AEA R84 
Large Ribbon Studio Microphone w/Cable and Carrying Case
Large Ribbon Sound With High-Volume Capacity!
If you are new to ribbons, you are in for a treat! The AEA R84 Ribbon Microphone is an outstanding general-purpose microphone, ideally suited for solo and accent work. It is hard to find an application where the R84 mic does not shine. Its natural sound and figure-8 directional sensitivity mean the R84 gives you everything professionals expect from a quality ribbon mic.
AEA R84 Ribbon Microphone at a Glance:- Pure natural sound with quick, smooth transients, just as you hear it when you place your mic in the studio
- Versatility that lets you capture brass instruments, strings, piano, percussion or vocals
- Extended bass and treble that handles high SPLs at high frequencies and delivers the details without shoving anything in your face
Outstanding transient response for natural soundThe AEA R84 uses a big, 2.35" by 0.185" by 2 micron pure aluminum low-tension ribbon element, that ensures a quick response, whatever the application. This means that percussive attacks, vocal consonants, and other rapid-attack material are cleanly and accurately reproduced by the R84 with no "dull' or "flabby" characteristics. It sounds just like you're standing right in front of the source! A versatile mic for multiple recording applicationsThe AEA R84 uses Large Ribbon Geometry (LRG) that's suitable for use by the most demanding audio professional or hobbyist. Whether you're recording brass instruments, strings, piano or percussion, or you're trying to capture that elusive "perfect" vocal take, the R84 large ribbon microphone is up to the task. Superb bass and treble response that handles high SPLsThe R84 produces solid bass down to 20Hz and clean, clear highs up to 20kHz. Plus, it's capable of handling better than 165 dB SPL at higher frequencies, so whether used on vocals or instruments the R84 offers a performance that covers the entire frequency and dynamic range yet is still intimate, warm and detailed, yet never harsh. The AEA R84 is supplied in a complete system that includes a shock mount, 6-foot mic cable and sturdy foam-lined carrying case. Weighing-in at under two pounds and measuring eight inches tall and 2.7 inches in diameter, the R84 is a great sounding microphone that is extremely versatile. AEA R84 Ribbon Microphone Features:- Reliable ribbon mic with wide dynamic range
- Large Ribbon Geometry (LRG), 2.35" by 0.185" by 2 micron pure aluminum low-tension ribbon
- Able to handle better than 165 dB SPL at higher frequencies
- Figure 8 pattern for duo recording convenience
- Includes shock mount, 10-foot cable and sturdy foam-lined carrying case
The AEA R84 Ribbon Microphone is your go-to mic for multiple recording situations!
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Sweetwater Advice
Forrest Powell
I had the privilege of Wes Dooley coming over to the home studio recently, and we did some quick recordings of acoustic guitar on the R84 and R92. Wow! Compared to some mics at, well, four times the price tag, they both stood up with marvelous clarity and rich, musical character. I love ribbon mics in general, and the R84 is spot-on for vocals to reduce proximity effect and extend the frequency range dramatically. Awesome!
Maynard Madsen
A pair of these or a single R88 is my choice for drum overheads, especially when recording jazz.
Emmett Andrews
The R84 is one of those mics that lets you "see the tongue." From screaming brass to mellow woodwinds, you'll be able to hear the actual breath and tongue of the player, giving you one of the most lifelike recordings you'll ever hear! You won't just hear the notes, you'll hear the instrument and the player!
Classic indispensable golden sound resurrected intact in the 21st century
by Ney Mello from USA
November 29, 2009
Music Background: Guitarist / composer, Producer, Engineer
This microphone is also part of of my studio. Ribbon mics, unlike condensers are ideally compatible with digital recording media. They were abandoned due to tape recorders smearing out the natural so ... read more [+]und of the ribbon mic. Condensers were created to compensate for that by being harder and more pronounced in the high frequencies. The same principle as pre-emphasis in mastering analog tape more or less.
Therefore I would recommend that someone starting a DAW studio today , first get great ribbons and great dynamic mics before they great condensers. It takes a lot of experience to use condensers well with DAWs and also expensive mic pres. Great solid state mic pres cost even more than great tube pres. You can't really escape that reality and a U87 will not sound too good at all with a cheap mic pre. But ribbon mics work fantastically well with many pres. and are very forgiving until you know mic technique inside out.
Added to that, you will keep your ribbons even after you can buy costly condensers and mic pres worth your time and money. The R84 is in my experience the fullest , most classic sounding ribbon, besides the coles mics. It is not a hard textured mic or wooden sounding like most of the new ribbons made today.
And it is made expertly by people who love with devotion what they make. Definitely not just another cool "product". This is a work of art and love.
It is almost instant 60s big sound that never tires your ears. It is a secret weapon for retro lush orchestral sounds and thick, present vocals, drums, recording amazing violin tones...really anything as long as one pays attention to positioning, impedance, and the fact that they are figure eight polar pattern. It is true that they take eq forever. You would have to pay around 5 times more for a condenser that can take eq like the R84 an sound beautiful afterwards. close [-]
Pure Heaven
by Tim from Central Missouri
October 23, 2009
Music Background: Ex-Pro Guitarist, Recording Hobbyist
I've wanted to add a pro-quality ribbon to my mic cabinet for a while. It's pretty easy to find a ribbon for under a couple hundred these days, but most of the "inexpensive" choices seem to all sound ... read more [+]the same and don't really have the magic that an old RCA or Coles does. Every part of a sound influences everything downstream, from my hands, pick, guitar, amp, etc. - if it's not right from the start, you can't fix it later. I was looking for something that had the qualities of the classic ribbons, but without the hassle of caring for a 50-year-old RCA 44 or 77 that had been through who knows what.
I considered a Coles 4038, they certainly sound good, but seemed (to me, at least) to have a reputation of being somewhat more fragile than most. I also considered a Blue Woodpecker. I've always had good luck with Blue mics, and the Woodpecker is no exception. However, to me, it seemed too "modern" and not the "vintage classic" I was going for. That's also my reason for not selecting a Royer. Royer mics are incredible, especially the R121 that has become a standard, but still not quite what I was looking for. I ended up with the R84 because of Wes Dooley's experience with RCA ribbons and AEA's R84 design philosophy of keeping the sonics of the RCA 44 while modernizing the construction. If I'd had an unlimited budget, I probably would have picked the AEA R44, but it seemed like their R92 was, again, "too modern" for my tastes. While I didn't have a chance to try one of the new Shure ribbons, I think I'd likely put them in that category, too.
So, when my R84 arrived and I was able to use it in my home studio, it's even better than I expected (and I had pretty high expectations). It's smooth; it's fast; it's extraordinarily detailed; it's warm; it can be as clean as I want it to be, but when it's driven hard, it's pure heaven. This is *exactly* what I wanted and so much better than I thought it was going to be. close [-]
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See Also: Ribbon Microphones
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