background image

5

So what should we use with our beloved ribbon microphones? The features that translate
into top performance for a ribbon microphone are the following:

1. Lots of gain! A ribbon microphone works best with preamplifiers that have at least 60-
70 dB of maximum gain.

2. Low noise is a must! With this much gain being required  for  efficient  operation of a
ribbon microphone, the noise characteristics of the preamp play a pivotal role in overall
performance of the captured acoustic event.

3.  Load  characteristics: A  suitable preamplifier should have  input  characteristics  that
impose the least amount of loading to the ribbon element. In other words, the input
impedance  should be high  enough  that its effect on the performance of the mic is
negligible. A  good rule of thumb is to have a preamplifier with input impedance at  least

five times

 the impedance of the microphone. For example: If the mic is rated at  300 Ohms

(as Royer’s are), the preamp should have an input-impedance of at least 1500 Ohms. If
the impedance of the preamp is too low, the microphone will lose low end and body.

4. Transparency: A good preamp should sound natural with no edginess. Tube preamps
sound warm, yet wonderfully transparent. Transformer coupled preamps sound punchy.
When recording with condenser or dynamic microphones engineers often choose mic pre’s
that help “warm up  the mic”,  but warming the signal up does not need to be a
consideration with  ribbon mics because they  are by nature warm and realistic sounding.
At this point personal taste should prevail over anything.

Stereo Microphones & Ground Loops

Some preamplifiers are prone to developing ground loops when used in conjunction with
stereo or multi channeled microphones, such as the SF-12. Ground loops can develop in
the preamplifier with any stereo microphone, regardless of the  type  (i.e. condenser,
dynamic, ribbon). A ground  loop manifests itself as unwanted noise, buzz or hum
(usually 120HZ).

The condition is brought on when the 

left 

and 

right

 transducer elements are plugged into

two inputs  of a stereo or multi-channel  preamplifier.  The pair of three-pin male XLR
connectors of the stereo microphone cable  usually shares Pin-1 as ground, so they are
grounded  to  each  other through the cable  set.  If the grounding  scheme within the
preamplifier is poorly designed, or the distances to internal ground are too  great, a ground
loop develops. The problem may be more apparent with ribbon microphones because of
the high gain required for proper operation.

You can perform a simple test to check for this condition (preferably  done with a pair of
headphones to  avoid feedback).  Plug  one side of the stereo microphone into either
preamplifier input. Listen to the output of the preamp. All should be quiet except for the
mic signal. Now plug the second side into the next preamplifier input. If a noise or buzz
develops, you have a ground loop. The ground  loop may be very slight or more
pronounced, depending on the preamp. Battery powered preamps usually do not exhibit
this problem, and neither do well designed, line operated  mic pre’s. The simple fix is to

Summary of Contents for SF-1

Page 1: ...R R R RO O O OY Y Y YE E E ER R R R L L L La a a ab b b bs s s s Model SF Ribbon Velocity Microphone Operation Instructions Manual Users Guide Made in U S A ...

Page 2: ...scription page 2 Applications page 2 Users Guide Using the SF 1 page 3 Amplification Considerations page 4 The Sweet Spot page 7 Finding Working with the Sweet Spot Other Types of Microphones page 8 Proximity Effect Working Distance page 8 Microphone Technique page 9 Stereophonic Microphone Technique page 10 Care Maintenance page 13 A Little Bit of History page 13 Features Specifications page 14 E...

Page 3: ...is an ultra compact bi directional figure eight velocity type ribbon microphone designed for professional applications The figure eight pick up pattern allows the SF 1 to be addressed from either side with equal sensitivity The in phase signal is achieved when the microphone is addressed from the front indicated by the ROYER logo The SF 1 is very tolerant to shock and vibration and is unaffected b...

Page 4: ...n the dead areas is very strong Due to this directionality ribbon microphones should be placed at 1 3 times the distance normally used with omni directional microphones or about the same distance used for cardioid microphones This method is used to achieve the same ratio of direct to reflected sound 2 In the horizontal plane ribbon microphones do not discriminate against the highs off axis nor do ...

Page 5: ...d moving coil dynamics A ribbon microphone is actually a dynamic microphone that uses a flat extremely low mass ribbon element rather than a coil diaphragm assembly For this writing any mention of dynamic microphones will relate to moving coil dynamics All condenser microphones have a built in preamplifier called a head amp and therefore put out a hefty signal Because the signal is buffered throug...

