New Mic Day - AEA R84 Ribbon

[crlujan]

I’m done buying basses... for now.

All I’ve got the GAS for lately is recording equipment. Mics, preamps, compressors, etc. I record to tape and try to use the year 1968 as the sound I’m going for.

Went and got myself an AEA R84 ribbon mic. So far, I’ve recorded some guitar with it. And, I can really say that this mic has a total “vibe” to it. It “sounds” old, if that makes any sense. Now, I just need that matching AEA TRP2 preamp.

I plan to use it as a drum overhead for today’s session. Lately, I’ve been trying to record guitar, bass, and drums myself. Been working with a vocalist. And keys and/or horns, I bring in some real players.

Anyway, obligatory pics...

 

[AGCurry]

Yep, I've owned a pair of these for 14 years and have used them to record in stereo with a Blumlein configuration as well as live, for choirs. Great microphones.

I notice that one of your photos (aside from the beautiful dog) shows the mic perpendicular from upright. Do you know that changes its response curve a little bit? Do make sure you store the mic upright to prevent ribbon sag over time.

I also own the R44. It's incredible.

I would disagree about your needing the AEA preamp, but a Cloudlifter is worth the expense.

 

[crlujan]

Yep, I've owned a pair of these for 14 years and have used them to record in stereo with a Blumlein configuration as well as live, for choirs. Great microphones.

I notice that one of your photos (aside from the beautiful dog) shows the mic perpendicular from upright. Do you know that changes its response curve a little bit? Do make sure you store the mic upright to prevent ribbon sag over time.

I also own the R44. It's incredible.

I would disagree about your needing the AEA preamp, but a Cloudlifter is worth the expense.

Yes. I do store it upright. I’ll take the sideways ribbon into account.

My bud has a Cloudlifter. I’ll give it a shot.

 

[Jeremy Darrow]

I’m done buying basses... for now.

All I’ve got the GAS for lately is recording equipment. Mics, preamps, compressors, etc. I record to tape and try to use the year 1968 as the sound I’m going for.

Went and got myself an AEA R84 ribbon mic. So far, I’ve recorded some guitar with it. And, I can really say that this mic has a total “vibe” to it. It “sounds” old, if that makes any sense. Now, I just need that matching AEA TRP2 preamp.

I plan to use it as a drum overhead for today’s session. Lately, I’ve been trying to record guitar, bass, and drums myself. Been working with a vocalist. And keys and/or horns, I bring in some real players.

Anyway, obligatory pics...


View attachment 3744585 View attachment 3744586

I've been curious about this mic as a do-it-all ribbon for home recording, mostly upright, but acoustic instruments and amps too. Do you think it fits that bill.

Also, what kind of space are you using it in?

 

[crlujan]

I've been curious about this mic as a do-it-all ribbon for home recording, mostly upright, but acoustic instruments and amps too. Do you think it fits that bill.

Also, what kind of space are you using it in?

So far, I’ve just used it to record some guitar and as a drum overhead. I love the mic. Sounds great. Still waiting to get that Cloudlifter as I’m now unemployed due to the “shelter in place” order. I’ll have a job to go back to when this is all over though. For now, I’ve been using a Warm Audio Tone Beast preamp and a Klark Tecknik KT-2A compressor.

My space is the front room of the house. Thankfully, my wife let me take it over. I outgrew one of the bedrooms.

 

[AGCurry]

I've been curious about this mic as a do-it-all ribbon for home recording, mostly upright, but acoustic instruments and amps too. Do you think it fits that bill.

Also, what kind of space are you using it in?

It can do just about everything, and I use it for just about everything... individual vocals, choirs, acoustic guitars, double bass, percussion, brass, woodwinds.

Caveats:

If you have a bad room or are recording other sources at the same time, it requires some thought as to placement. Same would be true for any sensitive figure-of-eight.

Proximity effect, as with any figure-of-eight, is substantial. It's not for very-close miking.

I currently have a studio, about 18 x 20, with one side completely open (like an open box). However, I've used it in many spaces, to good effect.

 

[Jeremy Darrow]

It can do just about everything, and I use it for just about everything... individual vocals, choirs, acoustic guitars, double bass, percussion, brass, woodwinds.

Caveats:

If you have a bad room or are recording other sources at the same time, it requires some thought as to placement. Same would be true for any sensitive figure-of-eight.

Proximity effect, as with any figure-of-eight, is substantial. It's not for very-close miking.

I currently have a studio, about 18 x 20, with one side completely open (like an open box). However, I've used it in many spaces, to good effect.

Thanks, that’s really helpful! My plan is generally to record one thing at a time. My studio space is small and reflects strangely, but my downstairs is an open plan, essentially one big room. That’s where I plan to do most of my tracking. I can have the mic 5 feet away and still have 10 feet of space behind it if I need it.

 

[Jeremy Darrow]

So far, I’ve just used it to record some guitar and as a drum overhead. I love the mic. Sounds great. Still waiting to get that Cloudlifter as I’m now unemployed due to the “shelter in place” order. I’ll have a job to go back to when this is all over though. For now, I’ve been using a Warm Audio Tone Beast preamp and a Klark Tecknik KT-2A compressor.

My space is the front room of the house. Thankfully, my wife let me take it over. I outgrew one of the bedrooms.

