In the 1970s, solid-state condensers became cheaper and more available owing to the solid-state technology. By that time, tube microphones had already replaced ribbon mics. Even today, some of the designs are still a favorite in studios, such as the RCA 44A.

A variation of dynamic mic

A ribbon microphone is, in many ways, a variation of the dynamic microphone. You’ll see the diaphragm of a dynamic mic attached to a moving coil. It vibrates within a certain magnetic field. Ribbon mics have an extremely thin metal strip, which is most often aluminum. You’ll notice its suspension in a strong magnetic field.

The ribbon provides a similar kind of sensitivity and transient response expected from a condenser. You’ll notice that even with this similarity, the character is wholly different. This is because the ribbon acts as both the diaphragm and the transducer element.

Most of the ribbon mics are passive devices, which means, they don’t have any pre-amplification or active electronics onboard. They connect to a preamp input. The impedance of this preamp input is critical to the microphone’s sound as a result.

There’ll be a change in frequency, particularly on the bottom end, if the impedance is significantly low. This would cause the ribbon to become damped, producing a lowered high-frequency output. You’ll notice a range of useful sounds produced with a change in the frequency response. It could be one of the EQ options in low-frequency.

Let’s understand this with the help of an example. On a source, you’ve got a passive ribbon microphone. Owing to the proximity effect or any of the other factors, there’s too much bass in the sound. In such a situation, you can tailor the sound by reaching for an equalizer. Another option is to plug the microphone into a preamp with a variable input impedance. The impedance setting is lowered.

This results in a reduced low-end response of the mic. The sound produced would be exactly what you wanted. Upon moving away from the microphone, you can minimize the low-frequency boost of the proximity effect.

Active and passive ribbons

You’ll come across a new kind of active ribbon mic in the market today. The onboard electronics in an active ribbon allows the microphone to work to its full potential. This benefits the mic preamp no matter what its input impedance is. Active ribbon microphones have greater consistency in preamps with different input impedances.

They typically possess stronger levels of output when compared to the passive ribbons. Of course, the delivery of sound quality in passive ribbon microphones is fantastic when paired with the right preamp. However, it is easier to achieve that sound quality with active ribbon microphones.

Characteristics of ribbon microphones

Over a period of time, ribbon microphones have built a reputation for being fragile and delicate. This is partly due to its ribbon material, which is extremely thin and suspended in the magnetic gap. Many have no idea how thin is the ribbon. The thickness of the ribbon in Coles 4038 is 0.6 microns. It’s 1.8 and 2.5 or 4 microns thick in AEAs and Royers respectively.

We can understand this better by taking an example of human hair. Typically, the thickness of a human hair is about 100 microns. This means that a human hair is 50 times thicker than the ribbon used in AEA R84. Keeping this in mind, you’ll understand why you must take care of the aluminum ribbon. You must provide strong protection to the aluminum ribbon from blasts of wind.

Most of the engineers are extremely careful with ribbon microphones. They steer away wisely from allowing phantom power to come closer to these mics. Phantom power is used in the electronics of the newer microphones, such as Royer R-122 MKII and AEA R84A. The carbon-nanotube ribbon used in Shure’s KSM313/NE makes it almost indestructible.

Naked RCA 44BX microphone

Ribbon microphones are also well-known for being dark as well as quiet. There is a good reason why they’ve built this reputation. When compared to the modern condenser microphones, the classic ribbon mics have lower output levels. They can sound dark as they’re much more sensitive to input impedance.

The AEA TRP2 Ribbon Pre and RPQ2 Ribbon Pre have the right preamp. CL-Z Cloudlifter or Royer dBooster have an in-line amplifying device. These microphones can work wonders.

AEA Ribbon Pre

When talking about the sonic darkness, there’s a reason why ribbon microphones sound darker. This has to do with the reaction of the ribbons to waveforms produced by different frequencies. This implies, in simple terms, that ribbon microphones are more affected by lower frequencies than the higher ones. This results in a smooth roll-off.

