Ribbon Microphones Explained | How They Work & When to Use
Learn more about Ribbon microphones and how they differ from large diaphragm condenser microphones. A great example of a Ribbon mic is the Audio Technica AT4081 which is a phantom-powered bidirectional active ribbon microphone.
Audio Technica AT4081: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_3...
Audio Technica @ Sonic Electronix: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/m603-a...
Audio Technica Microphones: http://www.sonicelectronix.com/cat_m6...
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Hi, I'm Gary Boss, the National Marketing Director for Audio Technica and im here at Sonic Electronix talking about ribbon microphones.
Ribbon mics are prized for their warm natural sound. Many consider them to be the purest form of transducers. They fall within the Dynamic mic catergory.
Strong magnets are placed on either side of a very thin strip or "ribbon" of a conductive material, most commonly aluminum. This material is very light and responds to very little air pressure, but unlike the wound coil in a traditional dynamic mic, the ribbons movement through the magnetic field generates a very small voltage, which can feed a preamp or mixer. Due to the nature of ribbon microphones they can be very preamp dependent.
While there are pluses to ribbon mics there are some drawbacks. Because the ribbon material is very thin with a large surface area, blowing into the mic or high wind can damage the ribbon material by causing it to stretch. This can also happen if the ribbons are stored for too long on their sides causing the material to sag. Also many ribbons can be damaged by feeding them phantom power. This damage usually occurs when plugging in or unplugging the mic. The sudden voltage can cause the ribbon to travel beyond its normal range and be damaged.
Many modern ribbon microphones have addressed these issues. Audio-technica ribbons use patented technologies that address all these traditional shortfalls. This is one reason you have seen a rise in ribbon use on live stages.
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