View attachment 3773345

Thanks! That's a good-looking setup!

 

[QweziRider]

And keys and/or horns, I bring in some real players.

I've had mine for well over a decade (I lose track after that many years). The first use I had for it was on a sax player. Phenomenal sound. I've also used it on my wife's oboe playing with great results. Love that mic.

 

[Bassist30]

So far, I’ve just used it to record some guitar and as a drum overhead. I love the mic. Sounds great. Still waiting to get that Cloudlifter as I’m now unemployed due to the “shelter in place” order. I’ll have a job to go back to when this is all over though. For now, I’ve been using a Warm Audio Tone Beast preamp and a Klark Tecknik KT-2A compressor.

My space is the front room of the house. Thankfully, my wife let me take it over. I outgrew one of the bedrooms.

View attachment 3773345

If you give me that B3 I am sure you may have room to go back to one of your bedrooms. Kidding. But I love that B3.

 

[dlb1001]

I’m done buying basses... for now.

All I’ve got the GAS for lately is recording equipment. Mics, preamps, compressors, etc. I record to tape and try to use the year 1968 as the sound I’m going for.

Went and got myself an AEA R84 ribbon mic. So far, I’ve recorded some guitar with it. And, I can really say that this mic has a total “vibe” to it. It “sounds” old, if that makes any sense. Now, I just need that matching AEA TRP2 preamp.

I plan to use it as a drum overhead for today’s session. Lately, I’ve been trying to record guitar, bass, and drums myself. Been working with a vocalist. And keys and/or horns, I bring in some real players.

Anyway, obligatory pics...


View attachment 3744585 View attachment 3744586

Look like the producer is making sure that the guitar sound is to his/her liking!

 

[DirkP]

Very cool mic, but I can hardly imagine that it sounds good in this room.
After buying and trying several mics, very good ones, I realized that those who always recommend: TREAT YOUR ROOM are right. They are 100% right.
The better and more sensitive a mic is, the more early reflections you get, that mix with the original signal and make it sound bad.
The guitar amp and the mic on a reverberating bathroom floor close to a naked wall???
Whenever I had a new mic I always found my recordings world-class. For a few days...
Hard truth: even a 50,- dynamic mic sounds better in a good room than a 4.000,- mic in a bad room.
Don't invest money into expensive gear that can not repair issues you have that can be improved for much less money and effort.

 

[silky smoove]

This thread only serves to remind me that my mic locker is severely lacking in the ribbon mic department

 

[crlujan]

Very cool mic, but I can hardly imagine that it sounds good in this room.
After buying and trying several mics, very good ones, I realized that those who always recommend: TREAT YOUR ROOM are right. They are 100% right.
The better and more sensitive a mic is, the more early reflections you get, that mix with the original signal and make it sound bad.
The guitar amp and the mic on a reverberating bathroom floor close to a naked wall???
Whenever I had a new mic I always found my recordings world-class. For a few days...
Hard truth: even a 50,- dynamic mic sounds better in a good room than a 4.000,- mic in a bad room.
Don't invest money into expensive gear that can not repair issues you have that can be improved for much less money and effort.

I understand all of that. And, I’m getting there. I’m actually planning a full room inside of a room build. But, it’s gonna take some time. No harm in recording what I can in the meantime.

 

[DirkP]

I understand all of that. And, I’m getting there. I’m actually planning a full room inside of a room build. But, it’s gonna take some time. No harm in recording what I can in the meantime.

Thank you, I hope I didn't sound offensive. I didn't want to spoil your party, 'cause I'm very much the same, when it comes to gear...So it was me lecturing myself a bit.
Still reflecting about buying two of these, instead of more mics.
PIB (Portable Isolation Booth) - GIK Acoustics Europe

 

[seamonkey]

I understand all of that. And, I’m getting there. I’m actually planning a full room inside of a room build. But, it’s gonna take some time. No harm in recording what I can in the meantime.

I agree - just record with it. You'll figure out what you need to do with the room more if you record many times with the mic first.

When you're ready there's several software packages that let you measure the room, and help you treat it, measure again, treat some, and eq some also.

Having said that, some of the best recordings come from less than perfect rooms. For example some whole studios have been captured Sunset Sound Studio: IK Multimedia - Sunset Sound Studio Reverb
And Waves Abbey Road Studio captured the console room. Abbey Road Studio 3 – Inside Your Headphones | Waves. These rooms aren't perfect, yet they're desirable, they're familiar to some recordings.

 

[crlujan]

I agree - just record with it. You'll figure out what you need to do with the room more if you record many times with the mic first.

When you're ready there's several software packages that let you measure the room, and help you treat it, measure again, treat some, and eq some also.

Having said that, some of the best recordings come from less than perfect rooms. For example some whole studios have been captured Sunset Sound Studio: IK Multimedia - Sunset Sound Studio Reverb
And Waves Abbey Road Studio captured the console room. Abbey Road Studio 3 – Inside Your Headphones | Waves. These rooms aren't perfect, yet they're desirable, they're familiar to some recordings.

Motown studio wasn’t ideal either. Haha! It all depends on what you’re going for. I’m shooting for a 1968 R&B sound. Most of the times, with multiple musicians playing in the same room like how it was done in the past. I’m not scared of bleed either. You gotta make do with what you have. But, I understand.