A decrease is essential in output at higher frequencies with shorter waveforms. The benefit is that ribbon microphones take EQ quite efficiently with all the high frequencies even if muted slightly. One can easily bring them out. It is important to remember that this is not the case with all ribbon microphones.

The applications for ribbon mics

You’ll find a great deal of detail in ribbon mics. Yet, these mics are not oversensitive. This is, perhaps, one of their greatest attributes. This is the quality that allows them to gather the nuances of closer sources. While doing so, they remain isolated from off-axis sound and room noise.

This quality makes ribbon mics perfect for choirs or guitar cabinets in larger spaces. In such settings, the sound level entering the mic’s back is significantly lower.

Directionality

One of the most useful and fascinating aspects of a ribbon microphone’s design is its directionality. Ribbon mics are all naturally bi-directional. However, they lack bi-directionality if designed otherwise. This gives them a figure-8 polar pattern. The sound waves coming from the thin ribbon element can’t move it. The figure-8 directionality has almost endless applications.

Ribbon microphones were a favorite among the hosts of television and radio talk-shows for a long time. The reason was that a single microphone could pick both sides of the conversation. The sides of the microphones point towards the audience.

A unique quality of non-linearity is, by far, the most fantastic aspect of ribbon mics. A ribbon microphone produces a sonic output that has a greater accuracy. If you want your recordings to sound completely natural, these mics would be the best choice.

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A proper set up of the microphone will resolve many issues with the audio. The mic, quality of the devices, audio levels, and recording parameters are the four aspects of a microphone setup.

Setting up a microphone

You must fix your mic to a swivel or a stand to set it up. Many of the stands use 5/8 thread screws. By using the shock mount, you can isolate the vibrations. Next, attach the pop-filter. You can then connect your microphone to your audio device with an XLR cable.

The right mic setups for different purposes

There are some YouTube creators or podcasters who like to record while standing. Generally, many prefer sitting for streaming an episode on YouTube. Whatever the purpose, you’ll need the right length of cables and the stand. Recording of podcasts require more silent environments. A lower quality in audio is generally acceptable for recording a YouTube video.

Impact of mic setup on audio quality

In order to avoid vibration and other kinds of interference your mic setup requires stability. The manner in which you speak to your mic would determine whether it records your voice or the surrounding voices. If you’ve chosen a noisy location for your recording, the quality of your voice would suffer. So, it’s essential that you choose the right location for setting up your mic.

Begin by choosing the best microphone

For recording a high-quality audio, your mic is an essential instrument. You don’t always require a very expensive mic for your recording. However, you’ll need to choose a mic wisely if you wish to deliver high-quality sound. It’s absolutely necessary to begin with the right choice of a microphone to get the right mic set up. It would solve most of the problems associated with the quality of recordings.

As a result, you’ll get more satisfaction from your recording, whether it’s for a podcast or your YouTube channel. It’s essential that your podcast delivers great content, but it must sound fabulous as well. These are the two factors that determine the number of listeners you’ll have. To record an audio of the highest quality, choose a warm and well-balanced mic.

When you spend on buying a microphone, treat it as an investment that would ultimately ensure your success. You must also make sure that it’s a choice for many years to come. After all, you wouldn’t want your mic to bother you all the time. Instead, you must focus more on the quality of content that you’re intending to produce.

If you start with a low-quality and budget mic, the setup of your recording will sound average. You must also consider the resistance of your mic to physical damage and drops. If your location is not a silent one, buying the most sensitive mic will not make any sense.

Recording with the right mic set up

Generally, it’s always good to record in the largest room that’s available. In the absence of a soundproofed room, you can make some adjustments at home for your recording. Have a portable sound booth or an isolation shield to keep away other sounds and interference.

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Most of the earlier microphones have proved that top-quality mics can continue performing well for decades. Although you can increase the longevity of your mic, it would eventually wear out. Here are some of the things that can cause the wearing out of mics:

1. Humidity

Humidity is a potential threat for all microphones. This is particularly true in case of the mics that are active. Humidity doesn’t greatly impact passive components, such as ribbon baffles, dynamic diaphragms, cartridges, transformers, and magnets. It can be really harsh on printed circuit boards (PCBs) and the components on these boards.

