Ribbon microphone

[[File:Edmund Lowe fsa 8b06653.jpg|thumb|right|[[Edmund Lowe]] using a ribbon microphone in 1942]]

[[File:Edmund Lowe fsa 8b06653.jpg|thumb|right|[[Edmund Lowe]] using a ribbon microphone in 1942]]

In the early 1920s, Drs. [[Walter H. Schottky]] and [[Erwin Gerlach]] co-invented the first ribbon microphone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/bioelectrochemistry/schottky.htm |archivedate=2009-10-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019183905/http://geocities.com/bioelectrochemistry/schottky.htm |title=Walter Schottky |accessdate=2011-01-22 |date=2003-06-03}}</ref> By turning the ribbon circuit in the opposite direction, they also invented the first [[Loudspeaker#Ribbon and planar magnetic loudspeakers|ribbon loudspeaker]]. A few years later, Dr. [[Harry F. Olson]] of [[RCA]] started developing ribbon microphones using field coils and permanent magnets. The RCA Photophone Type PB-31 was commercially manufactured in 1931, greatly impacting the [[audio recording]] and [[broadcasting]] industries. [[Condenser microphone]]s at the time could not compare to its [[frequency response]]. [[Radio City Music Hall]] employed PB-31s in 1932.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coutant.org/pb31/ |title=Twelve Microphones That Made History |author=Jim Webb |accessdate=2011-11-19}}</ref> The following year, RCA introduced the [[RCA Type 44|Type 44A Velocity Microphone]]. Its tone and pattern control helped reduce reverberation. Many RCA ribbon models are still in use and valued by audio engineers.<ref>{{citation |url=http://mixonline.com/TECnology-Hall-of-Fame/olson-anderson-rca-090106/ |title=1931 Harry F. Olson and Les Anderson, RCA Model 44 Ribbon Microphone |publisher=Mix Magazine |date=2006-09-01 |accessdate=2011-01-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324111751/http://mixonline.com/TECnology-Hall-of-Fame/olson-anderson-rca-090106 |archivedate=2008-03-24 }}</ref>

In the early 1920s, [[Walter H. Schottky]] and [[Erwin Gerlach]] co-invented the first ribbon microphone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.com/bioelectrochemistry/schottky.htm |archivedate=2009-10-19 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019183905/http://geocities.com/bioelectrochemistry/schottky.htm |title=Walter Schottky |accessdate=2011-01-22 |date=2003-06-03}}</ref> By turning the ribbon circuit in the opposite direction, they also invented the first [[Loudspeaker#Ribbon and planar magnetic loudspeakers|ribbon loudspeaker]]. A few years later, [[Harry F. Olson]] of [[RCA]] started developing ribbon microphones using field coils and permanent magnets. The RCA Photophone Type PB-31 was commercially manufactured in 1931, greatly impacting the [[audio recording]] and [[broadcasting]] industries. [[Condenser microphone]]s at the time could not compare to its [[frequency response]]. [[Radio City Music Hall]] employed PB-31s in 1932.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coutant.org/pb31/ |title=Twelve Microphones That Made History |author=Jim Webb |accessdate=2011-11-19}}</ref> The following year, RCA introduced the [[RCA Type 44|Type 44A Velocity Microphone]]. Its tone and pattern control helped reduce reverberation. Many RCA ribbon models are still in use and valued by audio engineers.<ref>{{citation |url=http://mixonline.com/TECnology-Hall-of-Fame/olson-anderson-rca-090106/ |title=1931 Harry F. Olson and Les Anderson, RCA Model 44 Ribbon Microphone |publisher=Mix Magazine |date=2006-09-01 |accessdate=2011-01-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324111751/http://mixonline.com/TECnology-Hall-of-Fame/olson-anderson-rca-090106 |archivedate=2008-03-24 }}</ref>

The [[BBC-Marconi Type A]] was an iconic ribbon microphone produced by the [[BBC]] and [[Marconi Company|Marconi]] between 1934 and 1959.<ref>{{cite web|author=S. O. Coutant |url=http://www.coutant.org/bbc/index.html |title=The British Broadcasting Corporation Type AX Marconi Ribbon Microphone |publisher=Coutant.org |date=1951-09-21 |accessdate=2011-01-22}}</ref> Also of note is the ST&C [[Coles 4038]] (or PGS – pressure gradient single), designed by the BBC in 1954 and still used for some applications to this day. Its historical uses varied from talks to symphony concerts, and it is regarded as a delicate, fine traditional microphone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.proaudioreview.com/article/1286 |author=Stephen Murphy |title=Coles Electroacoustics 4040 Studio Ribbon Microphone |publisher=Pro Audio Review |date=2004-01-01 |accessdate=2011-01-22}}</ref> The German [[Beyerdynamic M 160]] was introduced in 1957, fitted with a smaller microphone element with two 15&nbsp;mm ribbons combined to create a highly directional pickup pattern. The microphone proved to be popular in recording studios.<ref name=TEC2019>{{cite web |url=https://www.tecawards.org/node/1150 |title=Beyerdynamic M 160 |website=[[TEC Awards]] |access-date=July 25, 2021}}</ref>

The [[BBC-Marconi Type A]] was an iconic ribbon microphone produced by the [[BBC]] and [[Marconi Company|Marconi]] between 1934 and 1959.<ref>{{cite web|author=S. O. Coutant |url=http://www.coutant.org/bbc/index.html |title=The British Broadcasting Corporation Type AX Marconi Ribbon Microphone |publisher=Coutant.org |date=1951-09-21 |accessdate=2011-01-22}}</ref> Also of note is the ST&C [[Coles 4038]] (or PGS – pressure gradient single), designed by the BBC in 1954 and still used for some applications to this day. Its historical uses varied from talks to symphony concerts, and it is regarded as a delicate, fine traditional microphone.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.proaudioreview.com/article/1286 |author=Stephen Murphy |title=Coles Electroacoustics 4040 Studio Ribbon Microphone |publisher=Pro Audio Review |date=2004-01-01 |accessdate=2011-01-22}}</ref> The German [[Beyerdynamic M 160]] was introduced in 1957, fitted with a smaller microphone element with two 15&nbsp;mm ribbons combined to create a highly directional pickup pattern. The microphone proved to be popular in recording studios.<ref name=TEC2019>{{cite web |url=https://www.tecawards.org/node/1150 |title=Beyerdynamic M 160 |website=[[TEC Awards]] |access-date=July 25, 2021}}</ref>