The R1A is a unique microphone since it is a high quality and low cost vintage style ribbon microphone with active electronics using high end components.
The R1A offers the special and natural sound that has been available in classical microphones like the RCA 44 and 77 that are still used to make high quality recordings today after around 80 years. On top of that, the active circuitry raises the output level considerably to be similar to that of many condenser microphones. This has the good effect that one does not need special high gain microphone preamps when using the R1A on quiet sound sources. It also makes the R1A able to drive long microphone cables without any problems and insures that the sound is consistent with different preamps.
One of the factors that usually changes the sound of passive ribbon microphones is the input impedance of the following microphone preamp. The active output circuitry in the R1A buffers the ribbon and the gain make-up transformer from the outside world and the result is that the R1A will consistently give you maximum performance in any situation.
The R1A is very well suited for the recording of most sound sources like vocals, acoustic instruments, strings, horns, orchestras and choral groups and many live sound applications. In spite of its low cost, the R1A meets the most stringent demands. To get maximum benefit and trouble free use out of the R1A please read this manual carefully.
