It is, however, recommended that the mic is plugged and unplugged with the phantom power switched off. The N22 is specifically designed for singer-songwriters, musicians, and studios. On that note, AES have included in the manual some very practical advice on recording various sound sources, which even experienced recordists may find useful. Okay so I am using a heritage audio DMA 73 preamp, one channel is miking a Dr. Z 1x12 18 watt boutique amp (12'' alnico blue custom speaker) with a Mojave MA-200 tube condenser, while the other channel is miking with the AEA N22. All rights reserved. Very natural sound. Voice comes across with a strong sense of focus while stringed instruments sound lively and articulate. I used it on fiddle and guitar the sound was well balanced, smooth, no overtones and I didn’t use any EQ in the final mix only compression and reverb. The N22 is voiced to have a gentle LF roll-off below 200Hz, which partly compensates for the proximity effect and allows it to be positioned a little closer to the sound source than you might expect for a ribbon mic.Thanks to Wes Dooley and to Joe Copenhaver at Sweetwater I have found the Holy Grail microphone. This is my first ribbon microphone. Don't get too far away from it, all the bottom will go away. This is my first ribbon mic and I hope to be ordering another one of these AEA N22s soon. 5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W, Fort Wayne, IN 46818 Web site designed & maintained by PB Associates & SOS. And it can make an excellent main vocal mic, to me it sort of sounds like an re20 with a little less weight and a little more air and of course much more ambience (figure 8). There were no gain problems, as the active circuitry delivers plenty of output. Q. That is without a doubt NOT a problem (i.e. The new AEA N22 delivers on exactly those key points – providing a great ribbon tone without the need for EQ in most applications. Importantly the mics are hand-built in Pasadena, California, just like AEA's high-end models. Why Are Some A-B Stereo Arrays Angled Outwards? I doubt there's a whole lot of money in these mics. For a Ribbon mic that is under $, this one is amazing. The I spoke with AEA founder Wes Dooley. Believe the hype! The front and back of the mic are voiced identically, though the back, of course, has opposite polarity compared to the front. Thank you for your request. I would highly recommend this mic it's a great addition to any studio! I couldn't find any noise figures in the manufacturer's specifications, though my practical tests didn't expose any undue noise. Phone Hours | Mastering Essentials Part 3 - How loud should I master? Featuring the same Big Ribbon technology that has earned AEA its reputation, the N22 offers an incredible sound in close-mic applications like acoustic and electric guitars, vocals, and drums. To learn more about our cookie policy, please check our Privacy Policy. On the precautions side, it must be remembered that the strong magnets used in ribbon mics create a significant magnetic field that might affect hard drives, credit cards, magnetic key cards, analogue tape and suchlike if placed too close. Try as hard as I can I'm not particularly enamoured by the N22's at all. Like another reviewer wrote, I liked mine so much I bought two. I had done my research, talked with a lot of people and listened to a lot of samples. We power it up... AEA have a well-earned reputation for building seriously good ribbon mics, most of which are priced out of reach of the typical project studio operator. Quite simply, it sounded just like my guitar does - a first in all my searching in the last few years. I mean if you want the best of a ribbon without burning holes in your pockets, GET THIS. No more, no less. Registering the microphone with AEA will extend the one year warranty to three years, which is definitely worthwhile. I"ve had this mic for about 6 months- in and out of the studio. Apparently they started out by listening first and taking measurements only after their panel of golden-eared musicians told them it sounded right. AEA are also brave enough to suggest that you try the N22 on close-miked drums as well as in their more familiar role as overheads. Both the front and rear pickup lobes are identical. What is a "hybrid" audio interface anyway? I suspect this mic can be used with another or by itself on ANY application. The mic is solid under pressure and performs a lot of standard recording duties with aplomb. I set the 2 up in a Blumlein pair about a foot in front of my guitar, and this is about as close to that magical guitar sound that Gary Paczosa gets with his A-list Nashville players - even with my substandard guitar! That being said, however well-made this thing is, it’s a good idea to b… The AEA folks came to my studio and let me demo this mic for about a week. Though the usable frequency range is quoted as 20Hz to 20kHz, the upper -3dB point appears to be around 12kHz, after which the response drops away smoothly to be around 13dB down at 20kHz. The standard of construction is excellent, while the ribbon-meets-capacitor tonal character means the mic can be used in rather more areas than a conventional ribbon microphone can. Imaging in the former configuration aluminium corrugated ribbon just 1.8 microns thick and 2.35 inches long one to... Is very responsive to placement and always sound good on everything highly recommend this mic it 's a great tone! 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