Live data from Hacker News

The Ribbon Microphone

khz.ac

51–60 of 70 posts

Re: The Ribbon Microphone

#51

If the author's reading this, the site renders like this in a recent Firefox - https://i.imgur.com/lazMsqx.png

the author is in fact reading this and will make some changes

edit: haven't managed to replicate the absurdly huge image; what version # & os are you on?

Re: The Ribbon Microphone

#53
Seems like you could get many of the benefits of a ribbon by using a laser to measure the vibration of the ribbon vs measuring the voltage. Of course the ribbon won't vibrate the same without a magnetic field applied so you could still supply that. You'll also just be picking up the vibrations at one point of the ribbon instead of the summation(?) of it's movement. But you won't have to worry so much about noise and shielding, while still retaining a low resonant frequency.

Re: The Ribbon Microphone

#55
post #22

For anyone interested in how mucrophones can sound different, check out Jim Lill's video [1] where he A/B tests a bunch of mics against one another and industry standards. He has a whole series of videos where he explores what contributes the most to "guitar tone", all the way from the strings to your ears and in between. It's a bit of an eye opener to say the least. Highly, highly recommended. 1: https://youtu.be/4B…

[deleted]

Re: The Ribbon Microphone

#56
post #22

For anyone interested in how mucrophones can sound different, check out Jim Lill's video [1] where he A/B tests a bunch of mics against one another and industry standards. He has a whole series of videos where he explores what contributes the most to "guitar tone", all the way from the strings to your ears and in between. It's a bit of an eye opener to say the least. Highly, highly recommended. 1: https://youtu.be/4B…

Love his series, but you really have to keep in mind that his testing methodology is "reductionist": a microphone's quality can't just be distilled to its EQ response. Phase, transient response, clipping, etc. are also part of the equation. edit: My "case in point" moment is Jim's (excellent!) DIY amp section in this video: https://youtu.be/wcBEOcPtlYk?si=jkehIfyo6AgeTLUo&t=918 . Its EQ indeed sounds like the big nam…

The takeaway for me on all his videos is that yes, these things are different, and they make a difference. But the difference is so subtle and nuanced that its nigh on impossible hear it, especially in the mix, played on a CD, over a stereo in a less-than-ideal treated room.

In one of his amp cab videos he has the appiphany that all his tone chasing was for naught, because he failed to consider that each and every sound he hears has been recorded. He cannot replicate the tone of how an amp or cab or speaker or guitar sounded, because that sound was recorded, where the mic, preamp, console and recording medium all added their own influence, and him listening to an amp in the room is not how that amp actually sounded. And live sound is a completely different animal all together!

Re: The Ribbon Microphone

#58
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ifyouthinkthatsbadbearinmindthatbothcapitallettersinlowercasetextandspacesbetweenwordsarefairlyrecentinventions

nd y dnt rly nd bth vwls nd spcs s sm lngg grps ntlly drppd vwls whn thy gt spcs

𓁑 𓁒 𓁓 𓁔 𓁕 𓁖 𓁗

𓄒 𓄓 𓄔 𓄕 𓄖 𓄗 𓄘

𓀊 𓀋 𓀌 𓀍 𓀎 𓀏 𓀌

𓋥 𓋦 𓋧 𓋨 𓋩 𓋪 𓋫

𓉢 𓉣 𓉤 𓉥 𓉦 𓉧 𓉨

Re: The Ribbon Microphone

#60
post #21
post #5

Is there a recording somewhere to hear what this sounds like?

It sounds just like any other mic, with subtle differences audible only to the most trained ear. Their frequency response is probably well characterised and documented, so you can simulate one by putting an appropriate EQ over a "normal" mic and the outcome will be indistinguishable from the real thing.

Trained ear means one where you have good speakers (headphones may be better) and listen to the same thing on several different microphones. It isn't hard to train your ears if you want to spend the time.
Post reply on HN