Is the T-Bone RB500 the best budget ribbon microphone for drums?
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- Опубліковано 30 кві 2021
- I know a lot of people who absolutely love these mics, myself included, so here's a bit of a shootout with some high level ribbon microphones to prove why I think it's an affordable alternative that sounds great!
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probably the best video on youtube comparing the RB500 with other mics for drum recording. thanks for doing this!
Aww you’re welcome dude! It sort of started as a bit of an experiment for fun, just to compare and see how the RB500 stood up to the other ones...but after a few recordings I was like...
...”fetch the camera! The internet needs to know!” 😂
Thanks for this beautiful and super-useful video!
Wow! What a drum sound!!! Lovely
Thanks man!
Wow. Thanks for the effort!
Since the first part of the video was pretty convincing, I would really love to hear a re-shoot of the stereo setups. Thanks for the hard work, it all sounds great!
Great sounding kit too!
Great sound i love ribbon mic ! Thanks
Amazing video bro!
Fantastic video man!
Aww dude! Thanks so much! ☺️
Huge fan of your channel. Been following you for the last year or so! Keep up the good work 🙌🏼
Collab video? 😝
Great video! this will help a lot for future projects!
Glad I could help man! 🙌🏼
Wow! Was definitely big & smooth on the bottom end.
Thanks a lot for this video. I was about to buy one and was wondering how good they are.
Very good video.
Great review!
Thanks dude! 🙌🏼
I have to agree: This mic is one of those secrets that are better kept a secret. It does something to vocals that is hard to put in words. Due to the ribbon it is very responsive to a performers articulation and when you compensate for the HF roll-off with a good, smooth high shelf (and cut the lows, of course :)), it is WOW! Vocals get a depth and "authenticity"...it is incredible. I once made a test recording, singing some lines from "Let it snow" that illustrates quite well what I mean. I uploaded it on Facebook even though it was just a test, that's how impressed I was! Now that I have deactivated my FB account I have to look if I have a backup somewhere to upload it on youtube.
So...if anyone is interested how it performs as a vocal mic, I'm gonna post the link here.
Great Vid - I have been using the T Bone for room mics for years! You might want to check when you shortened the mic cables one might be wired out of phase, as the comparison vids show this up quite a bit!
The RB500 sounds surprisingly great, but that Coles sounds AMAZING. The RB500 is perfectly usable and I will probably get one or two.
Aye man. Sadly what you're paying ALL that extra for is that final 10% of the ribbon sound. Worth it in my opinion, but the RB500s are fantastic to have in your locker as well as the higher end mics. If I'm using the Coles as OHs and the R84s as room mics, then the RB500s are perfect for the heart mic, and the kick out mic, for example!
Picked up two of these because of this video. Now I am constantly torn on my WA87R2s or the Tbones as my overheads or rooms.
Love your English and the kit
*scottish 😜
Thanks tho! 🥁
Awesome video, cheers for that 🙌🏻
For me I think the Coles mic sounds a bit brighter and gives more clarity. Maybe it will be easier to mix?! Tho it's quite hard to hear a big difference between the RB500 and R84 which is very impressive!! Also, a great sounding drumkit and a good drummer helps, like you! Keep up the good work 👏🏻🍻
No worries man. Glad it's helping people out!
Aye, I agree with you there. I nearly always choose the Coles for overheads, because like you said, a bit more punch and a bit more clarity. I don't really dig the R84 or the RB500 as overheads just as much, but that's only due to owning the Coles. I used to use the RB500s exclusively before!
For me, this mic is at its peak in the centre position, or on the kick out. It's pretty hard to beat! Especially if you're scared of hitting or blowing out your expensive mics! 😂 I'm looking forward to shooting it out on some more instruments when I get the chance.
Appreciate your kind words man! 🙌🏼
I think when you shortened the cables you may have wired one of them out of phase. The pair of RB500 definitely sound out of phase with each other on the overhead section at 5:00.
Yeah man. A few folk have pointed this out!
I checked them recently and that’s defos the case. 😂
You made me bought 2 of this, jajajaja, thanks for this video
Ha! Glad I could help man! 😂 Thomann should start giving me sales commission.
This is branded under 'Apex' in Canada - great mic found at any Longs store!
This is good to know! I’m not sure what the deal is with Thomann and shipping to North America! I’ve had a few questions about that so I can tell them now!
Thanks soooo much for this
You're welcome dude! Glad it could be of help!
@@CallumE245 yes I’ve been wanting to get into ribbons for a while and this helps tremendously for a good price
@@JAMA1ful Honestly man, I can't recommend these enough, and I'm sure you can see/hear why!