Some of these components include the field-effect transistors (FETs). In some cases, humidity can also stop an active mic from working. Humidity causes condensation on parts made of metal. As a result, the mic wears out pretty soon. This might also cause corrosion.

2. Corrosion

In the moving-coil dynamic diaphragms, the most commonly used conductive metal is copper. It gradually corrodes over time, which can slightly affect the dynamic performance. Most of the ribbon diaphragms use aluminum, which is also prone to corrosion.

A corroded ribbon diaphragm produces inaccurate and weaker signals compared to a fresh one. Condenser diaphragms use gold as a conductive material since it doesn’t corrode owing to humidity. There is constant exposure to oxygen and humidity in printed circuit boards.

The printed circuit boards use metals and are therefore prone to corrosion. The process of corrosion in such boards is slow. Corrosion also affects the body, grille, and output connection.

3. Heat

This is another factor that causes the microphones to wear out. It mostly affects the tube mics. Heating of a vacuum tube is necessary for its proper functioning. Tube microphones come with heaters in their interior parts for this purpose. Prolonged heat from the tube causes damage to the capsule and diaphragm.

Many of the tube microphones are upside down in their placement for this reason. You’ll often notice this during long sessions of recording. This position puts the tube above the capsule. When the heat rises, it has a lesser effect on the capsule as the tube is above it.

4. Dust and smoke

Dust and smoke accumulates on and inside a mic gradually with humidity acting as a catalyst. As a result, the microphone wears out, decreasing its overall performance. The mic’s diaphragm is prone to damage if there are sharp particles in the dust.

Among the microphones, ribbon mics are the ones that are especially sensitive to dust. If subjected to such particles, the diaphragms would break easily. It is, therefore, a good idea to cover a ribbon mic even while moving it around in a room.

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The capsule signals pass through various components in these mics, including a tube. This produces a certain output signal. This article discusses tube microphones and vacuum tubes in brief. So, let’s begin with the tube microphone.

How tube microphones work

Any microphone with a vacuum tube in its design is a tube microphone. Nothing can get more straightforward than this. The vacuum tube acts as an amplifier and an impedance converter for the signal of the mic. The condenser capsules in tube mics produce audio signals of low amplitude with a higher impedance.

The vacuum tube boosts this signal effectively while reducing the impedance. This causes the signal to travel with the rest of the components inside the mic. It finally travels through the output connection. The requirements of power are relatively higher for vacuum tubes.

To supply the required amount of power, tube microphones come with external units of power supply. These mics are often large-diaphragm condensers. You’ll also come across ribbon tube microphones and small-diaphragm tube condensers in the market.

Vacuum tube

The other terms used for a vacuum tube are ‘valve’ and ‘electron tube. This electronic device controls the current flow with a vacuum between electrodes. This happens with the application of a voltage to it. Microphone vacuum tubes have an outer container. The material of this container is either ceramic or glass. This container has a vacuum inside, where there is no air. There must be no oxygen present within the tube.

This is because the presence of oxygen might burn up the device. The electrodes located inside the tube cause electrons to flow. This produces an electric current. The 20th century saw the invention of the diode. A diode is the simplest vacuum tube. It has two most important electrodes, namely the anode and the cathode.

Cathode is the negative terminal, while anode is the positive terminal. Power supply directly heats the cathode. Indirect heating of the cathode is also possible. Upon applying heat to the tube, the cathode starts emitting electrons. Owing to the negative charge in the electrons, the cathode repels them. The positively charged anode attracts the electrons.

The application of the right power heats the vacuum tube. This generates the electric current. One thing to note here is that the tube has to be a vacuum. If it’s not, the oxygen within the tube would cause the heater to burn up. If this happens, the vacuum tube won’t function.

