Double Bass ribbon mics for live recording

[tony moore]

i've found myself doing some informal live recording of late and am left wanting something better than my full circle for more authentic sounds. i'm intrigued by the troll ribbon mic and its style of mount but cannot get the owner/maker to respond to me to buy one, so i took a leap into an art ribbon mic:

http://tapeop.com/reviews/gear/71/m-five-ribbon-microphone/

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AT4081



i found it new in amazon for about $120 shipped. i hope it's smaller than it appears in the pics, but think it worth the risk of investment.

this appears ideal, but out if my spending range:

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would love to hear other folks thoughts of using ribbons mics for 'live' recordings...

tony

 

[rickwolff]

Please keep us informed of you experience and, as you are recording anyway, please upload some soundclips.

I am using an AT Pro35 condenser mic and quite happy with it, but with everything I've read about ribbons (ie the Troll) I would like to know more.

I'd specifically like to know if you think this mic works well for live, on-stage amplification.

Rick

 

[Michael Glynn]

Ribbon mics can sound great for recording bass, live or in the studio.

A couple things to keep in mind, though. First, ribbon mics often have a fairly weak signal, meaning you need a good amount of gain to get the volume where you need it. If you have a noisy preamp, you will be cranking that noise up, along with the nice sounds from the mic.

Second, most ribbon mics have a figure-8 pattern. That means that they pick up sound equally from the front and the back of the mic. The good news is that you get very good rejection of sounds from the sides. You just have a be careful where you point the mic.

 

[tony moore]

thanks michael.

the weaker signal is a concern and i'll be curious if the pre on my amp, a swr cali blonde, will be able to handle it.

i record at home with an apogee duet and have used it with a borrowed ribbon mic to good effect, but that won't help me live.

i am hoping the figure 8 pattern will be of benefit in picking up the top and strings, but will be curious of the string sides reach in also picking up other sounds, aka bleed.

only time will tell i guess...

tony

 

[Nathan Levine]

A Fethead or a Cloudlifter preamp will boost the weak signal of a ribbon mic without changing the quality of the sound.