Thanks for this video, it's really useful.
I'm wondering if you also had tried the cascade fathead II for the same purposes.
I'm more focused to find a nice and warm mic for the bass drum, but I'm a "jazz" drummer, so I'm looking for something that responds well at various tunings and with an 18" bass drum. For overheads I've got a couple of RM BIV, Russian ribbons who work really fine, and I'm looking to find a companion for them.
Any help will be much appreciated!
@@robertopistolesi2735 Hi Roberto!
I haven't tried the FatHead, but I have used this one on a jazz kick drum before when recording a pal, and it honestly sounded absolutely grand! Get's all the nice warmth and roundness.
Cheers!
1:19 "alright, just to give you a frame of reference for this dairy milk bar, I'll be comparing it to a black forrest gateau and a faberge chocolate pudding."
Appreciate the video, just thought that was funny.
That analogy only works if you're trying to prove to someone that a dairy milk bar is just as good as a black forrest gateau or a faberge chocolate pudding. 😜
It does sound great, especially at that price!
Not bad at all, eh? 🥁
So you are a premier drummer,a drum maker from scratch and now a mic/electronics specialist!Some was over my head,but I enjoy listening to someone who really knows what what they are talking about!You are a very intelligent man and I enjoy your channel very much!Neil
Hey Neil! I'm glad you think so! 😂 My background is in electronics, so I always enjoy nerding out on this sort of thing!
Cheers as always!
Callum
Hey Callum- what boom stands are you using for your overheads? I can't find anything online robust enough that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Tried general Google search, Amazon, Thomann, SW/GC/VK and no luck. Thanks!
What's that cymbal right of center you are crashing ? Sounds wonderful.
Great video! I was thinking of buying an RB500 and using it outside the bass drum (as you did) matched with a Sennheiser e602-II placed inside the drum on a pillow.
I think this proves it's kinda worth.
What are you using in the full mix?
Where I use this most. Would absolutely recommend it for that man! (As well as a pair for overheads)
It’s just a Beyerdynamic M201 on the snare and a Beta91a inside the kick drum. I think I’m using Neumann KM184s for overheads when I’m not using ribbon mics. Hope this helps!
So first of all, this video shows that it's about the kit, the room and the drummer first and foremost! Your kit really sounds great! The kick tuning and damping is spot on for the beat that you played.
I did like the Coles best especially on the room. They sounded more natural and focused, but the price difference is just insane. Going to have to try those RB500s as OHs now!
For sure man! I’ve definitely come to realise the importance of making some effort and tuning my drums before hitting record now. It started saving me a lot of time trying to fix things that were impossible. 😝
In all seriousness tho, appreciate your kind words! ☺️ I would highly recommend a pair of these!
Just wow. Mind blowing.
Only, I noticed some phase issues on the RB500 samples when paired. It does not occur with the AEA or Coles. Maybe one of the RBs came with a inverted solder? Thank you.
Hey man!
Yeah, the inverted solder is thanks to me being a numpty when I rewired them. 😂
Cheers!
got the Coles and the t.Bone...the t.Bone is really good, but the Coles really shine when EQ and Compression comes in! The t.Bone is to be EQ-ed and compressed more carefully and less hard. Highs are softer and more precise on Coles, lows are much more punchy.
Aye, I agree man. I’d sort of expect that though with the Coles, given how pricey they ahaha!
As the room mic 2-3 metres back in front of the kick, it actually sounded the best of the three. Caught some good tones, and rejected some not so good. As a kick drum mic, was very usable too - nice warm sound, though maybe I'd mix with a little LDC to catch the transient click. (though maybe I'd still prefer a Beta 52, or maybe in a mix of two mics, the ribbon and a brighter mic). As an overhead, it was darker, and would need more EQ than the other two. Though might be a pretty good choice in a not ideal room. But overall, what a bargain. Might be better to buy this and a second hand Distressor than an AEA, for these purposes.
Yo!
Great review! Got myself a pair and they're really good for the price.
I have a question tho. You're using the SCT 2000 outside the kick, right? I'm having trouble with mine when playing harder on the kick. Seems like it can't handle the attack of the kick and it kind of peaks/farts. I've worked with the gain knob on my interface and also aded a -15db pad on it but it still peaks on some hits. It works better when I'm placing the mic a bit further away from the kick, but then the sound gets a bit flat and not as punchy as I want it. Any suggestions on what to do?
Peace!
Hey dude!
Glad to hear you’re happy!
In all honesty, it’s been a hot minute since I used the SCT2000. I got a United U47 shortly after this, and I’ve used it ever since! (Also a peach of a microphone…!)
