NADY RSM-4 Ribbon Microphone

This is a NADY RSM-4 ribbon microphone. This is an excellent microphone for its price (typical street price is around $80.00 USD). This mic is of the “short ribbon, long path” variety (referring to the configuration of the ribbon motor - click here for an excellent article by Michael Joly explaining the different types of ribbon microphones). The NADY RSM-4 appears identical to the SYR30 microphone manufactured by Shanhai ShuaiYin Electronics Ltd. Alctron has a similar model, the HRM-15.

Ribbon microphones are relatively simple, passive devices. A ribbon mic operates by suspending a very thin corrugated ribbon between two strong magnets. Sound waves vibrate the ribbon, which generates a tiny current. This tiny current is then sent through a built-in output/matching transformer. Ribbon microphones also require a lot of gain compared to other types of microphones, so a good preamp is a must.

Because of their relative simplicity, Chinese ribbon microphones are very popular platforms for modification, usually involving little more that upgrading the transformer and removing any extra layers of mesh in the headbasket and/or around the ribbon motor itself.

Because the ribbons are so thin (frequently 2 microns or less), ribbon microphones are extremely fragile and even the slightest breeze can destroy the ribbon. Because of this, ribbon microphones are simply not suited for live, on-stage sound reinforcement use. Ribbon mics were used extensively in the motion picture and broadcasting industry for decades and can still be seen sitting on the desks of many television talk show hosts like Larry King.

The NADY RSM-4 microphone has a very warm, robust character which is typical of ribbon microphones in general. This microphone sounds excellent on trombone and would also be near the top of my list for trumpet as well. It doesn’t have quite the transient response or top end I would like for violin or viola, but I would definitely consider it for string bass. This mic would also work well with tenor and (especially) baritone sax.

Although the NADY RSM-4 is rated to handle very high SPL’s, I would be very selective about what type of sound sources I would put near this microphone. Certainly, any source that generates a large movement of air would be out of the question, for example in front of a bass (or “kick”) drum.