which mic pres does everyone use with their ribbon mics?

[versuviusx]

currently all i have is a apogee MINI me.
i have a vintage reslo ribbon mic(30/50 ohm) that i sent off to get modded.
and every single time i use it with the agpogee i have to turn it all the way up just to hear a little bit of the signal. But, by that time the mic pre is very very noisy. i hate it.
does it have to do with this:

Mic input impedance 1.2 k ohms
Line input impedance 10 k ohms

because the specs say:
Dynamic range 105 dB
THD+Noise ?94 dB
Mic amp gain range 12?65 dB

here are all the other specs:

Dynamic range 105 dB
THD+Noise ?94 dB
Sample rates 44.1?96 kHz ?10%
Frequency Response 20 Hz ? 20 kHz ?0.2 dB @44.1 kHz sampling
Inputs Mic/line (XLR), instrument level (TRS)
Min/Maximum input level (CAL/LINE) ?6/28 dBu
Mic amp gain range 12?65 dB

Mic input impedance 1.2 k ohms
Line input impedance 10 k ohms
Instrument input impedance (1/4in connector) 2.2M ohms
Digital interfaces USB Audio I/O, AES/EBU, S/PDIF
Headphone monitor 0.3W/channel RMS out, 1/8in jack
Power input 6-16 v dc, 5.5W
Power supply External, universal voltage in, 12 v dc out
USB power Derived from interface

Size (w x d x h) 5.4in x 9.8in x 1.5in
Weight 2 lbs

ANYWAYS i was wondering if everyone who uses a ribbon could tell me which mic pres they are using theirs with. because i'm thinking that the only way to get a ribbon to sound great is to have a really nic mic pre that has loads of gain and no noise. that means big bucks. if i knew that i probably would have not gotten my ribbon until i got a nic mic pre. i'm assuming here, but i'm thinking that eveyrone who uses a ribbon mic has a really fucking nice mic pre that cost serious cash.

[joeysimms]

I only have one ribbon mic so far, a beyer 260.80 (I know, I know..), and I've used it with both a sytek and an ampex 601. Both had gain for miles.

[markpar]

I've used a Royer R121 with an API 512c for electric guitars and have had no gain problems. I've also used with a UA 2108 with good results, as well.

-mark

[cgarges]

Usually Syteks or API 512Cs. The Focusrite Red Series stuff sounds pretty good with ribbon mics, too. The Syteks seem quietest out of al of those, although I think the APIs are a little nicer for sources with more low-frequency content.

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

[Leopold]

I second or should I say fourth the Syteks.

-L

[rainsinvelvet]

Royer R121 with API 312 or Neve 1272 seems fine except on super quiet finger picked classical style guitar.

For all other rock aplications they work great!

ERic

[Al]

currently all i have is a apogee MINI me.
i have a vintage reslo ribbon mic(30/50 ohm) that i sent off to get modded.
and every single time i use it with the agpogee i have to turn it all the way up just to hear a little bit of the signal. But, by that time the mic pre is very very noisy. i hate it.
does it have to do with this:

Mic input impedance 1.2 k ohms
Line input impedance 10 k ohms

because the specs say:
Dynamic range 105 dB
THD+Noise ?94 dB
Mic amp gain range 12?65 dB

here are all the other specs:

Dynamic range 105 dB
THD+Noise ?94 dB
Sample rates 44.1?96 kHz ?10%
Frequency Response 20 Hz ? 20 kHz ?0.2 dB @44.1 kHz sampling
Inputs Mic/line (XLR), instrument level (TRS)
Min/Maximum input level (CAL/LINE) ?6/28 dBu
Mic amp gain range 12?65 dB

Mic input impedance 1.2 k ohms
Line input impedance 10 k ohms
Instrument input impedance (1/4in connector) 2.2M ohms
Digital interfaces USB Audio I/O, AES/EBU, S/PDIF
Headphone monitor 0.3W/channel RMS out, 1/8in jack
Power input 6-16 v dc, 5.5W
Power supply External, universal voltage in, 12 v dc out
USB power Derived from interface

Size (w x d x h) 5.4in x 9.8in x 1.5in
Weight 2 lbs

ANYWAYS i was wondering if everyone who uses a ribbon could tell me which mic pres they are using theirs with. because i'm thinking that the only way to get a ribbon to sound great is to have a really nic mic pre that has loads of gain and no noise. that means big bucks. if i knew that i probably would have not gotten my ribbon until i got a nic mic pre. i'm assuming here, but i'm thinking that eveyrone who uses a ribbon mic has a really fucking nice mic pre that cost serious cash.

