AEA R84 Ribbon Microphone. Since its launch in 2001, the R84 has not only been nominated for several awards but has also helped engineers and producers around the world make influential records. Using everything Wes Dooley and the team here at AEA had learned by re-creating the RCA 44, we went back to the drawing board to create something entirely new. You will find that small differences in positioning can make huge differences in the sound, so experiment until you find the spots you like. Buying an AEA R84 or A840 demonstrates your interest in continuing this tradition of quality, The frequency response of the R84 and A840 is the same. You will need to remove the lid of the grand piano. Another popular technique to record drum overheads is to set up the mics in a Blumlein configuration (coincident pair at 90-degree angle) above the head of the drummer with each mic pointing in a different direction. This results in the ribbon handling louder sound sources and more sound pressure level (SPL). AEA R84 Classic Passive Ribbon Mic. The R84 produces rich and full low-mids, a smooth top end, and has a well-behaved bidirectional pickup pattern. Photo: Mike Cameron The overall frequency response of the R84 is 'humped', for want of a better description. R84s in a Blumlein configuration (coincident pair at 90 degree angle) positioned at a distance of 10 to 15 feet (3-5 m) from a string section will capture a deep and wide image. It matches any P48 spec preamp and drives long mic lines easily. Beyerdynamic M160 – Double Ribbon Microphone, M160 Dynamic HyperCardioid Ribbon Microphone with Double Ribbon Transducer & Pure Aluminum Diaphragm, Studio Ribbon Microphone, Figure 8 polar pattern, with flat frequency response from 30Hz to 15,000 kHz, Dynamic Dual Ribbon Microphone with Figure-8 Polar Pattern & Pure Aluminum Diaphragm, Check out our top-selling, professional audio brands. Make sure to listen to the combined signal summed to mono to catch potential comb filtering that could be caused by out-of-phase signals. The result is a quiet microphone with excellent headroom and, sensitivity. When recording at 6 inches (15 cm) or closer, it is advisable to have a pop filter handy. The active R84A mic retains the same sonic character of the R84, but with an additional 12dB of output and a stable impedance. Cascade Knuckle Head Short Ribbon Microphone, Set Includes Knuckle Head ribbon microphone, Aluminum flight case, Adjustable mounting clip. Close up, the R84 is very good at spotlighting a speaker’s unique sounds at various locations. This is the spot that will obtain the most high-frequency content. R84 Owner’s Manual: aea-r84-series-ownersmanual-january2018 Download This gives a consistent frequency response and greater flexibility with different preamps, including those found in audio interfaces for personal computers. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusives, deals, new arrivals, and vintage gear! The R84’s smooth treble response is great at preserving these frequencies without aggravating the striking tonal qualities. To achieve a balanced string group sound, try placing the R84 5 to 8 feet (2-3 m) away (either in front or above) from the section. This placement will capture clear midrange and pick articulation with a balanced low end. The ribbon is well protected from damaging plosive blasts, but to avoid noises from wind blasts, we recommend using a pop filter. To capture an authentic and balanced electric guitar tone with your R84, place the mic directly in front of the amp grille. The R series transformer was developed by Ken Reichenbach at Cinemag to, match the sound of our reference RCA studio ribbons. The ribbon in the R84 is a 1.8-micron thick piece of pure aluminum measuring 4.7mm by 60mm. Use the R84’s exceptional null points to isolate the R84’s pick up from other sources. If it sounds too harsh, try moving the microphone slightly off center of the speaker cone. Blumlein pair (coincident pair at 90-degree angle) of R84s positioned on the side of the piano facing the player: one microphone pointing towards the treble side of the piano, and the other microphone facing towards the bass side that can result in a larger than life recording. The R84 delivers a great sound as a close-up and distant mic on both upright and grand pianos. This gives a consistent frequency response and greater flexibility with different preamps. AEA R series handle very, high SPLs, above 1 k Hz they handle over 165 dB SPL. The R84 excels at capturing the richness and full sound of string groups and string soloists. It is common to pull the mics farther out of the piano than you would with a pair of condensers. resonance is very low, 16.5 Hz rather than a more usual 40-60 Hz. The AEA R84 uses a big, 2.35″ by 0.185″ by 2-micron pure aluminum low-tension ribbon element just like the classic R44. If you are concerned about wind blasts, use a pop filter, or position the microphone slightly off axis. 2. Ribbon mics, Phantom-powered ribbon microphone (14 pages), Phantom-powered ribbon microphone (2 pages), Manual will be automatically added to "My Manuals". The closer that the R84s are positioned to the drummer, the more direct sound and less room ambiance will be captured by the mics. The Workhorse. The response peaks at around 150Hz and falls away gently to either side. Depending on the instrument’s dynamic range, we recommend starting by positioning the R84 12-24 inches (24-60 cm) away from the source. One advantage unbuffered ribbons, have over buffered ribbons is that their SPL limits are entirely mechanical. Of course, at the heart of all ribbon microphones is the ribbon itself. The R84 is a passive ribbon microphone that shares many of the unique sound characteristics with its historic predecessor, the R44. These techniques and audio samples apply to both the R84 and R84A. Your microphone is supplied as a complete system that includes an integral cushion mount / stand, adapter, an attached three-meter "star-quad" mic cable, and a custom case. You can also try positioning the R84 at an angle. The result is a sound that many engineers say is astonishingly close to what their ears hear when you’re actually standing in the studio. Mics in this tradition, such as the RCA 44, have been making great recordings for over 75, years. The R44, R84, and R84A all share a big, 2.35-inch by 0.185-inch … For bass string instruments that are bowed and plucked, placing the R84 about a foot away (0.3-0.5 m) will give you a very nice and defined low end. When recording a solo acoustic guitar a good starting point is to position the R84 4 to 8 inches (10-20 cm) away from the guitar roughly pointing at the 12th fret or where the neck meets the body. – Versatile for close-up and ambient mic applications. On grand piano we have found two positions to be particularly useful: 1. The A840 is delivered in a smaller version of the R44/A440 cloth covered, armoured case. However, you may find that positioning the microphone closer or further away from the singer yields better results depending on the voice, the room or the musical style. For string soloists, start by positioning the R84 3-5 feet (1-2 m) on axis towards the sound hole. Pointing the mic at the center of the cone will deliver a very direct, “in-your-face” sound. If more ambience texture is desired, pull the microphone further away from the source. The R84 is a passive ribbon microphone that shares many of the unique sound characteristics with its historic predecessor, the R44. 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