AEA

The AEA TRP Ribbon Pre is definitely the only 'ribbon only' mic pre that I've used, or even seen for that matter that I can remember. The TRP is two channels that each have XLR and 1/4" inputs and outputs. This is a very compact preamp and won't take up a full space in a traditional casing, as it takes up about half of a single space. UTILIZATION There isn't too much to know about the AEA TRP Ribbon Pre in terms of using it. Each channel simply has parameters for gain and level, and then there are buttons for a high pass filter and polarity. It of course doesn't have phantom power since that isn't needed for ribbon microphones and would actually be detrimental to the mics if used. A manual isn't necessary at all for the TRP. SOUND QUALITY While it would make sense to use the AEA TRP Ribbon Pre with an AEA ribbon mic, I've yet to have the chance to try out this chain. I would imagine that this would be the best use for the TRP since gear made by the same brand usually works best in tandem. However, the TRP sounds great for recording with a Royer 121, and I would bet that it would sound great across the board with ribbon mics. I've also used it as a stereo coupling with the Coles 4038 ribbon mics, which were also a great match. Since the TRP is designed for use only with ribbons, it gives you more than enough head room and picks up all the details that you would be after with a ribbon mic. OVERALL OPINION I wouldn't recommend the AEA TRP Ribbon Pre for home studio owners, as most home studio owners won't be using ribbon microphones enough to justify having something like this. Both for those professional and home studio owners who do have a few ribbon microphones and use them a lot, having the TRP around would definitely be a worthwhile investment. Having an AEA isn't a requirement, but would certainly sweeten the deal. While ribbon microphones will of course sound great with other preamps too, the TRP is a great sounding preamp with extended coverage for ribbons.

The AEA R84 is a large ribbon microphone that comes with a carrying case and cost less than 1000 dollars. The AEA R84 is more of an do it all type of microphone, it can be used for almost anything , it has a very natural sound because of the 8 figure directional sensitivity. The R84 has a very smooth sound with clean hi’s and solid mids and lows. This microphone has really changed my view on ribbon microphones. It sounds great with recording piano’s as well has string and brass instruments. If you use it for vocals depending on how your voice is, it will sound amazing. If you have a lighter or weaker voice then you may need to boost some of the EQ’s to get a good sound with it though. You can record either live or studio with the R84 and it won’t make a difference. Either way the sound you capture will sound full and rich. I do prefer the sound in the studio more because the live sound does tend to pick up some unwanted sounds from around the room or wherever you are using it live at. OVERALL OPINION When you purchase the AEA R84 it will ome with a 10 foot microphone cable and a shock mount. The carrying case is foam lines so it protects the microphone. For the price, you will get way more than your money’s worth with the R84. I have been using it since 2010 and its an amazing microphone. I didn’t have to care instrument microphones around with my vocal mics. The R84 was just the 1 microphone that I would carry around to other members house in my group. Its an all in one solution to your recording needs. I am now looking into more Ribbon Microphones because of the R84, it has really opened my mind up to how versatile a ribbon mic is.

The AEA Stereo Protractor is a device for setting up two microphones in an XY position or something closely similar. It's 6 inches in length and has two mounts for two separate microphones. It has degrees labeled right on it so you can see at what angle your microphones are facing, which is definitely nice. The AEA Stereo Protractor is really only useful in the studio and can be used to mount just about any microphones, although it's only so big and is therefore best suited for small diaphragm condenser mics. The Stereo Protractor doesn't come as an accessory for any AEA microphones that I'm aware of... OVERALL OPINION The AEA Stereo Protractor is really a great tool to have around the studio. Some stereo sets of microphones will come with something similar, but this is probably the best of it's kind that I've used as it's super straight forward and easy to set up. I recently used it with a set of Neumann KM184 small diaphragm condenser microphones, which I had set up in an XY pattern. The XY pattern is really what this is best for, but you can certainly alter it a bit, although XY is probably the best place to start when using this. Having said this, you can of course set it up in any fashion that you'd like as the mounts are fully rotatable. The studio I work at has this on hand and it does get used a lot for XY positioning as it makes it so much easier when compared to setting up the mics on two separate stands. If you're at all working with XY positioning, I'd say it's definitely worth it to pick up an AEA Stereo Protractor as it's the best of it's kind that I've used or seen to date...