Hi

You need a step up transformer for you're Reslo, that's why you are getting very little gain, Sowter in the u.k. make one for Reslo, which is a 600 ohm can, you don't need any fancy pre's for them, i just use my mixing desk.

It's the 8754 audio transformer you're looking for, good quality, at a reasonable price.

www.sowter.co.uk

Cheers

Al

[ubertar]

I use a ATI m-1000. You can get them used fairly cheap. I use it with an RCA varacoustic, an EV V-2 and an Amperite RBKH. You can crank the gain as much as you want and there's no noise at all.

[nestle]

Royer 121 & NADY RSM -2 W UA 610-
sounds killer

[concubine]

Yeah, Al is the authority around here on Reslos, and he's absolutely right. The transformer boosts the signal a bit so you don't have to crank your pres to 10.

Also worth noting, if you run a hi-z cable, it's unbalanced, but it does give you a louder signal so that you don't need the transformer. At least that's what I've found with one of my Reslos.

For the record, I usually run my ribbons through my Peavey VMP-2. Seems to accentuate the ribbon-ness in a very good way.

Jeff

currently all i have is a apogee MINI me.
i have a vintage reslo ribbon mic(30/50 ohm) that i sent off to get modded.
and every single time i use it with the agpogee i have to turn it all the way up just to hear a little bit of the signal. But, by that time the mic pre is very very noisy. i hate it.
does it have to do with this:

Mic input impedance 1.2 k ohms
Line input impedance 10 k ohms

because the specs say:
Dynamic range 105 dB
THD+Noise ?94 dB
Mic amp gain range 12?65 dB

here are all the other specs:

Dynamic range 105 dB
THD+Noise ?94 dB
Sample rates 44.1?96 kHz ?10%
Frequency Response 20 Hz ? 20 kHz ?0.2 dB @44.1 kHz sampling
Inputs Mic/line (XLR), instrument level (TRS)
Min/Maximum input level (CAL/LINE) ?6/28 dBu
Mic amp gain range 12?65 dB

Mic input impedance 1.2 k ohms
Line input impedance 10 k ohms
Instrument input impedance (1/4in connector) 2.2M ohms
Digital interfaces USB Audio I/O, AES/EBU, S/PDIF
Headphone monitor 0.3W/channel RMS out, 1/8in jack
Power input 6-16 v dc, 5.5W
Power supply External, universal voltage in, 12 v dc out
USB power Derived from interface

Size (w x d x h) 5.4in x 9.8in x 1.5in
Weight 2 lbs

ANYWAYS i was wondering if everyone who uses a ribbon could tell me which mic pres they are using theirs with. because i'm thinking that the only way to get a ribbon to sound great is to have a really nic mic pre that has loads of gain and no noise. that means big bucks. if i knew that i probably would have not gotten my ribbon until i got a nic mic pre. i'm assuming here, but i'm thinking that eveyrone who uses a ribbon mic has a really fucking nice mic pre that cost serious cash.

[Devlars]

Well Versuviusx it looks as though you've been given a wealth of informative resources to answer your question but at any rate no you don't need to drop a serious ammount of coin in order to get a clean noiseless signal from your ribbon, though most ribbons do require a bit more headroom than your LDCs or Dynamic mics.

I run my ML52 through an ART TPSII and if I am recording something that has no volume control i.e. acoustic guitar, drums or piano then I'll just use the gain boost on the TPS which gives me LOADS of signal and much more headroom without adding axtra noise from the preamp itself. Otherwise until you can get this transformer, a Hi-z cable or another solution to your problem you could also try simply turning up the volume from the source of sound which you are trying to record. I don't say that to be condescending by the way just a suggestion. Always helps to state the obvious first then move on to the more technical things.

[midiot]

Royer 121 through 1969 pre

[Jay]

My R121 sounds good with an RNP. It's good with a Great River too.

[concubine]

...or another solution to your problem you could also try simply turning up the volume from the source of sound which you are trying to record. I don't say that to be condescending by the way just a suggestion. Always helps to state the obvious first then move on to the more technical things.

But of course, ahem, "turning up the volume" on an acoustic guitar is a little difficult.

A Reslo RB series ribbon mic (as beautiful as they sound) will not pick up a loud enough signal from an acoustic guitar without the Sowter transformer or a relatively noise-free mic pre with oodles of gain. Even if you're inch away from the mic. Not to state the obvious, but....

[Devlars]

Yes, yes I know. I was only stating that fact for amplified sound sources. I thought I would have covered myself from such "observations" by making the comment about "recording something that has no volume control"...oh well. At least we know that people are actually reading the posts thoroughly huh.