Low Cost OK Ribbon Mic.

[Chris H]

OF COARSE IF YOU ARE READING THIS BECAUSE YOU FOLLOWED A LINK

YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE THE MEMBERS OF THE TURTLEROCK FORUM THINK MANUFACTURERS LINKING CHEAP ARSE PROMO TO OUR FORUM WITHOUT PERMISSION IS ABOUT AS ETHICAL AS MANUFACTURERS STEALING OTHER PEOPLES DESIGNS

ITS DISGRACEFUL REALLY

COURTESY TAKES A PHONE CALL
I AM EASY TO FIND
THINK OF WHO YOU ARE PAYING TO LIVE BEFORE YOU BUY THIS PRODUCT
THEFT IS THEFT NO MATTER WHO IS DOING IT OR HOW CHEAP YOU CAN BUY IT

ALSO NOTE THE ONE OF THE "EXPERT" MIC MODDERS ON THIS THREAD WAS BANNED FROM THE FORUM FOR CONSTANT ADVERTORIAL POSTS WHICH WERE TIRESOME AND BASICALLY RUBBISH
WE ARE RUNNING A MUCH NEEDED AUDIO COMMUNITY HERE >> NOT A SHOP


RICK .... TURTLEROCK :(





Looks the The TNC 3, AKA Legacy ribbon is now available through Soundcorp as the Carillon Axis 70 Ribbon Mic.
as seen here:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Carillon-AXIS-70 ... 3a53869179

The specs read exactly the same as the TNC so i'm assuming they are the same mic, don't know for sure though.
They are apretty decent mic and Oliver at TAB Funkenwerk has a hand wound tranny for them for $75.
For anyone on a budget this mic is a great option.




Specifications:
- Type: Large Ribbon Geometry (LRG) Ribbon Microphone.
- Aluminium Ribbon: 2 micron
- Power Pattern: Figure 8
- Sensitivity: -53dB (0dB = 1V/PA)
- Frequency Response: 30 to 18000Hz
- Impedance: <= 200Ω
- Recommended load impedance: 1000Ω
- Max SPL for 1% THD @ 1000Hz: 137dB
- Equivalent Noise Level: 17dB (A-weighted IEC 268-4)
- Size: 165mm x 76mm x 22mm

[The Tasmanian]

Hey Chris - how do they stack up with a Royer when the new transformer is in them?

[Chris H]

I have been wondering this myself.
Below are the Royer specs.
Looking quickly the royers ribbon is .5 of a micron thicker and some of the TNC / Carillion specs quoted dont give the info needed. eg the quoted frequency range gives no indication of how flat the response is over the range whereas the Royer is +/- 3 dB over the range. Their SPL seems as high as the Royers at first glance of the specs but the royers spl is quoted @20 Hz whereas the the TNC is quoted @ 1000Hz

# Acoustic Operating Principle: Electrodynamic pressure gradient
# Polar Pattern: Figure-8
# Generating Element: 2.5-micron aluminum ribbon
# Magnets: Rare Earth Neodymium
# Frequency Response: 30 -15,000 Hz +/- 3dB
# Sensitivity: -50 dBv Re. 1v/pa
# Output Impedance: 300 Ohms @ 1K (nominal)
# Rated Load Impedance: >1500 Ohms @ 300 Ohms
# Maximum SPL: >135dB @ 20 Hz


I have only used a pair of royer's once over a kit and my TNC's seem to have simmilar characteristics from my memory of the Royers. I would love to sit them side by side and do a few listening tests to see how they compare.
Also i haven't got the transformers yet but they have been ordered.
I'll have to loan a Royer and do a shootout...anyone in Melb have a Royer?

[waitup]

It's so funny that this should come up now... I just bought one on monday!. I opened her up and replacing the trafo will be a walk in the park.

200 bucks... can't go wrong. Plus it looks like a royer from behind ; )

Do it.

Nick.

[The Tasmanian]

I've got one of the other ones that are shaped like a RCA 77 (sort of) even stock it is a nice mic.
You can also get a RCA ribbon put in them as well in the states for $200 US
The word out there is the Aus $ looks like surpassing the US $ in the next few months.
Finance dudes are saying we could go as high as $1.10 !!!
Thats when I will get a Bricasti
Yeah Nick - for $200 you can't go wrong - Add a new transformer and you got a great guitar amp mic.
Apparently Royer are trying to sue - so they keep changing the name of them to keep selling them

[waitup]

Apparently Royer are trying to sue - so they keep changing the name of them to keep selling them

Yeah... it does look very similar!

