AEA R88 mk2 Stereo Ribbon Microphone

The AEA R88 mk2 Stereo Ribbon Microphone is optimized for recording instruments and ensembles in stereo.  The R88 uses the large ribbon configuration of the classic RCA 44 series mics, which gives the mic solid 20Hz bass response and a smooth high end which is flattering to complex tones.

There is no easier way to track in stereo than with a stereo microphone with two configured transducers in a single sleek package.  A stereo microphone is highly useful in recording situations in which it is more convenient or aesthetically pleasing to have a single housing for both capsules, such as for drum overheads or live concert recordings.

The R88 has a natural sound because it is the pure sound of two undamped long ribbons.  If the basic characteristics of a transducer element are in accordance with a few primary physical laws, it will sound good without requiring any extra acrobatics. The simpler the physics, the less adulterated the sound of a transducer will be because it will introduce fewer artifacts into the electrical signal that were

R88 SERIES

R88 Series ribbon mics capture sound as your ears hear it, with an honest and open tonality. The R88 effortlessly record complex sources like drums, strings, piano, and other instruments that produce intricate transients, harsher highs, and bellowing lows.

The stereo R88 captures a space as it sounds live and in person, with all the present subtlety and nuance. Its expansive frequency response and balanced low end make it superbly effective when capturing the full breadth of sound from the back of a room or above a drum set.

Alongside the mono AEA N8, it boasts the widest frequency range of any mic in the AEA lineup and effortlessly manages more complex source audio like drums, strings, piano, and other instruments that produce intricate transients, harsher highs, and bellowing lows. The Blumlein configuration of the ribbons allows for a sweeping range of perspective, so an entire ensemble and room can be captured by the R88 alone.

THE ENGINEER’S SECRET WEAPON

R88 Series mics are an engineer’s secret weapon, offering a level of detail and balance in recording like no other microphone available. Packaged in a sleek, five-pound black shell designed for quick setup, it’s an excellent choice for remote recording.

Particularly well suited for the rock, roots, classical, Americana and jazz genres, R88 Series microphones have such versatility that engineers like John Cuniberti use it as their one mic to capture an entire band performing live in the same room. There is a reason that legendary Blackbird Studios in Nashville owns five R88s.

A RICH HISTORY

The design of the R88 Series borrows from serious stereo recording tradition. In 1931, EMI engineer Alan Blumlein invented stereo recording by demonstrating the natural reproduction of the soundstage in one of the Abbey Road studios in London.

Today, Blumlein’s XY coincident recording technique lives on in the AEA R88 Series, which uses two figure-of-8 ribbons for producing an authentic representation of a performance. The pair of elements are angled in perfect phase at 90 degrees and mounted in close proximity to each other along the vertical axis of the microphone.

As an alternative to Blumlein’s technique, the microphone can also be used for mid-side (MS) stereo, providing excellent mono compatibility and full control over the width of the stereo image.

Either way, the R88 Series is so easy to use that any recording novice can do it. Simply choose where to place the mic and hit record. It’s that easy.

FEATURES:

• Dual 2" ribbons oriented at 90 degrees
• Built in shock-mount suspension
• Terminates in a 5-pin XLR male and includes a 4-meter 5-pin female to 3-pin xlr male breakout cable
• Supplied with a swivel adapter for flexible positioning
• Designed to fly overhead for large venue installations
• 3 lbs plus the cable weight
• 2.5" diameter and 14" tall
• Black stealth finish
• Sturdy zippered case