Cheap Ribbons

kenzie2029 · Post by **kenzie2029** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:41 am

Has anyone used the Nady RSM-2 Ribbon mic? It has a nice vintage look, and the reviews over at musiciansfriend.com where pretty good. Just wondering.

r0ck1r0ck2 · Post by **r0ck1r0ck2** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 8:44 am

yep...its good news..
try it stock...
then try a mod...
works like a champ for...what..$130
go for it...
everybody will tell you to save for a r121....on tenth the price of that..you'll find the rsm-2

A-Barr · Post by **A-Barr** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:31 am

Look here:

http://messageboard.tapeop.com/viewtopi ... comparison

Sorry, I don't know how to post an actual link, but you can copy that into your browser. It's a thread that about halfway down links to sound clips comparing a Royer R121 and the RSM-2. Or so I remember. The RSM does sound good and according to the thread, some people preferred it over the Royer on some of the shootouts. Personally, I thought the Royer had more life to it and found the RSM to be a little muffled in comparison. But the RSM wasn't bad, especially for the price, and it seems like most owners don't regret the purchase.

r0ck1r0ck2 · Post by **r0ck1r0ck2** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:50 am

pretty muffly (sp?)
yank all that extra screening...
i think that's in there to keep the ribbon newbies from blowing the bugger up on their first try..gonna have to watch it....but it really opens up the mic..

jrepro · Post by **jrepro** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:53 am

I just went and listen to all the clips. IMO The royer was better in every case. Fuller and much more open top. Not bright, but open. FWIW I think that a 10 fold price is probably accurate to get the 10% better sounding quality. Its probably fairly inexpensive to make something usable, but to make it really good takes much better components on every level.

I am thinking of getting a ribbon from SmallBox. He upgrades some parts to make them at least compete with the higher end mics.

Joe

mrufino1 · Post by **mrufino1** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 10:57 am

Same mic essentially as the tapeop mic, which I absolutely love.

r0ck1r0ck2 · Post by **r0ck1r0ck2** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:12 am

well that "He" could easily be changed to " I "
i'm sure the mod isn't that difficult...

1/10th the price..
but if you got the dough....

jrepro · Post by **jrepro** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:53 pm

nope, the mods are straight forward. The price is in the transformer. You have to buy quanities to get them down to a reasonable price

r0ck1r0ck2 · Post by **r0ck1r0ck2** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 1:58 pm

is the transformer a grand if you buy one...?
didn't think so...

jrepro · Post by **jrepro** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 2:54 pm

Nope the transformers are around $60 give or take. But when your done and have $300 in your ribbon, you still have a mic that does not sound quite as good as the royer. So now the question is "is 3 times the price worth the details"?

I guess you "can" polish a turd....but when done, you just have a shiney turd!

For what its worth, if the ribbon is not going to be used all the time, maybe an inexpensive one is the way to go. No?

JD

r0ck1r0ck2 · Post by **r0ck1r0ck2** » Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:04 pm

i don't think anyone whos used the thing is calling it a turd..

bottom line..
you cannot compare the royer and the nady...
too big of a price differance...

NewAndImprov · Post by **NewAndImprov** » Sat Jan 28, 2006 2:15 pm

Check out the ShinyBox mics:
http://www.shinybox.com/

You can get them with different tranformers, and I believe he removes the foam as well. I have a ShinyBox 23 that I'm really digging lately, just used it on a cello yesterday, and it sounded very cool.

Brett Siler · Post by **Brett Siler** » Sun Jan 29, 2006 10:59 pm

I really like the Oktava ML-52. It sounds really good in the lower mid range and highs.

I listened to the Nady/Royer clips and the Royer did sound better, but $1000 better. The Royer had better clarity in the upper mids and highs. I am sure a Nady could be modified to open up the top end to it.

RuudUnit · Post by **RuudUnit** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 12:00 am

If you want a really open top end, perhaps you would use a different mic?

Usually people don't choose ribbons for this type of sound.

Royers are great mics, for sure, but lately when I reach for a ribbon it's to mic guitar cabs with a thickness, or perhaps when I want something to sound really warm and round (not open and "toppy")

stubenbaines · Post by **stubenbaines** » Mon Jan 30, 2006 8:07 am

Has anyone tried any of the other models of the Nady ribbons? For example the RSM-4.

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