R88
Ribbon Microphone
From AEA:
R88 Series ribbon mics capture sound as your ears hear it, with an honest and open tonality. The R88 and R88A effortlessly record complex sources like drums, strings, piano, and other instruments that produce intricate transients, harsher highs, and bellowing lows.
The stereo R88 captures a space as it sounds live and in person, with all the present subtlety and nuance. Its expansive frequency response and balanced low end make it superbly effective when capturing the full breadth of sound from the back of a room or above a drum set.
Alongside the mono AEA N8, it boasts the widest frequency range of any mic in the AEA lineup and effortlessly manages more complex source audio like drums, strings, piano, and other instruments that produce intricate transients, harsher highs, and bellowing lows. The Blumlein configuration of the ribbons allows for a sweeping range of perspective, so an entire ensemble and room can be captured by the R88 alone.
Specs
- Type
- Pressure gradient transducer
- Pattern
- Two bidirectional in fixed Blumlein pair
- Frequency response
- <20 Hz to >20 kHz
- Sensitivity
- 2.5 mV/Pa (-52 dBV) into unloaded circuit
- Output impedance
- 270 Ω broadband
- Load impedance
- 1.2 kΩ or greater
- Maximum SPL
- 165 dB SPL (1% third harmonic > 1 kHz)
- Power
- Phantom power not required or recommended
- Polarity
- Pin 2 and 4 high for positive pressure at the front of the microphone
- Off-axis response, horizontal
- Level changes with angle, frequency response is consistent, -35dB null at 90º / 270º
- Off-axis response, vertical
- Level changes with angle, reduced HF response above and below 0º / 180º, -25 dB null at 90º / 270º
- Ribbon
- Aluminum corrugated ribbon, thickness 1.8 µm, width 0.185 in (4.7 mm), length 2.35 in (59.7 mm)
- Connector
- XLR-5M, includes breakout cable - 2 XLR-3M
- Dimensions
- Height 15 in (38.1 cm), width 3.9 in (9.9 cm)
- Weight
- 2 lb 9.8 oz (1.19 kg)
- Shipping weight
- 6lb 3 oz (2.8kg)
- Included
- Storage case, swivel adapter, custom protective mic sleeve, user manual, breakout cable
Source: AEA R88 Series owner's manual (PDF, 2024 V4), Specifications page