[Scott Dorsey]

In article ,
Jason wrote:
A B&H catalog showed up the other day. I came across a ribbon mic that
claims to handle SPL of 160 dB. I think that's louder than standing next
to a Space Shuttle launch. The samples would need more than 24 bits.
What's the rationale for that capability? Bragging rights?

The mic is a "Golden Age Project R1 MKII Ribbon Microphone".

1. Most of the specifications for these inexpensive microphones exist only
for bragging rights.

2. Most of them are made up out of whole cloth and bear no connection to
reality.

3. It's possible to create a sound in a sealed tube of 160dBSPL without too
much work. Air becomes nonlinear as much lower levels, so you start
getting a very asymmetric waveform.

4. There is some frequency far from the ribbon resonance where any ribbon mike
will be able to handle ludicrously high levels. There is some other
frequency much closer to the resonance where it will be much easier to
damage.
--scott



--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."