I don’t recall having any issues such as this, but I did change out the tube in the mic body itself for something a wee bit fancier, so perhaps it’s worth trying that? Either that or try using it with a pop filter to kill some of the moving air.
Cheers
They do sound good but I'm sure I noticed a T.Bone preamp on the floor (to lift the output level of the mic). Might need mentioning if this is the case as it adds to the price of the mic. I also agree about there being a phase issue when two were used at the same time. Is that a wiring issue or are there different preamps being used (one inverting the phase). Great video though!
The T-Bone preamp is for a different mic man, but well noticed! 😂
Yeah, I shortened the cables and accidentally wired one the wrong way, so they should work great in stereo usually! 🤦🏼♂️
Interesting, but in stereo mic techniques Coles and AEA make a full stereo sound stage, the RB500 left and right sounds some kind of isolated.
Excellent video indeed, thank you very much. Do you have any suggestions for something somewhere in between the RB500 and high end ribbon mics?
Thanks very much! Glad I can be of assistance! 🙌🏼
Honestly, I cannot recommend the RB500 enough. It really holds its own amongst the high end mics. Even taking the price out the equation, they’re still great!
@@CallumE245 thanks again. You sold me on them.
The Coles has slightly more midrange, and a little more open, but considering the price difference; not bad at all.
Great video! I own one RB500 but i'm thinking about getting another one so I can record drums with the Glyn Johns set-up. What do you think about using them in this set-up?
I've never tried them in this configuration! But for the price man, defos grabbing another one. You won'y regret it and you'll get so much use out of them!
@@CallumE245 that's for sure!
I removed the extra grills inside and put dampening material in the base cavity to reduce resonances, it sounds even better that way. A bit airier and less boomy
Ohh interesting. I’ll need to give this a try! Do you mean in the blue base bit at the bottom?
Would love to hear how this changes the sound, I’ve thought of doing this
Question actually, don't know whether you already addressed this and I just missed it, but how did you amplify the signal? External preamp? Cloudlifter or fethead? Just straight into the interface? Thanks.
Hey dude! I have a Pre-Sonus StudioLive 32 which I use for all my I/O. I do have a pair of FetHeads which I usually use, but these do change the character of the mic so I didn’t include them here!
Hope this helps! 🥁
Bro, first off: nice video! But second. On the stereo examples, it sounds like your RB500's are pretty much out of phase. the 4038's and aea's are in phase. Is this just a little mistake or is it just the way it sounds? (pretty sure it's a phase thing as converting the RB500 stereo examples to mono leaves little to the imagination)
Hey dude! Thanks for your comment and kind words!
This has been brought up before actually haha! I was a numptie when I shortened the cable on the RB500's, and I've wired one of the mics the wrong way round! I hadn't realised this until it was brought to my attention by someone else.
I didn't notice because I didn't do any mixing on these; just a fader balance.
These mics sounds MUCH better when in phase ha!
Cheers
Callum
in a blind test, i think i’d prefer the rb 500. in fact, i wonder how many engineer would notice a difference between the 4038 and t.bone if they were in the same housing. crazy.
Where did you get your big microphone stands when you did the overheads? Can you fend me a link please
Hey dude!
Of course. It’s these here - www.thomann.de/gb/superlux_ms_200.htm?glp=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAgbiQBhAHEiwAuQ6BkvCPme_2WVBz4Iydu70RSlhRalh3L6huYCSD4Vpp95ig0ll4pybW-hoC5pgQAvD_BwE
Cheers!
Hi. :) What kind of subkick do you use?
nice video !!!!
What is the LDC mic the you use for the kick out ?
And which batter drumhead do you use on the kick ?
thanks !!!
gr,
Jan
Hey dude.
It’s a T-Bone SCT2000 on the front head, and the batter head is a Remo Powerstroke 3!
Cheers
@@CallumE245 thanks !!!!
The coles 4038 kill em all ! That said for less 100 bucks its realy good !
In all honesty, the Coles and R84 do get used 98% of the time, but it’s handy having the T-Bones knowing that I won’t be stuck if anything ever happens to either of those sets! 🙌🏼
For some reason when Paired , the RB500 sounds like it has phasing issues, why is that ? Have you noticed it? I was considering getting another one to use it as a pair but I hear this now, both kick and snare sound weaker than the other two pairs... Thank you.
Yeah, when I shorted the cable I’ve managed to reverse the polarity. They do usually work great in stereo so defos get another one!
with the stereo pairs comparison, it sounds like one of the rb500's polarity may be inverted.
edit: i downloaded the audio of the video and can confirm: one of the rb500's is definitely phase inverted.
