User manual AEA R44

[. . . ] We also were able to garner some help from one of the original RCA engineers. With their invaluable help, we were able to make this legendary microphone available again. THE RESULT IS THE AEA R44C and CX. Painstakingly crafted, and hand-assembled, it looks, feels, and sounds EXACTLY like the original. All of us at AEA are extremely proud to be involved in the reissue of this beloved microphone. But first, there are a few things you should know about your new R44. . . It's big and heavy! Yes. About 13 ½ inches (34. 3 cm), and about 8 ½ pounds (3. 8 Kg). [. . . ] This accounts for the "truthfulness" of the sound that has made the 44 a classic. It's delicate! The ribbon has to be able to respond to the tiniest amount of acoustic energy in the air. To do this, it must be `air-like', or low mass. Low mass means thin, and the ribbon in the 44 is 1. 8 microns (1. 8 uM) thick, or about one-fiftieth the thickness of a human hair!The ribbon is as thin and delicate as it is because it must be able to react to the air mass around it. It cannot be protected and isolated, but must be exposed to all the extremes that a noisy and sometimes careless world can inflict on it. This is the strength, and the weakness, of all ribbon microphones. The low mass of the ribbon results in an excellent transient response because it is able to "pretend that it is air. " Because the ribbon is supposed to register every tiny movement of air, this makes it extremely sensitive to moving air. There is a big difference between air that is moving in a pressure wave, which is energy moving through air in the same way that waves move through the ocean, and wind, which is a current, or mass of air, moving from one place to another. Wind is a tremendous stressor to a ribbon and you should protect your microphone from it. Wind can stretch the ribbon which effectively detunes it and will change the character of your microphone. It is best to store it vertically. The case provided with your R44 is specifically designed to store it in the recommended vertical position. The ribbon, which is about 2 inches long (the longest of any microphone), could be degraded by long-term storage in a horizontal position. Gravity will cause the ribbon to sag, and can lead to stretching over time. Store your microphone in a plastic bag. Remember what lies at the heart of this microphone. . . . an ultrathin wisp of metal that, except for the outside grill and some internal blast shields is completely exposed to the air around it. HVAC vents, swinging it in your hand as you walk across the studio, excessive SPLs, things like this can damage or destroy the ribbon. Some engineers feel that it should ALWAYS be bagged except when in actual use. Your R44 has been provided with an exact reproduction of the gray twill bag that RCA shipped with their mics. Besides protecting the microphone from stray air currents, the bag also protects against against tramp iron. `Tramp iron' The horizontal surfaces in any technical space are likely to have microscopic bits of metal on them. If you put your R44 down on such a surface, the powerful magnetic field will pick up this `tramp iron'. As time goes by, these tiny bits will work their way inside the microphone, and eventually get to where the magnetic field is the strongest, which is the gap where the ribbon is. Now, they will start to combine and build `whiskers' across the gap, following the magnetic lines of force. These whiskers will interfere with the functioning of the ribbon. We have seen this many times with the old RCA mics. The ribbon is OK, but it is impossible to clean out the whiskers without removing the ribbon. [. . . ] RIBBON MICROPHONE ESSAYS by Wes Dooley, Ron Streicher and Philip Merrill published by Audio Engineering Associates, June 2003; www. wesdooley. com. Other Products by Audio Engineering Associates: TRP - The Ribbon Pre AEA/Fred Forsell collaboration preamp with no phantom power and 83dB of clean gain RCA Working Reproduction Microphones and replacement parts AEA R44C and CNE Microphone - Tribute to the classic RCA 44B using NOS ribbons AEA R44CX Microphone - 6db more output for critical digital recordings RCA44 and RCA77 microphones - Spare parts and prop shells AEA Ribbon Microphones AEA R92 Microphone - Large-ribbon optimized for guitar and other close-micing situations AEA R88 Microphone - Large-ribbon coincident pair in a sleek black "stealth" package AEA R84 Microphone - That big ribbon sound in a smaller more affordable package Modular Microphone Positioners SMT - Stereo Microphone Template for Blumlein and ORTF spacing SMP-17, 1M and 1. 25M - Stereo bars in three lengths for the ultimate in positioning flexibility Decca and Mini-Decca Trees - For microphone arrays including recording for multichannel Modular Studio Microphone Stands and Booms Flightweight Stands Medium-Duty Vertical Stands and Booms Heavy-Duty Stands and Booms Crank-up Stands Since 1983 we've been the US agent for Coles Electroacoustics, manufacturers of the 4038 studio ribbon microphone and the 4104B, "lip" mic for voice-over work in high noise environments. We sell and service Coles microphones and genuine Coles parts. In North America we represent CB Electronics, a leading worldwide supplier of machine control equipment to the sound-for-picture industry. Their products specialize in professional control of and translation between bi-phase, 9-pin serial and time code machines. [. . . ]