I do a little recording. I've mostly used condensers and favor relatively neutral mics. I'd rather do that and EQ if I want something else. However, ribbons have something of a sound which is more often than not appealing. Most multi-pattern condensers are large diaphragm, and tend to have some peaks in the upper midrange and lower treble. I rarely find that is what I'm after. It can be okay with some voices. EQ on a good condenser to mimic ribbons sort of works. I think the ribbons have a better off-axis polar pattern, but then again many also don't have so much at higher frequencies anyway.
So if some good ones are in my budget to try out, I'd like to try a couple. Now I'm not sure if I want the old stereotypical ribbon sound or some of the newer more neutral ribbon sound. Would I be just as well off with an SDC figure 8 vs neutral ribbon (like a Samar AL95 or se Electronics VR1 or VR2)? This kind of question from what I've seen is where the noise level goes up on pro audio forums. So the signal level here might be lower, and possibly insufficient, but the noise level to decide is easier to manage. One thing I wonder about is using a figure 8 condenser is how resonances complicate the EQ. Ribbons tend not to have those resonances. Probably just need to do some more hard thinking about that issue. I've had a Shure KSM 44a and have a KSM 44. I've had the Lewitt LCT 640 TS which I liked better than the KSM. I also have a couple CAD M179s. I like Shure KSM 32s and wish they made a multi-polar version of that (which is an MDC electret). Maybe I simply need the budget version of a Schoeps Colette with MK8 capsules, if such a thing exists.
