Discover the Best Ribbon Microphones
1. Nady RSM-5
Figure 8 Ribbon Studio Microphone
Spectacular results on guitar amps. A real bargain!
Reviewed by Michael on B&H Photo Video
Don't be put off by the bargain price, this is a wonderful amp mic, period. The RSM5 is impressive sounding on guitar amps or speaker cabs. In that application, it's better combine the RSM5 w/ another non-ribbon mic, like condenser or dynamic. I get great results combining RSM5 with a ShureSM57. The RSM5 adds a delightfully smooth, warm low end girth & the SM57 adds presence, cut and sparkle. Experiment with positioning the mics on the speaker cone. As with all bargain ribbon mics, be sure to check your RSM5 for loose ribbon tension before keeping it. Google the issue and how to do a test. The tension inside mine was perfect out of the box. The RSM5 takes EQ great, yet doesn't need much to fit into a mix. It's very low noise. I have not yet really tried the RSM5 on other sound sources. Like all passive ribbons, this one needs lots of preamp gain or a mic booster to get a good level with quiet sources. With a loud source like guitar amp, that's not an issue with the RSM5. The preamps built into my Steinberg UR44 interface are more than powerful enough to get great results with Nady RSM5 on amps. I even briefly tried it on my male spoken voice, for which the preamps had to be turned up quite a bit, but I think even that would work without any extra preamp booster. I suspect that on quieter voices, or acoustic guitar from a distance, you'd need a gainier preamp, or FETHEAD or Cloudlifter to get a good level with the RSM5. The RSM5 has presentable build quality, and it sounds much, much better than I imagined, especially at this price point. It's downright unbelievable! I love the tones I am capturing having this mic as part of the mix. I have been playing music seriously for 40 years, and am fanatical about good tone. Nonetheless, given the great results with the RSM5, I could not justify the extra cost of the high end ribbon mics. ... More
Affordable and nice Ribbon mic!
Reviewed by Michael on B&H Photo Video
I needed a ribbon mic in the home studio, mainly to record anything that's loud and needs a warm tone. Most ribbon mics seem really expensive, so I'm glad this one exists. Using this up close to a guitar amp sounds great. Combining this with a good dynamic (Shure SM57/Audix i5/Audio-Technica MB 2k) side by side up against a guitar amp sounds awesome!! I also tried to record a trombone with it, as I've heard ribbons are the best mic to use for that. This thing blew any dynamic mic out of the water for capturing brass sound. Thank you Nady and B&H!! ... More
2. Royer Labs R-121
Studio Ribbon Microphone
Great for electric guitar, double bass. Vocals not so much
Reviewed by Dan B. on Reverb
So far I've experimented with mine for upright bass, acoustic and electric guitar, Hammond, and voice. Almost everything about recording is at least partially subjective, so YMMV: Male baritone vocals through either my Maag or Shadow Hills preamp: Not great. Missing depth and color. I won't use the Royer for (my) vocals henceforth. I might try it on someone else someday, but if you're in the deep and grumbly Johnny Cash / Tom Waits vocals club you'll be wanting a different vocal mike. Tele and SG through Boogie Mark V and Twin Reverb: amazing! It's super responsive and picks up a lot of detail. Moretone and Epiphone doghouses, gut strings on the King, steel core on the Epi: Same as guitar, which really surprised me after the vocals experiment. Picked up a 'flubby' sound from the gut E string that I didn't hear without the mike. Now I can't unhear it, and had to replace the two fattest guts with silver-wrapped nylons. I also had to use the Royer to prove that it worked. Serially finding and fixing small problems is a very good musical habit, and it's a nice benefit that the Royer uncovered this one for me. Acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, fibro:. Very quick experiments with whatever was handy. Confirmed the general impression of great accuracy and response. The higher voiced stuff (Snakehead, Mastertone knock-off) didn't sing like they should, so it's back to the old tube condendors for those. Very nice guitar and dobro as long as I stayed below the 14th fret. I probably won't use the Royer for any of these instruments again. Organ through a Twin: Same as electric guitar. Very clean, precise, accurate. I'd like try it on stage to mike a guitar amp just to see what happens, and will need to test it on electric bass. It's my new #1 for unamplified double bass, and on the short list for electric guitar. Overall, it's a very useful mike at a reasonable price. I ordered the 2nd one a few days after the first arrived, which is about as positive as a review can be. ... More
Best electric guitar mic ever.
