Instant Classic Active Stereo Ribbon Mic
The AEA R88 Mk 2 was an instant hit at Sweetwater. The Phantom powered AEA R88A delivers the same award-winning stereo sound as its passive stablemate, but with 12dB more gain, courtesy of custom toroid transformers. The The R88A effortlessly renders the full impact and nuance of any source; be it piano, drums, strings — or any other instruments with complex transients. The AEA R88A active ribbon microphone captures the stereo soundfield as your ears perceive it with open, honest tonality.
Related Videos: R88A Active Ribbon Microphone
Use with any preamp, on any source
The R88A operates on standard 48V phantom power. The mic’s 12dB of additional transformer gain is ideal for recording quiet sources such as whispered vocals or softly played acoustic guitars. The extra gain also enhances the mic’s versatility, letting choose a preamp based on sound, not gain or input impedance. The active impedance buffers also help prevent noise interference on longer cable runs or when operating near lighting rigs.
Great stereo recordings with a single mic
Utilizing two of AEA’s signature Big Ribbon elements, the R88A active stereo ribbon microphone is able to get a huge stereo spread with a single mic. Angled at 90 degrees and mounted in close proximity to each other along the vertical axis of the microphone, the ribbon elements are optimized to capture large ensembles as a great main mic. It is an excellent orchestral and choral recording microphone, and shines on applications such as horn sections and drum overheads. Whether in a high-end studio or in your home desktop application, the R88A puts the listener right in the recording room.
Larger ribbon element for wider frequencies and higher SPLs
The soul of the AEA R88A is two large pure aluminum low-tension ribbon elements. At 2.35" by 0.185" by 2 micron, they’re exactly like the one used in the classic R44. The resonant frequency of a good ribbon microphone design should be as low as possible and longer ribbons result in higher sound pressure level (SPL) handling. The R88A’s Big Ribbon technology ensures you’ll achieve a sound that is smooth and natural. This adds up to a sound that is amazingly close to what your ears will hear when actually standing in the studio with the sound source.
A list of Grammy awards that keeps growing
The true value of a piece of gear can be measured by a list of its users and where they use it. The AEA R88 stereo ribbon mics are shining examples of this. Top recording engineers like Joe Chiccarelli, Chuck Ainlay, and Vance Powell trust the AEA R88 so much that Nashville’s Blackbird Studios has an R88A in every single room. The list of Grammy and Academy Award winning projects recorded with the R88 is long and distinguished, and with the introduction of the Mk 2 version and now the active R88A, it keeps on growing. Every serious studio should invest in a high-quality active stereo ribbon mic — and the AEA R88A is an instant classic.
AEA R88A Active Ribbon Microphone Features:
- Same award-winning stereo perspective as the passive R88A Mk 2
- Phantom powered (48V) version of AEA’s classic R88Amk2 with 12dB more transformer gain
- Compatible with any preamp and input impedance
- Fast, accurate transient reproduction
- Stereo ribbon microphone that offers a natural sound
- Captures amazingly precise stereo imagery with a single mic
- Large ribbon elements handle high SPLs with ease
- Figure-8, Blumlein Configuration (90 degrees) polar pattern
- Operating principle: pressure gradient transducer
- Directional pattern: bidirectional
- Freq. Range: 20Hz–20kHz
- Maximum SPL: 141dB
- Sensitivity: 7.4 mV/Pa (-42.6dBV)
- Output Impedance: 92Ω broadband
- Load Impedance: 1.0kΩ or greater
- Operates on 48V phantom power, 7mA
- Includes storage case, swivel adapter, custom protective mic sleeve, user manual
