Matching any mic with an appropriate preamp is crucial for achieving its best performance. That goes especially for ribbon mics. The right mic pre is the secret to their storied low-end, detailed response and natural character. Thankfully, creating the perfect pairing is easy if you know what to look for.
We’ll assume that any mic pre you’re considering for your ribbon microphones has common features and capabilities, like phantom power, a level/clipping indicator, and gain control. Here, we’ll explore some additional features you may want to consider depending on your miking application.
Onboard EQ, Shelving, and Filters
Ribbon microphones’ well-balanced frequency response and pronounced proximity effect create a sound that’s larger than life. Though prized for its musical warmth, that increased low-end means you have a lot more low-frequency content to fit into the mix. How you’ll control that sound directly affects your choice of mic preamps.
We recommend microphone preamps like our RPQ Series with built-in EQ or a well-voiced high-pass filter, like our TRP3 and TRP500. While you’ll be making final EQ adjustments during the mixing phase, this onboard control will save you a lot of time, help prevent problems down the line, and help you get everything right at the source.
Matching the Mic to the Pre: Input Impedance
If you’ve ever struggled to get a beautiful sound from a quality ribbon mic, incorrect impedance may be the issue. We go in-depth on the subject in other articles, but essentially, it’s the electrical push and pull between your mic’s output and your preamp’s input. Each wants to see a specific amount of impedance from the other, and finding a pre with the right rating for your mic is essential.
While active ribbon mics are less sensitive to preamp input impedance, passive designs’ low output impedance outputs really want to be plugged into a mic pre with a high-impedance input. Getting this right is crucial to maximizing your ribbons’ performance.
Look for a mic preamp with an input rated at least five times higher than your mic’s rating. We’ll use our R44CE as our example. It has an output impedance of 270 ohms. For that, we recommend a preamp input load of 1,200 ohms. Don’t worry. Going too high with a pre’s input impedance is fine. Just don’t go too low.
Dual-Channel Preamps for Stereo and Multi-Miking Applications
The highly directional nature of ribbon mics, combined with their capacity to capture the sonic realism of a recording space, makes them ideal for stereo miking techniques. These techniques, and any other applications requiring more than one ribbon, are so popular that audio engineers often keep a dual-channel mic preamp close by.
Dual-channel preamps are precisely as they sound: two microphone preamps in one. Whether utilizing Blumlein’s stereo miking technique or capturing a singer and their guitar simultaneously, their all-in-one nature offers unbeatable convenience. Either preamp can be, of course, used independently. So, whether or not you’re considering stereo miking, a dual-channel preamp is still a great way to go.
External Vs. Internal Power Supplies
Many microphone preamps, like our RPQ models, have onboard power supplies. You can easily identify these by the IEC C13 connector on the back, where you plug in a standard IEC power cable.
In well-designed preamps, this approach is very convenient. All the power processing happens within the unit itself, providing a good ground plane and shielding, and you avoid having a separate power supply taking up space.
However, there are advantages to preamps with external power supplies. Designs like the TRP preamps remove the power transformer from their chassis. This distances its magnetic field from the audio signal path, which can improve signal-to-noise performance. It also reduces weight and heat within the preamp itself.
The choice often comes down to your priorities. Internal supplies streamline your setup and are generally more affordable. External supplies can have a slight edge in terms of signal performance and might offer more flexibility in voltage options. Ultimately, both designs can deliver excellent results.
The Right Preamp Unlocks Your Ribbon Mic’s Full Sonic Potential
Behind every amazing ribbon mic recording is a preamp that was perfect for the job. Considering things like onboard EQ, impedance, and other expanded feature sets play a massive role in finding the right ones for your work. So, whether you’re searching for a new preamp for a specific ribbon mic or simply deciding which of your current pres to use, keep these tips in mind. You’re sure to find a winning combination.