AEA are announcing the launch of the N8 phantom-powered ribbon microphone at this year’s AES Convention. Following the successful N22 model designed for singer-songwriters and project studios, the N8 offers a distinctly different sound despite having a similar appearance to the N22. In designing the N8, AEA set out to create the most open and natural sounding ribbon microphone ever made. Conceived to render acoustic spaces as faithfully as possible, the new N8 microphone is designed to suit capture of drum overheads and rooms, strings, classical ensembles, and orchestras. The company are billing it as being the ideal complement to the N22 microphone. Its uses extend to close miking for guitar and bass amps, too.
The mic's makers have employed a similar design philosophy as used on the popular R88 stereo ribbon microphone, with the aim of giving the N8 an open and natural sound. The aluminum ribbon in the N8 is identical to the flagship R44 model in its dimensions and tuning, putting it in direct lineage of the iconic RCA 44 type.
The N8’s unobtrusive size and its stealthy matte black finish make it an appealing choice for orchestral and TV work, where microphones need to be easy to position and more or less invisible. The N8’s phantom-powered electronics and a custom German transformer complete the package and deliver exceptional low-level detail and optimal distortion performance, even when driving long cable lines in remote recording situations. Just like all other AEA products, the N8 is 100% manufactured in Pasadena, CA, and will have a street price of $1,098.
The N8 is the second member of AEA’s NUVO series of microphones. Rooted in the RCA tradition just like other AEA ribbon microphones, all NUVO microphones are designed to offer a fresh approach to the ribbon transducer and represent Wes Dooley’s take on the evolution of the ribbon microphone.
