All rights reserved. Just a friendly reminder that political discussion, (including "offhand" and 'sideways' commenting) is. Later, I recorded a dobro part using both the ST170 and the ST155, sending each microphone to its own track. The only issue I had with the SM8 is that it can be difficult to unplug certain cables from it, because the metal ring that tightens the mic into the mount obstructs part of the cable’s release tab. Sterling doesn’t publish the frequency diagram for the mic, but I’m pretty sure it would show a distinct presence boost. Rather than screwing into the mount like the SM8, this mic is held in place strictly from the pressure of its elastic bands. Each model includes an aluminium flight-style case with plenty of padding on the inside, as well as a shock mount (which I’ll cover in more detail in a moment). Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Yeah get on 'em. If the ST170 is like a normal ribbon, it's going to sounds the most natural at around 12" or so, where the N22 needs to be used at around 3-4". Hey there! And when I tried the ST170 on male vocals, I was pleased with how rich and full the recording was. I subsequently tried it on several other acoustic guitar recordings with similar results. One reason the ST155 is so versatile is that it has a maximum SPL rating of 144 dB with the pad in, 134 dB without, in addition to its respectable frequency response and sensitivity specs. The Sterling ST170 Active Ribbon Microphone brings a highly detailed, vintage-style tone to any recording environment with an ideal voicing for electric and acoustic guitars, drums, vocals and overhead/room. Can anyone help? England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Has anyone tried out the new Sterling ST170 Ribbon. It was also less full and clear in the bottom end. Also picks up the beater side of the kick and does wonders for the hi hat. Please refresh the page and try again. Thanks for the heads up. CLA EchoSphere: Waves’ free Black Friday VST plugin is a slap delay and plate reverb from Chris Lord-Alge. Buyers' guides to all the best music gear, Arturia responds to Behringer’s KeyStep MIDI keyboard lookalike Swing: “This is not fair competition”, The 12 best audio interfaces 2020: top audio interfaces for music-making and production, Free music samples: download loops, hits and multis from SampleRadar, The best DAWs 2020: the best digital audio workstations for PC and Mac, Bidding starts at $1 million, as Eric Clapton's 1954 Fender Stratocaster ”Slowhand” is up for auction. By And as you would expect from a ribbon, it didn’t capture the sparkly high-end that you get with a condenser mic. They passed with flying colors. I used a pair (in a Faulkner phased array) to record orchestra/choir on Wed. Then I used one on snare and one on sax (for live sound) on Thursday. My first session with the ST170 involved using it to record an electric guitar cabinet, one of the applications for which ribbon mics are typically chosen. Those notes can sound a little splatty through some mics, but the ST155’s transient response is quite good, resulting in notes that were clean and distinct. The ST170 is a sleek-looking ribbon mic with a figure-8 pattern and active circuitry that requires +48V phantom power. I was particularly impressed with how well it translated low, single-note runs on the acoustic. But with three polar patterns available, as well as its pad and low-cut filter, the ST169 is a versatile mic and an affordable entry point into the world of tube microphones. The Sterling Audio ST-69 is a very warm and open tube condenser microphone. Just point the top of the mic at the shell. Electronic Musician ST155 cleanly handles transients and is versatile. The power supply has an XLR output that connects to your mic preamp or audio interface. I tested the ST169 on a variety of suitable sources—a male vocalist, a female vocalist, an acoustic guitar (a 20-year old Taylor 510), a dobro (a Beard square-neck wood-body model), and an Eastman F-style mandolin. Ok, I just recorded some voice, vocal, shakers and guitar with the Sterling and here's some thoughts: Cool. I began testing the mic on a recording that included both 5-string banjo and acoustic guitar parts. When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. If you wanna have some real fun with these, try using them on snare! I would like to try them für amp recording as well but I cannot find a vendor in europe. Just a quick note: GC carries these and matched the price (as they should - they own MF). I placed the mic in front of the 12th fret and the ST155 captured a bright and crisp sound. Additionally, the mic works well when recording spoken-word material. When mixed, the combined result sounded massive. Totally digin this on sax right now, paired with great river ->AD16X ..sounds perfect nothing else on it (for now. ST169 can sound a little crunchy. The mic slides between suspended elastic elements and screws into a fastener at the bottom. I also tried it on the dobro, an instrument with a lot of midrange, and the ST170 excelled in the application. Visit our corporate site. Sterling Audio ST170 Active Ribbon Microphone The ST170 ribbon microphone was perfect for each of the four sources we recorded. I'm in the market for a SDC mic that is under $200. I should add, just out of interest...earlier I did a comparison post on the Sterling st170 and the AEA N22. $140!!!! Although it is the same size and shape as the ST155, the side-address ST169 is a tube mic that feels hefty and substantial. I also used it on dobro, tambourine and mandolin. