Getting The Most Out Of Your Ribbon Microphone

Recording Tips is full of photos and suggestions on how to position ribbon mics on a number of different instruments. You’ll find music samples from our Audio/Video Library, comments on which mics are preferred for different recording tasks, and other information that should prove helpful to you in your quest for great recorded sounds. All of these photos show well-proven mic positions that can be used with confidence, or at least as great starting places. Most of these photos were taken during major recording sessions. The tips have been distilled from years of working with many of the industry’s top recording and FOH engineers and they are gold for capturing tone.

Electric Guitar

Ribbons are legendary on electric guitar – they are the best way to capture all the tone and vibe coming off your guitar cabinet. From Foo Fighters to Diana Krall, Santana to Kings X, Van Halen to OK Go, George Lynch to Al DiMeola, guitarists around the world are miking their cabs with Royers and capturing all of that great stuff a good amp cranks out in the studio and on live stages.

Piano

Ribbons bring out the warmth and depth of the piano, while combining beautifully with condensers when multiple miking. (more)

Acoustic Instruments

Acoustic Guitar, Violin, Ukulele, Cello, etc.

Royer ribbons help you capture the warmth and size of your acoustic guitar and other stringed instruments, and they blend beautifully with other mics. These mics and positions are a great starting place for anyone tracking acoustic instruments.

Drums

There are as many ways to track drums as there are engineers, from one mic out in front of the kit to multiple mics on everything and down the hallways. Whatever your approach, Royer ribbon mics deliver the size, power, and dimension that you hear in the drum room. (more)

Brass

If any one group of instruments was made to be tracked on ribbons, it's brass. Wonderfully complex, emotional and exciting, brass often sounds edgier in recordings and on stage than it does in front of the bell. Royers reproduce brass extremely naturally, delivering all the brightness and tone with no artificial edginess and bringing out the best in these wonderful instruments every time.

Orchestra

Nothing is as challenging (or rewarding) as tracking a full orchestra. Royers are often used on the brass, strings, woodwinds and percussion, as well as for ambiance or recording an audience. (more)