Press Release September 22, 1999
Audio Engineering Associates (AEA) introduces:
1. The R44CX, a high output classic ribbon microphone
2. Modular Mic Positioners (MMP) and Decca Trees.
AEA has developed the high output R44CX to deliver the smooth top end of a classic long ribbon mic while making it practical for use in the modern digital recording environment. Vintage ribbon mics are still in daily use in broadcast, film scoring and music recording. Modern technology can require mics with more output to take advantage of the improved signal to noise ratio of digital recording and modern eq. The R44CX delivers 6dB more output than a 44BX, yet retains all of the admirable properties and characteristics of the original, making it an excellent choice for solo vocals and instruments, as well as ensemble work. It's high output also makes the R44CX compatible with mic preamps which do not provide enough gain to work well with older ribbon mics.
"The R44CX fulfills a dream for me," says AEA founder Wes Dooley. "After years of refurbishing and restoring vintage ribbon mics, we saw that while the studio demand was increasing, there were fewer mics available outside of private collections. We spent several years on research, talking with people who had pioneered ribbon mics. To replicate the 'classic' RCA sound, we had to make our mics with the same precision machining and hand crafting that had gone into the originals. I doubt that a larger or less dedicated company could do this. We were also lucky enough to have a good stock of New Old Stock (NOS) RCA ribbon material. Last year we introduced the R44C, a full-sized functional replica of the classic 1936 RCA 44B which has had rave reviews from recording studios and scoring stages. Our parts are interchangeable with the 44B and BX mics and are also sold individually for restoration of originals."
"Developing the R44CX has been an exciting and challenging project both on a historical and technical level," says Dooley. "I think that with the R44CX we've been able to reach back and take classic ribbon microphones from the 1930's into the 21st century. The R44CX is a microphone that looks, feels and sounds like a classic, yet is designed for the modern digital recording environment."
A new series of Modular Microphone Positioners has been developed by AEA's Custom Products Group. Dooley: "Our line of modular stands, booms and accessories easily places microphones exactly where your ears need them to be. Simply put, they're tools to make great recordings easier. The MMP series expands our range of Decca Trees and Stands into a complete range of mic positioning tools to create arrays for virtually any stereo/multichannel recording application."
for information on AEA products contact:
Audio Engineering Associates
www.slidingdelta.com
Tel: 1-800-798-9127 / Fax: 626-798-2378 / Overseas: 1-626-798-9128
1029 N. Allen Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91104
Press please contact:Wes Dooley or Renee Plummer at 626-798-9128
Or email to: joeg@slidingdelta.com