Reviewed by DP on Guitar Center
I recently tracked a 4 song EP with a metal band using two Shure SM57s and a Royer R121. The sound of the SM57s was great through a pair of Neve 1073s but the Royer, which was going through a Chandler TG2 was massive and perfect. The two setups blended were outstanding but I have a feeling that at mixdown only the Royer will be kept, it was just what we needed. The amps were a Krank Revolution, and a Marshall JCM800 (1982) through an Orange 412 straight cab. ... More
3. Beyerdynamic M 160
Hypercardioid Double Ribbon Microphone
A Versatile, Weird, Awesome, Swiss Army Knife
Reviewed by Alex E. on Reverb
The Beyerdynamic M160 is a weird microphone. It's a ribbon, but it's not figure eight. It's classic, warm, and chunky sounding, but it isn't huge, nor does it say "Neumann" on the side. It looks kind of like a halfassed drawing of a Shure SM58 reproduced in miniature, but it's not a dynamic mic. It's weird, and entirely unsexy in a mic cabinet. But's it's also the best. In front of (or above) a drum kit, it adds some serious heft and low mid "glue" that'll make even a timid drummer have some of John Bonham's urgency. A couple feet out from a guitar cab, it'll sound natural yet cut through nicely. On banjo, it's a total sneak attack -- none of the harsh string noise, all the plunky plinky dopeness. Same deal on glockenspiel. It's not quite as universal on vocals, but it's especially useful in that spot when recording vocals live with a band -- more finesse than the usual dynamic option, less bleed than a normal ribbon or condenser, and a really natural, happily EQ'd sound. I encounter so few mics in this price range that are this useful, and really, if everyone would just buy a couple of these, a couple good dynamics, and maybe a pair of Avenson STO-2s, the world would be a better sounding place. ... More
Beyerdynamic M-160... Great for Guitar Cabs!
Reviewed by Dean W. on Reverb
I am new to this mic and have only had a chance to use it on a guitar cabinet/ speaker, which is the main job I bought it for. I am a big fan of using two microphones together to get a great electric guitar sound. My go to has been the SM57+MD421 combination which gives great results. I just tried the M-160 with the SM57 and thought, 'yep, that's the sound!' They are a great compliment to each other as the SM57 has the peak/ aggression in the upper midrange while the M-160 is smooth, balanced, full and mellow by comparison. Pull them up on the faders, and blend to taste with very minimal eq. My favorite tone to date and I obsess about tone. Can't wait to try it on a mono overhead for drums and an acoustic guitar although, you will probably need a very clean, hi-gain preamp for that. ... More
4. Golden Age Project R1 MKII
Ribbon Microphone
Great vocals
Reviewed by Sam on B&H Photo Video
This guy is my first foray into ribbons, and so far I've used it with a Cloudlifter CL-1 and an old Mbox2. It sounds great, especially for the price. It's smooth and warm on female vocals and much more flattering/forgiving than the CAD 179 I usually use. (FYI, when I recorded my acoustic jumbo guitar, it was pretty boomy on the lows, but I haven't tried it with other body styles. Another reviewer had good results recording acoustic, so my big assed EJ-200 might just be too much for it.) I'd recommend picking up another xlr cord while you're here if you don't have any extras at home. I had trouble fitting the cord that comes already plugged into this mic into my CL-1, but I easily swapped it out (the cord comes secured onto the mic, so it's just a tiny bit more difficult than simply unplugging the cord and plugging in another - you'll need a small screwdriver). ... More
Phenomenal! Amazing!
Reviewed by Eddie F. on Reverb
It’s everything they said it would be! Works perfect as a guest mic for my podcast. Guests tend to shy away from a mic and sound tinny...not with this beautiful thing. Pick up is great...and that low end. **whew** Love. This. Mic.
5. MXL R77
Studio Ribbon Microphone
Great Unique Sound.
Reviewed by Erik on Guitar Center
All microphone lockers should have at least one ribbon mic. They can add a totally unique character to a recorded sound and this one is no exception. The R77 adds a really airy and open sound to anything it is picking up. Because it's a ribbon, it has excellent transient response, so you can be sure that it will pick up everything it was meant to. While in the studio, I always turn to this mic for vocals and acoustic guitar as well as the occasional guitar cab. And at the price? You can't go wrong. ... More
Exceeding expectations
Reviewed by Wetham Posh on B&H Photo Video
i purchased the mxl r77 ribbon mic for my brother as a gift, he's a saxophone player and of you are a saxophonist you know it is difficult to capture the essence of your horn, most of the the it doesn't sound right. Unless your using top of the line Neumann or other high quality mic with a high quality price tag. This mic is a great addition to our recording studio, I've used it along side our sterling st69 and it completes that missing part ive been looking for. I bought the mxl r144 ribbon, it's a great mic but after buying the r77 there is no comparison.it works just as amazing on vocals too, adds warmth, depth, some dimension to the voice, definitely wouldn't need any help from computer enhancement, it has it's own natural sound. All in all a great mic and going to add another to my collection as soon as possible!! Bad Sue Records L.L.C Vice president and COO ... More