What is a ribbon microphone?

A ribbon microphone consists of a thin corrugated ribbon, usually made of aluminum or other conductive materials, suspended within a magnetic field. The movement of the ribbon in response to sound waves induces a current in the ribbon, which is converted into an audio signal.

Ribbon microphones are known for their natural and warm sound, which makes them popular for recording vocals and acoustic instruments. They have a figure-eight polar pattern, which means they pick up sound from both the front and back of the microphone but reject sound from the sides, resulting in a focused and intimate sound.

However, ribbon microphones are delicate and sensitive to damage from mishandling, extreme weather conditions, and high sound pressures. They also require a high-quality preamp with sufficient gain to reproduce their low-level audio signals accurately.