You need a great ribbon mic, and Sweetwater's got it: the AEA N22. With its increased upper-mid presence, this handcrafted, US-made microphone is not only designed to punch through the mix — it's built to last. Boasting AEA's acclaimed 2.35" Big Ribbon, the N22 sports robust ribbon protection and reduced proximity effect, so you can close-mic without worry. A custom German-made transformer provides excellent bandwidth, consistency, and distortion characteristics, while phantom power lets you work with a wide range of preamps. The AEA N22 Stereo kit gives you a matched stereo pair of these excellent microphones, plus an SMS stereo bar, two NUVO windscreens, a Posi-Lok mic hanger, NUVO Blumlein coupler, mounting hardware, and a heavy-duty SKB travel case.
Increased upper-mid presence lets you cut through a busy mix
You're laying down a lead vocal on top of a thick rock track. How will you ever mix this monster? Not to worry, with the AEA N22. This cool ribbon mic sports a smooth upper-midrange presence that lets vocals, guitars, and other instruments cut through the mix — without the need for EQ in most cases. So go ahead and record that killer vocal. AEA's got you covered!
This mic is designed for today's musician
The AEA N22 is designed for the modern musician who works in a DAW-based studio situated on a desktop. You don't have room (or the budget) for an enormous mic locker with dozens of high-end mics — you need a few affordable, high-quality mics that can cover it all. The N22 sounds great on everything from vocals to guitar to percussion, and it's definitely not finicky to work with. Its custom German-made transformer delivers superior bandwidth, consistency, and distortion characteristics, while its phantom power lets you season your sound with a wide range of preamps. You can even use it close up without boominess, thanks to its reduced proximity effect. And the N22's max SPL of 141dB lets you use it on loud sources like guitar cabs and snare drums without fear of damaging it.
Versatile and durable recording tool
Fragile. If that's the first thing that comes to mind when you talk about ribbon microphones, you're living in the past. The N22 is designed to bring ribbon mic sound wherever you need it. Need detail and warmth from a string section? Done. You'll capture the warmth of the cellos and the detailed highs of every violin. Looking for clarity and response in your vocals? You got it! There's no muddy diaphragm you have to EQ the life into during mixdown. Want natural, focused, distortion-free sound for a remote recording? Here it is. Even over long cable runs, the N22 handles it all with ease. It's the ribbon microphone that's built to withstand the rigors of recording life, whether that's in the corner of your bedroom, a professional tracking studio, or as a part of your mobile recording rig.
AEA's NUVO Series mics give you the best of vintage and modern
The mastermind behind AEA, Wes Dooley conceived the NUVO Series as the natural evolution of the ribbon microphone. Like other AEA ribbon microphones, NUVO Series mics are steeped in the RCA tradition, but they've taken a fresh approach by focusing on modern application requirements. Incredibly versatile and easy to use, the AEA N22 delivers the velvety sound of classic ribbon mics — but with added upper-mid presence, truly impressive performance specs, and bulletproof US-made build quality. And AEA has managed to deliver all this at a very reasonable price.