Fostex Printed Ribbon M88RP

[Adam_MainSt]

I have one of these but it doesnt sound like what i've read about it so im wondering who would be able to repair one.....


Cheers
Adam

[Linear]

I have one of these but it doesnt sound like what i've read about it so im wondering who would be able to repair one.....


Cheers
Adam

Since when can you judge how a microphone is performing based on what you've read?

If this were the case, based on what i had read then I may as well ditch the tape machines, console and outboard I have and purchase an Alishad HD system, a couple of chinese condensors and some (insert brand name compressor)-style plugins.

Great!

What are you going to tell the tech? - yeah, i've got this microphone but it doesn't sound like how someone described on forum XYZ so it must be broken. Can you please make it sound like a vintage #### ribbon please?

god help us all.

[Jason Dirckze]

Thats a little harsh...

...The XYZ mic had a slight boost in the top end, and a silky......etc etc

So making a comparison to a review that you've read and your own ears is wrong?

Jason

[Linear]

no, but you'd have to take a written review of a microphone with a grain of salt. it's like trying to describe to a blind person what pink looks like.

deciding that something is broken and needs repairing based on what you've read it should sound like (and by the sounds of it, never having used one before, working or not) is a bit retarded.

[Adam_MainSt]

Im more than sure its broken when using it as a drum room mic i have to turn the 20db pad off the O2R and add another 30db... and it sounds very thin....

http://www.coutant.org/m88rp/index.html


"so fondly did their warmth resemble the beautiful but frail ribbon mics of yesteryear" - Nope.

"Frequency response: 40 to 18,000 Hz" - Nope.

Therefore, i assume its broken.....

[Kris]

Geez Linear.... bug stuck up your arse?

[Linear]

Geez Linear.... bug stuck up your arse?

OK. Questions I'd ask Adam: have you ever used a ribbon mic before? Do you realise that their output is much lower than other mics (especially condensors)? I'm not at all surprised that you have to take the 20db pad out. Do you even know why you'd use a pad?

Also do you understand the concept of impedence? Do you know the impedence of the mic? Have you tried any other pres? Have you tried a different/shorter cable? Do you know what a broken ribbon mic sounds like? Have you ever used a ribbon mic that has the 'warmth that resembles the beautiful but frail ribbon mics of yesteryear'?

And have you grasped the concept of frequency response? On the graph it almost looks 10dB down at 18kHz. And depending on the switch, it has a pretty steep rolloff from 100Hz. That's why it might sound thin, especially compared with a condensor.

That's the great thing about understanding the theory of things. It helps you work out cause and effect. If you don't know the theory, then you're just randomly trying things out to see what sort of random result you get (with zero repeatability). It also helps you work out if things are genuinely broken, or if they are behaving exactly as designed in the given operating conditions.

Chris

[Adam_MainSt]

Questions I'd ask Adam: have you ever used a ribbon mic before? Do you realise that their output is much lower than other mics (especially condensors)? I'm not at all surprised that you have to take the 20db pad out. Do you even know why you'd use a pad?

yes, i used the RCA 77DX from Glen Phimister 2 weeks ago as a drum room mic, it had a higher output than the fostex (which is not exactly a ribbon microphone).

Also do you understand the concept of impedence? Do you know the impedence of the mic? Have you tried any other pres? Have you tried a different/shorter cable? Do you know what a broken ribbon mic sounds like? Have you ever used a ribbon mic that has the 'warmth that resembles the beautiful but frail ribbon mics of yesteryear'?

I do understand impedence, i dont know the impedence of the microphone. I have used it with a 3 foot lead into the O2R, a Sebatron vmp4000e and a Peach, the valve preamps just added more noise, still the same problems.

And have you grasped the concept of frequency response? On the graph it almost looks 10dB down at 18kHz. And depending on the switch, it has a pretty steep rolloff from 100Hz. That's why it might sound thin, especially compared with a condensor.

I do understand frequency response. The top end has presence, i like the top end, but thats all there is to the sound. The roll off is not switched on the mic. The mic sounds absolutely nothing like the sample on the website, not even close.


I don't want to argue about things... i just wanted to know who is around that would be able to have a look at the mic and let me know if it can be repaired if it is broken.

[mal stanley]

No need to kill the guy 'cos he has a question...

Ribbon mics are a different beast...the HF roll off and LF roll of in this mic's case can work well if you're close mic'ing say a sax or trumpet.....but would sound thin in another situation.....try different applications and see what works best..sometimes condensors are the answer...sometimes having a ribbon around can help...they are low output so you'll need a preamp with plenty of gain...

[rick]

hi adam

chris (linear) what IS wrong with you today? we all know you hate protools and dig the old stuff
so do in fact i think i patented the idea ! before you ever learnt to press record on those ampexs !

but i just bought yet another computer (g5) and updated protools yet again and i was as mad as hell about having to do it, but had a sleep and woke up figuring it just the cost of doing business !

maybe you should try a bit of a sleep in tommorrow and see if that helps :)

we all become soap box speakers ( myself included) a bit too easily
for my liking.

do you remember what it was like not to be sure and ask around for a bit of help? thats what this forum is for and chris i have certainly extended myself to you over the years for little or no reward when you where on the hunt for that bit of extra knowledge
now i dont need and never expected the favour returned to me but you have a bunch of knowledge that you CAN share here without too much fuss but instead you made adam feel like he was in an arguement just for asking some questions

me thinks you were just grinding your own axe and didnt mean to be rude but maybe we should all have a bit of look at the bigger picture
this forum is and will only stay on the world wide waste of time while is suits me pay for it to be here. it does NOT pay for itself !

who knows anything about this fostex mic.?
not me ?

adam welcome to the forum
i think your close enough to the answer, try calling glen phimister and get him to suss out your microphone for you and get it into a state where your sure its not broken.
have a listen and figure it out from there

i did not mean to start the Ribbon wars last month i promise !
whats next month the clone wars !

[Linear]

yeah, i feel better today, thanks!

rick, did you really post that at 3am? talk about burning the midnight oil.

i was in a foul mood yesterday so maybe i shot first and asked questions later. for that I do apologise. still, the first post from Adam_MainSt was pretty inane and inscrutable. Is it that hard to elaborate a little, especially if asking for assistance?

in the past month i've met two separate protools hackers that have 'studios'. they have no concept of any theory of recording at all. they believe pretty much everything they read on the internet and randomly insert plugins with no idea of how or why things work. worse still, they have no inclination to learn as they don't see why knowing the theory is neccessary. 'hey, the plug-ins have presets don't they?'

this annoys me.

Chris

[rick]

i am up at 3am every night
feeding and nursing my 8 week old son,
its a good time to catch up on the days computer chores !