sE Electronics RNR1 - Dynamic Ribbon Microphone

DYNAMIC RIBBON MICROPHONE 'Meet the RNR1, Mr. Rupert Neve's world's first microphone.

With custom transformers and discrete circuitry designed by the man behind the recording industry as we know it, Rupert Neve, the RNR1 is capable of hearing more than any other tape recorder on the planet.
Ribbon microphones have been around for a long time, and have always been particularly prized for the exceptionally "natural" sound they deliver. Not too forward, never bright or sibilant, ribbons capture midrange details with pleasing intimacy and generally sit easily in a mix.

One drawback of their soft nature used to be the physical fragility of their transducer, but that challenge was overcome long ago with more durable and reliable materials. The other downside of ribbon microphones is the high-frequency roll-off inherent in their design, which had never been addressed with technical solutions until Rupert Neve, the father of the recording console, decided to make a microphone.

THE TRANSFORMERS

No one knows audio transformers better than Rupert Neve, and ribbon microphones require more attention than any other. This is because the transformer that couples the ribbon to the output needs to perform a fairly large impedance conversion.
With the RNR1, two custom transformers designed by Rupert Neve form the buffer between the tape and the outside world. The circuitry between these transformers helps maintain the ultra-wide frequency response by compensating for the tape's natural tendency to roll off, thus preserving the high-frequency content.

THE TAPE
During the development of the RNR1, a full year was spent working on developing a tape element that would provide the extended response Mr. Neve demanded.
After experimenting with ribbon materials available around the world, the design team settled on the 2.5µm aluminum ribbon used in the RNR1, achieving the perfect balance of flexibility and rigidity needed for this microphone's exceptional performance.

• Active studio ribbon microphone
• Designed and built in collaboration with Rupert Neve and SE Electronics
• Electrodynamic pressure gradient pickup with active electronics
• 2.5 micron aluminum tape
• Figure 8 polar pattern
• Frequency response: 20Hz - 25kHz
• Sensitivity: -32dB (1v/pa ±1dB)
• Equivalent noise level: 15dB (A-weighted)
• Balanced output impedance: 200 Ohms
• Nominal load impedance: 1000 Ohms
• Maximum SPL: >135dB
• 3-pin male XLR connector (Pin 2 live)
• Includes suspension and flightcase

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