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I'm in the middle of ribbon microphone gas and doing my due diligence before purchase.

So I contacted Doug Fearn to see if he felt my VT1 would have enough juice for a passive ribbon mic - I did not ask about active ribbons.

He said the pre is optimized for condenser mics, but could be modified for $100...but then he gave me more GAS by telling me about his new VT-12 that is optimized for ribbons.

Long story short...I've really got GAS now...and thought you'd all like to know ;)

VT-12... http://www.dwfearn… VT-12 Preamp

Comments

TheJackAttack Wed, 12/22/2010 - 20:36

Anything by Doug is OK in my book. That said....

I run my ribbons off of standard preamps (True Systems). I'm recording classical chamber and orchestra and solo/audition music so nothing particularly loud. I have no problem. My gain range for the Royer passive ribbons is about 50-60 dB. In other words a ribbon preamp isn't strictly necessary provided your existing preamp gives you in the 64 dB range. You'd have to look at your spec's to know for sure.

audiokid Wed, 12/22/2010 - 22:53

Man you are really stepping up to the plate here and we're really enjoying all the GAS you are passing!

That Fearn looks so nice, I see what you are getting at. I'm all over you for that. Here's what I have and I'm telling you, it is a smoking combo. I've never been more thrilled.

I have 2 Royer 122 and the http://www.mil-medi… Millennia m-2b. The m-2b is so smooth and velvety. This pre is like a silk cloth over HD. http://www.mil-medi…
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I think what ever you choose at this point, you are on the road to love.

Have you entered the ADL 600 contest! That is one stellar pre that would do it for you.

BobRogers Thu, 12/23/2010 - 02:26

I'd get the mic before exploring new preamps (though a $100 mod would be perfectly reasonable). For most VO work I would think that gain in the 60+dB range would be fine. I'm planning to get something like the AEA TRP at some point, but for now I use the DVC or the FMR RNP/RNC combo where I have a compressor in line that I can use to add a bit of gain if necessary. Not the quietest or most neutral solution, but it works for now.

Link555 Thu, 12/23/2010 - 06:17

60dB is cutting close for quiet sources. 65 to 70dB of gain with a input impedance of 1.2k Ohms or higher is enough for a typical ribbon (assuming a typical mic output impedance of 250-300 Ohms) . Really soft sources will require more gain. An electrical guitar cranked to "eleven" will work just fine with 50dB of gain.....

audiokid Sun, 12/26/2010 - 08:50

strings1, post: 359715 wrote: I couldn't find this particular preamp, Millennia H-2b. Is it an older model or ti called something else???

That's because I'm a bozo and constantly call it an H-2b instead of an http://www.mil-medi… m-2b . They make a hv-3 that is stellar as well, and where I get the H and M always switched around... The m-2b is their tube beauty.

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