Figure-of-eight ribbon microphones for studio and broadcast work: sE Electronics’ Voodoo VR1 and VR2 and the Rupert Neve-designed RNR1, Shure’s KSM313 and KSM353, the Audio Technica AT4081 and the entry-level sE X1 R.

Ribbons trade the etched top end of a condenser for a smooth, natural high-frequency roll-off, which is why they earn their keep on brass, guitar cabs, strings and voiceover. The active versus passive split matters in practice: passive designs like the VR1 and KSM353 need a quiet preamp with plenty of clean gain, while active models such as the VR2 and AT4081 carry their own electronics and require 48V phantom power. The KSM313 is a dual-voice design with the front and rear sides voiced differently, effectively two mics in one body. All the microphones here are figure-of-eight, so use the deep side nulls to reject spill from neighbouring sources, and keep ribbons away from strong wind and plosive blasts, which is what retires most of them early.

Pair a passive ribbon with a high-gain preamp from your existing rack, or ask us about suitable front ends before ordering.