A tube microphone has a basic vacuum tube. The term for this vacuum tube is ‘Triode’. All the triodes have a third electrode, which connects to the microphone’s capsule. The term for the third electrode is ‘the grid’. Another term used for this third electrode is the ‘control grid’.

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1. AKG C 12 vocal recording microphones

One of the immensely popular and cherished vintage microphones is the AKG C 12. Many are of the opinion that it’s the finest-sounding mic ever made. It’s a tube condenser microphone with a large diaphragm and multiple patterns, just like many famous studio vocal mics.

The introduction of AKG C 12 in 1953 brought a revolution in the world of microphone technology. Recreations of this mic with the same quality are quite rare. One could, of course, find many imitations of this mic. It was the first microphone with the ability to make 9 different and distinct polar patterns.

While doing this, there were no alterations in the output sensitivity and frequency of the microphone. One of the most prominent feature of the C 12 is the high-end boost. It doesn’t make the sound of the microphone tinny or harsh. This is the reason why the C 12 sounds excellent on the vocals of males as well as females.

2. Telefunken Ela M 251

This microphone could have been on the top position. However, we’re placing the Telefunken Ela M 251 second in our list. This is because the mic is based on the AKG C 12, which has taken the top spot. Now, let’s tell you about the past of Telefunken Ela M 251 briefly.

The company, Telefunken, didn’t originally manufacture mics. Instead, it served as the distributor of microphones. This company was into the distribution of many of the Neumann microphones. During the mid-20th century, Neumann decided to distribute mics on its own.

Telefunken wanted to build a microphone based on AKG’s C 12 model. It, therefore, contracted AKG to build the intended mics. As a result, the Ela M 251 made its debut in the year 1959. This microphone maintained most of the highlights of the C 12.

The only difference was that Telefunken’s mic had a considerable increase in the body. The rich, accurate sound of Ela M 251 made it a legend among the vintage microphones. Investors and audiophiles greatly prefer this mic even today.

3. Neumann U 67

Yet another fantastic choice for vocal recording microphones is the vintage mic, Neumann U 67. It’s quite surprising that vintage tube mics make vocals sound great even in this digital age. This is despite the fact that today’s digital recordings are overly sterile and clean.

The microphone market witnessed the introduction of Neumann U 67 in 1960. It was a replacement for the greatly successful U 47. An important part of the U 67 is its K67, which is a dual-diaphragm condenser capsule. Its beautiful tone and fabulous character gives it a greater preference over others.

This capsule only comes second in popularity after the CK 12. Vocals of all types sound excellent on the U 67. This mic offers beautiful mids, a slight brightness, and the right amount of tone and bass.

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In order to make this happen, you need to know what type of microphone you intend to use. You need to be absolutely clear about your expectations from the microphone. This would help you in narrowing down your choices and picking an ideal one. Here are some of the common types of microphones with an amazing sound quality:

1. Types of Dynamic Microphones

Dynamic microphones or dynamic mics are considered as workhorses in the world of microphones. They have a fantastic sound quality and are durable. The best part is that you can get them at a low cost. Dynamic mics function like a speaker in reverse. They use an induction coil that’s movable and suspended in the magnetic field.

Responsive to transients, these mics can handle high sound pressure level (SPL) quite efficiently. Perhaps this is the reason why they’re a natural choice for loud sources, such as guitar and bass cabs. You must definitely consider having one dynamic mic or two in your collection. This would also be one of the cheapest options.

2. Large diaphragm condenser microphones

When you think about studio recording microphones, there’s one mic that would come to your mind. It’s the large diaphragm condenser microphone. These mics are large, serious-looking, and stylish. You’ll get to see them in most of the professional recording studios. They work by using a condenser or capacitor for converting acoustic vibrations into electrical current. For this, they need a power source to operate.

These microphones are more sensitive than ribbon mics or dynamic mics. They also produce a louder signal. It is their sensitivity that makes them ideal for quiet or extremely dynamic sources, such as vocals. There are a number of sonically pleasing voice qualities that large diaphragm condensers have. You can associate the ‘larger than life’ sounds created by these mics with the studio vocals.

