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March 19, 2024
Spotlight: AEA Microphones
Adding New Chapters to the Ribbon Mic Tradition
If you've owned a vintage ribbon microphone, you may know of AEA from their ribbon mic repair work, which started back in 1976. By the late '90s, AEA's ribbon expertise led to the release of their fully in-house-built R44C, an exact replica of the legendary RCA 44BX. Since then, Pasadena-based AEA has never looked back, crafting a growing collection of ribbon microphones made with the same dedication to quality as the 20th century icons that inspired them. Though they have a respect for tradition, AEA makes use of modern components and manufacturing techniques to better serve today's musicians.
zZounds is pleased to offer these stunning ribbon microphones to our customers. Take a look through our selection of AEA microphones and learn more about each in this Spotlight guide, to find the one that best suits your studio needs.
Shop AEA Microphones »
zZounds is pleased to offer these stunning ribbon microphones to our customers. Take a look through our selection of AEA microphones and learn more about each in this Spotlight guide, to find the one that best suits your studio needs.
AEA R44CE Passive Side-Address Ribbon Microphone
The R44CE is a more economical version of AEA's iconic R44C microphone, and a modern replica of the RCA 44BX, a vintage ribbon mic beloved for its warm, musical character. AEA's modern take on this format utilizes ribbon material that meets or exceeds the vintage spec, and maintains its signature rich low end, thanks to a strong proximity effect. Another sonic trademark you can expect from the R44CE is its smooth high end, tapered off at the top just so to impart a mellifluous quality to higher-register singers and instruments. The R44CE is a must-have microphone for anyone who appreciates authentic vintage character.
AEA R84 Classic Big Ribbon Pressure Gradient Microphone
Where the R44CE recreates the RCA 44BX down to the last detail, AEA's R84 offers a slightly modified option. Made distinct by its extended high-end response and less-pronounced proximity effect, the R84 could be seen as a somewhat modernized take on the legendary ribbon mic. The reduced proximity effect helps it to excel in close-range recording, making it a great choice for softer vocal or acoustic instrument tracks. It retains a pleasing high-end roll-off and fantastically captures nuance in the midrange, ensuring the unique character of each instrument shines through.
AEA R84A Active Phantom Power Classic Ribbon Microphone
Take the R84, add a JFET preamp, and you have the R84A active ribbon mic. Thanks to a high ratio transformer, the onboard electronics allow the R84A to achieve 12 dB of additional output, which is useful on quieter sources, like whispered vocals. Another benefit of the hotter output is that it works to prevent interference from long cable runs, lighting, or other intrusive elements in your space. A snazzy gold-plated grille also helps to set the R84A apart from its passive sibling.
AEA R88mk2 Stereo Far-Field Blumlein Ribbon Microphone
"Honest" and "open" are the calling cards AEA uses to describe the sonic signature of the R88mk2. This far-field microphone features two matched Big Ribbon transducers mounted perpendicularly to create a stereo Blumlein configuration. It's the ultimate drum overhead mic, and its inherent skill at capturing low- and high-end detail from a distance make it equally adept recording choirs, quartets, and solo piano. For a richly detailed, versatile mic that faithfully recreates what your ears hear, you can't beat the R88mk2.
AEA R88A Stereo Phantom Powered Ribbon Microphone
In situations where more output is needed from your overhead mic, the AEA R88A is there to answer the call. Featuring the same stereo Blumlein configuration as the R88mk2, the R88A adds 12 dB of output as well as stable impedance that allows it to work brilliantly with just about any preamp. Expect delicate piano notes and subtle cymbal detail to shine through with the R88A.
AEA R92 Side-Address Passive Ribbon Micropone
The R92, perhaps more than any mic on this list, loves to get up close and personal with a source. Be it on kick drum, tube amp, or the horn of a brass instrument, the R92 is a workhorse that handles high SPL and captures a clear low end with all the midrange grit and goodness you want to hear. The R92's side-address design gives you two options for miking -- go with the front side for a more crisp attack, or mellow out your source with the darker-sounding back side. It's the perfect choice for rock bands who yearn to add vintage character to their recordings.
AEA KU5A Supercardioid Unidirectional Ribbon Microphone
A hyper-focused active ribbon mic, the KU5A captures sound in a supercardioid pattern, helping it to reject room noise and instrument bleed while capturing exactly what it's pointed toward. An excellent choice for miking a snare or placing in front of a vocalist, the KU5A features onboard JFET electronics and the same custom transformer from the R84A that allow it to pair well with any preamp. High SPL handling of up to 135 dB at 1kHz and a high-pass filter switch make it incredibly versatile. AEA designed the KU5A to be their most durable mic, so you can even take it on stage!
AEA Nuvo N22 Near-Field Active Ribbon Microphone
AEA takes the ribbon mic into the current day and beyond with the Nuvo N22. This near-field active ribbon mic has similar use cases to the R92 -- think guitar amps, drums, horns -- but offers an extended high-end response and a slight bump in the upper midrange to help cut through the mix. Placed between 1 and 18 inches from the source, the N22 is designed to resist the proximity effect for a natural low-end rolloff that's not easy to reproduce in post. Like all active AEA mics, the N22's phantom-powered JFET electronics play nicely with any preamp. Seek out the N22 if you crave a vintage-sounding mic you don't have to handle delicately.