[13thbeach]

What goes around comes around right. Maybe B&O Should be sueing Royer.

[Barney Loveland]

I had Glen Phimeister re ribbon my stereo chinese copy of the royer and I put Lundhals in and it is now very gig worthy, it's not the same as the royer sf12 but its cool for OH drums. Not so good for jazz and classical stuff but pretty good.

[13thbeach]

I had Glen Phimeister re ribbon my stereo chinese copy of the royer and I put Lundhals in and it is now very gig worthy, it's not the same as the royer sf12 but its cool for OH drums. Not so good for jazz and classical stuff but pretty good.

Yeah Barney, I have the same mic, and to be honest its great bang for buck even without the mods.

[Damien]

we sell lots of these. i use them lots as well... a great "lounge room" mic on the project im working on now. also using one live for guitars.. there really hard to kill.. accidental 48v hasnt killed them yet (i have done this..)

for this kind of money you can get a usable ribbon mic.

plug for us below... or as listed above..

http://ponymusic.com.au/Shop/Carillon/P ... duct-flyer

[Gian]

which transformer is recommended to replace the stock one?

[waitup]

Hey Guys,

So I had a chance to try my axis 70 (still with stock transformer) today against an R121. I put both mics as close together as a could as a mono overhead on a drum kit. There's no doubt the Royer sounded a bit nicer but I was AMAZED at the Axis 70. Considering it is a 200 dollar microphone, it held its own.

The Royer seemed to have that lovely high end extension, where the axis 70 had a bit more of a lump in the low mids and a more rolled off top end. Putting the two mics out of phase with each other revealed mostly high end, indicating that's where the difference is.

I have the PT session on my hard drive and when I get to my studio tomorrow I'll make an audio file that cuts between the Royer and the Axis so you can compare yourselves. I'll have to upload it as an MP3 as opposed to a wav file because I have a smallish download/upload limit at home and it costs us buckets if we go over, sorry about that!

Anyway, I'm happy with the purchase and with a new transformer I think it will be a great little addition to my studio!

Nick.

[Brad]

Here's a comparison.

I put both a Royer 121 and the Carrilon (stock) side-by-side over a Peavey 30 whatever they're called amp (not a great amp but that was all there was at the time). Guitar is an SQ 74copy Squier strat.

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/618085/Ribbon%201_bip_1.aif

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/618085/Ribbon%201_bip_2.aif

[Chris H]

First thing i noticed was they were out of phase so i put the tracks into logic and inverted Ribbon 1_bip_2.
Ribbon 1_dip_1 has a slightly extended bottom end and is a bit fuller sounding.
Ribbon 1_bip_2. has a bit more in the 500K range that makes it a bit more cloudy sounding.
Overall i like Ribbon 1_dip_1 over Ribbon 1_bip_2 and guess that 1 is the Royer and 2 the Carillion.
The small difference to the mics sound may be due to positioning, so it would be an interesting test to swap the mics leaving the mic clips in the exact same position as a check.

[Brad]

The small difference to the mics sound may be due to positioning, so it would be an interesting test to swap the mics leaving the mic clips in the exact same position as a check.

cheers Chris, I wasn't aware of the phase anomaly - I'll check it out next time at the studio with the Royer 121 (I don't own the Royer - just a pair of the cheapies)

Shall we leave the guessing as to which is which for a bit later?

Actually the phase issue concerns me as I wired the studio - maybe the Carillons are wired arse up (?) - I will investigate. The pre was the Hux Pre btw.

brad

[Chris H]

The small difference to the mics sound may be due to positioning, so it would be an interesting test to swap the mics leaving the mic clips in the exact same position as a check.

Shall we leave the guessing as to which is which for a bit later?



brad

Definitely. I was monitoring on the Yammy MSP5's at work in a crappy small room so i'm looking forward to listening through my B&W's at home. Thanks Brad for putting these up. It's interesting.

[DwaneHollands]

Hmm, I'm liking this thread...tasty

[Ben M]

I'm with Chris on this one. No.1 has a slightly more aggressive high/mid range like that found in the Royer.

1. Royer
2. Carillon

I haven't used the Carillon but $189 is definately worth an experiment.

[Chris H]

which transformer is recommended to replace the stock one?

