen to my CD at http://www.mellowood.ca/music/cedars ****
Bob van der Poel ** Wynndel, British Columbia, CANADA **
EMAIL: bob(a)mellowood.ca
WWW: http://www.mellowood.ca
Finally got to play with the MXL R144 Ribbon
Microphone we were
discussing here a few weeks ago. I'm quite pleased, esp.when
considering the price. I've done a little recording here:
http://mellowood.ca/music/recordings/index.html#bicyles
I know this is a month old... I listened to it then too. But today I went
through some of the older recordings first. The difference is is very
noticeable. I would say that the new mic doesn't distract the listener. It
didn't have that "recordedness" to it. Whatever it adds (or subtracts) is
not noticeable. I want to get a ribbon. This one may be a good starting
point for me (with my budget).
What part of the sax did you point the mic at? How far away?
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days inactive
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12 comments
6 participants
participants (6)
-
Al Thompson -
Bob van der Poel -
Gene Heskett -
Len Ovens -
Q -
Ralf Mardorf