Called 'ribbon' microphones because they're equipped with a thin metal strip suspended between two magnets, ribbon microphones are deeply loved for their warm-and-dark sound, making them cut out for recording instruments like drums and electric guitars.
The Ancestor of the Modern Studio Microphone
One of the main reasons why old studio recordings sound so different compared to contemporary recordings has to do with the microphones that were used back in the day. The much darker-sounding ribbon microphones were every recording engineer's go-to, but when the sparkling sound of condenser microphones hit the radio in the 1950s, everyone thought it marked the end of the ribbon mike. Thankfully, after a few decades, some folks started missing the sonic warmth and punch of good-old ribbon microphones, giving all of us more microphone options today.
Unique Design for Unique Recordings
Barring a few exceptions, ribbon microphones feature a figure-of-8 pickup pattern which, unlike condenser microphones with the same pickup pattern, remains consistent across the entire frequency range. As such, ribbon microphones are good at blocking out sound coming from the sides as well as from above and below. Tip: if you're going for a ribbon microphone, you might want to consider grabbing two of them while you're at it. By setting up two figure-of-8 microphones at a 90° angle from each other, you can build a Blumlein stereo configuration which, just like an X-Y configuration, gets you perfect mono-compatible recordings. Here, the difference is that a Blumlein set-up sounds much more spacial and ambient.
A Professional Microphone Collection
Professional studios usually have access to an extensive arsenal of microphones, which will never be complete without one or more ribbon microphones to give you more options. Ribbon microphones work well with sharp-sounding instruments and can save you from having to fuss with any equalisers. It's also not for nothing that the Shure SM 57 dynamic instrument microphone combined with the Royer R121 ribbon microphone is considered to be the golden duo for recording guitar amplifiers.
A Little Heads Up
Ribbon microphones are fragile, especially when it comes to real vintage models. As such, you'll want to keep your ribbon mike protected against dust and wind at all times, and don't forget to bear in mind phantom power. Passive ribbon microphone don't require any phantom power supply, in fact, if you do plug them into a phantom power supply, it can cause severe damage. Active ribbon microphones, on the other hand, are outfitted with a built-in preamp and therefore actually depend on phantom power supply.
Frequency Asked Questions About Ribbon Microphones
Why use a ribbon microphone?
A ribbon microphone has a different sound than the popular condenser microphone. Ribbon microphones not only sound warmer and darker but counter unwanted audible resonance, making them an excellent choice for sharp-sounding gear like drums and electric guitars.
