RM-7: The Active Ribbon Mic with Ultra Low Noise
Now the ribbon mics will sound awesome even with a budget audio interface
The Matched Pair Bundle with all The Accessories
Bumblebee Pro RM-7 Active Ribbon Mic is the tool that will make your recordings sound smooth and silky. The built-in preamp keeps the noise floor virtually the same as with passive ribbons, while producing a condenser-like output level. The built in preamp does not alter the sound in any way. It only provides the extra gain with a very low noise floor. Therefore, you get the pure unaltered ribbon sound, as you would with a regular passive ribbon mic and a high-end preamp.
Hand-Crafted in Latvia, EU
The Ribbon Mic with a Soul
When I started making my first ribbon motor from a piece of plastic in 2010, I couldn’t imagine that it would become my full time occupation. But, hey, now we are a team of three dedicated people crafting Ribbon Microphones for recording enthusiasts and professionals from all around the world.
Not a single part of a microphone is still the same as it was in 2010. We have been continuously improving each element, however, one thing remained unchanged – I personally make sure that every part is crafted with such care as if I would build a microphone for my own studio.
Please welcome the RM-7 Active Ribbon Mic!
- Works perfectly with any recording device that has a +48V supply
- High output signal, like condenser mics have
- Elaborate motor with wide and smooth high frequency response
- Our own toroidal trafo that can easily compete with major brands
- Every part is our original design - no stock components used
The Motor with The Unique Design
The RM-7 Ribbon Microphone is powered by the RE-423 Ribbon Motor, which comes with 1.2 micron ribbon, made from Japanese Aluminium foil. The motor is the heart of a ribbon microphone and the essence of the sound. That’s the part where the most of the magic happens.
The ribbon produces a smooth sound, free from mid and high frequency resonances. The absence of such resonances means that the most sensitive range of a human ear is free from sonic artifacts. This is the key secret of the natural and authentic ribbon sounds that we all love.
Why does the RE-423 Motor Sound So Well?
- During the RE-423 motor design we've laboriously modeled the magnetic flux behavior with a specialized software. As a result, we were able to use thin magnets while preserving a high magnetic flux density in the ribbon gap. As a result, the sensitivity of a motor easily reaches the required level.
- The sand clock shape and its narrow waist together with thin magnets form a very short acoustic pass around the ribbon. The short pass creates a wide and very natural high frequency response - the key of the silky and airy sound.
- The steel grill over the ribbon gap is an acoustic filter that reduces the infamous proximity effect. Now you can close-mike acoustic instruments and still have a well-balanced low end performance.
Ultra-Low Noise Internal Preamp
Did you ever want to start recording quiet instruments with ribbon microphones, but the need of a very expensive high-gain and low-noise preamp would stop you? I’ve got the great news – now you can do it!
Each RM-7 ribbon mic kit comes with a Bb-A20 Ribbon Mic Activator. The Bb-A20 preamp adds the clean, noiseless and perfectly transparent gain. It is based on high-end ultra-low noise 2SA970BL transistors and a fully discrete design. Therefor, The RM-7 DIY Ribbon Mics record the most delicate sound sources perfectly, even with a regular audio interface or preamp.
- +20 dB of transparent gain
- Powered by +48V phantom power
- Ultra-low noise NOS bipolar transistors
- Audio-friendly C0G/NP0 ceramic capacitors
- Fully-balanced topology ensures the ultimate EMI protection
Fancy Polishing and Engraving
The visual aesthetic is as important as a sound
Not exactly audio related, but still worth pointing out. A new local metal works contractor re-developed the mic body machining process for the RM-7 DIY Ribbon Microphone production.
With the full CNC process the part repeatability and accuracy stepped up to the next quality level. We’ve re-designed and re-standardized our signature brushed steel finish for the fancier textured look. The Bumblebee logo is slightly updated, but the fiber laser engraving still makes it perfectly durable.
As a result, I proudly dare to consider that the visual appearance of the RM-7 Ribbon Mic can stand next to any well-known product.
Our Own Toroidal Transformer
While the Ribbon Mic Motor produces the sound, the transformer amplifies this ultra-low signal up to a working level. The main goal of the transformer design is to preserve the natural beauty of the initial sound.
The RTX-28 transformer is our own elaborate design. The toroidal nanocrystallic iron core produces a very low distortion. The thick winding wire together with short turn length produce the lowest possible resistance. The epoxy molding makes the transformer perfectly reliable. All together, the synergy of these features creates the transformer that preserves the sound of instruments in the greatest detail.
We manually test each RTX-28 ribbon mic transformer and match the pairs according to the inductance of the primary windings.
- Ultra-low winding resistances: primary < 0.01 ohm, secondary < 5 ohms
- Low distortion < 0.0035% @ 1kHz
- Very low phase shift: 3.5 deg @ 100 kHz
Check Out The Demo Recordings
We've recorded these compositions with just one Blumlein pair
The demos below show off the RM-7 Ribbon Microphones in different applications and genres. Most of the sample compositions were recorded with RM-7 Active Ribbon Microphones with 1.2 micron ribbons. We recommend RM-7 Ribbon Microphones for acoustic recordings, so we’ve concentrated on acoustic music demos.
A very unusual use for ribbon mics – a field recording with Zoom H4n. The wind protection didn’t block all the blasts, but I still decided to keep this version, because it sounds so cool.
The recording of a harpsichord made by a customer from Japan. Kanji Daito plays J.S.Bach French Suite No.4 in E flat major. The RM-7 mics with 1.8u ribbons were used.
Hasmik Bagoyan, an ethnic singer, performs an Armenian Folk song. The composition features both forte vocals and tender quiet passages. It is a mono recording with one microphone
The acoustic blues piece featuring rough male vocals, acoustic guitar and an upright bass. The recording shows great guitar playing and a very clean separation of instruments.
The Bundle Includes all The Accessories
You'll have everything you need to set up a Blumlein pair right away
The matched pair bundle includes a matches pair of RM-7 Active Ribbon Microphones, our original Blumlein Coupler, a pair of shock-mounts and a stereo bar – everything you see on a picture below.
FREE Worldwide Shipping
The Delivery Times are as Follows:
- European Union (+NO & CH): 7 - 12 days
- US, Canada, UK: 10 - 20 days
- All the Other Countries: 15 - 30 days
If you still have any questions regarding the RM-7 Active Ribbon Mic Kit, don’t hesitate to write me. I normally reply within few hours and I am always happy to chat with fellow ribbon microphone enthusiasts.