Golden Age Project R2 Mk2 Ribbon Microphone
Best classic sound for home studio recording enthusiasts.
Experience a rich, darker sonic character with this passive ribbon microphone. Its design features a shorter, narrower ribbon transducer, resulting in an earlier high-frequency roll-off. This makes it exceptionally effective for softening bright sources like electric guitars and brass instruments, delivering a smooth response on various guitar tones. It includes a metal shock mount for effective vibration isolation, ensuring a clean audio signal.
$179.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
2005
/ 3367
#2005 in Microphones
Price vs Category Average
-65%
Below average
Microphone Type
Ribbon
/ Ribbon
Who it's for
- Musicians and engineers seeking a rich, vintage sound for their tracks.
- Home studio owners and budget-conscious producers exploring new tonal options.
- Recording artists and engineers needing a reliable ribbon mic for diverse applications.
Who should skip it
- Engineers without high-quality preamps or accustomed to high-output condensers.
- Users unfamiliar with ribbon mic handling or needing an extremely rugged microphone.
- Producers requiring flexible polar patterns for diverse recording environments.
Performance breakdown
High-frequency taming
The ribbon design excels at smoothing out harsh, piercing treble frequencies.
Build robustness
Solid construction provides the durability needed for frequent studio instrument tracking.
Vibration isolation
The included metal shock mount effectively eliminates unwanted low-end rumble.
Sonic warmth
Delivers a classic, vintage-inspired character that adds depth to digital recordings.
Guitar versatility
Perfectly balances the bite of distorted amps with a natural, rounded tone.
Transient response
Natural ribbon characteristics offer a soft, musical attack on percussive sources.
Key Specs
Microphone Type
Ribbon
Transducer Type
Ribbon
Polar Pattern
Bidirectional
Included Accessories
Metal shock mount
Intended Use
Instruments
Recommended Use
Instrument Recording
Know before you buy
The R2 MkII features a shorter, narrower ribbon transducer that produces a darker, warmer tone. It has an earlier high-frequency roll-off, which makes it less bright than the R1 series and better suited for sources that need taming.
Because the R2 MkII is a passive ribbon microphone, it does not require phantom power. However, it does benefit from a preamp with high gain and low noise to ensure a clean signal, especially when recording quieter sources.
This microphone excels on sources that can sound overly harsh or bright. It is particularly effective for electric guitar cabinets, both clean and distorted, as well as brass instruments.
The R2 MkII uses a figure-8 polar pattern. This means it is equally sensitive to sound coming from the front and the back of the microphone while rejecting sound from the sides.
Yes, the R2 MkII includes a dedicated metal shock mount. This is essential for isolating the microphone from mechanical vibrations and handling noise during your recording sessions.
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Ready to buy?
$179