Coles 4038 Ribbon Microphone: Britain's Best Leaked Secret

[noisyneil]

i've got a coles and it's great for things like horns and drum overheads. some people get great vocal sounds and talk about "extended high frequencies"... erm not with mine. it's dull as dishwater. not putting vocals anywhere near it!

[syzygywell]

@noisyneil I could see that. One of my favorite artists Bibio used this on his most recent work and it has a very vintage sound to me that isn't terribly dynamic. But then that is completely the vibe he is going for and he does it to perfection. I wouldn't think most people would benefit from this on vocals.

[Beechpark]

I love that sax!



[thefunkmaster147]

I used a Coles for recording a Trumpet about 2 weeks ago, we are lucky enough to have 2, that were used by the BBC for outside broadcasts, at my uni. And it sounded brilliant.

[scratchharris]

The Sax was lovely. Very chilled.

[koolaidolio]

oh shit nice SUNN 0))) shirt

[foketesz]

I bought a pair of Cascade cheap ribbons (matched pair for under 500 here in south america).

It changed my life. Coupled with a cheap neum tlm193 in m-s, the ribbon being the S component, I get a quite useful travel-ready replacement for my tube c12 vr. That's 1200 against 4000. Very usable and interesting sound. Love it on hh by itself.

[namniekib]

I noticed most ribbon mics have a compression-like effect on the sound.Very sensitive to wind and stand noise but with that out of the way,it sounds gorgeous on almost everything.

[isakhanna]

I have to tell you, that in my professional opinion that Coles STC 4038 would not be the best choice of microphone for recording brass. Brass instruments in their very nature generate a lot of wind noise. The microphones would need a wind shield. They also, due to them being pressure gradient microphones generate a lot of bass tip up. A lot of what this bloke has said an done is out right stupidity.

[CornetHornet]

What did he say that you believe is stupid/wrong?

[machineintel]

@isakhanna lolwut? In case you didn't take the time to listen to the actual recording at the end of the video, i'll enlighten you: the wind noise is NOT an issue. Also, at a distance of 1-2 feet, as used here, the proximity effect is negligible. The 4038 is known for having an extremely flat broadband response.

[p0llenp0ny]

@isakhanna I've recorded brass many times with ribbons. As long as you don't stick them close to the horn you're fine.

[BTCSUK]

I've used the original version of these from the 1950's (actually bought from the BBC themselves) and I have to tell you, these things are magic and just about anything you put them on! Just watch the SPL on the older ones. They don't tend to like higher SPL's

[houseofchintz]

I just got a matched pair of 4038s. They fucking rule on my drums. I LOVE them.

[JoshSitar]

I don't envy that sax player when he has to finally brush his hair! Ouch!

[bruceyakuza]

i dont brush my hair..thats so not metal..:)

[tbcass]

Make it a full beard! You've got only a couple inches to go!!!

[Olphus]

Damned, it costs around $1400 +/-$200

[kkevinC]

I'm pretty sure the microhpone recording is mixed into the video....

[darrenguitar]

ye their is a problem hear

[libertyfalls]

Way to show someone playing into the mic and not letting us hear the recording... Queerwire sucks and Im unsubscribing. Ive had enough shit product demos.

[xVancha]

You're a few cards short of a deck aren't you?

[libertyfalls]

you obviously haven't been watching these horrible demos for very long.

[xVancha]

I have, as it goes.

[dazzelya]

Perhaps lay of the testosterone pills. You clearly hear the mic signal combined with an audible youtube compression.

[tbcass]

Wait a minute. He's playing into the mike and it's being recorded along with the video which you are now listening to and watching. Yes this is a recording done with that mike. It's first generation. Did you somehow think you were magically hearing a live saxophone on your computer. The next time you make such a, um, stupid statement, (sorry, I can't think of a gentler way to put it), THINK!!

[libertyfalls]

It sounds like the sax is being picked up from the camera mic. The ribbon mic must be a real piece of shit then. THey need to start using Neumann mics.

[tbcass]

How would you know that? I doubt you are correct. If the camera mike was picking up ambient sounds (which it isn't) you would hear a slight echo effect because the camera mike is farther away and not directly in front while the Ribbon mike is picking up sounds directly from the sax. Give these guys some credit. They aren't that stupid. In the end, you can believe what you want but I say you're wrong.

[libertyfalls]

Dickfore.

[tbcass]

More proof you're wrong. When the guy is talking you can hear all the ambient noise from the studio in addition to his voice. When the sax is playing one hears only the sax, even between notes. That is a dead giveaway the video mike is off.

[libertyfalls]

Dickfore.

[smileomen]

way to be wrong and a total dick :D

[libertyfalls]

way to oppress my opinion