AEA R88 Stereo Studio Ribbon Microphone – Products – AEA Big Ribbon Mics™ and Mic Preamps

AEA R88 Stereo Ribbon Microphone

See R88 Magazine Reviews from Mix, EQ, and Sound On Sound Magazines.

User Reviews Section
Pete Townshend, plus, read about Lynn Fuston's experience on strings
below

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(327kb) AEA R88 Stereo Ribbon Microphone

The R88 has been optimized for stereo instrument and ensemble recording. The R88's two ribbon motors are oriented at 90 degrees, and have excellent off-axis frequency response. The R88 uses the large ribbon configuration of the classic RCA 44 series mics, which gives the mic solid 20Hz bass response and a smooth high end which is flattering to complex tones such as cymbals, strings, and woodwinds.

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The R88 is very useful for chamber music, drum overheads, stereo piano pickup, horn sections, and most any coincident stereo pickup application. The high quality passive electronics in the R88 ensure a huge dynamic range with minimal distortion, but the R88 will sound best with a preamp that has at least 60dB of clean gain, low noise floor (-127dB EIN or better) and input impedance of at least 1.5 kOhm.

The R88 is minimally protected from wind blasts for the most natural sound quality possible, so a pop filter should be used when making close vocal recordings. The R88 may be used for both Blumlein stereo and M-S Stereo recording techniques. The mic is finished in Stealth black to reduce visibility in live recording situations, and features an integral shock suspension to reduce noise coupled through the mic stand.

Response Curves

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Documentation

View the R88 Manual

View the R88 Technical Sheet

Read the article, "The Bidirectional Microphone: A Forgotten Patriarch" (PDF)

Magazine Reviews

"There's no other ribbon that duplicates what the R88 ($1,895) does for bass, drums, percussion, brass and mallet instruments. It imparts warmth, has an appealing way of dealing with transients and, most importantly, has a knack for making things sound incredibly "real." At this price, it's a no-brainer."
– Mix Magazine (Read the review)

"When I heard that Wes Dooley at AEA was planning a stereo version of the R84 – the R88 – I was interested. I frequently use my R84s for stereo miking, but putting two 12" long mics end-to-end at 90 degrees on a single stand at a height of 8-12' is no small task."
– EQ Magazine (Read the review)

"This new monster mic incorporates two separate ribbon diaphragms, allowing you to use either Blumlein or MS stereo recording configurations."
– Sound On Sound (Read the review)

User Reviews

"When I showed the producer and arranger what the 88 sounded like all by itself, they were shocked...They were hard-pressed to believe that one mic could make a sound that big." more...
– Lynn Fuston, 3D Audio Inc., Franklin, Tennessee, (link)

"The R88 is beyond belief! It makes every room in my house like a perfect room...A really joyous mike!"
– Pete Townshend, The Who, London

Specifications

Transducers: dual 2" ribbons oriented at 90 degrees
Sensitivity: -52dBV/Pa
Frequency Response: 20Hz–15kHz (± 3dB)
Output Impedance: 270 ohms
SPL Handling: 165dB SPL at 1 kHz

Features

Matched pair of Large Ribbon Geometry figure-eight mics for Blumlein or MS stereo
20 hz to 20 kHz response
Built in shock mount, and captive 4 meter cable to two A3M connectors
Supplied with a locking angle adapter for flexible positioning
Designed to fly overhead for large venue installations
Three pounds plus the cable weight
2.5" diameter and 14" tall
Black stealth finish
Sturdy zippered case