3. Small diaphragm condenser microphones

Also called pencil condensers, they’re the less flashy and smaller cousins of the large diaphragm condenser microphones. Despite their smaller stature, these mics are just as useful as their larger cousins. You can expect a great transient response in the small diaphragm condenser mics. They also have consistent pickup patterns and extended top end.

With these qualities, they’re ideal for acoustic instruments and realistic stereo techniques. You’ll mostly see the small diaphragm condenser microphones when you’re in one of the classical music recording sessions. Often, they come in pairs for stereo recording. This makes them particularly effective for the creation of accurate stereo images of real acoustic spaces.

4. Ribbon microphones

If you’ve seen the photos of the golden age of broadcasting, you might’ve noticed the classic ribbon mics. The presenters during those times spoke into these microphones. Thus, the ribbon technology dates back to those times. In those days, ribbon designs were much fragile. They could break if they were moved in an improper way or if they were subjected to high SPL.

Nevertheless, their sound was worth the trade off when it came to durability. Ribbon microphones use an ultra-thin ribbon, which is made of an electro-conductive material. It is suspended between the poles of a magnet, which causes it to generate signals.

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If you care for your microphones, they’ll care for you. It’s that simple. Here, we’ve come up with some guidelines that would help you get the most out of your microphones.

Caring for ribbon microphones

You’ll need to treat your microphone the same way as you treat your precision instrument. The ribbon microphones are not as delicate as a Stradivarius. Most of the dynamic microphones won’t suffer damage when tossed in a milk crate. However, you need to be extremely careful with the ribbon mics. You should always treat them like valuable tools.

Be careful not to put your microphone down on the floor. The ribbon mics have powerful magnets in them, which can attract small, metallic particles. If this happens, it’ll result in distorted recordings. It’s extremely important not to underestimate the strength of a ribbon mic’s magnetic force.

As far as possible, don’t lend your precious ribbon microphone to a novice. Many won’t understand how to care for the ribbon mics and handle them properly. If treated like the dynamic microphones, your ribbon mic will come to you in an unusable condition. You must also strictly avoid blowing into the ribbon mic to see if it’s working.

About the positioning and connections

When you’re close-miking the high-energy sources, make sure you always position your mic a little off-axis. This will give it some protection from the extremely loud sources. Ribbon mics possess a more even pattern of pickup. There is no impact on your recording even after moving it slightly off-axis.

A concentrated blast of air from a loud source can damage your microphone’s delicate ribbon. To prevent this from happening, using a pop filter would be the best thing to do.

You can connect a ribbon mic to a phantom-powered microphone input without causing any damage to it. Before connecting to a ribbon mic, it’s always good to turn off phantom power. When you’re getting off an airplane, make sure you loosen the relief valve on the case. You must also equalize the air pressure if you are transporting your mic in an aircraft.

You must do this before placing your mic in the cargo hold. There’s a change in air pressure with a change in altitude. To equalize the air pressure, loosen your case’s relief. You can also choose to create a small vent hole for equalizing air pressure.

How to care for condenser microphones

For many studios, condenser microphones are their sonic backbone. These mics are a proven workhorse in many of the recording applications. Taking care of it would ensure its strong performance for many years. When not in use, make sure that you keep your condenser mic in a plastic bag.

This will prevent any airborne dust particles from settling on the capsule. Plastic bags also provide effective protection against foam particles from storage boxes.

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This is, perhaps, the reason why these gadgets have become incredibly trendy today. Wireless technology gives people greater flexibility than ever. When compared to their wired counterparts, the wireless mics are no less in terms of sound quality.

As a result, the use of these microphones are on the increase. Even an average individual speaking at a conference can benefit from the wireless mics. You’ll find most of the professionals using these microphones. One can also find such mics used during the amateur karaoke nights.. Now, let’s go through the advantages that these mics have in store for their users:

1. Increased mobility with wireless microphones

When you’re speaking in a live conference or singing in a concert, you need exceptional audio receivers. It’s quite a task to set up the audio equipment on stage. Besides, it also takes a lot of time. The use of wired mics result in lesser space. People find it difficult to move around.

