It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
They certainly looks similar but the inners would have to be fairly different.
A brief google indicates they are the same as the Nady RSM3, which is another budget mic that I've also not used but heard more about. It isn't supposed to be a brilliant electric guitar mic and the Royer definitely is.
At £60 I'd say they are worth a punt, but I'd also keep my expectations that they nail the R121 sound fairly modest.
Once I am back in the UK I'll buy one and do a video with the R121.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Can that be fixed by a bellend like me?
I definitely fancy something 121-ish. But I certainly don't have the scratch to buy one. We've got two Golden Age ribbons at the studio and an AEA r34 ribbon. I've not tried them on guitar. Do you think they'd survive metal guitar SPL ????
I used this one for a few years. Didn't have the high end extension of a decent ribbon (coles etc), but the low mids were great on guitar to add thickness in conjunction with an SM57. Ribbons are very basic so they're hard to fuck up. I've read of people re-tensioning the ribbon in these cheapo ones for better treble.
Bandcamp
Spotify, Apple et al
The 44 or 84 handles guitars just fine, but there is something about the R121 that just works in combination with the SM57- they sort of fill in the gaps which is why people use them.
If you want a recommendation for a ribbon mic that isn't too speedy that works well then try the Beyer M160.
They are around the £300 price point.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
Heard some clips of the M160. I'd love to get one to try mixing with an SM57.
It will cope with 140db- but I wouldn't put it right up against the grill- they sound best a few feet back from the cab.
You'll end up with a huge amount of proximity effect otherwise which works great for some things but not usually Diezelly high gainery.
What preamp are you going to be using?
Grace 501 is my favourite- I find they don't work so well with 'coloured' API/Neve style preamps, as you have to give them so much gain you end up with noise.
If you aren't going to use a 'ribbon friendly' preamp then use a Cloudlifter with it.
Have you tried the Audix i5?
I've largely stopped using SM57's now- they i5 does everything the 57 does without the annoying ring you can sometimes get with it.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
https://www.thomann.de/gb/superlux_r102.htm
MusicTech say this:
Superlux R102
Price £105 Contact Wild Distribution 01342 841637
The idea of an active ribbon for around £100 seems incredible. Goang Fann, of Taiwan, makes microphones for ‘name’ clients in its Chinese factory, but Superlux is the company’s own premier brand of recording microphones. The R102 ships in a hard plastic carry case along with a yoke mount and six-metre cable.
Acoustic instruments present no problems and trebles sound true and natural. On electric guitar, the R102 effortlessly captures finer details, and proximity effect doesn’t get too extreme. Vocals sound fat and smooth, with a larger-than-life character and crisp consonants. This mic really is outstanding value for money.
Web www.superlux.com.tw
So tis a rip-off of something certainly.
If you've never used a ribbon before you might be surprised by the low output, proximity effect and need for careful pairing with a preamp.
Especially if you are using a prosumer audio card with built in preamps.
You will generally get more for your money from a low cost LDC, SDC or dynamic and they can be paired with a less than stellar preamp and still achieve a good result.
Mid priced ones worth considering: Beyer M 130 & 160, Coles 4038, AT4081, Rode NTR, Royer R10.
Not suggesting people don't experiment- some of the cheap ones are genuine bargains, but if you buy it and the ribbon needs re-tensioning then it won't seem so much of a bargain.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com
If you can't swing that then an R10.
If you can't swing that then a Beyer M160.
Studio: https://www.voltperoctave.com
Music: https://www.euclideancircuits.com
Me: https://www.jamesrichmond.com