Yeah. When I shortened the wires I’ve accidentally wired one of them the wrong way... 🤦🏼♂️
@@CallumE245 happens to the best of us. i have one rb500 myself, and as far as i remember when i speak into the front it is phase inverted compared to other mics. so i just assumed it may have happened in the factory... i mean they have to cut costs somewhere ;)
Hi! Im wondering which one of the Traditional Istanbul Agop serie is your ride? and what size it is?
Traditional Jazz, Dark, Original, Medium, Heavy ? (the one on the top of the kick)
Hey dude! Thanks for reaching out! It’s actually a 22” Traditional Dark crash. Big, warm and lush. 😍
Cheers!
@@CallumE245 Perfect! Thanks for your quick answer!
This is a great review, thank you very much. However, as an OH/room spaced pair they are clearly out of phase here. Probably someone has already pointed that out. But they are indeed a bang for the buck.
Yeah I’ve soldered one of them up backwards when shortening the tables with basically renders all the stereo tests absolutely useless. 😂
@@CallumE245 But in the mid-side configuration they sound amazing despite the issue
Are your RB500s modded at all? Or is this just the sound of the stock microphones?? They sound absolutely fantastic for the price!
Apart from shortening the cables (and wiring one of them out of phase...)
Nope! They are exactly as they come out the box!
Cheers
@@CallumE245 fantastic!! Already ordered my pair from Thomann!
Thanks!! :)
👍
Thanks dude!
What photolamps do you use?
I have a few Neweer ones off Amazon. 🙌🏼
The T-Bone mic's seems to be out of phase when at you are using them as a stereo pair - this is why they sound thin compared to the other mics
Aye I know man! I was doing the edit so fast, and because it's literally a fader balance it slipped my attention!
Weird that the mics themselves are out of phase. I didn't change any settings between the coles and the AEA's!
@@CallumE245 But they sounded OK when using the mid side config, how are you getting on with them? I would really love to hear them used in a Glyn Johns setup
@@funnyminky Yeah, that will be because Mid-Side isn't determined with phase, because of the trick using the off-axis mic!
Man, I love these mics! Although for me, the Coles have a bit more definition in the mids (which does mean that they are my go-to overheads) I love using these mics as centre mics, and in the kick out position has a lovely warm response! They stand up super well with the other mics I have though, so great to have as another flavour.
Well, I'm going to be doing some more videos on recording soon, so I'll pop that on the waiting list!
Cheers!
@@CallumE245 Look forward to seeing the future videos
@@funnyminky They seem to be out of phase all the time, my guess is when you shortened the cable on them, one has been pinned out wrong, i'd check that out. Very easy to verify! Good comparisons otherwise.
Nice test. Stereo overhead RB500 setup is out of phase.
Aye man. I wired one of the mics backwards when I shorted the cable. 🤦🏼♂️
polarity needs to be fixed for the RB500's stereo configurations. Phase check before upload:))
Yep. Rewired the polarity wrong when I shortened the cables. Rookie error!
@@CallumE245 ooooh, got it!
I'm pretty sure that one of your TBones is phase flipped, maybe a manufacturing error in a cable. Sounds out of phase compared to the other 2 examples in stereo setup.
Yeah, I think I’ve managed to rewire one of them the wrong way round. 🤦🏼♂️
another Nady RSM in new clothes.
AEA the cleanest
Are you sure that's not an Apex 210B?
I think they release this microphone under a variety of different names and brands. Probably is the same under the hood! 😂
You convinced me... but a roll-off at 50 KHz? I suspect you meant anything below 50 Hz...
15kHz man! Just a classic case of the Scottish accent being misunderstood. 😂
@@CallumE245 OK, I should know all about accents as I come from a region where I'm often victim of my accent as well... My apologies for misunderstanding.
You just can´t do a review like this. youtube compression, DA or AD converters that you are using? how did you record this? und so weiter......
Confused as to what you’re meaning by this. All of the mics are recorded through the same converters, and it’s pretty obvious how it’s all recorded. At the end of the day, I’m just trying to prove that this mic is just as good as some more expensive models.
Sorry it didn’t meet your standards of excellence. 😂
one of the RB500 is out of phase!
didn't read the comments, my bad. Nice video!
a little slow bas response and a litlle wobly lowend.. but still: no brainer.. RB500.. unless youre a millionaire: get the Coles.
Hi🙂 what do you mean by slow?
@@PeterhoveOlsen lowend transients seems slower .. probably due to thicker ribbon compared to coles orAEA.. so thats expected. And not always bad for ribbon mic uses.. especiallyon drums->room mics it can be a cool thing.
To bad could'nt understand 🤔