♦ Dual 2-micron aluminum ribbons The Superlux R102 is next in line in our list of the best cheap ribbon mics. Active ribbon mics were designed to work well on a variety of preamps, making them good for touring bands and musicians. Phantom power is not required, but if you mistakenly plug the X1R in without switching phantom off, they’ve included protection circuitry to stop you from frying the internals. ♦ Impedance: 200 Ω Damage to the ribbon is not covered by the warranty, and there is a charge for a replacement — but, to be fair, the whole mic costs less than the ribbon replacement charge for most ribbon mics! ♦ Weight 16 oz Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Just be aware that higher tension usually means less low-end. You can learn a lot from experimenting with a ribbon mic, and the R144 is one of the most affordable places to start. ♦ Frequency response: 30 to 18,000 Hz Keep in mind that the mic will produce slightly different sound depending on which side you’re recording from, making it less-than-ideal for mid-side. MXL R144 Bidirectional Ribbon Microphone. Otherwise you would be $100 shy of the $700 for the Beyerdynamic M130 or the $220 for the Cascade Fathead II. We want to make sure you choose the best cheap ribbon mic for your budget and situation. No items to compare. The Coles initially trounced the MXL when recording hand percussion and acoustic guitar, where it produced a good representation of the sound with no real need to EQ, though a little careful EQ tweaking of the R144 was again able to get the sound much closer to that of the Coles. ♦ Sensitivity: -55 dB (1.78 mV/Pa) Published with WordPress. This means that both ribbons will behave differently when exposed to the same frequencies to create complex harmonic interactions that really change the way the mic sounds. ♦ Active circuitry The R144 is a budget ribbon microphone. Full Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I had actually gotten a pair of Cascade Fathead II's off someone here in classifieds for $200. ♦ Signal-to-noise ratio: 70 dB All You Need to Know, Ultimate Guide to the Best Thunderbolt Audio Interface. Contact Us. Comparison of MXL R150 vs MXL R144 Microphones. This current is fed into a transformer and then usually an amplifier before eventually making it to your monitors or headphones. Make sure you go with at least 2″ thick on the foam panels. Customer Service 800.221.5743 or 212.239.7765. Similarly‑priced alternatives are available from companies such as Golden Age and Shiny Box, to name but a couple. Included are a carrying case and a shock mount to cut back on accidental vibration and noise. A thicker ribbon is heavier and therefore moves slower. 2020 • All rights reserved. anybody tried this yet or want to? Laughs aside, the aluminum ribbon behind the windscreen of the 210B is just 2 microns thick and 2 inches long. They’re great for stereo recording, they’re extremely versatile, and they’re often described as the most “natural” sounding microphones out there. anybody tried this yet or want to? Not recommended, but you can buy some hand grenades here. ♦ Sensitivity: -60 dB ± 2dB (0 dB = 1V/Pa.) Last on our list of the best cheap ribbon mics is the ST170 from Sterling Audio. This is a list of the best cheap ribbon mics, after all. It looks very similar to any side-address condenser mic you’d find out there, but don’t let that fool you. ♦ Maximum SPL: 135 dB (0.5% THD @ 1 kHz) Sales & Expert advice 800.606.6969 or 212.444.6615. When you’re choosing the best cheap ribbon mic that’s best suited for your goals, make sure you´re focusing on the mic’s personality rather than general fidelity. If you have the money to burn then you might get lucky. MXL mics are produced by the same company that markets Mogami cables, so it's no surprise that they recommend using the mic with a good quality XLR cable — and ideally one of theirs! The bidirectional nature of the ribbon mic makes many of them ideal for stereo work. MXL R144? A DAW that allows you to use Melodyn plugin for macro..... Versatile, though EQ is often needed to shape the sound. Synaptic Sound was founded in April 2018 as an educational and informational resource for electronic music producers, DJs, and enthusiasts. The ST170 sounds great on vocals, guitar, and anything with complexity in the middle of the frequency spectrum. Halving the width of the ribbon will effectively double the signal output level. ♦ Equivalent noise: 22 dB SPL (A-weighted) This active mic, unlike most of the others on this list, will require phantom power. It's dark and wooly. If you’re looking to spend a little more, Avantone’s Pro-CR14 should be in your crosshairs. With a bit of presence boost and low cut, you're ready for raunchy rock or gritty metal, and though the high end had a distinctly different colour to that of the Coles (which is nominally flat up to 17kHz), I rather liked it from a musical viewpoint. ♦ Sensitivity: -56 dB +/- 2 dB (0 dB = 1V/Pa) Download the manual here for more data. The R144’s aluminum ribbon element is just 1.8 microns thick and 47mm long. This would be a great mic for someone who is just getting their feet wet with ribbon mics and doesn’t want to invest heavily in a high-end model just yet. The front lobe has a steeper treble roll-off in comparison to the rear so this mic may not be ideal for mid-side recording work. This results in a bass roll-off below this range and a much less-pronounced bass response. ♦ Recommended load impedance: 3,000 Ω A ribbon mic will add to your stereo recordings by providing a natural feel with a smooth and tempered high-end. This means thicker ribbons exhibit a less precise transient response. It has high SPL capabilities that ensure you can use several instruments to complement your voice. Ready to spend a little more, Avantone ’ s some additional advice things. A ribbon mic with an emphasis on versatile placement capability is one of best... To provide a vintage sound, and vice versa a spot among the cheap... A much less-pronounced bass response PB Associates & SOS very similar to the transient response at this price.. 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