Here is the link to the info on the transformers, with descriptions and how to order etc:

http://www.compasspointstudios.com/bull ... xfrmr.html


.......and for anyone interested in the TNC1200 upgrade that is also suited to the Apex model:

http://www.compasspointstudios.com/bull ... rades.html

[Chris H]

I haven't used the Carillon but $189 is definately worth an experiment.

.....I shouldn't go there but I feel chuffed my TNC 3's cost me about $40 each:)

[headman]

Yeh, so did mine, but the freight was a killer.
And then someone dropped one, I'm down to one mic. looks like I'll have to shell out.

headman

[Chris H]

Yeh, so did mine, but the freight was a killer.
And then someone dropped one, I'm down to one mic. looks like I'll have to shell out.

headman

The freight was a bit costly.... so the mic cost $70 inc freight. Still a good deal.

Sorry to hear about the droppage. Send an email to the above links for the transformers as i know Chance ordered a stack of spare ribbons to send to people whose ribbons sagged on the previous GB. I lent my 1200 to a friend and he tripped the mic stand and it came back with a dented cage. Still sounds good so not a disaster.

[TimS]

I love my TNC 1200 and 6802T - replaced the tubes with NOS Telefunkens - much warmer and sweeter..

[Chris H]

What goes around comes around right. Maybe B&O Should be sueing Royer.

On the Bulldog web page for the upgrade trannies, they are calling the mic a B&O copy.

There are two different transformers:

TR22 - is pretty close to the historic B&O (the one that actually worked best from all they made over the years) - a flat neutral sound with good audio resolution.

TR42 is similar in design and idea to the one previously designed as the T58, but with the needed ratio, tuned to those particular ribbons. This one will have a bit more drive and "colouration" (whatever that is, choose your favourite colour...ours is BLUE).

Both x-formers have the same ratio, and can be installed with just four solder spots.

[Chris H]

The small difference to the mics sound may be due to positioning, so it would be an interesting test to swap the mics leaving the mic clips in the exact same position as a check.

cheers Chris, I wasn't aware of the phase anomaly - I'll check it out next time at the studio with the Royer 121 (I don't own the Royer - just a pair of the cheapies)

Shall we leave the guessing as to which is which for a bit later?

Actually the phase issue concerns me as I wired the studio - maybe the Carillons are wired arse up (?) - I will investigate. The pre was the Hux Pre btw.

brad

Brad, you ready to tell all. By the way the Hux pre does a decent job.
An interesting man by all accounts. Well worth a look around his site:

http://www.hux.com.au/index.html

[Brad]

Brad, you ready to tell all. By the way the Hux pre does a decent job.
An interesting man by all accounts. Well worth a look around his site:

http://www.hux.com.au/index.html

Warren is a stand up fellow. I met him during my 18 month tenure in Brisbane, during which he brought my 1953 B&H valve amp back to life. Legend!

Anyhoo, yes the Royer is the first file. I'll be interested to hear a comparison with the better trannies in the Carillons though.

[Chris H]

Brad, you ready to tell all. By the way the Hux pre does a decent job.
An interesting man by all accounts. Well worth a look around his site:

http://www.hux.com.au/index.html

Warren is a stand up fellow. I met him during my 18 month tenure in Brisbane, during which he brought my 1953 B&H valve amp back to life. Legend!

Anyhoo, yes the Royer is the first file. I'll be interested to hear a comparison with the better trannies in the Carillons though.

I had a few informative chats with Warren when i had the Amek Recall.
I have some trannies on order from TAB. When they arrive, that will have to be the next shoot out then.

[Brad]

When they arrive, that will have to be the next shoot out then.

Look forward to it Chris.

[openplanrecording]

these mics have the same ribbon motors as the * Nady RSM-3 * Nady RSM-4 * Nady RSM-5 * Cascade FatHead so I would assume you could use a Lundahl 2913 without the casing as people do when modding the previously mentioned mics, I wonder how they sound in comparission with acoustical differences has anybody compared? I would say that the fathead style version would be more accurate as it doesn't have the grills which would have to cause reflections brightening but smearing the high frequencies and transients. I say this because I did mod on another well known Chinese ribbon mic by removing the excess screening and waffle plates and noticed a big improvement in the sound particularly in the transients less smearing! not to say that smearing can be used to great effect if that's what you're after!

checkout my blog for details it's incomplete but if you look at the images and listen to the audio examples particularly the splash cymbals you will get the idea

http://op%20BANNED%20USER/

[openplanrecording]

I have just updated the blog with audio examples and spectral analysis of the changes at two stages of modification check it out!