Wireless microphones take care of all such problems. By using the wireless mics, you can move around with great confidence and be yourself while speaking or singing. You can focus on your act rather than thinking about the unimportant stuff like cables.

2. Expansion to more sources of audio

Placing more mics around the stage certainly provides an enhanced audio experience. This is true even if people are wearing a wireless mic. The sounds can be captured in a much better way with more microphones on the stage. This would allow listeners to enjoy surrounding effects of audio.

3. Muting of other microphones

A speaker at a conference or a singer in a concert might have several wireless microphones installed. This would be for the back vocals or upcoming guests. It’s always better to mute all the secondary mics using their primary wireless microphones. This is done with the help of its built-in system. With this feature, they can choose the stage’s sections that should be the primary source of sound.

Cabled microphones require users to go to the audio mixer for muting or unmuting an audio source. In the past one could come across people employed for performing such actions. This ensured that the on-stage performers or speakers stayed on the stage in front of the audience. The wireless mics with built-in controls make this task much more easy and efficient.

4. Less accidents with wireless microphones

Individuals who use mics the most are speakers and on-stage performers. Even now, some of the conferences and concerts involve tons of cables. This restricts free movement to a considerable extent on the stage. The best microphones have made life easier for speakers and performers. They’ve given these people some incredible stage experiences.

The presence of cables on the stage might lead to some dangerous situations. Accidentally plugging out the microphone can be a lot more embarrassing than anything else during a concert. With the advent of wireless mics, this has now become a thing of the past.

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Let’s take the example of a casino located in the heart of Brussels. Sabelco installed the security system in this casino. The company is a specialist in security equipment. The task before Sabelco was to install about 400 cameras along with almost 60 mics. The intention of this task was an upgrade.

The existing analogue-based security network needed replacement. So, an IP-based digital system had to replace it. This casino provides access to gambling tables, slot machines, and a World Poker Tour room to its visitors.

The role of audio-visual CCTV security systems in casinos

Generally, a CCTV system doesn’t allow the recording of audio. However, things can be different when it comes to security systems in casinos. In Belgium, audio is mandatory for spaces above casino tables. Games such as Roulette, Blackjack, and Poker involve chips, cards, and money. This is why they need monitoring 24/7. It becomes extremely important for a casino to examine transactions between a dealer and a player.

This is to ensure that cheating doesn’t happen in the casino. In order to make this happen, recalling the sound becomes absolutely essential. In most of the casinos, the security audio recording is at the level of tables. For this purpose, microphones are installed in the tables.

The moving chips produce a lot of noise. This is the biggest issue with such systems. As a result, there’s much noise in the recording. Other noises obscure the voices of players and dealers.

How Sabelco accomplished the task

The team of Sabelco had to place the gadgets above the tables. This was a part of its plan to make the microphones work in tandem with the CCTV cameras. The mics were installed 6 meters from the casino floor. It was one of the most challenging part of the project.

It was also crucial not to have large CCTV domes above the floor. This was important for the aesthetics of the casino, which was something they couldn’t ignore. They chose Panasonic WV-S2270L 4K IP network cameras and WV-S2250L megapixel cameras for the video components. The supercardioid gooseneck mics of the DPA Microphones’ 4098 CORE complemented them.

They were of 16cms and 28 cms in their sizes. The installation team had decided to flush-mount the cameras into the ceiling. They mounted the mics below the line of the ceiling. The mics directly connected to the cameras.

How online casinos help

Installation of many complex systems facilitate the smooth operation of a land-based casino establishment. With the advent of online casinos, there’s absolutely no need for such systems. The hassles of maintaining security cameras or sound systems don’t exist in case of online casinos. All that the players need to do is sign up online, place their bets, and start playing.

Casinos Jungle provides you with all the information you need about playing casino games. This casino review website also has the best casinos reviewed and rated by experts.

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