Page 6: ...e they are by nature warm and realistic sounding At this point personal taste should prevail over anything Stereo Microphones Ground Loops Some preamplifiers are prone to developing ground loops when used in conjunction with stereo or multi channeled microphones such as the SF 12 Ground loops can develop in the preamplifier with any stereo microphone regardless of the type i e condenser dynamic ri...

Page 7: ...o an unnatural unpleasant sound Because distortion and self noise are almost non existent in ribbon microphones high levels of EQ can be used without adding harshness or excessive noise Hum Noise Mic Orientation All dynamic microphones including ribbons utilize powerful magnets in their motor assemblies and matching transformers and are to some degree susceptible to picking up stray alternating ma...

Page 8: ...Sp p p po o o ot t t t Finding and Working with the Sweet Spot Good engineers know the importance and benefits of finding and working with the sweet spot of a given microphone The sweet spot will be defined as the optimum placement working distance and angular position of any microphone relative to the sound source Each microphone has its own sweet spot whether it is a ribbon dynamic or condenser ...

Page 9: ... c c ct t t t a a a an n n nd d d d W W W Wo o o or r r rk k k ki i i in n n ng g g g D D D Di i i is s s st t t ta a a an n n nc c c ce e e e The Sound That Is More Real than Real Ribbon microphones have long been renowned for rich bass This effect is largely due to the fact that ribbon microphones generally have excellent bass response to begin with and at the same time exhibit an effect known a...

Page 10: ...roximity effect the engineer can get several useful effects without resorting to electronic manipulation M M M Mi i i ic c c cr r r ro o o op p p ph h h ho o o on n n ne e e e T T T Te e e ec c c ch h h hn n n ni i i iq q q qu u u ue e e e General Tips for Using Ribbon Microphones B B B Br r r ra a a as s s ss s s s I I I In n n ns s s st t t tr r r ru u u um m m me e e en n n nt t t ts s s s and ...

Page 11: ...c c ch h h he e e es s s st t t tr r r ra a a as s s s can be picked up very well with two microphones Place the microphones at a distance of ten feet from the floor and a few feet behind the conductor The microphones should be spaced apart approximately one foot and angled one toward the left and one toward the right D D D Dr r r ru u u um m m ms s s s a a a an n n nd d d d P P P Pe e e er r r rc...

Page 12: ...re 3 When the outputs of the pair of microphones are combined at the mixer they will behave like a pair of microphones one facing left and one right provided that the sensitivities of the mics are equal and the mixer channel gains are equal Turning down the side mic all the way will give a mono pickup as the side mic is turned up the stereo effect will gradually appear If the outputs of the mid an...

Page 13: ...12 Figure 2 Typical M S miking technique Figure 3 Typical M S connection set up ...

Page 14: ... nd d d d p p p pe e e er r r rs s s so o o on n n na a a al l l l c c c cr r r re e e ed d d di i i it t t t c c c ca a a ar r r rd d d ds s s s u u u us s s si i i in n n ng g g g m m m ma a a ag g g gn n n ne e e et t t ti i i ic c c c c c c co o o od d d di i i in n n ng g g g a a a aw w w wa a a ay y y y f f f fr r r ro o o om m m m t t t th h h he e e e m m m mi i i ic c c cr r r ro o o op p...

Page 15: ...in recent years now that technology has enabled further development of the state of the art in numerous areas A renewed interest in these designs both tube technology and ribbon microphones is driven by the unique characteristics these devices posses which remain unmatched even by some of today s marvels Today s ribbon microphones can be made smaller and have sensitivity levels matching those of m...

Page 16: ...e ec c c ch h h ha a a an n n ni i i ic c c ca a a al l l l S S S Sp p p pe e e ec c c ci i i if f f fi i i ic c c ca a a at t t ti i i io o o on n n ns s s s High grade Neodymium magnet assembly 1 25 x 0625 x 1 8 micron ribbon assembly Stainless steel internal baffle and dampener Weight 264 grams 9 3 oz Dimensions 142 mm x 25mm Finish Matte black chrome Accessories Protective wood case documentat...

Page 17: ...oyer Labs dealer must be on file with Royer Labs Should it ever become necessary to service your Royer Labs product please contact the factory In our continuing effort to improve our products Royer Labs reserves the right to make improvements without notice or obligation Specifications and prices are subject to change without notice or obligation S S S Se e e er r r ri i i ia a a al l l l N N N Nu...

Reviews: