Golden Age Project R1 MKII: Is This Ribbon Microphone Right for You?

The Golden Age Project R1 MKII is a passive ribbon microphone with an XLR output and a figure-8 pickup pattern. It is a studio-style microphone, not a plug-and-play one. Whether it suits you depends on your preamp, your room and what you record. This guide covers what you need, how to set it up for recording or video calls, and how to judge the result.

Before you start

The microphone works entirely locally. The signal goes from the mic to a preamp or audio interface, then to your computer. The microphone itself needs no account, app or online service. Your recording or calling software may use a service, so check that software's own privacy and file-handling terms. Do not assume recordings stay on your device.

• A balanced XLR cable in good condition.
• An audio interface or mixer with a microphone preamp that has plenty of clean gain. Passive ribbon mics have low output and need considerably more gain than a typical condenser.
• A stand, plus a mount or shock mount. Check which accessories are actually included in your box.
• A pop filter if you will record speech or vocals at close range.
• Closed headphones for monitoring while you set levels.

The R1 MKII is a good fit for guitar amps, acoustic instruments, brass, room or overhead drum mics, and voice in a quiet room. Many people choose ribbons for their smooth, often darker top end. It is a weaker fit in several situations: noisy rooms, because the rear of a figure-8 mic picks up as much as the front; low-gain bus-powered interfaces; outdoor or windy use; and quick video calls, where a USB or dynamic microphone is usually simpler.

A passive ribbon mic does not need phantom power. Many passive ribbons tolerate it on a correctly wired balanced connection, but faulty cables, patchbays or unbalanced adapters can damage the ribbon. The safest practice is to keep phantom power off on this channel. Follow the guidance in the manual supplied with your unit.

Step-by-step instructions

• 1. Before connecting, switch off phantom power on the input you will use. Turn the gain and headphone volume down.
• 2. Connect the microphone to the interface or mixer with the XLR cable. Avoid adapters or patch points that unbalance the signal.
• 3. Mount the mic on a stand. Point its front, as marked on the body, at the source. Turn the sides toward noise sources such as computers, fans or windows: a figure-8 pattern rejects sound most strongly from the sides.
• 4. Start with the source some distance from the mic. Move closer only if you want more bass: ribbons show a strong proximity effect, so low frequencies build up as you approach.
• 5. Speak or play at your real performance level and raise the gain slowly. Aim for peaks that stay well below clipping on the interface and in your software.
• 6. In your operating system's sound settings, select the interface as the input device. Choose your headphones or interface outputs as the output device. Repeat the same selection inside your recording or calling app.
• 7. Use one sample rate throughout. Set the same rate on the interface, in the system settings and in the app. 48 kHz is common for video work and 44.1 kHz for many music projects; either works if it matches everywhere.
• 8. For video calls, try the app's automatic gain and noise suppression both on and off. These features can change the character of a ribbon mic, and some apps let you disable them.
• 9. Write down your gain, distance and software settings. You can then return to a known-good setup after experimenting.

Check the output

Record a short test. Include a few seconds of silence, a normal passage and the loudest part you expect. Listen back on headphones and look at the waveform.

• Silence: listen for the noise floor. Hiss that rises sharply with gain usually means the preamp is near its limit. Hum or buzz points to a cable or grounding issue.
• Loud passages: confirm that no peaks hit the top of the meter or show flattened waveforms.
• Tone: a slightly dark, rounded top end is normal for ribbons. You can add high-frequency EQ, but boosting highs also raises preamp hiss.
• File settings: confirm the recording's sample rate and bit depth match your project or delivery requirements.
• Calls: use the app's test or recording feature to hear what others receive. Call apps process and compress audio, so this will not sound like your local recording.

Common problems and next steps

Signal too quiet or noisy at high gain: low output is expected from a passive ribbon. If your preamp runs out of clean gain, use a higher-gain preamp or an inline microphone booster. Inline boosters usually take phantom power for themselves and do not pass it to the microphone. Check the booster's documentation before switching phantom on.

Boomy or muddy sound: move the source further away. You can also apply a high-pass filter on the interface or in software.

Too much room sound or background noise: the rear of the mic is as sensitive as the front. Turn the mic so its sides face the noise. Reduce reflective surfaces behind the mic, or work a little closer, keeping the proximity effect in mind.

Pops, thumps or distorted bursts: use a pop filter and angle the mic slightly off the mouth. Do not blow into the mic or place it in strong air movement, such as a kick drum port, wind or a fan. Ribbons are fragile, and air blasts can deform them.

No signal in an app: check that the correct input device and input channel are selected. Check that the app has microphone permission in your operating system. If your voice appears on only one side of a stereo input, switch the app or interface to mono if that option is available.

Distortion or rattling at every level, or a sudden change in tone, can indicate a damaged ribbon. Stop using the mic and do not open it. Contact the seller or the manufacturer's service channel. If your main use is calls in an untreated room, a dynamic or USB microphone may serve you better. Keep the R1 MKII for recording sessions where its sound is worth the extra setup.