AEA R88 mk2 Stereo Ribbon Microphone
User’s Manual
Thank you for choosing an AEA R88 mk2 Stereo Ribbon Mic. There is no easier
way to track natural stereo than by using a stereo mic. From drum overheads to live
concert recordings, the R88 is convenient to use and aesthetically pleasing.
The natural soundstage and character of the R88’s Blumlein Stereo makes it a great
main mic. An excellent orchestral and choral recording microphone, it shines on
applications such as horn sections and drum overheads. The R88 accurately records
complex tones such as woodwinds, strings and cymbals.
The heart of the R88 are two matched native pressure-gradient ribbon transducers
tuned to 16.5 Hz. They are 1.8 micron (7/100,000 inch)
thin and match the air’s
acoustical impedance within 1 dB. This is a Pure Ribbon
tm
minimum path design.
Only black technical-fabric and stainless steel separate the ribbons
from the music
AEA Big Ribbons
tm
deliver extended highs and fast transient response without the
high-frequency, high-Q resonances characteristic of tightly stretched condenser. They
are native fi gure-8s with exceptional imaging, transient response, and sense of space.
The fi gure-8 pattern is highly useful for controlling bleed and room tone.
Appreciated for What You Hear Is What you Get, Blumlein stereo is the most three
dimensional coincident recording system. The ribbons are 90 degrees to each other
for convenient Blumlein and Mid/Side (M/S) stereo. M/S is an excellent technique
for solo instruments and situations needing post-production stereo width control.
• STUDIO RIBBON MICS
• M/S STEREO
• TALL STANDS
• MIC POSITIONERS
A
udio
E
ngineering
Associates
©May 2010
1029 N. Allen Ave., Pasadena, CA 91104 www.ribbonmics.com Phone: (626) 798-9128 Fax: (626) 798-2378
Your AEA R88 Blumlein Stereo ribbon mic is unlike any other coincident stereo microphone.
1. Polar patterns are consistent at all frequencies whereas directional condenser mics become
omnidirectional at lower frequencies.
2. Low frequency response extends down to 20 Hz whereas directional condenser capsules and
shorter ribbons roll off and/or eliminate lower frequencies.
3. Blumlein intensity stereo delivers a solid, stable and in-phase soundstage from their front and rear
quadrants, with an excellent sense of depth.
4. A properly positioned Blumlein pair also conveys a strong sense of spaciousness, reminiscent of
spaced omnis, which we attribute to the left and right and left quadrants being out-of-phase.