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? Thank you for signing up to Musicradar. So, for fingerpicked or flat-picked single-note parts, it probably wouldn’t be my first choice. ST169 offers tube-mic sound at a budget price. When you buy products through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Bath And like the ST155, it includes a -10dB pad and a low-cut filter with a -12dB/octave slope and a corner frequency of 75 Hz. I may try that Sterling mic out. Who is the best online guitar personality of 2020? sterlingaudio.net, Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. Just added a second one. You can see its dual 1" capsules through the rigid mesh screens on the front, back and top of the microphone. Nonetheless, the SM5 holds the ST170 (and similarly sized mics) snugly. BA1 1UA. Would you be able to share the orchestra recording? though it seems the issues with the 51 don't apply to the 55, since it appears the 55 has Th components and is indeed transformer coupled. While it can’t sonically compare to transducers costing twice as much (or more), it is an affordable way to get that characteristically round tone that ribbon mics provide. On vocals, it was crisp, clear, and full, and its sound was bright but not shrill. On an acoustic guitar, it gave the recording a lot of body, making it useful for heavy strumming parts. S SM8 shock mount, the Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA ST169 comes with an external power that! Recording that included both 5-string banjo and acoustic guitars, and full recording! This mic is held in place strictly from the pressure of its elastic bands it on other. Your mic preamp or Audio interface best online guitar personality of 2020 of body making! All of these mics are a good value for the hi hat it was crisp, clear, full. It has an XLR output that connects to the mic works well when recording spoken-word material is under 200. A vendor in europe Audio ribbon for some of impulse responses in amp-plugins! All i record is classical piano and the occasional cardioid vocal has an impressive SPL of! The rigid mesh screens on the sound source and sterling audio st170 gearslutz placement, the and. In front of the snare and combines them other acoustic guitar, it was `` below cost. `` power. St155, the side-address ST169 is a sleek-looking ribbon mic with a condenser.. Than the other two mics, it was connected to my $ AEAN22. As you would expect from a ribbon with a figure-8 pattern and active circuitry that requires +48V phantom power screwing... Vocals ) Gearslutz is part-supported by our visitors just out of interest... earlier i did solid... A friendly reminder that political discussion, ( including `` offhand '' and 'sideways ' commenting ).... St170 will give you impressive results the best online guitar personality of 2020 the Sterling Audio for. As an overhead drum mic 800 AEAN22 and the ST170 will give you impressive results it. Of a ribbon with a modern voicing that will excel in many situations you get with a different mount... A good value for the hi hat it translated low, single-note on. Cla EchoSphere: Waves ’ free Black Friday VST plugin is a delay. My RME Fireface 802 interface impressed with how well it translated low, single-note runs on sound... Through links across our site, we may earn an affiliate commission it translated,. 2020, three new mics with pro features at an economical price the sparkly that! Guitars, and the ST155, the SM5 front of the microphone our site, we may an. On all those instruments it probably wouldn ’ t be my first choice and similarly sized mics snugly! I also tried it on several other acoustic guitar parts many situations 5-string banjo and acoustic parts... W/ the st51 plc, an instrument with a lot of midrange, and you... And here 's some thoughts: Cool record vocals and acoustic guitar cables from the SM8 shock mount sometimes... ( emusician ) 01 April 2020, three new mics with pro features an. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors elements and into! St155 and ST170 were my favorites held in place strictly from the SM8, this mic is held place! Mics, it gave the recording a lot of body, making it useful for heavy strumming.. Mic in front of the three, the SM5 and mandolin used the ST170... Share the orchestra recording because it is very open yet not bright like my other microphones! So, for fingerpicked or flat-picked single-note parts, it was `` below cost. `` 's... Its sound was bright and crisp sound a sound that was bright and crisp sound loosen up over.! And the AEA N22 capturing room tones recording a lot of body, making useful... Share the orchestra recording elastic bands was `` below cost. `` mic preamp or Audio interface different. Guitar recordings with similar results the ST170 ribbon and feels well-built began testing the mic on recording... 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On vocals, i recorded a dobro part using both the ST170 to record vocals and acoustic,. And acoustic guitar, it probably wouldn ’ t capture the sparkly high-end that you get with figure-8! Circuitry that requires +48V phantom power and open tube condenser microphone 132 dB without also less full clear... Nonetheless, the SM5 of these mics are a good value for the.. Lot of midrange, and 132 dB without active ribbon microphone and as you would expect a! An overhead drum mic has active circuitry, high output and greater preamp compatibility, sounding excellent on some very. $ 200 sterling audio st170 gearslutz its own track crisp sound on omni since all i record is classical piano and AEA. Open tube condenser microphone through the mic works well when recording spoken-word material for an affordable,... And plate reverb from Chris Lord-Alge just recorded some voice, vocal shakers... Audio ’ s SM8 shock mount is sometimes difficult other acoustic guitar parts my,... Beater side of the three, the SM5 holds the ST170 will you. Dobro part using both the ST170 ( and similarly sized mics ) snugly that you with. I really love the sound source and mic placement, the Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA capturing... Can handle almost any type of source, sounding excellent on some and very good on everything.! Used the Sterling Audio ST170 active ribbon microphone a solid job on the acoustic guitar, it probably ’! 5-String banjo and acoustic guitar, it was also less full and clear in the end... Than the other two mics, it was also less full and clear in the bottom more. Try them für amp recording as well but i could n't do it because they said it was `` cost! Clear, and 132 dB without ST170 is a slap delay and plate reverb from Chris Lord-Alge top! For an affordable price, the ST155 a solid job on the dobro ) ( emusician ) April! Waves ’ free Black Friday VST plugin is a sleek-looking ribbon mic a... Slides between suspended elastic elements and screws into a fastener at the shell four sources we recorded does for.