Attack of the $300 Stereo Ribbon

Ivan Lee · #1 03-21-2013, 03:22 PM

Hey all,

I am prepping to do some solo guitar recording and am trying out some sample recording chains. I usually do a spaced pair of LDC and SDC but have been playing around with this Stereo Ribbon mic I got from Pacific Pro Audio (the R2) for $300. I find it sounds surprisingly good and the big thing is its so easy. Walk up to it, move a little until you balance left and right in the headphones and press record...

Here is a sample (full of clams but you'll get the idea :-)

http://leesfiles.weebly.com/agf_files.html -- 320kbps MP3

Recording Chain: PPA R2 Ribbon - Cloud Microphone CL2 pre-preamp (~25dB) - ADesign MP2 (~35dB) - Metric Halo ULN8.

fitness1 · #2 03-21-2013, 05:55 PM

Sounds good from where I sit! Seems to have the typical "laid back" ribbon sound.

It's always nice when you find something you like at a reasonable price!

Ivan Lee · #3 03-21-2013, 10:53 PM

Just to document --

There is now a spaced SD - LDC pair posted as well.

I like the clarity of nice condensers but also like the warmth (but not the noise floor) of the Ribbon :-)

Tomorrow - placement games - probably need the space pair a little more in front.

Tempting to record a mono ribbon directly in front for the warmth --- resist --- keep simple ----

Bob Womack · #4 03-22-2013, 06:04 AM

What preamp did you use?

Bob

Ty Ford · #5 03-22-2013, 06:18 AM

Nice playin'

Your tune?

I can hear the hiss of the ribbon on the studio monitors, but not so much on the laptop.

That's a problem with most ribbons. I think the Audio Technica AT4080 is the most sensitive ribbon I've heard so far. Here's a link to the AT4080 and one of Wes' R84s recorded here; separate tracks recorded simultaneously.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/68x6dxlalht4k8t/bSh6flKU-G

The condenser track I don't care for. The frequency response sounds pinched and nasal.

Regards,

Ty Ford

Ivan Lee · #6 03-22-2013, 11:07 AM

I too thought the SD-LDC track didn't sound good!

I took some time this morning to get the placement better on the spaced pair and have posted another set of files. Noise problem on ribbon is now solved as well (I had the ribbon split between two preamps before to see how they differed. Loading or just general crosstalk was giving me more hiss than just running them straight . I was able to record the Stereo Ribbon, (Cloudlifter CL2 --> ADesign MP2) and spaced pair (Metric Halo ULN8 Preamps) at the same time. I took all compression away and just EQ'd each a little to taste. I am now liking both sounds.

http://leesfiles.weebly.com/agf_files.html

This is my first ribbon experience and if this is what the El-Cheapo sounds like I would seriously like to get my hands on a Royer/AEA or similar to try

Thanks for the nice comments Ty. This is one of my tunes

photomat · #7 03-22-2013, 11:40 AM

Ivan,

Great playing and I love them both, but I like the space of the stereo pair. Great playing, and maybe we should do a house concert for you!

I love the warmth of the ribbon mic. Great comparison.

Doug Young · #8 03-22-2013, 07:18 PM

The ribbon sounds very nice. Pretty good deal!

rick-slo · #9 03-22-2013, 07:41 PM

The ribbon sounds a little harsher and thinner than the other mikes, but still nice.

Ivan Lee · #10 03-22-2013, 08:20 PM

I tried another tune with both set ups (more aggressive blues/rag feel - maybe post a little tomorrow) and I have to agree with the general trend (now that I improved the placement) that the SD-LDC pair is sounding better to me.

After getting more experience with the Ribbon I also am hearing a bit of a scooped sound and for lack of a better word "harshness - metallic-ness?" to the hi end. Although some of this is the guitar (a fairly bright instrument with a crisp low end) other contributing factors could be

1) the EQ boost I put on it (though I don't think so - only a few dB - and it was still there when I took it away),
2) Some still undamped room reflections getting into the front and back of the mic (room is pretty dead but it has that kind of ring to it -)
3) Maybe that just is the sound of a $300 stereo ribbon -- (my thinking says this is at least 50%

)
4) Placement
5) Something else !

Regardless I remain impressed with this Mic and think for the $$ it is still a very good deal. Probably not going to let it be the feature set up on the next CD but may keep it out in front as an add in source. When I have tried this so far it adds a nice low mid presence but at the same time muddies the overall sound (summed to mono and mixed in ~-9dB to -12dB below the other mics). Would love to try a Royer SF12/24 or AEA R88.

And a big thanks to Matt (photomat) for the very kind words! I remember Eric Skye at your place. A very fine place indeed for a house concert!

rick-slo · #11 03-22-2013, 08:43 PM

Well the results are interesting though I prefer a spaced pair mike sound over coincident in almost all cases. Ribbon mikes usually have attenuated high frequencies but the recording is pretty bright sounding. There was no frequency response curve I saw on their website.
The ribbon is bidirectional and perhaps there are some room reflection issues - I am assuming the other mikes are cardioid. There was some noise that possibly came from the preamp at higher gain (though they claim this preamp is clean sounding with ribbons).

Doug Young · #12 03-22-2013, 09:54 PM

I was poking around looking at this, too. Apparently it's a Chinese mic that several companies import. Cascade sells it as the X-15, for a little more. Cascade supposedly does some QA and tweaking. They, and some other companies also sell it with upgraded transformers, taking the price up to around $700. It is surprising that it's as bright as it is. Noise tends to come with the territory with ribbons. But I like the sound, and the stereo image is pretty nice. I always end up intrigued by both stereo mics and ribbons.

Ty Ford · #13 03-23-2013, 04:39 AM

Doug,

Ever get in front of an RSM191?

If not, out that on your list of things to do.

Regards

Ty Ford

Doug Young · #14 03-23-2013, 09:45 AM

Haven't run into one of those. Looks pretty cool (and not cheap!)

Fran Guidry · #15 03-23-2013, 11:42 AM

I'm looking at the recording chain and scratching my head.

ULN8 - renowned high gain transparent preamps.
A Designs MP2 - renowned high gain transparent preamps
CL2 - more gain yet again

What does the ribbon sound like straight into the ULN8?

What does the MP2 do that the ULN8 doesn't do?

Does a CL2 actually improve the sound compared to either of the other two?

Fran